Thanks to Nick for these comprehensive notes
Overall Group Sentiment: The group was generally engaged, though opinions on the setting and the delivery of the mother-daughter dynamic varied significantly. Ratings ranged from a 6/10 to a 9/10.
Nigel: Why did I choose this book?
The more attentive amongst you will recall that I endorsed a book by John Boyne last month: The Heart’s Invisible Furies, and which is a fabulous five star read and one I am sure you’d all enjoy
Based on that reading experience, I conclude that John Bourne may become one of my favourite writers.
And of course, that was all the inspiration I needed for choosing another of his titles for your consideration.
Water seemed like a good choice because it’s very short, and we do love a short book here at HBG, and also the reviews were through the roof.
The theme just flowed (!) from the book.
What did I think of it?
Water is another John Boyne storytelling masterclass.
A mere 166 pages, Water packs a hell of a punch. It’s a quiet, sharp, and deeply uncomfortable look at complicity and the aftermath of a life-shattering scandal.
I’ve now read it twice and noticed even more second time around.
The slow reveal adds to the book’s power.
The water motif cleverly recurs throughout the narrative. The disgraced swimming coach, the island location, the therapeutic effects of swimming on Vanessa Carvin, the biblical rain that does for the cat, and possibly other references that I didn’t spot.
The main themes here are guilt, silence, shame, the heavy weight of complicity, and of course water.
Water kicks off John Boyne’s “The Elements” quartet. I look forward to reading the rest and wonder to what extent it makes even more sense when considered with the other three books in the quartet.
8/10
Robin: The Enthusiastic Advocate (9/10)
Robin opened with a glowing endorsement, calling it a "brilliant" masterclass and the best thing they’ve read in a long time. They were particularly struck by the prose, which they described as having a "simple, kindly tone” quality that made the difficult subject matter more accessible. Interestingly, Robin noted that while the book touches on sex, it avoids being gratuitous—the reader knows what is happening without the text overplaying it. For Robin, the island setting felt highly romantic, creating a "same world but different" atmosphere. However, they did offer a reflective critique: they questioned whether the protagonist would truly have been in such "good spirits" by the end, even though the book itself left Robin feeling uplifted.
Roland: The Skeptical Observer (6/10)
Roland found the book "good but not great," viewing it primarily as a fast-paced page-turner that effectively captured a very specific, short window of time. His main critique centred on the setting; he felt the water and sea background functioned more as a backdrop than a true theme, arguing it wasn't strictly integral to the "Tennyson Hills" context. Instead, Roland found more value in the interpersonal dynamics, specifically the representation of the mother-daughter relationship and the protagonist's interactions with the young farmer.
Keith: The Critical Analyst (7/10)
Keith walked away with a mixed impression, describing it as an "interesting story" that ultimately didn't deliver on its full promise. He found the world-building "mind-playing" and was intrigued by the daughter's autonomy, but felt the narrative lost its momentum in the details—specifically citing "too many scenes involving a map on a beach." This led to what he called "slow-time writing," where the technical pace of the prose struggled to keep up with the inherent interest of the characters' relationships.
Hamish: The Middle Ground (9/10)
Hamish breezed through the book in just three days, though his final verdict remained split. He praised the "solid story" and the strength of the opening chapter, though he felt the momentum dipped slightly afterward. Like Roland, Hamish was less convinced by the setting, feeling the "sea" element was underplayed. His primary critique was thematic; he didn't feel the mother-child relationship was developed enough to carry the weight some other members attributed to it.
Nick: The Structural Skeptic (6/10)
Nick enjoyed the book as a "good read" but left the discussion feeling a bit "played"—drawing a sharp comparison to a Jack Thorne teleplay (known for high-intensity, socially conscious drama). His primary critique was whether the story was allowed to breathe on its own or if it was constrained by its purpose within a larger project. He questioned the "Elements" framework: did the theme of "Water" come first to satisfy the quartet's structure, or did the story evolve naturally? For Nick, the narrative felt somewhat engineered to tie into Boyne’s wider ambitious series, perhaps at the expense of organic storytelling.
Recurring Discussion Points
• The Utility of Setting: A major point of contention was whether the island and water motifs were essential storytelling devices or merely incidental scenery. While Nigel (and to an extent Robin) saw the water as a clever, recurring masterclass in symbolism, Roland and Hamish felt it was somewhat disconnected from the core plot.
• The Mother-Daughter Lens: The group spent significant time debating the central relationship. While Roland and Keith saw it as a focal point of the character study, Hamish felt it was under-realized.
• Pacing vs. Prose: There was a clear divide on the book's "speed." For some, the 166 pages made it a propulsive "page-turner," while for others, the focus on static scenes (like the beach maps) felt like "slow-time writing" that hindered the emotional payoff.
Nick 6 / Tristan - did not read / Nigel 8 / Keith 7 / Robin 9 / Hamish 9 / Roland - 6
Part 2: The Film – Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
The Consensus: The group was notably tougher on the film than the book. The primary takeaway was a lack of "depth" and a slight disappointment regarding the action-to-drama ratio.
Nigel: Have you read the books? If not they are well worth seeking out.
This is a superb historical seafaring film that stays close to the spirit of the source novels. Although his relationship with the ship’s doctor, Dr. Stephen Maturin, is significantly simplified in this adaptation and, as such, loses something
The sound is amazing, the ship creaks and the boots on the deck all combine for a masterclass in immersion.
The tension, claustrophobia, and camaraderie of life on board the ship is perfectly captured.
The fight scenes are suitably brutal. If I hadn’t seen Gladiator I’d say this is the role Russell Crowe was born to play.
Splendid 9/10
• Hamish (6/10): Described it as a "good romp" but ultimately felt it had "no depth."
• Keith (5/10): Was left questioning the historical validity. While he enjoyed the "young officers" and the class dynamics, he found himself wondering if any of the historical facts were actually correct. He noted the military etiquette was present but concluded he’d "rather watch Pirates of the Caribbean."
• Roland (6/10): This was his third time seeing it! He found the fighting scenes "boring" but remained interested in the relationships. He also noted that Russell Crowe felt "a little bit wooden" in the lead role.
• Robin (5/10): Found the experience "a bit dull" overall. Their main critique was that there wasn't "enough swashbuckling" to keep the momentum going.
• Nick (9/10): Loved it - enjoys a good romp and spoke fondly of Indiana Jones in the same breath.
Nick 9 / Tristan - did not watch / Nigel 9 / Keith 5 / Robin 5 / Hamish 7 / Roland 6
Part 3: Music – Earth, Wind & Fire: Greatest Hits
The Consensus: Generally well-received, with the group identifying it as "pure disco." While most enjoyed the energy, there was a shared sentiment that the album's strength varied across its tracks.
Nigel: There are numerous compilations by EWF. This seems to be the one that really captures them at their peak, and yet manages to do so in a single disc.
I hope you all enjoyed this. If you didn’t, you might need to seek medical help.
This is the group at their 1970s and early ’80s commercial peak and is universally joyous.
Maurice White’s sublime production anchors Philip Bailey’s falsetto, while the horn section give everything a brassy, celebratory punch. The best tunes are as irresistible today as they were back in the day and will still pack a dance floor. There is almost no filler in this snapshot of EWF’s imperial phase.
Come to see victory
In a land called fantasy
Loving life for you and me
To behold, to your soul is ecstasy (ah-ah-ah-ah-ooh)
9/10
• Roland (Rating: 8/10): A big fan of the sound. He noted that while he usually loves Rose Royce, he felt this was "pure disco." He called the songs "great" and "unique." (Interestingly, he originally toyed with a 9 before settling on an 8).
• Robin: Kept it simple, offering a "Ditto" to Roland’s assessment.
• Hamish: Found the collection "quite nice," echoing the generally positive but relaxed vibe of the group.
• Keith (Rating: 8/10): Despite the high score, he was the most critical. He admitted the genre isn't really "his thing" and felt the album was "less than the sum of its parts," suggesting that while individual tracks are strong, the collection as a whole felt a bit fragmented to him.
• Nick: The classics are certainly that - much preferred the upbeat vibe to the more reflective parts.
Nick - / Tristan - did not listen / Nigel 9 / Keith 8 / Robin - / Hamish - / Roland 8
ENDORSE IT
HBG endorse it: 13 February 2026 - 19 March 2026
FILM
Sirāt (Cinema)
I Swear (Netflix)
Wasteman (Cinema)
Sinners (Sky Cinema)
The Secret Agent (Cinema)
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Sky Cinema)
TV
Mr Nobody Against Putin (BBC iPlayer)
Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing (Channel 4)
Des (ITV)
PODCAST
Tech Tonic from the FT
BOOK
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
EVENTS
Southport Weekender @ Butlin’s Bognor (esp DJ Ron Trent)
The fight scenes are suitably brutal. If I hadn’t seen Gladiator I’d say this is the role Russell Crowe was born to play.
Splendid 9/10
• Hamish (6/10): Described it as a "good romp" but ultimately felt it had "no depth."
• Keith (5/10): Was left questioning the historical validity. While he enjoyed the "young officers" and the class dynamics, he found himself wondering if any of the historical facts were actually correct. He noted the military etiquette was present but concluded he’d "rather watch Pirates of the Caribbean."
• Roland (6/10): This was his third time seeing it! He found the fighting scenes "boring" but remained interested in the relationships. He also noted that Russell Crowe felt "a little bit wooden" in the lead role.
• Robin (5/10): Found the experience "a bit dull" overall. Their main critique was that there wasn't "enough swashbuckling" to keep the momentum going.
• Nick (9/10): Loved it - enjoys a good romp and spoke fondly of Indiana Jones in the same breath.
Nick 9 / Tristan - did not watch / Nigel 9 / Keith 5 / Robin 5 / Hamish 7 / Roland 6
Part 3: Music – Earth, Wind & Fire: Greatest Hits
The Consensus: Generally well-received, with the group identifying it as "pure disco." While most enjoyed the energy, there was a shared sentiment that the album's strength varied across its tracks.
Nigel: There are numerous compilations by EWF. This seems to be the one that really captures them at their peak, and yet manages to do so in a single disc.
I hope you all enjoyed this. If you didn’t, you might need to seek medical help.
This is the group at their 1970s and early ’80s commercial peak and is universally joyous.
Maurice White’s sublime production anchors Philip Bailey’s falsetto, while the horn section give everything a brassy, celebratory punch. The best tunes are as irresistible today as they were back in the day and will still pack a dance floor. There is almost no filler in this snapshot of EWF’s imperial phase.
Come to see victory
In a land called fantasy
Loving life for you and me
To behold, to your soul is ecstasy (ah-ah-ah-ah-ooh)
9/10
• Roland (Rating: 8/10): A big fan of the sound. He noted that while he usually loves Rose Royce, he felt this was "pure disco." He called the songs "great" and "unique." (Interestingly, he originally toyed with a 9 before settling on an 8).
• Robin: Kept it simple, offering a "Ditto" to Roland’s assessment.
• Hamish: Found the collection "quite nice," echoing the generally positive but relaxed vibe of the group.
• Keith (Rating: 8/10): Despite the high score, he was the most critical. He admitted the genre isn't really "his thing" and felt the album was "less than the sum of its parts," suggesting that while individual tracks are strong, the collection as a whole felt a bit fragmented to him.
• Nick: The classics are certainly that - much preferred the upbeat vibe to the more reflective parts.
Nick - / Tristan - did not listen / Nigel 9 / Keith 8 / Robin - / Hamish - / Roland 8
ENDORSE IT
HBG endorse it: 13 February 2026 - 19 March 2026
FILM
Sirāt (Cinema)
I Swear (Netflix)
Wasteman (Cinema)
Sinners (Sky Cinema)
The Secret Agent (Cinema)
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Sky Cinema)
TV
Mr Nobody Against Putin (BBC iPlayer)
Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing (Channel 4)
Des (ITV)
PODCAST
Tech Tonic from the FT
BOOK
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
EVENTS
Southport Weekender @ Butlin’s Bognor (esp DJ Ron Trent)
