Hove Book Group - 2012 End Of Year Review

On the evening of 12 December 2012 Hove Book Group celebrated another wonderful year of bonhomie and cultural discourse with a meal at Leonardo restaurant.

The hardest working book group in Hove kick back for a well deserved celebration and a review of all things 2012.

In amongst the back slapping, red wine and Peroni, was the HBG review of 2012....

This is what we read this year:

• "Room" by Emma Donoghue
• "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce
• "The Kingdom Of God Is Within You" by Leo Tolstoy
• "The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories" by Leo Tolstoy
• "Snowdrops" by AD Miller
• "Hangover Square" by Patrick Hamilton
• "Blindness" by José Saramago
• "Sum" by David Eagleman
• "Planet of the Apes" by Pierre Boulle
• "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain
• "Remainder" by Tom McCarthy

We commissioned Gallup to run a rigorous poll, and once the golden envelope was opened, our special guest Ian Lavender revealed that - collectively - our most loved book of 2012 was "Blindness" by José Saramago. Congratulations to José Saramago (who sadly could not be present to receive the accolade).  The full results were:

1. Blindness
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
3. Hangover Square
4. Room
5. Sum
6. Remainder
7. Planet of the Apes
8. Ivan Ilyich
9. Snowdrops
10. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Our favourite film was:

• "The Guard"

Our favourite music was :

• Simple Minds "Early Gold", and nigeyb's imagined soundtrack to Hangover Square

Favourite book group moments included the debate about "Room" which almost resulted in a fight; Robin's scathing dismissal of Seven Samurai; Robin choosing to read and review a different book; this blog; and, most recently, Pannier-gate (see below).

We also enjoyed a more general review of 2012 that variously embraced the following landmark public and personal events:

• Pannier-gate - the mystery of who dumped their copy of "Remainder" into Robin's pannier was solved
• The Olympics - very enjoyable
• The extent to which Operation Yewtree is just a police officer throwing darts at a 1978 Look In annual
• Keith's memorable rant about the royal family
• The End Of The Road festival
• This blog
• Jimmy Savile (boo)
• The lack of a public uprising against the Government
• New schools
• The Three Peaks - and the possibility of a 24 hour walk on the Downs

And so ends another year of Hove Book Group camaraderie.  

Merry Xmas and a happy new year.

"Hangover Square" by Patrick Hamilton

Brighton hotel room @ Hangover Square exhibition,
University of Brighton Gallery, 5-27 May 2012

The Hove Book Group reconvened on Thursday 14th June 2012 at The Poets' Corner pub to discuss their very own Patrick Hamilton Festival.  Inspired by the Brighton Festival's events centred around the 50th anniversary of Patrick Hamilton's death, Nigel suggested the novel "Hangover Square" by Patrick Hamilton.  

There was a Hangover Square exhibition at University of Brighton Gallery that ran from 5th-27th May 2012. Keith, Tristan, Hamish and Nigel attended this exhibition.

Nigel Jones, Laura Wilson and Peter Guttridge
@ The Life and Work of Patrick Hamilton discussion,
Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, Sussex,
England on Friday 11th May 2012

Brighton Festival arranged a talk entitled "The Life and Work Of Patrick Hamilton" on Friday 11th May 2012 at the Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton.  Nigel and Hamish attended this event.  The talk was chaired by Peter Guttridge, and the discussion explored Hamilton's life and work from his early stage thrillers Rope and Gaslight including, of course, Hangover Square (1941). The man on the left of the photo is Hamilton’s biographer Nigel Jones (Through a Glass Darkly) and the woman in the middle is crime novelist Laura Wilson (A Little Death, Dying Voices).  The event was produced by Sarah Hutchings and the Collected Works team.

Nigel had also provided an Imagined Soundtrack to the novel that predominantly featured music from the period when the book was written.

Hangover Square: nigeyb's imagined soundtrack by Nigeyb on Mixcloud

Nigel explained that he had wanted to read "Hangover Square" for sometime having developed a fascination with the English literature of the 1930s and 1940s.  Patrick Hamilton was a name that came up frequently in the context of key writers of the period.  His connection with Hove made Patrick Hamilton even more appealing.

"Hangover Square" was written at the peak of Patrick Hamilton's fame - which was by this time considerable.  Like all Patrick Hamilton's novels, the story is in part inspired by incidents from Patrick Hamilton's life.  Like the protagonist and narrator George Harvey Bone, Hamilton's life was becoming saturated in alcohol; and like Bone he too was obsessed by an unattainable woman, in Hamilton's case she was actress Geraldine Fitzgerald.  Fitzgerald is the inspiration for Netta and in a sense could be Hamilton's revenge on her given the unflattering portrait ("She was completely, indeed sinisterly devoid of all those qualities which her face and body externally proclaimed her to have - pensiveness, grace, warmth, agility, beauty ... Her thoughts resembled those of a fish..").  In a nice touch, the film magazine in Netta's flat in the Hangover Square exhibition had a photo of  Geraldine Fitzgerald on the cover.

Geraldine Fitzgerald on the cover of Film Weekly
@ the Hangover Square exhibition,
University of Brighton Gallery, 5-27 May 2012

Where the book really succeeded for Nigel was in its evocation of London as war looms.  The book was written under the shadow of seemingly unstoppable advance of Germany and Nazism.  The novel searches for a human metaphor to express the sickness that Hamilton perceived in this period.  As a Marxist he identified the petty bourgeoisie from which Netta and Peter had sprung as the enemy.  Peter, and the stranger who comes down to Brighton with Netta and Peter, are both fascists.  The Hangover Square exhibition evoked a scene from the visit to Brighton really powerfully.  Whilst standing in a recreation of Bone's Brighton hotel room the participant listens to an extended section from this part of the novel.  Most powerfully, the part where Bone cannot sleep as he listens to Netta and the stranger talking before making love.  Torture for poor old Bone and the prelude to another schizophrenic episode where he resolves, again, to kill Netta and Peter.

Brighton hotel room @ the Hangover Square exhibition,
University of Brighton Gallery, 5-27 May 2012

The spectre of the forthcoming war, and discussions of fascism, and nods towards contemporary cinema (e.g going to the cinema to see a Tarzan film with Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan on the day Germany invade Poland) all added to the magic for Nigel, the book being full of such wonderful period detail.

Nigel really enjoys good quality London fiction (he's almost finished another classic London novel from the same period "London Belongs To Me" by Norman Collins) and declared that "Hangover Square" is "right up there with the best". As the back of his edition states "you can almost smell the gin".  By the end of the book Nigel felt he'd been in and out of a succession of smoky, shabby Earls Court boozers with George and his unsavoury companions.  Netta, the book's femme fatale, is a wonderful fictional creation - beguiling but also totally self-serving.

The perspectives from various different characters enriched Nigel's experience. Even a very minor character such as the young man Bone meets towards the end gives an illuminating and detached perspective of George and his companions.

Nigel found it a very moving book. The reader quickly realises that George has to forget Netta and move on. He knows it too. Yet he just can't escape her. A true lost soul. Nigel felt almost as happy as George after his successful round of golf in Brighton that gives him a glimpse of how life could be away from Netta and her boozy coterie.

It ends in the only way it could. All said, Nigel thought it was a masterpiece. 10/10

A burgeoning Patrick Hamilton collection

Nigel has subsequently read "Through A Glass Darkly" a biography of Patrick Hamilton by Nigel Jones; the Gorse Trilogy; and "The Slaves Of Solitude".  He stated there's more to follow.  He might even mention some of them here.

Keith described "Hangover Square" as "a good book" and "a very human tale".  He thought all the relationships were dependent on getting something from the other person.

For Keith, what made the book so extraordinary was the total authenticity of the characters. It doesn't deal in great universal truths, other than unfulfilled potential and unrequited love, but it does deal in the minutiae of ordinary everyday life, and does so brilliantly. Netta is a hateful villain, but also fully realised and her willing victim, the hapless George, is heartbreakingly credible.  7/10

Quote @ the Hangover Square exhibition,
University of Brighton Gallery, 5-27 May 2012

Tristan wished he hadn't been to the exhibition before finishing the book as he came across a spoiler that undermined his enjoyment of the book.

Tristan liked the natural style and really enjoyed reading about Brighton and London in the 1930s.  He was less enthralled by the protracted ending.  That said, Tristan saw Netta as an evil like Nazism itself, and that Bone's longing for her is actually a longing for freedom and peace, which she will never allow him. 

Tristan thought Hamilton's descriptions of Netta were brilliant, for example "resembled those of a fish - something seen floating in a tank, brooding, self-absorbed, frigid, moving… Netta Longdon thought of everything in a curiously dull, brutish way… She was completely, indeed sinisterly, devoid of all those qualities which her face and body externally proclaimed her to have - pensiveness, grace, warmth, agility, beauty." Alas, as Tristan observed, her thuggish brain is exalted, not by the pitiful George Bone, but the Mosley-ite Peter.  7/10

Brighton hotel room @ Hangover Square exhibition,
University of Brighton Gallery, 5-27 May 2012

Hamish was very enthusiastic and described the atmosphere of the book as "absolutely fantastic".  He thought there was "great detail in both the book and the exhibition".  

Hamish saw parallels between George's concessions and Chamberlain's policy of appeasement.  Despite the ever present homicidal tendencies exacerbated by George's illness the sympathy of the reader is always with George.  Hamish's sympathy was further underlined as it became clearer that Netta and Peter were closet fascists who are keen on Chamberlain's accommodation with Hitler.  At the novel's conclusion George finally kills them both on the day, in 1939, that Germany invades Poland.  Even the character's name - George - seemed to evoke England's patron saint.  A great observation and a lavish 8.5/10.

Robin texted a rating of 8/10.  The overall Hove Book Group rating was therefore also 8/10.

Nigel, Hamish, Tristan and Keith had all also watched a BBC4 adaptation of Patrick Hamilton's "Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky" trilogy on DVD.  Three interlinked stories centred around a pub in Euston.

In a world of smoky pubs and foggy lamplights, down-at-heel workers and forlorn lovers, the story focuses on The Midnight Bell, a bar off the Euston Road, and observes the impossibility of love between three protagonists. 

Bob, the pub’s barman, is infatuated with penniless prostitute Jenny, believing that he can rescue her through his rapidly diminishing savings. Barmaid Ella, while attracting the attentions of an older, wealthier man, casts lovelorn glances at her colleague. Meanwhile, Jenny, forced onto the streets through poverty, has little time for such niceties, as she casts her flirtatious eyes about in search of custom. This “spellbinding” (The Times) drama observes the struggles of ordinary lives lived close to the poverty line, and the torments and drives of unrequited love, ambition and disappointment. 

Keith declared it not his thing but OK.  Tristan thought it was a classic.  Hamish enjoyed it as did Nigel.  All agreed that it was a good compliment to "Hangover Square".  

And so another convivial evening drew to a close and Hove's finest drifted into the cool Summer's night.  

Next time out the Hove Book Group will be discussing "Blindness" by José Saramago.

"Snowdrops" by AD Miller

Hamish decided to chose a crime book and so visited The Kemp Town Bookshop where his eyes were drawn to "Snowdrops" by AD Miller.  "Ah ha", he thought "This will continue last month's Russian theme as well as meeting my idea for a crime novel".  And so it was that we all read "Snowdrops".

Hamish stated this was not exactly what he was expecting as it was a different kind of crime book.  Hamish described it as elegantly written, clever, interesting and he enjoyed it.  He awarded it with 7/10.

Nigel described the book as "a minor masterpiece".  Despite not having any first hand knowledge of Russia, Nigel felt it evoked powerfully the "Wild East" of post-Glasnost Russia - and this is one of the book's great strengths.  The other being that the story is a compelling, well written page turner.

The book is written as if Nicholas, the English expat lawyer protagonist, is writing a confession to his fiancé who is unaware of this particular story.  Nigel felt this device was a bit clunky and was one of the few weaknesses of the book.    

Nicholas does not start the book as a particularly moral individual (he describes his job as "smearing lipstick on a pig"), however his gradual corruption is extremely credible.  Nigel enjoyed the way the book hints at a dark crime which, as it turns out, whilst still dreadful, also appears to be - by modern Russian standards - fairly mundane.  Nigel identified a number of vivid moments: the extreme Moscow winters; the aggression and rudeness of the average citizen; the horrible nightclubs; the two con tricks - one involving an apartment, the other millions of dollars; and the visit to the dacha.  8/10

Robin described the book as a "slow burn".  Memorable if a little stereotypical.  Robin was struck by how the weather dominates Russians' lives through the course of the almost unbearably long and cold winter and the all too short hot summer.  Robin loved the descriptions of places "the ice on the (Moscow) river was buckling and cracking, great plates of it rubbing and jostling each other, as the water shrugged it off, a vast snake sloughing of its skin."  Overall Robin felt it was an impressive 'first novel' - quick, absorbing, mildly thought-provoking and moving.  7/10

Keith described an "entirely linear plot" and "the inevitable forward motion" of one man's failure to swerve any of the moral hazards he encounters while working as an expat lawyer in Russia.  The narrator is a flawed and cowardly man.  Despite this Keith wanted to read on because of the insights he got about Russian culture and society - and this coming from a man whose screen saver is a picture of him standing in Red Square.

Keith felt the book really nailed that heady sense of possibility that comes with the early stages of living abroad; the feeling that you can be who you want to be, run risks you never would normally take because you've stepped out of time for a bit.  Nick, the narrator, wanted his fiancé to forgive his depraved past and moral indifference. Keith stated that the the novel occasionally veered rather too much towards caricature and for this reason he felt he could only award it with 6/10 using his new harsh marking system (in which a ten is an impossibility).

Tristan really enjoyed the book. It was an easy read, but quite a page turner.  Tristan knows next to nothing about modern Russia (other than a rather dubious take on it from James Hawes' Rancid Aluminium), so he rather enjoyed the author's personal assessment of Russia and the Russians. Having said that, it did sometimes feel like point-scoring as he revealed yet another observation about Russian life, but on balance Tristan liked it, and especially the comparisons with the UK.

The author's bleak view of the seediness, hopelessness and corruption is no doubt exaggerated for literary effect, but Tristan was sure there must be some grains of truth in there somewhere.  Tristan enjoyed the characters, especially the embittered foreign correspondent, and the neighbour who spoke in aphorisms ("only an idiot smiles all the time", "invite a pig to dinner and it will put its feet on the table").  Tristan also liked the sense of foreboding created by his revealing in advance that things weren't going to work out well, although the whole concept of him writing to his fiancé was an annoying distraction.

In terms of the character of the protagonist, Tristan liked his strained relations with his family ("we sat looking at the children, willing them to do something adorable or eccentric"). The one thing he wasn't convinced about was his motivation: if he knew what was going on, how come there wasn't a bigger sense of fatalism? ie how could he be naive and knowing at the same time? In this sense, his motivation seemed unclear, and the ending felt a bit weak.  Overall, though, Tristan concluded it was a good, if light, read, and gave it 6.5/10.

A very respectable overall rating of 7 out of 10 for AD Miller's debut novel from Hove's Premier Book Group.

"Brother" directed by Aleksei Balabanov

To compliment Snowdrops, Hamish had also selected a film called "Brother" which was directed by Aleksei Balabanov.

Hamish observed that "Brother" is the only one of Balabanov's films to be set in a socially articulated contemporary Russia, and it effectively delineates the contradictions between the provinces and the big city, between the penurious old Russia and the new Russia of petty mafiosi and feckless youth. It shows the casual contemporary Russian racism towards Jews, Chechens and other "black-arsed" trans-Caucasians. The film's protagonist Danila symbolises the beginning of the backlash against total cultural Americanisation.

Hamish felt that the the film also gave a wonderfully resonant picture of modern St Petersburg, the most ambiguous and multifarious of Russian cities. When Danila arrives we are given brief glimpses of its classical centre, including the statue of the Bronze Horseman by the Neva, but we also get the tenement blocks of 19th-century Petersburg, inhabited by the heroes of Gogol and Dostoevsky. (Indeed the whole film can be seen as an ironic subversion of Crime and Punishment, with the killing but without the repentance.) And, cheek by jowl, we also see the Soviet Leningrad of communal flats and the new, bourgeois Petersburg of the glamorous rock elite.

Tristan found this an interesting film to watch, mostly because of its portrayal of Russia around the turn of the millennium. He liked the moral ambiguity of the protagonist, and his descent into violence. However, it did feel rather ham-fisted in a lot of places, and he found the protagonist's love of the music of Nautilus Pompilius somewhat silly. Pros: learnt a new way to eat an egg.  Cons: the bullet proof CD player stretched his credulity.

Nigel thought it was interesting to see Leningrad/St Petersburg depicted in a film set in the late 1990s.  Nigel described the film as "watchable and reasonably entertaining if barely credible".  Ultimately he felt the film was a disappointment - it was directed in a very routine manner with average cinematography.  Whilst providing a few insights into the grimness of Russia post-Communism and the bleakness of life there was very little to elevate it above average. Enjoyable tosh.

Thereafter we discussed all manner of interesting topics - the suitability of the book and film "Hunger Games" for ten year old girls; the extent to which Roy Hodgson would make a good England manager; the London Mayoral election; the film "Il divo" (2008) - the story of Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, who has served as Prime Minister of Italy seven times since the restoration of democracy in 1946; how much we miss Nick Smith; the history of the world; poker tournaments; prostate pain; Arthurian legend; Model T Fords; Sasa Papac; and just how cold it can get in Moscow.

Nigel then introduced his idea for a Patrick Hamilton themed discussion based around his book "Hangover Square", and - with that in mind - here's a couple of items to set the tone for our forthcoming Hamilton Fest...

Patrick Hamilton - introductory video

  

nigeyb's imagined soundtrack to the book 'Hangover Square' by Patrick Hamilton

Hangover Square: nigeyb's imagined soundtrack by Nigeyb on Mixcloud

'The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories' by Leo Tolstoy

On Thursday 29th March 2012, Hove's premier book group once again convened at The Poets Corner pub for another evening of top flight cultural debate, crisps, ale, insight and conviviality. Keith, who chose the book, explained how much he loved 'War & Peace' and how much he wanted to revisit Leo Tolstoy's writing.  He concluded that a book of shorter stories would be the perfect choice for the intelligentsia that comprises Hove Book Group. 
Keith enjoyed the "big themes" and enjoyed Tolstoy's descriptive writing.  He was particularly taken with the idea of marriage as, in Tolstoy's words, "licensed debauchery".  

In addition to 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories', Keith had also asked us to read the preface to Leo Tolstoy's 'The Kingdom Of God Is Within You'.  Turning to this book, Keith described it as "powerful stuff" and, like Leo Tolstoy, Keith called for "an end to Government".  Who would heed Keith's call?  Keith suggested we award a score out of ten for both books as a combined package before awarding them with an impressive 9/10.  Lavish.

The group then turned to Tristan for his all important verdict.  Tristan praised Leo Tolstoy's "clear and concise prose style" and stated that 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' was "great".  Tristan particularly enjoyed the parallels between Ivan Ilyich playing his role as a legal professional and the role played by the doctor who was treating Ivan Ilyich once he became ill.  Tristan lavished 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories' with 8 out of 10, suggesting that perhaps he hadn't got round to 'The Kingdom Of God Is Within You'.  Tasty.


Hamish explained that this was the first book he'd read on a Kindle.  He did not enjoy the experience as much as he'd hoped.  Was this the precursor to a savage review?  Don looked on with an expression of detached curiosity.

Hamish explained how he had studied the history of Russia at University and this knowledge had contributed to a sense of keen anticipation.  Unlike 'War and Peace', Hamish did not get such a clear sense of Russia whilst reading 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories' and was slightly disappointed by this.  That said, he dug the likeable characters in "The Devils", and he wondered what Tolstoy thought was the true nature of love.  We all pondered this question, and - whilst we were pondering - Hamish awarded the book a 7 out of 10.  Knowledgeable.

Keith

Nigel was "very happy" with Keith's of 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich And Other Stories' having meant to read some Tolstoy "for eons".  Short stories seemed like an ideal entry point and to an extent this proved to be the case.  

Nigel thought that the main story - 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' - was profound and shocking, as it takes a hard and unflinching stare into the abyss as Ivan Ilyich's realises how his material and career successes have come at such a significant moral cost.  An "amazing tale" that is as relevant today as it was in late 19th-century St Petersburg as so much of what Tolstoy describes still rings true.  Nigel admired the story's structure.  Ivan Ilyich's death is announced at the story's inception and immediately we learn the reactions of some of his colleagues. In essence all that concerns these people is is what the death means for their career and circumstances.  Part of the story's power lies in the realisation that Ivan Ilyich is a reasonable person, an everyman, and whilst not perfect, he's certain in no way a bad person.  He doesn't deserve to endure his physical and mental tortures and the hellish realisation that his life has been one long succession of mis-steps.  

Don

Nigel wondered what this story tells us about our own lives.  A number of themes emerged. The importance of living a good life. Tolstoy believed that the more simply a man lived, the better his life would be - hence the significance of the Gerasim, who offers kindness and honesty, in contrast to Ilyich's family.  The other is the attack on the hypocrisy and pointlessness of many middle class lives.  Like cleanliness, simplicity seems to be closest to Godliness.  A literary masterpiece.

Nigel was unimpressed by 'The Kreutzer Sonata'.  The novel appears to advocate sexual abstinence.  Nigel thought the message was very dated and the story was far too long and rambling due to so much unnecessary detail.  Nigel was curious about how the novella's message fitted in with Tolstoy's religious convictions.  Tolstoy believed it was the Church - and not Jesus Christ - who promoted marriage.  A true Christian's only loves God and his neighbour, and therefore carnal love (and marriage) is self-serving and so gets in the way of serving God and humankind.

Nigel

By the time Nigel got onto 'The Devil' his appetite for Tolstoy was starting to wane.  In this tale Tolstoy's moralism informs a couple of endings - both, unsurprisingly, show how Eugene's lustfulness brings about disastrous results.  Nigel wondered what Tolstoy would have made of the way society changed in the Twentieth Century.

Nigel was surprised to discover that 'The Kingdom Of God Is Within You' is a key text of Christian Anarchism.  Christian Anarchism? Who knew?  Nigel confessed that he didn't read much of the book as he found the old fashioned language too distracting, however he did research the ideas which he thought were interesting.  

Christian anarchists believe that there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable, the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus. Christian anarchists denounce the State as they claim it is violent, deceitful and, when glorified, a form of idolatry.  Take Britain.  Britain defines itself as a Christian country and yet so flagrantly and frequently ignores the commandment 'Thou Shalt Not Kill'.  When it suits Britain, its citizens have been actively encouraged to go out and kill.

Nigel explained that it was the Roman Emperor Constantine who is responsible for the birth of modern Christianity. Constantine legalised and actively promoted Christianity but in doing so transformed it from a humble bottom-up sect to an authoritarian top-down organisation.  Constantine ignored those teachings of Christ that did not suit his agenda and more actively promoted the idea of baby Jesus and the virgin birth.  Our celebration of Christmas originates from Constantine's approach.  Christian anarchists refer to this as the "Constantinian shift".  The moment  when Christianity became identified with the will of the ruling elite, ultimately becoming the State church of the Roman Empire, and in some cases (such as the Crusades, and the Inquisition) a religious justification for violence.

Robin

Tolstoy's book argues for the principle of non-violent resistance as a response to violence.  Tolstoy sought to separate Orthodox Russian Christianity (which was merged with the State) from what he believed was the true gospel of Jesus Christ - specifically the Sermon on the Mount.  Tolstoy argues that all governments who wage war are an affront to Christian principles.  Turning the other cheek means exactly that.  Tolstoy rejects the interpretations of Roman and medieval scholars who attempted to limit the scope of this commandment.  Tolstoy suggests that those who oppose a non-violent society have a vested interest in retaining power - and that the modern church is a heretical creation.

The book was an inspiration to Gandhi.  The book, along with Tolstoy's 'A Letter to a Hindu', inspired the idea of passive resistance.  Gandhi used the idea to organise nationwide non-violent strikes and protests between 1918-1947 which ultimately helped achieve the overthrow the colonial British Empire in India. 

Nigel awarded the combined selection of short stories and 'the Kingdom of God' a 6/10.  Comprehensive.

Don explained how he was "dreading" the book.  However his sense of dread soon turned to "surprise" and feelings of enjoyment, positivity and delight.  Don enjoyed the style and language.  He said it was a contrast to "the awful Joyce" (see previous entry).  Don then explained how after 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' he started to experience a sense of predictability and, finally, he became "tired of the darkness".  Overall he felt the stories warranted a 6.5 out of 10.  The Don had spoken. Finality.

Finally, for the literary selections, all eyes turned to Robin.  Robin took a deep breath, milking the anticipation for all it was worth, before wondering why there wasn't more discussion on the subject of death.  Robin then explained that, like Ivan Ilyich, he started to experience a pain in his side whilst reading the book, and also in common with Ivan Ilych, by the end of this book Robin had come to understand the worthlessness of his life.  Robin explained that, paradoxically, this realisation elevated him above "the common man" who avoids the reality of death and the effort it takes to make life worthwhile.  Robin explained how "Ivan Ilyich's life had been most ordinary and therefore most terrible".....before concluding that the book "was not as good as Dostoyevsky".  7/10.  Insightful. 


A very respectable average score of 7 for both books from Hove's finest literary critics.

For his musical selection Keith had decided to chose The Libertines: Time For Heroes - The Best Of The Libertines.  Keith explained how a libertine is one devoid of most moral restraints, which are seen as unnecessary or undesirable, especially one who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behaviour sanctified by the larger society. Libertines place value on physical pleasures, meaning those experienced through the senses. As a philosophy, libertinism gained new-found adherents in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, particularly in France and Great Britain. Notable among these were John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, and the Marquis de Sade.  A "libertine" is generally defined today as "a dissolute person; usually a person who is morally unrestrained".  

Keith thought it difficult to state exactly what The Libertines contributed in their mercifully short time together other than a brief military jacket fad, a handful of okay tunes and a quite tragic, boring narcissist in love with celebrity self-mythology. He was - in short - underwhelmed having not previously heard much of their oeuvre. Unmoved.

Tristan was more enthused and said he liked the music but was concerned about this material being "the best".  What on earth - he wondered - was their worst stuff like?

Nigel explained how he took an interest in The Libertines back in the early 2000s when he heard they were being produced by Mick Jones of The Clash.  Nigel quite liked them but was never that enthusiastic.  Listening to them now, Nigel was struck by how they are even less interesting and relevant than he'd remembered.  In the same way that the music of Gary Glitter is forever tainted, so is the music of The Libertines.  For Nigel, Pete Doherty is a symbol of all that is wrong with youth culture.  Delusions of profundity; glamourising the junkie lifestyle; fecklessness; and so on.  Essentially a celebration of squalor, unreliability, and image over substance.  At their best The Libertines distantly evoke the passion of The Clash, alas those moments are few and far between.  Their relative prominence in the early 2000s showed the extent to which indie guitar rock was a spent force by the turn of the century.  Nigel conceded that he liked 'Fuck Forever', a song by Babyshambles - Pete Doherty's post-Libertines band, and quite enjoyed a few of the other Libertines tracks: Can't Stand Me Now, Don't Look Back Into The Sun, and Time For Heroes. Overall though, he wasn't "feeling it".  Dismissive.

Finally we briefly discussed the film 'Gandhi' directed by Richard Attenborough.  'The Kingdom Of God Is Within You' was an inspiration to Gandhi.  The book, along with Tolstoy's 'A Letter to a Hindu', inspired the idea of passive resistance.  Gandhi used the idea to organise nationwide non-violent strikes and protests between 1918-1947 which ultimately helped achieve the overthrow the colonial British Empire in India. 

Keith heralded the film as an "epic interpretation" of the forces which shaped Gandhi and how these filtered into his relationship with India.  He went on to state that the film depicted Gandhi as "a man of deep simplicity".  Awestruck.

Nigel admired Ben Kinglsey's mesmeric performance however felt that, overall, the film was far too long; felt a bit muddled and disjointed; was too traditional; played it too safe; and was ultimately a bit boring.  Nigel wondered if the real Gandhi was quite as saintly and perfect as this film suggested, and if the US journalists played by Candice Bergen and Martin Sheen even existed. If the journalists were real did they really play such a large part in Gandhi's story?  Or was it just a question of getting some more American stars into the cast?  And were the British really so arrogant and objectionable, and as responsible for everything that went wrong?  

Nigel answered some of his questions via a bit of online research that suggested the real Gandhi could be stubborn, tyrannical, difficult to communicate with, and almost impossible to please. He was an abusive father, he demanded his wife be utterly obedient and subservient to him, was obsessed with the working of his bowels, suffered long bouts of depression, and sometimes would not talk to anyone around him, letting his associates bicker and quarrel and create problems amongst his friends and allies. Even into his 80's Gandhi slept naked with the young women who were always around him to test his ability to resist worldly pleasures.  These aspects of his personality suggest the Attenborough chose to only focus on the positive stuff.  Perhaps a more balanced portrait might have resulted in a more watchable and engaging film. Critical.

And so, after more crisps and ale, we bade each other another fond farewell.  Before we left Hamish unveiled his choice for next time, one that sticks with the Russian theme.  We will be discussing 'Snowdrops' by AD Miller.  

Watch this space.  

Expectant.

'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' by James Joyce

On 23rd February 2012, Hove's premier book group gathered at The Poets Corner pub for another evening of cultural discourse, ale, insight and bonhomie.

The biggest shock, and biggest disappointment, was that Nick - who had made the selections - had to unexpectedly work late and so we were not able to hear his thoughts about the text he had set us.

At Nick's behest we read 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' by James Joyce.

Nick would probably have said something like, "James Joyce’s 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' is a novel of complex themes developed through frequent allusions to classical mythology.  The myth of Daedalus and Icarus serves as a structuring element in the novel, uniting the central themes of individual rebellion and discovery, producing a work of literature that illuminates the motivations of an artist, and the development of his individual philosophy."  Probably.  Alas, we'll never know for sure.

Nick

Don kicked things off by describing the book as "dense".  He then added it was "uninspiring and turgid".  He stopped reading at page 99.  Joyce's description of hell was too disturbing.  Don had read enough.  5/10.  A pass.  Apparently.

Tristan described how the book inspired great emotion within him...anger...and irritation.  He thought James Joyce was a bit of a dick.  Whilst he liked some of the period detail and some of the prose, he wondered what was going on with James Joyce.  The Dedalus character annoyed him and he found much of the book dense and intractable. 3/10.  

Robin gave up on the book at page 200.  He observed how the book saw a mature artist look back over his youth, perceiving what was significant to his development, estimating what was vital, and what was transitory, in that evolvement.  Robin thought that by observing and graphically depicting what confines man, and how man overcomes this confinement, and he might live once he is free, James Joyce helped him to understand the motivations and the outlets for human expression.  Robin stated that - like Daedalus and Icarus - Stephen Dedalus assumed the role of "a persecuted hero" who must overcome his personal weaknesses, and the oppression of his environment, to gain spiritual enlightenment. 6/10.

Robin

Nigel wanted to like it and was excited about reading it; he was attracted by the lack of a traditional narrative and the book's reputation and Joyce's reputation. Nigel enjoyed the early descriptions of his family, the descriptions of his school days especially when he had a fever, the questioning of his faith especially the vivid description of hell (though he felt this was perhaps a few pages too long), and the way he finally overcomes the pressures of country, family and Catholicism.  Some descriptive passages were memorable and powerful, for example the play, and the evening where Dedalus ends up on the beach.

Nigel thought the book was probably of greatest interest to scholars and academics and those interested in the history of literature (and in particular the modernist phase).  He likened it to experimental music whilst it makes an important statement it doesn't necessarily make for a good listen, or in this case a good read.  Nigel felt the lengthy university conversations towards the end of the book were particularly tedious.  Ultimately he was unsure what Joyce was trying to say, and wondered about the point of the book.  He didn't feel he'd gained very much by reading it, and would not recommend it. He said, "It's perfectly fine, but vastly overrated by many." 5/10. 

Keith

Keith described it as "challenging" whilst also being "a bit of a ramble".  He conceded that, whilst many novelists choose their own young life as the subject for their first book, very few subject themselves to the intense self-scrutiny of Joyce.  Keith enjoyed the way Joyce wrestled with the pressures of his family, his Church and his nation, and yet thought the book was far from a straightforward youthful tirade. Keith concluded that the novel was "daringly experimental" and "took us deep into Stephen's psyche".  He then concluded by giving the book the highest score of the night.  8/10.  Nick would have been so proud.  

An overall rating of 5.4 from Hove's finest.

Next we discussed Nick's film choice 'The Guard'.

Keith thought it was fun, but didn't bear much scrutiny, and then awarded it with 8/10.

Nigel thought it was funny, provocative and clever, and he gave it 9/10.

Robin gave it 7/10, and added that he preferred 'In Bruges'.

Hamish thought it was a good romp and gave it 8/10.

Tristan enjoyed it very much and gave it 7.5/10.

Don........had gone home.





Finally we discussed a Simple Minds' compilation 'Early Gold'.  Nick had distributed the music under the moniker ‘Mystery Celtic Sounds’.

There was a lot of love for Simple Minds from Nigel and Hamish.  Keith was more dismissive.  We enjoyed a  great discussion on the UK/Irish bands that made it in America and those that didn't.  And what Simple Minds lost when they went "stadium".

Hamish said he was obviously initially disappointed that the ‘Mystery Celtic Sounds’ emerging from his speakers were not the opening bars to "Rattle and Hum" but he also acknowledged that "you can’t have everything".  He described how his mid-teenage years saw ample airplay for U2, Simple Minds and Big Country.  He was particularly keen on U2 back in those halcyon days.  Hamish was interested to note that Jim and Charlie said U2 had based 'Unforgettable Fire' on 'New Gold Dream'. 

Hamish could not think of another band that went from being so effortlessly cool, to being so completely and utterly uncool, as Simple Minds.  And on that bombshell we bade each other could night and wended our way out into the cool night air.

Next time we will be discussing Keith's picks.  Watch this space.

'Room' by Emma Donoghue

Hove Book Group's first gathering of 2012 was on Thursday 12 January to discuss 'Room' by Emma Donoghue.

Tristan explained that he chose this book because it was not a biography and was written by a female author.  He thought the escape scene was dramatic and the TV interview was the heart of the book. Tristan thought it was original, well written, great and gripping.  9/10

Don reached page 82 before leaving the book in a hotel room.  He liked the first 82 pages.

Robin chose not to read the book.  He was reading another book and didn't want to read a book about "child abuse".  Robin wondered if the author made a cynical move to write about a topic that would sell.  Robin's comments sparked a debate about the extent to which the book was about child abuse and the author's motivation.

Keith thought the book was ambitious however thought that the device of the five year old as a narrator stretched credibility and wondered if - consequently - the book lost more than it gained. That said he awarded the book 8/10.

Hamish agreed with Robin and wondered if anyone should be writing about this subject.  He didn't feel the book was very realistic and declined to give it a score.

Nick declared that he was a libertarian and that the author can write anything she wants and that society is judge and jury. Overall Nick was very impressed by the book and gave it 8/10.

Nigel found the early part of the book annoying and distasteful but, after the escape, warmed to it considerably.  Whilst unconvinced that a five year would narrate the story in this way he thought the book was ambitious and occasionally very moving.  Like Tristan, he thought the TV interview was wonderful, describing it as the best thing in the book as it exposed the shallowness and easy stereotypes of most of the mainstream media 8/10.

Jason's partner's all female book group had read and enjoyed the book.  Jason thought it was really interesting how, as males, this book group was more agitated by the content.  Jason devoured the book and thought it was a well told, compelling tale 8/10.

On average Hove Book Group gave 'Room' by Emma Donoghue a score of 8.2.  The book provoked an interesting and, at times, feisty discussion.

Tristan also chose the film 'Somers Town' which is directed by Shane Meadows.

Tristan cuts Shane "a lot of slack" - he liked the music and the cinematography but thought the tale was unbelievable 6/10.

Robin thinks 'Dead Man's Shoes' is "a masterpiece" and so also cuts Shane "some slack".  This is a sweet film but not in the same league as DMS 7/10.

Nigel is also an admirer of the work of Shane Meadows but thinks this is one of Shane's less interesting films  6/10.

Keith was expecting something grittier and characterised this as a tale of youthful innocence 5/10.

Nick is a "massive, massive" Shane Meadows fan and think he is a "genius film maker".  Nick gave this film 7/10.

Next time out the book group will be debating Nick's Celtic-tinged choices.  Watch this space.