The Vegetarian (2007) by Han Kang

 Tristan's choices

Theme: Metamorphosis (aka disturbing things made by those pesky foreigners)

Tristan wanted unsettling and that’s exactly what he got 

READ: The Vegetarian (2007) by Han Kang

We all enjoyed and appreciated Han Kang’s book with the notable exception of Hamish who labelled it a dull read. 

The portrait of Yeong-Hye, a woman withdrawing (into mental illness?) and related in three parts: (1) by her dull, unimaginative husband; (2) by her brother-in-law, who becomes obsessed and then exploitative, and (3) by her sister, the only person who truly cares about her

Both Yeong-Hye and her sister In-Hye have very disinterested husbands. Is this coincidence? Or is it their family background which may have contributed to her breakdown?

Interesting that Yeong Hye rejecting meat is so transgressive and beyond the pale. 

Despite possibly being a book about the patriarchy (the author denies this), there’s also a universality about it. Few of us haven’t felt like retreating into ourselves as a form of protest at having pressure and expectation heaped upon us. 

It’s a powerful, original and atmospheric read that packs quite a punch. There’s some vivid imagery and a palpable sense of tragic withdrawal and subsequent loss of opportunities.

Very matter of fact style that is easy to read and which belies some quite challenging content. If this is representative of South Korean society then it is the patriarchy on steroids. 

Vivid and violent scenes include Yeong Hye clearing freezer of meat, Yeong Hye’s father forcing the family dog to run behind a motorbike, Yeong Hye’s family intervention including slapping her and trying to force feed her meat, Yeong Hye’s brother in law’s dream about bodies painted with flowers, lengthy handstands in the hospital, and more force feeding. No wonder she wanted out of being human.

Nick 8 / Tristan 7 / Nigel 9 / Keith 6 / Roland - / Robin 7 / Hamish 3

LISTEN: Transphormer (2004) by Alter Ego

Hamish loves electronic music, but not this onslaught. Tristan wanted a contrast to Taverner’s choral music from last month. Spiky and raw but he likes it. Robin thought it dreadful. Keith dubbed it ordinary. Nick liked it and thought it evoked The Streets

Nick - / Tristan 9 / Nigel 4 / Keith - / Roland - / Robin 7 / Hamish 2

WATCH: The Skin I Live In (2011) directed by Pedro Almodovar 

Nigel thought it was silly and could not get past the implausibilities. Hamish thought it was brilliant: a captivating, stylish, beautiful, terrifying, memorable work. Keith thought it had aged poorly. Tristan appreciated the insanity and weirdness, which had merit. Nick said it was a nuts schlocky horror flick.

Nick - / Tristan - / Nigel 3 / Keith - / Roland - / Robin - / Hamish 8

HBG endorse it: 19th April 2024 - 22 May 2024

Nye (National Theatre)

NTS Radio (Ad free Internet radio station/App)

Romesh Ranganathan / Hustle (Live)

The Abbey with Alan Bennett (BBC iPlayer)

The Other Boleyn Girl (Chichester festival theatre)

The Making Of Berlin (Brighton Festival)

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

Super-Infinite - The Transformations of John Donne (2022) by Katherine Rundell

 Nick's choices

Theme: Let’s Get (Meta)physical

Time, space, death.… 

READ: Super-Infinite - The Transformations of John Donne (2022) by Katherine Rundell

Trying to find meaning is nothing new. Poet, preacher, contrarian and saucy sonnet writer - just the tip of the Donne iceberg

Surprisingly good was the consensus. Roland, ever the contrarian, didn’t like it. At all.

Nick 7.5 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 7 / Keith 8 / Roland 4 / Robin 7 / Hamish 7.5

 

LISTEN: Tavener Metaphysical: a short introduction to John Tavener playlist

Ethereal, celestial, spiritual, meditative, spine tingling, transports the listener - all liked it except Tristan

WATCH: Oppenheimer (2023) directed by Christopher Nolan 

Everyone found something good to say. Hamish bandied the M word - masterpiece. Most felt it could have lost an hour. Keith didn’t particularly enjoy it. Too much exposition

HBG endorse it: 8 February 2024 - 16 March 2024

Homegrown Festival, Brighton

How To Have Sex (Film - MUBI)

Zoo Studios Rave in Lewes

This Cultural Life (BBC Radio 4)

Civil War (2024) dir by Alex Garland (Cinema)

Perfect Days (2023) dir by Wim Wenders (MUBI)

Ripley (Netflix)

The Assembly (BBC)

This Town (BBC)

Emily the Criminal (Netflix)

A Winter Book - Selected Stories (2006) by Tove Jansson

 Robin's choices

Theme: Somewhat Chilly

Sadly only three HBGers attended this in person with written reviews being more plentiful that in person, face-to-face discussion on Sunday 17th March 2024 at Robin's penthouse flat in central Lewes

READ: A Winter Book - Selected Stories (2006) by Tove Jansson

Tove’s short stories were not to everyone’s taste but a small majority were enthused

Nick 7 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 4 / Keith 5 / Roland 4 / Robin 7 / Hamish 7.5

 

LISTEN: Ágætis byrjun (1999) by Sigur Rós

One of those albums that seemed completely ubiquitous when it came out. 

Nick OK / Tristan not good / Nigel 8 / Keith not his thing / Roland 6 / Robin 7 / Hamish good

WATCH: The Thing (1982) directed by John Carpenter 

From “killing” his computerised chess game in a fit of pique, this classic film is ultimately a study of masculinity in crisis. Unlike Alien, this is all blokes under siege from an alien life form, and all are behaving in a stereotypically classic masculine fashion. An alien? Nothing a load of dynamite and flamethrowers won’t fix though why they have quite so much dynamite, and a flamethrower, is never explained. Not to everyone’s taste though…

Nick didn’t like / Tristan liked / Nigel 8 / Keith not keen / Roland 8 / Robin 8 / Hamish liked

HBG endorse it: 8 February 2024 - 16 March 2024

The Rest Is History - Britain in 1974 episodes (Podcast)

Death comes to Pemberley (Netflix)

Past Lives (Netflix)

American Fiction (2023) dir by Cord Jefferson (Film)

Society of the Snow (Netflix)

Saltburn (Film) (Prime)

The Kitchen (2023) dir by by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya (Netflix)

Anatomy of a Fall (Film)

Poor Things (Film) (Disney+)

The Dome cinema, Worthing

Madame Bovary (1857) by Gustave Flaubert

 Roland's choice

Theme: Infidelity

READ: Madame Bovary (1857) by Gustave Flaubert

There was a lot of love for Madame Bovary. Some really loved it others were more taken with certain sections. 

Roland wants to break free

Madame Bovary is very good on the day to day detail, and relative dreariness, of provincial French life in the 1830s. Flaubert parachutes the reader straight into the community and creates a vivid picture

The characters are credible and Emma Bovary is well drawn, and with far too much time on her hands to repent her disappointing marriage to the bland, stolid Charles. Her lack of options and frustration with this predicament lead, famously, to reckless affairs and consumerism with particularly tragic results. The novel is one long, slow car crash.

As with many books of the era, the tale is drawn out with an awful lot of extraneous detail yet still peppered with some memorable moments, beautiful writing, and a powerful atmosphere. 

Nick 8 / Tristan 8.5 / Nigel 6 / Keith 6 / Roland 9 / Robin 6 / Hamish 8

LISTEN: Hard Steppin' (2009) by Ikebe Shakedown

Ikebe Shakedown and their Hard Steppin’ EP were something none of were familiar with. Some loved their driving afro-funk, horns and wakka-wakka guitars others felt it a bit meh. You pays yer money etc etc 

WATCH: Leaving (2009) directed by Catherine Corsini

Roland still wants to break free

A somewhat improbable film about infidelity and its repercussions. When a wife is unfaithful to her husband, he cannot accept it. She wants to leave and move in with her new lover. He stops all financial support, and ultimately blackmails the wife into staying with him. It all ends tragically. None of it stands up to scrutiny. 

All that said, some of us were thoroughly enjoyed it, not least Nick who thought it our best film for many a moon

HBG endorse it: 10 January 2024 - 8 February 2024

Killing Thatcher by Rory Carroll (Book)

All of us Strangers (Film)

The Holdovers (Film)

The Book of Mormon (Musical)

Inherent Vice (dir by Paul Thomas Anderson) (Film)

Miners Strike 1984 - The Battle for Britain (4OD)

Red Rocket (Netflix)

Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan (Book)

Big Boys (Channel Four)

Lee Miller exhibition (Brighton Museum)