The Brick Lane Book Group – proudly serving the East End since 2007
Every other Tuesday, 9pm at Eastside Books, E1
Next meeting: Tuesday September 14th
Current book: Notes from The Underground – Dostoyevsky
The Brick Lane Book Group meets every other Tuesday for a couple of sociable hours of drinks, music and literary conversation, in a chummy atmosphere. Bring your choice of tipple, and some decent CDs! We’ll be discussing the book we’ve all been reading, amongst other things. The ambit of this group is modern literary fiction, with occasional forays into other literary forms when the mood takes us. The Brick Lane Book Group is all about kicking back and finding a little headspace amongst like-minded folk.
Anyone with a genuine love of good books is welcome! Whichever book we’re reading, you’ll be able to get it for 15% less via Eastside Books; come along regularly (the group meets once a fortnight) and you’ll get 15% off everything else in the shop too.
We meet at Eastside Books, 166 Brick Lane, E1. If you’re thinking about attending, please email in advance, to let us know to expect you.
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FORTHCOMING BOOKS
Notes from The Underground – Dostoyevsky – September 14th
Exodus – Julie Bertagna – September 28th
Black Swan Green – David Mitchell – October 12th
The Act of Love – Howard Jacobson – October 26th
Remote people – Evelyn Waugh – November 9th
Casanova – John Masters – November 23rd
My uncle Oswald – Roald Dahl – December 7th
The B.O.C. Gas Catalogue 2011-2012 – Wang – December 21st
Me Cheeta – James Lever – January 4th
Neuromancer – William Gibson – January 18th
Henderson the Rain King – Saul Bellow – February 1st
The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga – February 15th
WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING…
(reviews written by various members of the group; may contain plot spoilers)
THE HANDMAIDEN’S TALE – MARGARET ATTWOOD
Margaret Attwood’s ‘speculative fiction’ stimulated lively discussion at Tuesday’s book club meeting and, as usual, it ranged far wider than the themes identified in the book!
Originally published in 1985 the story, in a nutshell, follows the thoughts and description of events as narrated by an enigmatic unnamed female, the ‘Handmaiden’ of the title, who finds herself caught in the confined and restrictive society of a ‘future’ America, stealthily overcome and then oppressively ruled by a right wing autocracy of Christian Zealots.
‘Flashback’ narrative is used to contrast the kind of life she used to enjoy, and dangers she used to face, with the nature of her existence ‘now’ and explores themes of oppression, male dominance (in some ways the society described is an interpretation of some men’s wish fulfilment!), and, perhaps above all, the need to survive and find small satisfactions in such a tightly controlled and, for the narrator, apparently empty world.
Opinion of the book seemed to be universally favourable – participants variously enjoyed the unembellished writing, imagery, ‘believability’ of the main protagonist – the narrator – (heroine?), the ‘cleverness’ of the plot, and as an interesting and though-provoking story.
Attwood clearly drew much inspiration from the work of Orwell’s 1984 – there are many striking similarities – the pettiness of oppression, the subjugation of affection to a ‘higher cause’ (God instead of Big Brother), the central characters grabbing at a relationship, no matter how much of a threat and how tenuous the reason, in the face of denial etc etc. However it does not read as ‘merely a rehash’ of that work, but as, possibly, a striking non-didactic reworking of the theme from a ‘feminist’ perspective.
THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST – MOHSIN HAMID
A gripping narrative and award-nominated fiction, promises the blurb on the back cover of Hamid’s second novel. Intelligently written and nominated for awards, we felt, because of its style, controversial subject matter and ambitious intentions, this novel was not without its flaws and elicited lively reactions and tangential discussion.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist portrays the ideological transformation of a man. Changez, the protagonist, is caught between two worlds; between the parochial ignorance of imperialist America and the lowly concerns and values of the Pakistan he cannot leave behind.
Political ideology portrayed through effective psychological narrative is hard to pull off in even the most capable hands, and it was agreed that Hamid had not fully realised these high ambitions. Changez is in turn both astoundingly naive and disturbingly sinister, but his transformation, although largely well articulated, is kept within the abstract and is not clearly depicted within the narrative. The style of writing is intelligent and insightful, but where some found idiom, others found cliche. Where some felt tension, others felt let down. Frustrations were voiced about lack of characterisation and the denouement of both plot lines.
Ultimately, however, most felt that this novel was a worthwhile read. It carries an important message for egocentric, hubristic America. It is apparent this work has fallen short of its grander, literary aims, but in the substantial wake of 9/11 and its place within American literature, Hamid has lifted the veil on a distinct and very necessary world perspective.
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Nature or nurture? What is the soul? We discussed these questions but it seems that people are as unlikely to change their views on such things on a cold Tuesday eve in Brick Lane, as they would be to go and repaint a new used car – which is understandable. Let’s say though that perhaps the soul of a clone has differences to that of a non-clone – who knows?
Drama and high sad excitement are produced when a tape is found in a Norfolk junk shop and when two friends find a chance to chat alone in a boarding school with a spooky difference. The author leaves many details cleverly out some say, therefore deep meaning can be found in the seemingly trivial. All liked this book as it’s difficult to Escape from, once started.
SUCCESS – MARTIN AMIS
The author takes us into the minds of two contrasting brothers as they move from their idyllic countryside house and its summers lazing by the D-pond to the underground trains, pubs, parties and hung-over first jobs in London. Some in the group felt the thoughts and imaginings of the two main characters were shocking as drunken sex scenes, late parties and the calculated pursuit of suitable or un-suitable women was spelt out, while others thought that perhaps some of these scenes are designed to elicit maximum jealousy say or annoyance, on behalf of the other brother whose own chapter was soon to follow.
On a second half reflection most of the group found something in the book to chuckle over and some even thought the comedy and sophistication of the work top rate but it did seem that most would not be rushing out to locate their second helping of Amis’s London, even though they may one day be sitting on a rain swept train rushing through the countryside and find themselves thinking a little of Terry and his last moving twilight visit to the D-pond on the family estate – the family who adopted him at eight.
PERSEPOLIS – MARJANE SARTRAPI
Having a broad overview of the war in Iran meant we didn’t go into this book blind, but it was a real eye opener in respect to one individual’s response to the regime and religious fanatics. Being a teenager is hard enough, rebellion being the main stay of all 15yr olds lives, but through the novel Marjane Satrapi showed us the lighter side of life, and how her family and friends not only lived their lives but got through the night.
All agreed the cartoons were amazing, and the form was much more expressive than written words might have been (how do you show lots of girls sitting in silence better than by drawing lots of girls sitting in silence?). After publising this book Satrapi can not go back to her native Iran; we were left wondering whether the novel was her way of opening up Iran to the world, or her expression of guilt at leaving the others behind.
IF NOBODY TALKS OF REMARKABLE THINGS – JON MCGREGOR
The bum ending of this drumroll of a book threw, for some people, a pall over 250 pages of detailed observation. We were, expecting something a bit more, well – remarkable. The combination of universalising namelessness and statements of portent was effective as a build-up, too effective, perhaps. There was debate over whether the lyrical descriptions of suburban life were of sufficient quality not to be self-indulgent; questions too about the sharpness of the author’s eye. How did the grass suddenly dry out after a rainstorm? Why so many students home during the summer vac? Was the Mr Bennish variety of streetlife not a little twee? Some details, such as the touching behaviour of the old couple, were universally admired, and a useful dimension was added by the insight that this story was a response to the Princess Di hysteria. Ultimately, by dint of its poetry, this novel managed not to sound hollow. The most remarkable thing, though, was its author’s age.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
The book was generally considered to be gripping and the group had all been drawn to keep reading to the end even though it had been an unsettling and at times disturbing read. The book raised plenty of interesting topics: the nature/nurture debate; the unrealistic expectations of mothers of themselves and others in society; whether anything could have been done to stop Kevin committing his crime. However, the book was not without its flaws and the group were unconvinced with the portrayal of Kevin as unreedemingly evil from the day of his birth which they felt lacked realism, (although those in the group who did not have children did require some reassurance on this point from those who did)!
The group enjoyed Schriver’s style and the way in which the book had been written from one, flawed, point of view, leaving the reader guessing as to what had really happened. The only point at which the group felt let down by the author was in the ending which suggested forgiveness and redemption which seemed out of sync with the rest of the book, although an alternative reading of the ending in which Kevin and his mother are consigned to each others company for the rest of their lives as a form punishment rather than redemption was put forward.
RAGTIME – L.R. DOCTOROW
Like one of Houdini’s tricks, the group generally enjoyed Doctorow’s illusion of early 20th century America with its interweaving of historical figures and fictional characters despite the thinly-veiled ‘tick box’ approach to include those images and themes one associates with the ‘Great American Novel’. The group felt that the interweaving of the three families’ stories was at times contrived and the characterisation superficial but enjoyed Doctorow’s humour, particularly Mother’s Younger Brother’s tickertape introduction to Evelyn Nesbit! The narrative voice helped to keep the novel moving. The group were most taken with the story of Coalhouse Walker and the novel’s exploration of issues of race, class and identity.
DISGRACE – J.M. COETZE
Disgrace? Despair? Disconnect? The title alone caused debate. Characters were carefully drawn to contrast the perception of gender, race, sexual preference and age within South Africa; the ideas of multiple marriages, correctional rape of lesbians and carrying a gun for personal protection, were unsettling for many in the group, but perhaps an accurate description of the current political climate.
The novels plot centres on a 52yr old academic, who by general consensus of the group, should know better than to sleep with every woman he meets. Animals seemed to become a metaphor for the characters own personal struggle, culminating in a surreal moment between himself, a banjo and a howling mongrel, shortly followed by the death of his only canine friend.
Self interest, retreating into himself, and refusing to repent of his misdemeanours, diminishes any sympathy the group had for the character, but the beautiful descriptions and fluid language make this an enjoyable novel, with a fascinating undercurrent of violence, ancestral grudges and 19th century romantic poets.
TWO CARAVANS – MONICA LEWYCKA
For a ‘pop’ book Marina Lewcka’s ‘Two Caravans’ generated a surprising amount of passion. Lewcka’s story follows the experiences of a group of illegal migrant workers as they make their way, as best they can, through the varieties of low grade employment open to them here in the UK. Through sympathetically sketched characters it tries to make a serious point about how the vulnerable and unprotected in society are open to sometimes ruthless exploitation and abuse – and not always by those whose country they have come to share.
Some had been so disappointed by Ms Lewckas previous book (’A History of Tractors in Ukrainian’) that they were convinced they would not enjoy this book either. Some found the book’s tone too light to make its point about the hardship and unhappiness that some have to endure for our convenience and the profit of others. Others were irritated that the story seemed to meander into its own literary strawberry field and that the plot had more contrivances and coincidences than the Chronicles of Narnia. However, at the end of the evening there was consensus that, whilst not particularly thought-provoking nor eye-opening, the book was enjoyable enough to read, and Ms Lewcka’s heart was in the right place in writing it.
ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVICH – ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN
Much of the debate focussed on the author’s intention. Was it simply an account of a day or did it have a wider purpose? Would the book stand the test of time because it’s primarily a story of human survival in extreme advserse circumstances or because it is an historical account of the suffering of the Russian people under a Stalinist goverment? After all, we are all aware of what happened in gthe Russian prisoner camps. However, at the time of publication, it was very cntroversial. Was the author supporter or opponent of communism? Views were again sharply divided! It seemed that everyone enjoyed the book but it can be safely said that we are all looking forward to a lighter read next time around!
THE WOMAN DESTROYED – SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR
Having only just joined this wonderful Brick Lane Book Group it is a pleasure to feedback on our most recent book’ – that of Simone De Beauvoir’s ‘The Woman Destroyed’. Published in 1967, the book consists of three stories on the theme of women’s vulnerability. The first story relates the processes of ageing and rejection to a successful scholar confronting both her son’s abandonment of the career path she has chosen for him and critical rejection of her latest academic work. The second, about loneliness, is a short but beautifully constructed New Year’s Eve ‘rant’ from a woman whose son and husband have left her. It is, however, the third story on the growing indifference and departure of a loved one, and from which the title of the book is derived, that consistently caught the imagination and praise of our group. Taking the form of a diary the story informs and transforms as the author discovers her husband is having an affair. On a cold and frosty Tuesday evening this book was well-received by most members and a general feeling that this has been the best of the 2009 choices to date. Of course views varied (but then that is what makes for an excellent reading group which this most certainly is). There was, for example, a sense of frustration felt by many at the apparent helplessness of the three leading characters but other adjectives included ‘compassion’; ‘humour’; ‘pathos’; ‘empathy’ and ‘insightfulness’. But then, what else would you expect from this author and close friend of the writer and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre?
THE BOOK OF DISQUIET – FERNANDO PESSOA
Oh boy, did this book go down badly, particularly amongst the menfolk. It’s difficult doing critical justice to writing which the author never wanted published, and which, when it was put out 50 years after his death, had its sections completely and arbitrarily re-ordered. It’s also a book which does not read like a novel at all, although it is presented as though it were one. Everyone conceded that the poetic beauty in the Book of Disquiet was remarkable, but not enough to carry a reader through several hundred plotless, introverted pages.
DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND LONDON – GOERGE ORWELL
The book achieved a mostly positive response from the group, everyone finding it easy-to-read and engaging, although there were complaints that the titular intercity leap jarred. The big surprise was the undercurrent of racism. Jewish and European characters are stereotyped or mocked; this was unexpected, from an ostensibly left-wing writer. Discussion centred on whether the book was reportage or fictionalised memoir – the events did not happen in real life in the order he presented them – and on the difficulties of Orwell’s decision to experience life in the slums and on the streets. Since he had parents who could have supported him, and mentioned wanting to go back and learn more about the homeless, we wondered how close he really got to the inescapable, genuine experience that it was for others, and whether he was giving a voice to the working class or merely observing. Overall, most of us enjoyed the book. The essay-like passages and political insights that Orwell offers encouraged many of us to read more of his prose, especially his non-fiction.
THE PEOPLE’S ACT OF LOVE – JAMES MEEK
THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK – DORIS LESSING
THE SIEGE OF KRISHANPUR – J.G. FARRELL
LOST BOYS – JAMES MILLER
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S – TRUMAN CAPOTE
NORWEGIAN WOOD – MURAKAMI
AS I LAY DYING – WILLIAM FAULKNER
THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING – MILAN KUNDERA
THE ROAD – CORMAC MCCARTHY
CANDIDE - VOLTAIRE
CLOUD ATLAS – DAVID MITCHELL
CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES – JOHN KENNEDY TOOLE
