The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

This is the third book of the ‘Regeneration’ trilogy and is thought to have been awarded in recognition of the trilogy as a whole, pretty much like all the awards that were showered on the film version of  ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.  Therefore I feel a little guilty as due to the sheer volume of books to read, I am only reading and reviewing ‘The Ghost Road’ as the official Booker prize-winner. However, I will endeavour to read the other parts of ‘Regeneration’ when I finish (add it to that ever increasing list!), although this is not a general policy as there is no way I am doing the same for the ‘The Famished Road’.  Sorry, it would appear that that book has become the lower bar by which all forthcomings novels are compared, although my Dad did suggest we get hold of the third book in the series and read the last chapter to see what happened…if anything…although I realise that what happened is probably not the point, I remain extremely sceptical!

Anyway, if I return to the comparison of ‘The Return of the King’ – reading the last part only would probably be a little strange (call me conventional but I read ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in order) without the context and character development of the previous segments.  And I apply the same philosophy to ‘The Ghost Road’ – however, this book passed me in such a blink of an eye that I couldn’t help but wonder whether it warranted splitting up into its three component parts – why not just have reduced the large font size, and left it as one good book?  It was just far too short to invest any great emotion in although saying that the descriptions of the fighting and conditions in WW1 were harrowing.  Although I must say I have read books where I think the writing is far more affecting and compelling of the atrocities of WW1 such as Sebastian Faulk’s ‘Birdsong’.

I did find the storyline of the doctor at the hospital in Britain fascinating especially with its insights into his research into less developed civilisations of Melanesia, and the parallels it drew between the more philosophical elements of war and illness and the role of the medicine man in each context.  I may be slightly skewed in my interest, being a doctor myself and as I am particularly intrigued by the power of the mind especially in respect to illness, however whatever the reason for it I would have been satisfied if the book had focussed purely on this thread of storyline and gone deeper into it.  So much so that I became irritated by the continual back and forth alternating narrative chapter sequence when the story returned to the soldier in the battlefield.  The battlefield I feel has been done many times before in novels whereas the medical perspective felt like a new approach to the horrific storyline of war.  Overall, mixed feelings and I totally feel as if this review is hopelessly incomplete without having read the other two books – so if you’re not tackling the whole project of reading the Bookers I would recommend you do the sensible thing and read them in order!

The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis

Well I am officially a quarter of the way through the list, that is until I add 2011’s winner…however, I am feeling rather pleased with myself.  I’m incredibly glad I embarked on this journey through the Bookers as so far it’s been really enjoyable (apart from slogging through the latter part of ‘The Famished Road’)!  I’m learning a lot about writing, the world, people – such a breadth of experience and wonder represented in the written form.

And so on to yet another corner of the world, Wales and yet another group of people – the retired.  I guess my overwhelming impression of this book was slight indifference.  Not in a bad way and there was plenty to entertain and occupy for the duration, but on reflection it seemed just a bit odd to focus a story on a group of retirees who drank a lot, spent a great deal of time in the pub or at each others houses drinking, and to have affairs with each other, or having had affairs in the past.  Moreover, I couldn’t quite dismiss the uneasiness I had about them drinking excessively and then jumping in the car, but then I guess they were of a different generation not scarred by Drink Drive campaigns! 

However, this is looking at it rather superficially and obviously the characters had great complexity written into them and the way that each of the chapters were written from various of the characters’ points of view gave greater insight into their past and the way they viewed their lives and the other characters.  Also perhaps most endearing was how well they knew each other and as a result of being really old friends accepted each other for who they were and demonstrated great tolerance towards each other. 

As I write this review I can appreciate the positives, especially the depth of the book, however, my lasting impression of the book is one of disappointment and disillusionment of the latter stages of life; where tolerance is almost one’s greatest asset, an acceptance of one’s own mortality and general slowing down, the companionship/putting up with long-term spouses and friends and life generally.  Perhaps if I were older this story would have had more resonance, but as someone in their mid-twenties, I found it rather saddening and disheartening to think that this is what life could become…

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Ever since I started reading the Bookers I have had many more book recommendations from people that I know.  This is great, however, I’m now formulating another list of books to read after finishing the list of Bookers!  And I definitely need to stay focussed, as I’ve still got a long way to go!  I really do love sharing books with others – I’m always up for a discussion and what’s better than talking about books?!  It’s particularly good as my Dad and I both agreed to read the Booker prize-winners and although I’m ahead by a little way, it’s great to be able to confer about the books with someone else who has read them.  And if you would like to get involved please do comment and let me know what you think…

So on to the 1997 winner and we return to India, yet again…it’s definitely a popular location for these Bookers!  This was a really good little book, which sounds patronising but as the title suggests this book gives a detailed perspective of the story often from a child’s viewpoint.  It reminded me of an R.S. Thomas poem ‘Children’s Song’ which begins ‘We live in our own world, /A world that is too small /For you to stoop and enter/ Even on hands and knees, / The adult subterfuge.’ 

Similarly, Arundhati Roy manages to convey this idea of there being a children’s world cocooned almost below the notice of adults through various means such as rhymes, wordplay, the children’s questioning, their concerns and literal interpretations, that so cleverly encapsulates a child’s mindset.  The way in which one of the key adult characters demonstrated complete acceptance of the children’s imaginations by entering fully into their reality, was echoed in the writing.  Especially powerful, was the significance that certain remarks made by the adults in their lives manifested in the children’s minds and impacted on the events in the course of the book.  Overall, Roy’s writing had the ability to hold a magnifying glass up to life and the surroundings, noticing the little things in minute, precise detail, which was refreshing and exciting to read.

However, I wasn’t a fan of the way the book jumped around so much as it meant that your mind filled in the gaps which then rendered some of the storytelling redundant.  In addition, although some areas of the story were fleshed out well others were not.  Therefore, unfortunately the composition of the book detracted from the overall effect of the book for me.

This book managed to deal with excruciating inequalities due to caste systems, language, political and religious contexts in a personal way by focusing on the involvement of the characters and examined what was really important in life.  Despite these massive issues it managed to avoid being epic in it proportions and succeeded in being an affecting and intimate story.