Since joining the book club in Tring, I have still managed to read a few novels in the last few months not on the reading list. Ever since I read Rose Tremain's superb The Road Home, I had wanted to read another of her novels. And I was not disappointed with Sacred Country. Poignant, but at the same time told with great affection, the story of Mary Ward is hard to put down. The setting of rural Suffolk in the fifties and sixties is beautifully described, with diversions to London and Nashville. Music and cinema are important to the lives of the well drawn characters. Highly recommended.
Nick Hornby is one of my favourite authors, and his latest, Juliet, Naked is one of his best. The title refers to a stripped down version of an old forgotten rock star's only classic album. Duncan is an obsessive fan of Tucker, but it is his partner Annie who makes the right connection. The writing is sharp, very funny and quite touching. It is one of those books that you make time to read as each time you pick it up, there is a new delight. Yes, it would make an excellent movie.
The next two books are very short. Home Truths by David Lodge is even described as a "novella", with only 135 pages of large type. The author has turned the script for a play of the same title into an amusing and engaging tale of the dangers of involvement with the media. It has all the trademarks of one of my favourite writers, well written and of course the sharp dialogue that would have been great on stage.
I loved Ali Smith's the accidental, and her choice in The Myths series (where authors retell a myth in a contemporary way) was from Ovid's original story. Ali Smith's writing is as good and original as ever. Funny and sad, the story is told from the point of view of two sisters. The chapters are labelled "I", "YOU", "US", "THEM" and "ALL TOGETHER NOW". Typical of such an exceptional writer.
Kate Atkinson's first novel not only won the Whitbread prize of 1995 for the best first novel, but was also their book of the year in all categories. Behind the Scenes at the Museum (recommended by Alison's sister) is actually quite exceptional and will probably be the best book I will read this year. Our heroine, Ruby, is born in 1952, and she tells the story of her family, going back to her great grandmother. The first chapter is hilarious as Ruby starts by introducing her family from when she is in the womb. There are many laugh out loud moments, but others that bring a tear to the eye. I had read one novel by the author, a very good crime drama When Will There Be Good News, and am looking forward to her Case Histories amongst others.
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