Hi folks. Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I've been on my holidays and have been letting myself go! (Mainly to the seaside) It had been a long old time since my last decent chunk of time off so I just let everything drift and enjoyed moving to my own beat. Which as it turned out, was more of a gentle two-step than a wild Charleston. Except for one night it must be said, when the lethal combination of great company, a splash of alcohol and Dexy's Midnight Runners fused together to result in what can only be called 'Dad dancing'. Enough of that though, the mental scars are too much to bear for some of my chumrades. But I digress.
Before launching back into library life and, what Harvey Pekar called one of his strips, 'Awaking to the Terror of the New Day', I thought I'd do a quick round up of some of the books I've been reading lately. Think of this as a literary detox, a release of the words that have been buzzing around my head since I wrote to you last.
Joyland by Stephen King
Much to my shame, before this book, I had never read anything by Stephen King. That said I can only assume that Joyland isn't really a true reflection of King's horror stylings. Published by pulp fiction nostalgists (and I use that word in a very positive sense) Hard Case Crime, Joyland isn't a horror novel. To be honest it isn't really a crime novel either. What it is though is a classic coming of age novel set in an old fashioned theme park during the 1970s. It will make your heart ache with winsome nostalgia and I will be very surprised if Joyland isn't make into a film before too long.
The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins
This is a great graphic novel. Witty and beautifully drawn, The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is a funny fable about the impact of a hairy disorder on the obsessively neat and ordered island of Here and their (our) inability to control the unexpected, and in this case, unkempt. Even if you don't read graphic novels, please give this book a try, it's worth it for the puns alone, they quite literally made me 'lol' as the hip kids say.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Although this book is fictional, I'm convinced that there is some autobiographical details in here. The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a modern fairytale in the fine traditions of Grimm. Charmingly fantastic and at times dark, this is classic Gaiman. Well worth a read.
The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont
An ok read. Can best be summed up by the following words: preppy, confused, unbelievable, rah's, meh.
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
Classic American noir. A femme fatal and a jaundiced insurance salesman plan to execute the perfect murder to pocket a hefty insurance payout. Written during those turbulent inter-war years, Double Indemnity reflects the uncertainty and cynicism of that time. I read this for my crime reading group and it proved to be a hit amongst us all. The film is a classic too, with the screenplay written by Raymond Chandler.
Bonjour Tristesse & A Certain Smile by Françoise Sagan
I seem to have gotten into the habit of reading Bonjour Tristesse annually. My excuse for reading it this year is that it has been re-published by Penguin with a new translation by Heather Lloyd. Bonjour Tristesse is drenched in sunshine and is anchored in the changing world of the 1960s. Every time I read it previously it made me want to be at the beach, so this year I took it on my day out to the beautiful coastline at Weybourne. Perfect. If you like the chic stylings of the French new wave give Bonjour Tristesse a try. The other novel in the book A Certain Smile is also a great meditation on the emotional impact of love, desire and longing. It's almost enough to make you crave some Gitanes.
The Stupid Footballer is Dead by Paul McVeigh
An unusual twist on the well travelled path of football autobiography, with former Spurs and Norwich midfielder Paul McVeigh sharing his thoughts on sports psychology and what it takes to be a professional footballer. In some ways this book has more in common with self-help books than sports writing. An interesting and well written read.
Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claud Izner
A Gallic crime novel set in late nineteenth-century Paris. A pleasant enough read and the first novel of a series. Although not amazing, I'll definitely try the next book.
One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
Very disappointing. The blurb suggests that there is a unexpected twist but, sorry to spoil the book, there isn't one. Maybe that's the twist...
And there you have it. If I had to recommend one book on that list for you then it would probably be Bonjour Tristesse. It's very cool. Enjoy!
