An extraordinary Saturday for Ian McEwan…

This will be my second and so far most enjoyable experience of Ian McEwan.

Henry Perrone is a Neurosurgeon. He lives in London in 2003 – in the height of the frenzied fears of terror attacks. In fact, on the Saturday in question, Perrone witnesses a frightening mishap with a plane very early in the morning. On the same day, a major rally is occurring to protest against British involvement in Iraq. While the news throughout the day continues to report the near-plane crash, Perrone discovers that true fear is really closer to home.

A minor car accident brings him into contact with Baxter, whose emotionally instability is soon diagnosed by Perrone as the result of a rare neurological disorder. With special knowledge of Baxter’s condition, Perrone is soon able to distract him and escape the sticky situation. However, Baxter is not finished with him and later makes his way to the Perrone household, where a variety of family dramas are already playing themselves out.

Just when you think the novel is finished, new levels of morality are explored when Perrone chooses to operate on an injured Baxter. Will he choose revenge or forgiveness and understanding? And will those around him accept his choice?

My exposure to this book was an interesting one – I listened to it on an audio book while recovering from eye surgery (and for as long as it took me to finish it). While I did enjoy the novel, I have mixed feelings about the format. On the positive side, it was a refreshing change, allowing me to “read” two books at once. It was also handy on long walks and drives. But it is easy to miss things if you doze off (not while driving obviously!) or if your thoughts wander. You also do not have the luxury to go back over things if you would like to check them – can you imagine trying to find just one line on a whole CD? But I will try it again from time to time – particularly with easier, more accessible texts.

So, my McEwan odyssey continues. Saturday is a lovely mixture of the sublime and the mundane – it is certainly not a trite in the way I felt Enduring Love was. Perrone’s family are a fascinating set of characters, and Perrone spends the day reflecting on life in general – and confronting or remembering the many milestones of his experience.

I am keen to keep reading McEwan’s superb prose – Atonement looks good. But I will have to get in soon, before the film comes out!

Speaking of films, the newspaper today reported that Fred Schepsi has signed for a film version of Kate Grenville's wonderful The Secret River. Check out my blog entry on the novel.

The Unknown Terrorist

Ten years ago, Flanagan wrote one of the “it” books of the year – The Sound of One Hand Clapping, which was later made into a film starring Kerry Fox. I never read The Sound of One Hand Clapping, but while I was a bookstore chick, I certainly saw a lot of people buy it.

So, perhaps that reputation is part of the reason why I gravitated towards The Unknown Terrorist. I had not long finished Andrew McGahan’s Underground when I purchased it, a book which I feel has strong connection to Flanagan’s. Both books seem to be in response to the comments of the Miles Franklin Award Panel the previous year – which called for books to depicted the possible future of Howard’s Australia.

The Unknown Terrorist does just that – it presents a frighteningly real story set on the frenzied aftermath of 9/11 – and the world’s preoccupation with terrorism. Gina Davies (referred to as ‘The Doll’ throughout the novel – a strangely de-humanising move by Flanagan, who manages to write a hero with which readers cannot sympathise until the exact moment – three quarters of the way through the book – that he chooses) is an exotic dancer. She makes the fatal mistake of going to bed with the wrong man, and wakes up a terror suspect. The depressingly isolated and self-involved life that Davies had lead up until this point only makes her guilt seem more plausible. She has few friends, no bank account, and has cut off ties from her painful past completely.

Richard Cody represents the worst of the media – a fallen star so desperate for a hot story that he embellishes Gina’s story. The truth falls a distant second to sensationalism, as Cody uses The Doll to resurrect his own dwindling career. Hard evidence is sacrificed for a series of circumstantial events and hearsay, supported by the supposed evidence of crooked cops, and chequebook psychologists.

It is an interesting and scarily plausible storyline, although it failed to really capture me until close to the end. Flanagan does not hold back in his bleak portrayal of the underbelly of Sydney, and the darker side of the Australian psyche. Both are portrayed disturbingly, but with real insight. The ending is oddly moving, and there are enough surprises in the last quarter of the book to keep a reader interested. Worth a look.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

So, have you been waiting for this?

I promise not to spoil anything here.

Rowling has ended the Harry Potter series beautifully with the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

She promised us at least two deaths of major characters, befitting such a dark book which pitches our hero Harry against the evil Lord Voldemort.

We return to Harry's search for the Horcruxes that contain Voldemort's shattered soul - the task that Dumbledore left to Harry before his death in book 6. Of course, Harry would never undertake this alone, but is joined by his faithful companions Ron and Hermione.

As usual, Harry curses his lot in life as "The Chosen One" who has to defeat the Dark Lord, but as per usual, he pulls himself together in the end.

The Deathly Hallows themselves are an interesting addition to the storyline, and all that was unanswered and left hanging in the previous books will be made clear. Yes - the mystery of Severus Snape is finally solved! We also learn more about the Malfoys, Lily and Petunia Potter and Kreacher the house-elf.

While some readers have lamented the very final pages (which do admittedly leave me with a few questions), ultimately this is a very satisfying and tear-jerking end to a fascinating series. Don't wait for the movie!

In Anticipation....

Like many of you out there, I have been re-reading the last few Harry Potter books, in anticipation of the book and the film.

The last few books have admittedly not been my favourites...

Order of the Phoenix is not big on plot, and Half-Blood Prince failed to live up to my favourite Goblet of Fire - although the film version of this was really disappointing. Far too much cut out.

But the most recent film is actually pretty good, and reasonably faithful to the original text. There is not as much cut out - and far less "important" stuff cut out. Obviously what is and isn't in the final cut sets tongues wagging about Book 7. There were a couple of lines between Voldemort and Dumbledore that were missed that I thought may have been important... and that whole scene at the bginning that proves that Aunt Petunia is definitely in contact with, and receiving owls from, the wizarding world. Remember that Rowling said we will find out some important stuff about Petunia in the last book! But, I assume that Rowling has control over what does and does not make it into the film... so I guess these weren't as important as I thought.

Oh, stop me... I can go on and on about Harry Potter theories.

After all, that's what is so good about this series, the way Rowling has planted important hints and clues throughout the seven books. I can hardly wait to see how Deathly Hallows pans out.

I also really enjoyed reading Half-Blood Prince again, and more than I enjoyed it the first time.

Five days and counting!

Better off to Sleep, Pale Sister

Joanne Harris is most famous for her novel Chocolat (and the film version starring a scrumptious Johnny Depp – looking pretty much his hottest ever). But before she delved into the power of chocolate to release one’s inhibitions, she wrote Sleep, Pale Sister.

These are two very different novels, and if Chocolat represents Harris in full bloom, then Sleep, Pale Sister depicts the adolescent Harris – who is trying to be a writer, but not quite feeling inspired.

Sleep, Pale Sister is an overtly gothic tale told from a number of perspectives. Firstly, we have Henry Chester, a painter who is outwardly pious but has a predilection for very young girls. To cover this he hates all women - who like the biblical Eve, have been tainted and spoiled. When he meets Effie, a beautiful child who becomes his model, he trains her to be the perfect wife for him – and of course, keeps his real desires for his secret Thursday nights.

Moses Harper is a rival painter, a ladies’ man who is takes a fancy to Effie. The untouchable child-bride for too long, Effie passions are awoken. Then Fanny, the owner of the brothel both Moses and Henry frequent, embroils a naturally sensitive Effie into her own scheme of revenge, involving the spirit of her lost daughter, Marta.

This book was a list text, as it had been recommended to me by a student, although I am afraid to say that I much prefer the magic of a more mature Harris. A friend of mine described this book on her blog as “gothic by numbers”, and this description could not be more apt. The young Harris has tried to tick off all of your classic gothic accoutrements in this novel, making it messy, pedestrian and incohesive. Forgettable.

Historical Fiction

More bundles of apologies for the length of time between postings. Blame it on shifting house, a very long book, and minor eye surgery! With the last in mind, it may very well be some more time between postings, given how blurry this keyboard looks right now!

So, I have just finished a non-list book, an expedition into historical fiction. It is a genre I delve into now and then, when the subject matter is interesting enough. The concept of exploring what we cannot know – and blending it with what we do – is fascinating, and has many more possible applications that just historical fiction.

Margaret George is the Queen of historical fiction as far as I am concerned – I have just finished her fictional autobiography of Henry VIII. He is one of the most fascinating characters of history – I mean, six wives! The break with the Catholic Church… What was he thinking? I love getting a insight and impression of his possible character. George also wrote a brilliant novel on Cleopatra that is well worth getting into if you like this sort of thing.

I can also recommend – particularly if Henry himself interests you – Phillipa Gregory. Her “The Other Boleyn Girl”, discussing Mary Boleyn (who interestingly was Henry’s mistress before Anne) is very good.

It’s nice to read something a little different now and then, so I would be interested in other historical fiction recommendations.

I have just painstakingly started a book recommended to me by a young friend. Another of our friends read it recently, and while it has been sitting on my shelf for a while, I now kind of feel obliged to make myself part of the conversation!