'A Little Of What You Fancy' by H. E. Bates

The final book in the Larkin chronicles is suitably the most melancholy of them all.

 

Pop's indulgent life-style finally gets the better of him when he is taken ill quite seriously, leaving him to ponder on all the things he is denied whilst in recovery. Naturally friends and family do all they can to lift his spirits but to little avail. It is only when a new nurse arrives to care for him and the threat of a major road being built through his beloved junkyard does he begin to recover.
Whether Bates was aware he was writing his last novel to feature the Larkins or not I do not know, but I think he may very well have been conscious of the fact: The book is a lament at the passing of the old and the inevitability of progress at the expense  of some of the simpler things in life. It is this aspect which I found to be the most moving part of the novel, especially since what Pop Larking fears has actually come to pass. Of course, progress must be made, even Bates and the Larkins accept that to some degree, but the real question is, 'at what cost?'

Perhaps the most philosophical and sad of the Larkin novels, it nevertheless ends with optimism and hope. Another fine read, indeed.

'Oh To Be In England' by H. E. Bates

Ah, another trip into nostalgia!

 

Ostensibly about the Christening of the Larking children, this charming novel is really a lament at the changes that England (and, perhaps, by extension Britain as a whole) were seeing, the changes in both people and the environments.
Once again one is left with a sense of longing for such times that once existed, and this book is, perhaps because of the sense of change within, more attuned to hitting the mark in that respect.
Whilst food and drink, of course, make an appearance, they are relegated to playing second fiddle to the more pressing needs that Bates writes about. Ultimately one gets an honesty from this book that Bates' feelings on the matters within were very close to his heart indeed.

The previous novel, 'When The Green Woods Laugh', really pales into comparison compared to this book but I would still say that all the Larkin novels were well worth a read. They are ideal for when one wants to escape into the kind of world that we can only wish and dream we lived in.
They are almost guaranteed to leave you with a warm, cosy feeling.

'Congo' by Michael Crichton

Essentially a 'lost world' story in the traditional sense, this novel by Crichton is a 'modern' (it is more than 30 years old, now) adventure story where an expedition heads into the Congo jungle to ascertain the fate of a previous expedition whilst also pursuing a particular type of diamond needed to further technology. Along the way there are, of course, obstacles to overcome; including a rival expedition party and the more typical jungle fare such as cannibalistic tribes.
Crichton is, perhaps, famous for his use of modern technology throughout his stories and whether this is so I have yet to see as this is, in fact, my first Crichton novel. It shan't be my last.

My only issue with Crichton and his use of scientific references is that he interrupts the plot to spend pages illuminating the reader of scientific studies and quotes (garnered from the books in the reference section at the rear of the book) to hammer home how real the possibilities and reasoning he writes about are or could be but since the book is presented as a dramatisation of recent events (occasionally he will present a quote from a character after the fact) I can understand that he may be writing along the lines of a scientific journal almost.
Crichton also passes over small details only to reference them later leaving me briefly irritated.
That said the primary plot is clear and the writing is paced well with a cast of varied characters, including what must be one of his most famous; Amy the 'talking' gorilla. When he takes the time to describe an environment or situation it becomes quite compelling and engages the imagination to the fullest. There are few events or details which are hastily written and Crichton seems to be a writer who doesn't wish to over-write, despite all his sojourns into referencing, and although the finale is a little contrived compared to the rest of the novel it still smacks of the realistic tone that Crichton was evidently going for.

So, having wanted to read this novel for some years, was it worth the wait? The answer is a most definite 'yes' and I shall be reading more Michael Crichton some time in the future.

On a side-note; I became aware of this book when the film adaptation was released in 1994. I enjoyed the film, which is very different to the book in many aspects, but am far more impressed with the novel. Inevitable? Probably. But I shall still enjoy the film, which is, of course, an utterly different creature, but is not the most faithful, or original, of adaptations.

'When The Green Woods Laugh' by H. E. Bates

Another escapade featuring the Larkin family.

There is something incredibly comfortable about reading these pleasing novels: Maybe it's the days-gone-by aspect of the tales or maybe the sense of family and friendship that is imbued throughout the writing but in any case these book are such a happy read that, despite thin plots by an author seemingly more concerned with food and nature, we are still invested in the characters, despite any modern morals we may wish to apply to them.

Actually this novel has a little more plot than the last with 'Pop' Larkin encountering city folk for good and for ill. It's also a neat commentary on the attitudes of both country and city folk regarding each other. It's also a tale of the bonds that unite people and how the simple things in life are often overlooked and under-estimated by some.

The food for once, whilst still very present, takes a back seat as it were to focus more on the plot and how it entwines the characters, old and new, that populate this book.

Once again I heartily recommend this as a fine, easy going, relaxing read.

'A Breath Of French Air' by H. E. Bates

The second novel to feature the Larkin clan is very much in the same vein as the first though, this time, the Larkins relocate to France for a month long vacation.

The plot is primarily made up of the family encountering foreign foods and customs which, naturally, irk them. Of course, the Larkin charm is ever present and ultimately wins over the doubting hotel staff who, initially, are taken aback by the English customs as displayed by the Larkin family.

The story isn't as well paced as 'The Darling Buds Of May' but the jolly cheer, jovial attitudes and indulgence of food is all still there making this still a pleasant read. The 'fish out of water' aspect is also refreshing so it is not simply a mere retread of things we've read before.
The characters still come alive off the page and, with the previous book, one feels satisfied when reading.

I'm looking forward to reading the next volume in the Larkin saga.

'The Darling Buds Of May' by H. E. Bates (Audio book read by Bruce Montague)

This gentle classic of the Larkin family is a perfect summer read with eloquent descriptions of the beauty of nature, the countryside and the people who inhabit it. It's an humorous read and one that makes the reader long for the kind of life in the kind of summer that the book describes.
It makes one yearn for a 'simpler' time such as one experiences in youth and it's no wonder the television series adapted from Bates' books was perfect Sunday night fare.
Another thing the book does is to make you hungry. The Larkins are forever eating and the descriptions of the meals they indulge in is as rich and as comforting as Bates' loving description of the English countryside.

The plot serves primarily to introduce the reader to the life-loving Larkins themselves through the character of Cedric Charlton who arrives, like an alien visitor, from a more urban background. through his encounter and experiences with the Larkins he finds a new lease of life.
In many ways this metaphor for the vigour and restorative qualities of nature is a wonderful marketing tool to make the reader, well this one at least, want more of it.
The book might be seen as somewhat quaint and it does have terminology that may be alien to some modern readers but this is a small quibble.
Get back to nature and get with the Larkins!

The unabridged audio book is pleasant to listen to and Bruce Montague, a well established actor, reads with a clarity and an ease that is perfect (or 'perfick') for this book. He also creates characters that are performed quite differently to the much-loved television series and one quickly gets accustomed to this difference. The audio book is a pleasure to listen to and instills all the feelings and emotions stirred up by both the book and the series.

'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker, read by the Author

This is a book that I count as one of my favourites and it has characters that are alive and colourful, events both tragic and heart-warming. It speaks of more than one thing and different things to different people. I have never seen it as 'anti-men' as some critics have and the language, though crude at times, is never used as a 'shock' tactic. Rather, the language is appropriate to the people who utter the words and write the letters that constitute this book.

Yes, some leeway must be given over some of the discrepancies that occur over the period the book covers (for example some secondary characters are not as old as they should be at the end of the novel) and the ending can be seen as somewhat coincidental (though that is far from the correct word) but, I think, it serves Walker's beliefs well; that, ultimately, God, in whatever guise, will take care of things.

The audio book, which was actually the first I purchased and listened to, is read by Alice Walker herself and she does an excellent job at it. I've read some reviews that say she is too languid in her reading but I do not believe that to be the case. I think her pacing to be relaxed and easy in that she allows us to take all the language and events in without rushing ahead of the listener. It also would be detrimental, I think, were she to be talking rapidly as this is not a book full of 'action'.

Walker reads the letters primarily as the character who wrote them and has slight variations for most character's dialogue. It is a sometimes subtle variation but it is enough to help distinguish one person from another whilst also giving them a separate voice in themselves.

Walker is also able to bring her understanding of the history of the people she writes about to the table and her voice is filled with it. She is a natural storyteller and this, her most famous work, is, perhaps, the story she was born to tell.

Listening to the book is a different experience to reading it (which I've done several times over the years); a new understanding comes with the hearing of it, almost as if this were a story made to be told, rather than read, like the tales of old. The characters are more real than I imagined them and maybe that's because, as a Briton, I am not attuned to the voices of America or its history as an American would be.

Walker's story is one of faith, friendship, hope and love and, whatever the medium, is one that I think should be experienced as a reminder to the reader/listener of the good that can come out of the bad.

I recommend both the book and the audio version immensely.

 

'The Color Purple' is available from Whole Story Audio Books and from Clipper Audio.

'Carrie' by Stephen King, read by Sissy Spacek

This is the first audio book review for my blog and, since it is my blog, why the hell should I not review audio books here?

I've read 'Carrie' several times before over the years. It still holds up as a great story. It's length isn't overlong and King's writing (this is his first published novel) is paced well, his descriptions not too florid or overly detailed and the dialogue truthful. Of course, this being Stephen King, there are extraordinary situations and events in the book and I'm sure that most people know about what happens when outcast Carrie White is taken to the Ewen High School prom (It's Bates' High School in the film)!

I've gotten into audio books of late simply because I find that, sometimes, the symptoms of my fibromyalgia preclude me from reading, taking in and understanding the written word. It is easier, for whatever reason, for me to take it in aurally.

The audio book begins with an introduction, read by King himself, on the origins of the book and this is indeed somewhat insightful.
Sissy Spacek reads the novel proper and I'm sure most readers will be aware that she played Carrie in the film version. Her narrative skills are quite excellent and she tells the story well, providing enough vocal variety in characters to ensure that interest never wanes. She is a skilled actress and storyteller and her characterisations are perfect. To think that she has come back to the story some 30 years after the film with fresh insight (admittedly the book is somewhat different to the film) is more credit to her. She does not simply re-treas the character she and others created in the film version but instead works with the words that King put down.
Spacek's portrayal of the various teens, news clippings and other documents, not to mention the primary roles are wonderful and she excels in the scenes featuring Carrie and her Zealot mother, Margaret White and the scenes between the two are especially powerful and chilling.

My only issue with this otherwise faultless production is the editing which, on occasion, seems a little sloppy with different takes clearly edited together during ongoing passages. The balance between speakers should also have been looked at closer since Spacek's voice seems to come from one direction then another throughout.
That said it's a great audio book and I do recommended it.

The audio book is available from Simon and Schuster audio.

Strange Findings ...

Have you ever bought a second hand book, opened its pages, and found a little memento from a previous owner? A small photo, a scrap cutting or a small bookmark, perhaps?

I find it quite interesting to think about the story that lies behind such things, more so if there's a marking or a small piece of writing; 'to  ----, with love from ----' and so on ...

Jim Sharman 'Blood & Tinsel - A Memoir'

Jim Sharman is the director of 'The Rocky Horror Show'; the film adaptation; 'Hair' in Australia, Japan and Boston; the Australian and London premieres of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and numerous other theatrical endeavours.

The book is an auto-biography, or ‘memoir’, and deals with Sharman’s life and work including his youth spent in the carnivals through his work on the seminal rock musicals of the 60s and 70s, to his return to his native land, his depression. We also have insights into his relationships, both personal and career related. 

Yet for all that, Sharman is a writer whose style is easy, informative and interesting; you want to know more about this man, yet at times he doesn’t quite give you enough to satiate your appetite.

His insights into theatre and, to a lesser extent, film are not at the level of academic research but are insightful enough to make you appreciate the genius that can lurk within someone’s mind. He is quite matter of fact about certain aspects of his life, including his sexuality and his relationships with people. One certainly gets the impression that Sharman is someone who’s been able to take out of life all that he can, appreciate what comes along, yet know when it’s time to let go and say goodbye. This view was something totally alien to me, but I read and thought and what I love more than anything in this book is how, throughout his life and work, Sharman looks with an eager eye; learning and gaining insights into humanity itself.

I finished the book wanting more and more yet coming away from it all with a sense of wonder and fascination at how intricate, complex and joyous the world is. I often hear how informative, how insightful some directors can be and reading this overwhelming book I can clearly understand why.

Jim Sharman is one of my favourite directors, yet I’ve never seen (nor probably ever will) one of his productions as he chooses to work exclusively in Australia - a great loss to the rest of the world – yet reading about his work, reading his insights behind what he does leaves me in awe at this theatrical magician, hoping that his work will cross the oceans once more ...

The shape of things to come

I thought it might be good to let the constant reader know what is to come shortly on this blog:
It is my plan to write about some of the theatrical productions I have winessed in the past recent years, I shall also discuss a book or two I have read.

For your reading pleasure I shall be talking about the following in due course;

I will also discuss one of the most incredible books I've yet read:

So until then ...

Be well and happy,

Sharman