The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy, Reviewed.

A prose poem of a novel, with bite. This Indian tale of love, loss, class and betrayal starts, against all the literary school advice, with the weather. But the language is so engaging, so intriguing, that the reader is drawn into this strange world at once.

I love well-rounded characters and this book explodes with them. I love the use of good and entertaining English and this book drips with it. I won’t bore you with a synopsis; there are plenty of those around if you want a truncated version of the story. Suffice to say that the story centres on the relationships within a middle class business family and those that family loves and relies upon.

I learned a great deal about Indian life during the read. The chaos, out-dated traditions, values, iniquities of the caste system, attitudes to authority, God, and religion are all exposed in the narrative. The climate and the landscape become added characters, playing their parts in this complex tale and bringing even more life to a story already teeming with it.

There are flaws, for a reader from England. There are references to Indian culture, tradition and history that arrive unannounced and leave without explanation, often failing to reveal their origins or meanings in the process.  And there are very short, occasional, passages in an untranslated language I could not identify or understand. How much of the richness of the novel I failed to appreciate because of these flaws, I have no way of knowing.

There are a couple of chapters that, for me, appeared to serve no purpose in the story and I confess to skipping through those.

The book is written in a way that keeps the reader engaged, not through action or tension necessarily, but through the exquisite combination of words. This is poetry presented as prose. And the final chapter is so brilliantly drawn, so brutally emotional, that it left me feeling raw; the empathy imposed is such that I doubt any sensitive reader could leave it without tears.

I loved this book, and read the last half at one sitting, reluctant to put it down even though there were fairly pressing reasons I should do so. Thoroughly recommended for those readers who love literature in its accessible form and for whom a story of people in love matters. It’s no surprise this won the Booker Prize.

Related articles

• Review: Arundhati Roy, the God of Small Things, 1997 Man Booker Prize Winner
• The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
• On The God of Small Things
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• Arundhati Roy

Lakeland to Lindisfarne, by John Gillham, Reviewed.

Walker, moutaineer, historian, or just interested in the great outdoors? This book has something for you. It was a Christmas present from one of my wife’s sisters, some years ago, and has been sitting on the shelf until now. I picked it up as a light alternative to the rather disturbing piece of fiction I finished last week. And I’m so glad I did.

This guide is intended as just that; an introduction to and a planning tool for a coast to coast walk from the west to east shores of northern England. John Gillham makes it clear from the start that you need to procure more detailed maps than the illustrative drawings he supplies alongside the text, if you are to complete this varied ramble through some of our finest landscapes.

There are mountains, vales, rivers and moors to cross on this varied route. And Gillham brings them all to life, adding small panels of local history where applicable. The reader learns some fascinating facts along the way, and is entertained with rural humour. He gives tips about various villages, pubs, bothies and ancient monuments. He also provides alternative routes, catering for the less experienced walker as well as the proper mountaineers.

For me, this was a trip back to a pleasant past. The walk starts in the Lake District, where my wife and I spent our honeymoon, and brought back many happy memories of those days. The middle section takes the reader through an area of England not much visited and one that I do not yet know. But the last part of the walk, as it approaches the north eastern coast, involves a walk through Hexham where, before we were married, we were mistaken for hotel inspectors at the hostelry we’d chosen for our meeting. Needless to say, the service and food were excellent on that occasion! The route passes Rothbury, where we dined together at another time in our early relationship. Unfortunately, on that occasion, I contracted food poisoning that resulted in the most horrendous drive back down to the Essex town where I then lived. It passes through Clennel Street, close by Clennel Hall, where we stayed very early in our relationship and confirmed that we would spend the rest of our lives together. So, another pleasant reminder. And, in fact, as a result of reading the book, we’re now intending to do some parts of the walk.

I’m well past the days when I can contemplate tackling such an arduous walk as a complete exercise, but, because John Gillham breaks it up into smaller parts, we’ll definitely be hiking several parts of it over the coming years. And I give my thanks to him for mapping out this route through some of the most spectacular and beautiful scenery in this small island of ours.

The photographs that illustrate the walk are all excellent; some merely informative, but many reflecting the beauty of the landscape and giving a clear idea of what the walker can expect to see along the way. I look forward to visiting these places with my wife and my camera in the near future.

The final part of the book is a diary, kept by John’s new wife, Nicola. This is a charming, personal account of her trip with him as he mapped out the routes he suggests. It gives a touching insight into the loving relationship between the couple and provides a more intimate view of both the pleasures and hardships that the walker may encounter along the way. I enjoyed this short piece every bit as much as the main narrative.

So, whether you’re a seasoned walker, a sometime rambler, or one of those tourists who rarely moves more than a few paces from your car, there’s something in this book for you. I picked it up as a contrast to the gritty and disturbing fiction of urban poverty that I’d read previously. As an antidote, it was perfect, and I thoroughly recommend it.

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The Comedy of Errors, by William Shakespeare, Reviewed

Heresy! Infamy! Thou darest malign the Bard?

The Comedy of Errors appears to be based on a premise that I found impossible to swallow, for two simple reasons. First; why would the twins, both sets, not have been named prior to their separation and therefore have different names? It seems unlikely that these infants were so young as to have been denied such a basic ceremony as naming. Secondly, and perhaps more to the point, why were both sets of twins dressed identically, bearing exact copies of the same hairstyle, using the same manner of speech? So identical, in fact, that they could not be separated by the intimate servants or, in the case of Antipholus of Ephasus, by his wife and her sister. One was raised in Syracuse, a town in Sicily, with, admittedly, Greek influence. And the other in Ephasus, in Turkey, again, with Greek influence. However, the manner of speech in these two widely distant provinces would undoubtedly have been equally wide. Manner of dress, customs, mannerisms etc would all have been very varied, and Shakespeare would have been aware of such regional differences from his exposure to such during his everyday life in England.

A farce, and this play is definitely a farce, requires the audience to suspend their disbelief in order to appreciate the confusions caused by the plot. I found I was unable to suspend my incredulity to the extent necessary to enjoy this piece of comic drama.

I’m an admirer of our national Bard; what writer of English could fail to prize the literary skills of this world renowned wordsmith? But I couldn’t push past what quickly became an insuperable barrier to my enjoyment. This impediment was further reinforced by the poor quality of the poetry of the piece. We’re all used to the subtlety, variety, cleverly composed and richly metaphorical nature of Shakespeare’s dialogue. But in this, one of his earlier plays, he seems not to have quite got the hang of things. The language is unnecessarily convoluted, as if he’s more concerned with impressing the audience than with conveying his meaning. The usual contemporary references aside, I found the meaning often difficult to determine because of the structure of the sentences and the employment of obtuse metaphors. I accept, when reading Shakespeare, that some of the language’s more subtle meanings will be lost on me: I’m not a scholar of the period and I lack the time to delve into references that require lengthy searches to unpick. But, in this play, I felt the playwright was more concerned with fireworks than with substance. Also, although I’ve never seen a production, I very quickly knew the outcome, since this was flagged too clearly in the first act.

So, not the best of his work, but, hell, it’s Shakespeare, so it must be good, yes? 

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To my regular readers, my apologies for the lack of a piece on writing today. My ME/CFS has returned and it limits my energy and creativity. I'll try to get back to normal next week. Thank you for your patience.

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Five Finger Exercise, a Play by Peter Shaffer, Reviewed

First performed in 1958, this is a play of its time. I’m not sure the modern generation would understand the subtleties of the upper middle class family and its seething social and class tensions. The addition of the German tutor as a fulcrum for change, so short a time after the war, would nowadays not have the power and relevance it must have had for an audience of the day. Of course, those of my own generation, and earlier, would appreciate these factors, but whether the play could be enjoyed by a younger audience is open to debate.

In the written text, there’s an ambiguity surrounding the relationship between the tutor and the son that could hint at homosexuality. But the resolution of this in performance would be dependent on the actors playing those parts and the direction they were given, and I’m still unable to decide whether their attempt at friendship is platonic or subconsciously sexual.

Employing a girl developing into early womanhood as the object of the young tutor’s teaching, enclosed, as they are, in a tight and intimate setting, would now be seen through different eyes. In fifties England, paedophilia was a taboo subject and one not considered for public exposure or discussion as it now is. Again, the playwright may have had ulterior motives and may have been adding a layer of complexity to the plot by suggesting a sexual longing on behalf of the daughter. Certainly she develops a crush on her tutor, and this, once perceived by the mother, is a cause for the older woman’s jealousy, since she also fancies herself in love with the young man. But the crush may have been intended as no more than the sort of puppy love displayed by young girls for objects of devotion, without the sexual connotation it would inevitably acquire for today’s audience.

The relationship between the businessman father and the social climbing mother with artistic pretentions is almost clichéd, though here it is rescued from that fate by making the woman of French origin. The tensions formed by her sensitivity and his pragmatism, especially as these pertain to the raising of the son, are classic in their portrayal. The fight about his education at university, studying English Literature, instead of taking the route of practical apprenticeship in his father’s furniture business, is so well drawn that it may well be based on the author’s own experience. I don’t know whether that’s the case, however. This sort of conflict, where the mother wants her son raised to appreciate the finer things in life and the father wants him to be moulded into his own image in order to carry on the business, is a fairly common element of fiction and drama or the era.

This is a play about class war, the then prevalent theme of the war between the sexes, prejudice regarding nationality, and the ever-present conflict between those who make money and those who merely spend it. Whether it would work for a contemporary audience I couldn’t say. Certainly, however, if it were to be performed locally, I’d attend. As a study of the times, this is an excellent example of drama, and, given the pedigree of the creator, is as   well written as you’d expect. I enjoyed it.

The Amulet of Samarkand, by Jonathan Stroud, Reviewed.

Balancing humour with the elements of a thriller is a difficult task to carry off, but Jonathan Stroud does it with style in The Amulet of Samarkand. What's more, he does it without expletives or sexual content, so you can happily encourage your youngsters to read this story.

Set in England sometime in a near future, it depicts a society in which the rich and powerful are all magicians. Politicians, in particular, are shown to be ruthless, manipulative, selfish and totally lacking in conscience; much, in fact, the way they appear to most of us in reality. The author uses his considerable writing gifts to mock the powerful and portray them as people who use their positions to get what they want without reference to the general public, who are treated with contempt by this society.

The main protagonists ought to be unsympathetic characters, but the reader warms to both the young, inexperienced, clever and vengeful apprentice magician, Nathaniel, and the wicked, conniving, powerful and devious demon, Bartimaeus, he conjours from 'the Other Place' to help him achieve his ambitions. Told from the first person, by Bartimaeus and the third person viewpoint of Nathaniel, the story develops plenty of impetus as the writer takes us into a world of ambition, greed, danger and treachery.

The humour is mostly of the type that brings a smile or a nod of admiration, but there's also the occasional belly laugh. And, I suspect, younger readers, particularly teenage boys will find plenty that will make them laugh out loud here.

It's a well-written story, with plenty of twists and turns and building drama leading to the inevitable denouement, which provides a satisfying and action-packed climax. The characters, even the minor roles, are written with an attention that allows the reader to form empathy and develop many other emotional responses appropriate to the different personalities.

I thoroughly enjoyed this work of great imagination and I applaud the author's method of bringing reader's attention to the depth of corruption in politics without preaching or ramming messages down throats. Humour is undoubtedly the most effective tool in the satirist's armoury and Jonathan Stroud uses it to great effect.

I have no hesitation in recommending this damn good read to all and sundry.

In Aid of Inshore Rescue

A friend of mine, Rick Sumner, has produced a slim volume of comic verse to be sold to raise funds for the local inshore rescue service. This maritime service has done sterling work over the years since it was first introduced, rescuing people in difficulties in the seas around the East Yorkshire town of Hornsea. If you'd like to obtain a copy, but don't get as far as Hornsea, here's the contact link.

And, by way of a tempter, here's an example of the verse:

 A very small fellow once stated
That he wanted his legs elongated
But when his friend Jack
Stretched him out on a rack
He screamed 'STOP, being tall's over rated.'

Rick's Rescue Rhymes can be purchased for the enormous outlay of £1.00 from Hornsea Inshore Rescue, or by post, by contacting Rick using the link above. For that service, there will be a small postal service, but all money raised goes to this excellent cause.

Stuarts' Daily Word Spot (Antonyms): Zany/Serious

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Zany/Serious

Zany: adjective - comically idiotic; ridiculous or comic; bizarre, crazy.

Serious: adjective - grave, solemn or sober in disposition or intention; responsible, neither reckless nor careless.

'The tabloid newspaper was in the habit of describing any student activity that was even marginally out of the ordinary as "zany", so that it was impossible to take its reports seriously.'

'Jason was a serious young man; his sober clothes, sedate manner and generally grave habit made him the butt of the jokes played by his more frivolous fellow students.'

1703 - Tokyo was hit by an earthquake, which killed about 37,000.

1919 - Lincoln's Inn in London admitted its first female law student. And even after almost a hundred years of supposed equality, women are seriously underrepresented as barristers and judges. So much for progress, eh?

Stuart's Odd Definitions (SODs): Solicitor

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I'm adding a little dark humour and devising some definitions of my own. Since I generally rely on the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (SOED) to inspire my 'real' definitions for the Daily Word Spot, I thought I'd use the acronym SOD for my own odd definitions. Here's the second of what will become an irregular series.

Solicitor: noun - an individual for whom law is a money tree, someone more interested in law than justice, an encourager of conflict, a partner in a firm set up to rob honest folk of their hard-earned cash, any member of a gang devoted to separating law-abiding citizens from their inheritance, a frustrated actor, a person willing to ensure the guilty go free if enough payment is received for the service, a member of the House of Commons who ensures that laws are made and kept as complex as possible so that the man in the street will be forced to employ him or her to interpret them.

Okay, so I might be being a bit hard. I do actually know a couple of people who are or were solicitors and who manage to remain pleasant people. But they are few and far between, I fear. I'd be interested to learn your experiences of the legal profession.

1825 - The first public railroad using steam locomotives was completed in England. The network of public transport first slowly and then rapidly expanded to carry people all over the country at reasonable cost and in growing comfort. Then, in the 1960s Dr Beeching, at the behest of the Conservative government then in power, wrote a report, which resulted in over 6,000 miles of track being taken out of service, along with more than 3,000 stations. The motivation for this was purported to be that most people would own cars and the railways would therefore become more or less obsolete. Of course, this was a self-fulfilling prophesy, as the removal of usable public transport from many locations ensured that people would be forced to buy and use cars instead. I often wonder how much money passed from the motor manufacturers into the hands of the politicians and others responsible for the decline of our railway system, which was, at the time, the envy of the world. Of course, the railways are no longer a public corporation but privately owned companies now struggling to replace the lost custom and upgrade the service to cope with increasing demand. Another wonderful decision made by our government that only ever thinks short-term.

1945 - The World Bank was created with the signing of an agreement by 28 nations. It has since become an institution with the potential to do enormous good. It's a shame it's been so frequently hijacked by the unethical and the exploitative to make some seriously damaging decisions, especially as far as environmental matters are concerned. Yet more politicians buggering things up, eh?

Stuart's Daily Word Spot (Antonyms): Taboo/Permitted

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Taboo/Permitted:

Taboo: verb - to place under a literal taboo; to debar or forbid by influence; to place under a social ban; to ostracize or boycott; to award a sacred status to something, thereby restricting its use; to prohibit.

Permitt(ed): verb - to allow; to give permission; to consent to a person doing or experiencing something.

'In many religions, the eating of certain foods is taboo. These restrictions stem mostly from ancient observations of health risks associated with the consumption of the foods, but modern methods of cooking, along with other safeguards, now render the taboosirrelevant. However, the religious organisations concerned, having built the prohibitions into the very structure of their dogma, find themselves incapable of admitting the truth and freeing up their adherents to sample foods that are now known to be safe to eat.'

'Long before Natalie discovered that nude swimming was permitted in the private pool, she'd abandoned her costume and taken to the waters in her skin to enjoy the delights of skinny dipping.'

1777 - Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook, who therefore decided to name it after the celebratory day of his chosen moral leader.

1939 - World War II: Pope Pius XII made a Christmas Eve appeal for peace. The war had been under way for only a few months, so perhaps the world in general, having conveniently forgotten the mass death and destruction of the previous world war, wasn't yet ready to gang together to defeat the evil that was Nazi aggression led by the madman, Hitler.

2011 - It's Christmas Eve, and the occasion for joy, celebration and merriment the world over for all those who live in a state formed or dominated by Christian beliefs. As an agnostic, I no longer follow the man who became unwittingly responsible for this once wonderful celebration of goodwill and peace. It doesn't prevent me enjoying the ideas held within that celebration, however. Much as I detest the absolute commercialism that's now replaced any form of spiritual awareness for the mass of the population, I still enjoy the idea of giving. And my past, as a once active member of the Church of England, catches up with me to make me enjoy the music and spiritual richness of the occasion.

So, I wish all peace-loving, caring and kind individuals, whatever their faith or philosophy, a very Merry Christmas, and hope they receive those things they most desire.

Stuart's Odd Definitions (SODs): Politician

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I thought I'd add a little dark humour and devise some definitions of my own. Since I generally rely on the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (SOED) to inspire my 'real' definitions for the Daily Word Spot, I thought I'd use the acronym SOD for my own odd definitions. Here's the first of what will become an irregular series.

Politician: noun - unreliable representative of the people; a corrupt official; opinionated orator; self-obsessed child; blinkered follower of party dogma; greasy pole climber; a person with their snout in the trough; demagogue; someone with ideas fixed by reference to a dubious past; a person suffering retarded development and needing undue attention from a large pool of otherwise insignificant strangers; an immature seeker of attention.

As is evident from my definition, I have huge admiration for politicians as a class of individuals. After all, they have, over the years, managed to persuade large numbers of people that they act in the interests of their constituents, whilst ensuring that their own goals are given priority. They've achieved that most unusual feat of fooling most of the people most of the time: in this case, mostly a reflection of the weariness and indifference of the voting population. In a democracy, politicians are supposed to represent the views of those whose region they serve. In reality, of course, they invariably either bow to pressure from their party machine and thereby distort or delete their personal election promises, or they put forward their own views regardless of any conflict these may have with those of the people they're supposed to represent.

So, a pretty worthy bunch of reprobates, thoroughly deserving of our continued support. They'll undoubtedly maintain their positions of power and influence and use them to gain greater rewards for themselves and those they favour, whilst the rest of us lie back and let them trample over us, thereby receiving the respect and treatment we deserve.

So, I say, well done politicians. May you all receive the rewards you so richly deserve.

What say you?

1672 - Giovanni Cassinidiscovered Rhea, one of the many satellites of Saturn.

1922 - BBC Radio began daily newscasts in the UK, starting a tradition that has grown over the years to inform, educate and, sometimes, irritate the hell out of the listeners.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Onomatopoeia

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Onomatopoeia: noun - the shaping of a word by imitation of the sound connected with the thing or action denominated; a word formed this way; in Rhetoric - the use of naturally suggestive language for effect.

Here's a list of some that come to mind. There are more, but I'll let you discover those for yourselves.

Ah, baa, bang, beep, belch, boo, buzz, cheep, chirp, clang, clap, cluck, clunk, crunch, fizz, giggle, growl, gurgle, hiccup, hiss, honk, hum, jangle, meow, moo, murmur, neigh, oink, ouch, phew, piss, ping, plop, purr, quack, rattle, roar, screech, shush, sizzle, slap, sniff, splash, squelch, thud, thump, tinkle, twang, ugh, vroom, whack, wham, whip, whizz, zap, zoom, etc….

'The tinkle of the fountain was interrupted by the plop and splash of the coins Christina tossed into the pool, making her giggle with delight but causing grumpy Godfrey growl with dismay at the waste.'

'In the golden fields of corn, the cattle meowed and the crows purred; flying overhead, the hissing bears collided with zooming pigs causing them to neigh in annoyance, as, along the horizon, a long line of lions oinked and buzzed as they devoured the jangling flowers.'

What do you mean, that's nonsense?

1154 - Henry II was crowned King of England.

1910 - 1st city ordinance requiring white and black residential areas was made in Baltimore. It would be years before such discrimination was first recognised for the injustice it was, and then made illegal. Of course, there remain idiots who still consider racial separation to be a good thing; but such ignorance and fear simply identifies these unfortunates as either stupid or ill-informed.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot (Antonyms): Laborious/Easy

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Laborious/Easy

Laborious: adjective - assiduous, industrious, hard-working; characterized by or involving labour or exertion; necessitating labour in execution.

Easy: adjective - comfortable, quiet, tranquil; characterized by ease or rest; conducive to ease or comfort; an action or task that can be completed with little effort.

'As the eldest daughter, Dubaku, was forced into the laborious task of providing water for the whole family by walking two miles each way to the well, carrying two ewers, four times every day.'

'Fadil led an easy life, as a married man with three wives and seven daughters, he had nothing to do all day but sit and talk with his contemporaries, whilst the women did all the work and kept him fed and comfortable.'  

1431 - King Henry VI of England was crowned king of France; just think, if subsequent wars hadn't intervened, the English and French would now be a single nation!

1631 - Mount Vesuvius, Italy erupted, destroying 6 villages and killing 4,000 local inhabitants. It was this eruption that led to the discovery of Pompeii. There is strong evidence to suggest it will erupt again in the near future, which, with over 2,000,000 people living within the immediate vicinity, could cause significant loss of life.

1653 - Oliver Cromwell was sworn in as English Lord Protector, ostensibly replacing the late King Charles I as head of the nation. As usually happens with leaders, he quickly forgot his dislike of dictatorship and became a tyrant.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Insouciance

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Insouciance: noun - lack of concern, carefreeness.

'Gerald sauntered along the coast with an air of insouciance that spoke volumes for his ability to bury even the most pressing of problems beneath a cloak of indifference to his real circumstances. That he was in debt to the tune of several thousand pound, his wife had left him for a more reliable and more attractive man, and his shoes were letting in the sea water, seemed of little or no consequence to him.'

1577 - Sir Francis Drake sailed from England to circumnavigate the world

1843 - "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens  was first published, selling 6,000 copies.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot (Antonyms): Habitual/Unusual

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Habitual/Unusual

Habitual: adjective - of the nature of a habit; fixed by habit; constantly repeated or continued; customary, constant, usual, continual.

Unusual: adjective - not usual; different from or contrary to what is expected or usual; exceptional, uncommon, unconventional.

'Henry shuffled across the floor in pursuit of Adrienne, his habitual expression of hunger and need writ large on his eager face in a way guaranteed to ensure his failure as soon as she turned to face him.'

'Sheila, noted for her conformity and generally nondescript manner of dress, had taken the unusual step of attending the gathering dressed as a Bunny Girl, which was all the more noticeable since the rest of the guests had decided on more formal wear for the funeral.'

1884 - 1st cricket Test Matchwas played at the Adelaide Oval

1901 - Marconi received the first transatlantic radio signal from England to the US