Never mind disagreeing with the crowd - we also disagree with each other!!
This book was chosen by one of the Incognito members after viewing the film. Whether certain windows from the film resonated with windows in our lives or whether Alan Bennett’s writing shone through, whatever it was, the film hit a chord with the chooser, so to speak, and as books are often better than the film, then this seemed a sure bet, POSSIBLY!
True to form, this was not the case for the chooser. The film was carefully scripted to cover the life of the lady in the Van as well as that of Alan Bennett, but the book was just a diary version of The Lady in the Van, so for some, the comparisons between their lives wasn’t apparent which made the film far more interesting. We later found out that the film version was available in book form and may have been more enjoyable with all the added dialogue keeping a very sad story light-hearted. POSSIBLY!
The other readers did rate the book from enjoyable, to less being more, to just ok.
The Lady in the Van is a true story of a lady who came to park her van in Alan Bennett’s drive for 3 months yet stayed for 15 years. Over that time, due to his own character weaknesses and admitted laziness and timidness, he found out very little about the fact she had been a music student in Paris, played at the Proms, spoke fluent French, was a nun twice, was sectioned by her brother, escaped and later was found to be outside of the law due to an unfortunate accident which blighted her life and possibly sent her over the edge. That and the nuns refusing her access to her music which was surely her only release. All of these things he only found out after her death.
Alan Bennett knew he would write about her after her death which is perhaps why he allowed her to stay for so long. Something that would never be allowed or accepted today. POSSIBLY!
There is a poignant quote in the book which perhaps summed the writer up and I quote ....
Good nature, or what is often considered as such, is the most selfish of all
virtues: it is nine times out of ten mere indolence of disposition.
(William Hazlitt ‘On the Knowledge of Character’ 1822.
All in all a ‘not too bad’ book which touched some more than others, as did the writing style.
As dining in a caravan would have been poo pooed by some, we dined at The Rat Inn. Choosing wisely was the order of the night. Lots of usual things on the menu but unfortunately the chosen duck was a bit dry and lacking a good jus to rescue the situation. The cod was very good but again lacking a bit of sauce. We all need a bit of sauce in our lives POSSIBLY!
Next months book is another short read which will, hopefully, pack a punch. POSSIBLY!
GHOST WALL BY SARAH MOSS.
12 October 2019.
