A Prison Diary (Volume 1) HELL by Jeffrey Archer

A Prison Diary (Volume 1) HELL by Jeffrey Archer

                                 " A change of Genre come Hell or High Water "

                                     

....   This book was chosen as a total change of genre because the last three books, with varying reviews, were of similar ilk and although it was interesting to review three similar books by different authors, we feel a total change was much needed to see in the New Year.  2016!  Thankfully, the last book was so bad that anything Mr Archer has put on his prison paper will be a blessing ...

....   Archer was chosen as light relief.  His past reputation defines him as a masterful creative writer.  Easy to read, good fluidity and well thought out stories with engaging characters.  Not sure this criteria could be fulfilled with a straight forward account of life in prison, day to day monotonous regimes and real life characters.  We were wrong to think that.  Who would have thought that a book describing boredom and monotony could turn into a page turner.  This book is the first of a trilogy and takes you through his early unsettled days at Belmarsh to his eventual stop in an open prison.  It was a very interesting and easy to read, raising a few debatable issues along the way.  Issues regarding the running of the prison system, child abuse and drugs to name a few.  All his encounters are brief and their is some humour to keep you wanting more.  All the hussies agreed it was a good read ....  However ...

....  On the flip side of the coin. Prison life didn't really come across as 'Hell'.  It is well known that most celebrities are treated well in prison. Although from the 'charmed' life Mr Archer appears to have lead, it probably was hell for him.  At no point did he feel sorry for himself and it did make you want to find out why his sentence was so harsh as the details of his trial are not discussed in the book.   It was also thought strange and unbelievable that some of the toughest murderers in prison opted to sign up for creative writing classes, led by Mr Archer, after only a few weeks.  These characters are noted in the book and it is questionable how this trilogy of books could have be published as it was thought financial gain could not be made whilst in prison.  Another view which was put forward was that he was shameless about his sentence and shameless about exploiting the people he met.  The name dropping made him look self-centred with his me, me, me attitude, so much so that one hussie, although, values his writing skills, totally dislikes his manipulative character inside and outside of politics.  He encouraged writing and not politics on the inside, which gave the impression he is a writer first and foremost and although his experience could be used politically, it is thought he probably would not use it to change things.  Minor bug-bear was the varying price of his mineral water!!

....   Only one way to find out how 'Hell' turns out.  Finish the trilogy.  Now, from one trilogy to another.  Next month's choice, by popular demand.  A local Northumbrian writer's debut novel .. 

                                     The Devil's Band  by  Richard Anderton

                                   

....   Our discussion night was hosted at The Black Bull in Corbridge.  Numbers were halved that night due to the excessive rain falling over Northumberland.  The roads were treacherous so only two made it to the venue.  The Black Bull is a friendly village pub with a good value, varied menu.  The candlelite tables offered a cosy ambience in a relaxed atmosphere and the staff were attentive but not overly so.  A very enjoyable night was had by mothers and daughters alike.

                                        

.....   Our next meeting will be Tuesday, 2nd February 2016.  Venue to be confirmed.

12/01/16

The Lie by C L Taylor

The Lie by CL Taylor 

The Truth is that this is a very ugly book

Humble apologies to anyone who joined in with our latest read – The Lie  by CL Taylor.  It has to be our worst book yet.  Possibly one of the ugliest reads  around.  Ugly characters, ugly writing, ugly plotting.  

CL Taylor clearly hasn’t read any of the creative writing  recommendations which emphasise “show, don’t tell”.  This was tell, tell tell, supported by redundant dialogue and clichéd clichés  e.g.

 “I could sense his anger bubbling inside him like lava” 

The story moves between the present day and the past.  The present day tale is set around an animal refuge,  the past in a commune in Nepal.   Both stories involve ugly people doing ugly things which involve a lot of “puking”, “fucking”, “yanking down knickers” and “shit”.     At the refuge there’s abuse, “doggy diarrhoea”, puppies "caked in crap” and Freddy the parrot even squawks “Fucking Bastard”.  At the commune, there’s abuse,  “urine, vomit and faeces swirl around” and characters relentlessly fucking and saying “shit”, “twat” or  “fuck.”

To précis this non-shakespearian offering: 

We need a holiday. “But I am sick and tired I am of everything.”
We go to a commune, characterised by “Hunt the Cunt”  and “excellent little fuck pads”
 We don’t get on, “She flicks me the Vs. “
Disastrous things happen,  “puking in the toilets”,  “the stench of faeces and urine hits me”,
 “I’m not staying here you twat.”
Disaster turns to disaster. 
“Fuck”.  “Yeah”

The alarming thing about this book is that it has done so well.  It has numerous reviews on Amazon, most singing its praises.   

Is this what popular storytelling has become? 

  “FUCK”!

The venue for our discussion this month was The Duck House in Corbridge  which is rated well on trip advisor.  A restaurant upstairs, we visited the coffee shop downstairs. 

This photo - downloaded from trip advisor - isn't  representative of our visit.  Sadly, bad weather  combined with what sounded like major refurbishments upstairs made for a stark, drafty, noisy  ambience compounded by some intrusive piped pop music and a lack of basic condiments. 

The friendly owner was quick to apologise for this unusual state and warmed us up with complimentary hot drinks.  The hot chocolate was impressive as was the food which stood out amidst the chaos.  

The Duck House continues to develop and promises a successful revisit. 

Our next read might be ugly :

 But surely this will be a good read given Archer's masterful storytelling?  We will let you know! 

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Definitely the kind worth reading.....

                                         

All agreed that this fast paced thriller kept the reader hooked from start to finish. Although clearly inspired by Patricia Highsmiths' 'Strangers on a Train' Swanson avoided producing a carbon copy of that classic work by adding a dramatic and shocking twist. The characters are interesting and engaging although all slightly mad, making it quite hard to decide who to root for ( Americanisms allowed as this is an American book). An enjoyable read during which the action crosses continents and reflects varied lifestyles within modern day America. Although the story is quite violent it has a light hearted tone which transcends the most gruesome parts of the story. Many and varied murderous acts, motivated by greed and deceit, are sugar coated, softening the true horror of the plot. This psychological thriller is a well crafted cat and mouse tale that isn't afraid to take risks. There are so many twists and turns that its almost impossible to predict who will emerge triumphant in the battle for revenge. The style of swapping narrators and recapping main plot points at regular intervals means that even the dopiest of readers can keep up. It is a little far fetched and relies heavily on coincidence but over all most loose ends are satisfactorily tied up.
This is Peter Swansons' second novel and is certainly a good advert for the author, we will look out for his debut novel 'The Girl With A Clock For A Heart'.

The Hussies returned to Vercellis Restaurant in Hexham for this months meeting, still noisy but again good value tasty Italian food. The service was no better or worse than you would expect in an Italian Restaurant, although it always seems a little odd when they blow out the candle and start setting the table for the next night, were they trying to tell us something?

This month we will be reading 'The Lie' by C.L.Taylor....

  

  

I Let You Go by Clare MacKintosh

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

 

....  Some of the Group Could Have Let This One Go!

                                

....   This book was high on the list of the Top Ten Summer Reads of 2015.  Tense, Fast-Paced, Compelling with an Astonishing Twist echoed the marketing blurb!  

....   The plot grabs you from the very beginning with a hit and run accident and very few clues.  Little by little a dual story emerges through the abused central character and the investigating police.

....   The writing style aggravated the group. The first third was not engaging.  The descriptive style was annoying and weak, and, the reader almost felt manipulated by the way the story led you to believe the unbelievable.  The second part was much improved with a faster pace resulting in the group classifying this as a page turner. The writing style was also much improved which enhanced the reading experience.  However, the final part became more incredulous and although the scary climax left you guessing it still left us feeling very flat.  Although we all agreed it was a page turner, the reasons why were split.  One group member thoroughly enjoyed the book despite the flaws noted whilst the other two felt it was lacking in writing style and characterisation.  It was also very noticeable that the writer was a former police investigator as the writing was more comprehensive following the police investigation, and the politics within the police was very apparent.  

....   I Let You Go does fit into the genre of The Husband's Secret, Gone Girl and The Girl of the Train, all of which the group enjoyed as holiday reads.  They were enjoyable, but, don't scrutinise too deeply as depth was lacking.

....   The Restaurant choice for our discussion was Winships, an historical building in the small village of Ovington.  As it was a mid-week autumnal night, it was very quiet, so, through no fault of their own, ambience was lacking.  For a small restaurant the menu seemed too extensive and that added to a specials board just resulted in a feeling that quantity of choice overwhelmed quality of food.  The portions were on the small side for the price and the menu descriptions inflated our expectations which were quickly deflated on arrival of the food, Although, we should  mention that the coffee was exceptional.  It was our first visit, so, maybe we should give it another try as reviews on the whole were good and we may well have been unlucky on the night.  The meal averaged out at £25 per head for two courses and coffee, no wine!

           

              Don't choose the drafty corner table!

            

               Good Flavoured Coffee!

....   Continuing with 'The Best Ever Book' genre, join us to discuss our October choice  ....

                 THE KIND WORTH KILLING by PETER SWANSON

              

....    We will meet to discuss this 'Thriller of the Year' on Tuesday, 3rd November.  Hope you can join us!

13/13/2015 

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nicolas Butler

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nikolas Butler 

Don't judge a book by its cover 

This book came highly recommended by our local independent book store – well written and heart warming.  The cover claims it’s gripping, powerful, big hearted and beautifully written .  Surely a winning choice for our Hussies?

We met to discuss this at The Queens Head in Great Whittington, a small village near Hadrian's Wall.   This venue is a Chinese Restaurant housed in a quintessential, stone built, village pub.  The staff were friendly and eager  to please with their extensive menu but the quality of the food was inconsistent.  The duck in cointreau sauce was excellent but other dishes were rather bland - bring out the soy sauce.   Over Chinese tea - apparently the milkman was ill so there was no milk for coffee - the Hussies took out their reading guns to shoot down their latest read.

Undoubtedly well written, with a promising start,  the Hussies were generally disappointed with the pace, plot and character development in this story.   The book describes the maturing relationships and lives of four young men bound by their common experience of growing up in a small mid-west American town.

As readers,  we were embroiled in the relatively unremarkable lives and loves of Kip, Henry, Lee and Ronnie.  Lee, a wealthy musician, and Ronnie, an alcoholic, are the most memorable characters.  Without spoiling the story, it's fair to say that one of the most exciting story lines involved a jar of pickled onions - don't hold your breath.

The author paints a strong picture of life in a small rural town, evoking a life characterised by comfortable familiarity, with time to appreciate sunrise and sunrise.  A life where everyone knows about the milkman being ill.

Sunrise over Hadrian's Wall

However, Butler also shows that some towns can be too small for comfort.  In a city, to quote one of Butler's characters, 

"nobody looks twice at me.  And nobody tells me what to do, and what not to do". 

Cityscape - Newcastle on Tyne  - the nearest city to Hadrian's Wall

In Butler's small town drama,  small is powerfully depicted as suffocating and liberating.   Lee struggles with international success in the search for home, whilst Ronnie, struggling with his own demons, dreams of escape.

Ultimately, the Hussies felt that although Shotgun Lovesongs had some highlights, it -  like their meal - missed some of the vital ingredients which could transform it into an unforgettable banquet.

We are now reading I let you go by Claire Mackintosh.

A Man Called OVE by Fredrik Backman

A man called OVE. by Fredrik Backman

Not quite a happy holiday read.

An excellent story with well drawn characters, this book is not for the emotionally vulnerable, the Hussies were moved to laughter and tears in equal measure. The author portrays life in a small residential area of Sweden, focusing on the trials and tribulations of the loveable protagonist, Ove. 

It is a well written book that slowly reveals Ove's rather tragic life story by weaving events of the past into the present. Ove makes some rather unlikely friendships through out the book raising the question, does the author share the BBC's obsession with representing every sector of society in one show (Balamory). A bitter sweet story with some comic moments, one Hussie found it particularly ridiculous that a cat would go for a walk and  go to a coffee shop with its owner. In order to really enjoy the book its important to remember that it is a work of fiction, its' real appeal is that it can excite a wide range of emotions within the reader. It offers some insight into life in modern day Sweden. Generally a popular book that is easy to read and keeps the reader engaged.

The Rat at Anick provided the back drop for our discussion of the book. A traditional country pub where all the food was of a very high standard, succulent lamb chops with fresh tasty seasonal vegetables really were superb. With a cheese board to share at the end of the meal the Hussies were very impressed, although as ever attention to detail being paramount, it was pointed out that the cheese had not been out of the fridge long enough. Overall a superior meal that definitely warrants a return trip.

This month we will be reading 'Shot Gun Love Songs' by Nickolas Butler.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Medical ethics and racial injustice. Discuss...

Yes this months choice did read more like a thesis than a summer read but its' no nonsense style gripped the Hussies and spurred them on to the end. Skloots' non fiction best seller tells the human story behind the HeLa cells. It is a testament to her skill as a writer that she manages to combine science and humanity in a way that engages the reader and doesn't require any subject specific knowledge. For those unfamiliar with  He La cells this book gives a comprehensive account of their successful growth and subsequent immortality in a lab dish. The reader learns how the cells have been used by scientists over the years for incredibly diverse purposes, not just in America but across the whole world and beyond, even travelling in to outer space. 

The author covers the facts behind the harvesting of the cells from their owner, a young black woman called Henrietta Lacks, hence the name He La cells.  Henrietta never knew nor agreed to her cells being used for medical research, however at that time it was seen by the medical profession  as a form of payback for free medical treatment. Henrietta was poor and had no medical insurance and in 1951 Baltimore black people did not have access to the same medical care as their white counterparts. She died from cervical cancer in 1951, a time when it was the norm for Dr's to use parts of their patients for medical research without gaining consent. The author sites other cases in America where patients were used as guinea pigs for medical research. The book raised questions about ethics and racial discrimination but a lot of the things that happened were of their time and modern medicine has moved on so much its hard to imagine any procedure going ahead without full written consent.

The book is of interest to non medics because it delves into the family history of Henrietta, highlighting the poverty and chaos some people have to endure. Dysfunctional interbred families that go on repeating the mistakes of past generations out of ignorance and circumstance. Skloot met with the family of Henrietta Lacks and discovered that they had no idea that her cells continued to live 20 years after her death. She highlights the misunderstandings that can arise when two worlds come together. Henrietta's husband believed his wife was still alive and locked in a prison cell when he was first told of the existence of the HeLa cells. His daughter worried that her mother could feel the pain of all the experiments conducted on her cells. We don't know how we would feel on hearing our long dead relative had immortal cells until we were in that position. A certain level of anger would be understandable especially given that some scientists have made a lot of money from the HeLa cell line whilst the family remain poor and unable to afford basic medical care. Of course we all agreed that it would be an impossible undertaking to trace every person who had ever donated body tissue to medical research and give them their fair share of any money made.

A well written interesting read that we would all recommend, not as dry as it first sounds.

The book was discussed at The Barrasford Arms, Barrasford, Northumberland. A picturesque village pub surrounded by castles and countryside, home to top chefs Tony Binks and Richard Muncaster. The food was of a very high standard, all agreed it was well worth the £30 per head for two courses  including the tip. Tempura King Prawns for starters were huge and well worth the £6.50 price tag, as was the slightly cheaper minestrone soup. We all went for the same main course, Roe buck on a bed of mash, very nice but could have benefitted from a bowl of summer vegetables, although we were all too full for pudding. The service was friendly and efficient leaving the Hussies with ample time to discuss the book. A great venue to which we will  return.