This is the story of Romochka, a young boy adopted by dogs when his family abandons him. We live with the dogs for three or four years; through beautiful summers and terrible, harsh winters. We never hear what happened to his first family. Somehow, it doesn’t matter. Through the eyes of the boy we share life with the dogs, experiencing the joy of new puppies, the gut-wrenching hunger of mid-winter and the terror of being stalked by hungry wolves or vicious policemen.
To anyone who has never visited Russia, this book might appear to be set in a fictional future. Tiny references, like the bars on the windows and the ‘subtle din of birdsong, electric-cable buzz and distant highway’ give it authenticity. Eva Hornung expertly captures the atmosphere of a disintegrating society and presents it dispassionately through the eyes of a child whose main frame of reference is the family of stray dogs with whom he is living and growing. The child doesn’t question what he sees and hears, he just adapts to it and uses it to his advantage.
The details of the dogs’ life are all the more shocking for the simple, child-like way in which they are presented. This is not a comfortable read, but I found it a compulsive one. It is based on a familiar theme, but without the usual sentimentality. The ending is sudden, unexpected and, with hind-sight, completely inevitable.
(Dog Boy was provided by Totnes Bookshop)
We all have one of those days occasionally – all we want to do is kick back and switch off. Maybe we’ve had a hard week at work. Or we are stuck at an airport, with nothing but ‘Delayed’ showing on the departure board. Maybe we’ve finally reached the holiday season and are sunning ourselves before a long, indulgent lunch. At times like that, many of us reach for a good thick page-turner.
This Charming Man certainly fits the bill. At 885 pages, it’s not a quick read, but it’s certainly a page-turner. In the cover notes, Marian Keyes is described as a comic writer and the book described as hilarious – but don’t be fooled. Below the comic surface, there are some very serious themes dealt with, including alcoholism, corrupt politicians and battered wives. It says a lot for Marian’s skill that she manages to maintain the humour without in any way debasing the message.
The book tells the stories of four very different women, all connected by their relationships with an Irish politician Paddy de Courcy – the Charming Man of the title. The four stories are skilfully interwoven. Each woman has a distinct voice, underlined by a different font, and different reactions to the man. One woman’s story made me smile from beginning to end. Another’s was heart-rending right to her final appearance. All were recognisable and understandable, even when flawed.
I bought this book on Saturday morning. I finished it on Monday evening. I read it in the sunshine during the day, in bed late at night, in bed early in the morning, during lunch breaks, even during advertising breaks while watching TV. This book ate my weekend – and very glad I am that it did!
There are only a handful of non-fictional characters in this book – and they all belong to the Royal Family. However, as Elizabeth II and her eldest son Charles become trapped in a terrorist nightmare during the Opening of Parliament, they are surrounded by characters so recognisable it is sometimes hard to remember this is a work of fiction. There’s the prime minister who weakens under pressure but remains concerned about his public image. There’s the ambitious female cabinet minister who finds herself pushed into a position of power – and lets it go to her head. And there’s the American president who acts to protect her interests and those of her country above all others. However, my favourites were the two elderly members of the House of Lords – he a stauch socialist from the North, out of touch with New Labour; she a Baroness and ex-Foreign Secretary. They start the book as old enemies, but see things differently by the end.
The scenario appears simple (and chillingly inevitable). A large number of prominent hostages, including the Queen herself, used as bargaining chips for the release of an Afghan terrorist. As the story unfolds, it becomes obvious that there are other players involved and other agendas being followed. This is a another page-turner from the author of the ‘House of Cards’ trilogy. Not great literature, but wonderful for that train or plane journey when you just need to switch off and be entertained.
The “what” is never in dispute. It is a matter of historical record that Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash on August 17 1988. However, the circumstances behind the crash were never fully explained. This quirky book attempts to address the question of “how”. How was the crash caused – and by whom. And, there are no shortage of candidates.
Most of the story is narrated by Ali Shigri, a Junior Under Officer in the Pakistan Army. At first he seems a disinterested observer; gradually the reader sees that he might be a key to the whole story – or maybe not. There are many twists in this tale. The remainder of the book charts the last few weeks of General Zia’s life and shows a paranoid leader, who believes he is in danger from those around him. The fact that he is proved right in the end cannot have been of much comfort to him.
I found this is a difficult book to get into, due mainly to the unfamiliarity of the subject matter. However, after a few chapters, I was hooked. There are several different stories, all interlinked and gradually merging as the book progresses. It is easy to see why this fantasy has made it on to the Longlist for the Guardian First Book Award. As for the ‘how’ question - is it answered in the end? Well I’ll leave you to make your own mind up about that.
(A Case of Exploding Mangoes was provided by Totnes Bookshop)
If you’ve ever looked into a dog’s eyes and wondered what he was thinking, then this book is for you. This is the story of Denny, a ordinary guy with an extraordinary talent as a racing driver. He battles with his in-laws, the law and life itself to keep together his family and fulfill his ambitions. His story is told by his dog Enzo, his companion for ten years. It is told factually, without emotion (do dogs have emotions?) against the backdrop of the television programmes and race videos which are Enzo’s only means of educating himself.
Garth Stein’s third novel is a beautifully-written book, hilarious in parts, desperately sad in others. The style is clean and easy to read. Enzo’s philosphical asides make him the true centre of the story. His views on evolution made me re-examine my understanding of Darwin. His regret at not having opposable thumbs and his Buddhist-like expectations of returning next time as a human seemed very plausible.
When they make Denny’s story into a film (which I know they will one day), I hope Enzo is played by Al Pacino – Enzo would like that.
(The Art of Racing in the Rain was provided by Totnes Bookshop)
