Wolfson Contemporary Reading Group

Monday, 30 May 2016

June 2016: Our next book

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The Buried Giant, Kazuo Ishiguro

The next meeting of the Reading Group will take place on Wednesday, 29 June 2016 at the usual time of 7.30pm in Plommer A. We will be meeting to discuss The Buried Giant, the seventh novel of Kazuo Ishiguro.

From Amazon.co.uk:

'You've long set your heart against it, Axl, I know. But it's time now to think on it anew. There's a journey we must go on, and no more delay...'

The Buried Giant begins as a couple set off across a troubled land of mist and rain in the hope of finding a son they have not seen in years.

Sometimes savage, often intensely moving, Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel in a decade is about lost memories, love, revenge and war.

Everyone is very welcome to join us on 29 June and we hope to see you for the usual lively discussion and refreshments. However, if you are unable to be with us, please email your comments and scores so that they can be shared with the group.

The book is available in local libraries, and in paperback and Kindle edition from Amazon* and other booksellers.

*Please remember to use the link on the Wolfson Alumni & Development website if you choose to buy from Amazon, as College will benefit from the sale: http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/alumni/amazon/

May book review: 'My Brilliant Friend', by Elena Ferrante

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Book: My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante

Publication date: 2012 (first published in Italian in 2011)

WCRG meeting: 25 May 2016

Rating: 6.5

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante inspired one of the most spirited Reading Group discussions that we’ve had in quite some time. The book divided opinion, although only a few members truly raved about it. One reader memorably described it as ‘like Eastenders but with better weather.’

The biggest source of dissension within the Group (and which led to the most lively debate) concerned the issue of historical authenticity. The Group was divided into those who admired Ferrante’s picture of 1950s Neapolitan society, and those who felt that this period detail receded into the background. It was argued that, despite being an historically significant period in Italian history, the novel had a very shallow and superficial focus and did not create a recognisable picture of 1950s Italy. Some members were particularly frustrated by the paucity of historical detail in the novel and felt that Ferrante could have gone deeper in interrogating issues of post-war tension and the still-pervasive vestiges of Fascism. For these readers, the novel’s insularity was a failing and made it a less satisfying read. However, those who disagreed with this opinion countered that one experiences Naples through its people and Ferrante does not need to embellish this with explanations and observations. These readers argued that the inclusion of more historical detail would not have been true to the child-centric nature of the novel. This first novel in the tetralogy is particularly child-oriented: although Elena is in her sixties when she decides to write the story of her friend Lila, My Brilliant Friend charts the years of their childhood from the age of six up to the age of sixteen and is largely told from a child’s perspective of the world. For children, their world view is understandably much narrower and what a modern-day audience sees as history and political intrigue, they see simply as daily life.

All agreed that Ferrante brilliantly depicts the complexities of female friendship, although some of our male members, in particular, found the confessional style a bit tedious as the novel progressed. To paraphrase one reader, the novel is full of the petty jealousies and sexual frustrations of acne-ridden teenagers! There was some debate as to whether readers preferred Lila or Elena, with many finding it difficult to truly ally themselves with either girl. A few of our number commented on an air of malice underlying the text, and found this off-putting. In the opening pages of the novel, an adult Elena decides to write Lila’s story after her friend has disappeared and tried to erase herself from memory in the process, and one reader questioned whether this was an act of love or spite. This ambiguity pervades the novel.

As it is Elena who is telling the story, one only sees Lila through her eyes – one never learns what Lila is truly thinking or feeling. One reader remarked that the novel would have been stronger and more compelling if it had been written in the third-person. Elena was felt to be a potentially unreliable narrator with her own agenda for writing this story, and it was therefore difficult to know whether one was gaining a true representation of the people around her. All agreed that obsession is a key theme in the novel: Elena’s feelings for Lila are a deep and complex mix of admiration and envy, love and hate, desire and disgust. This evocation of feeling is one of the strongest elements of the novel.

Another member observed that the act of writing is also an important feature of the novel – Elena takes control of the story by writing it and her ability to express herself gives her power over Lila. This theme is also tied to that of education – many readers felt that Lila was the truly clever one of the pair, but she did not have the opportunities to learn and thrive as Elena did. Elena’s education would become her ticket out of Naples, whereas Lila, we learn at the beginning of the novel, never leaves Naples.

One member read the book in its original Italian and was impressed with the skilful prose. This member felt that the violence and poverty of the area was well-captured, although she was shocked at the narrow world of the girls who had not even seen the sea while growing up in Naples. One of our number was reminded of the writing of another Italian, Curzio Malaparte and recommended his novels, The Skin and Kaputt, as more historically rich alternatives to Ferrante’s insular depiction of post-war Naples. Another member expressed some concern about the level of violence in the novel – this reader felt that violence was overused and contributed to a sense of the novel as a ‘never-ending soap opera.’

Rather curiously, almost all of those present who enjoyed the novel struggled to get into it at first. At least two members had tried to read the book on a few occasions before persevering with it and eventually feeling rewarded for their efforts. Some admitted to never feeling entranced, or invited into the story and this failing of Ferrante’s writing to draw readers in was felt by many present. One member had read all four books in the series and told how she ‘couldn’t stop reading them.’ For those who became captivated by the relationship between the girls, there was something compulsive about reading this novel. However, while Lila and Elena are quite finely drawn characters, the rest are just walk-on roles and there is no positive male figure in the novel.

All agreed that there are too many characters in the novel – as evidenced by the index of characters included at the beginning. Characters were easily confused and the absence of distinct identifying features and personalities meant that they remained peripheral figures interchangeable with one another. By focusing so carefully on Elena and Lila, Ferrante neglected to flesh out the wide cast of characters around them.

My Brilliant Friend proved to be a rewarding read for the Reading Group. While there were some high scores between 7 and 9, most scored it lower and this led to an overall average of just 6.5.

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

May 2016: Our next book

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My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante

The next meeting of the Reading Group will take place on Wednesday, 25 May 2016 at the usual time of 7.30pm in Plommer A. We will be meeting to discuss My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.

From Amazon.co.uk:

A modern masterpiece from one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila. Ferrante's inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighbourhood, a city and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her two protagonists.

Everyone is very welcome to join us on 25 May and we hope to see you for the usual lively discussion and refreshments. However, if you are unable to be with us, please email your comments and scores so that they can be shared with the group.

April Book Review: 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane', by Neil Gaiman

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Book: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman

Publication date: 2013

WCRG meeting: 26 April 2016

Rating: 5.3

Neil Gaiman’s latest work failed to excite the members of the Reading Group this month. Only two members were warm in their praise, with the majority feeling rather apathetic about The Ocean at the End of the World. One reader, who has read some of Gaiman’s earlier novels, commented that his latest offering was not as deep or satisfying. Another member first came across the book as the BBC ‘book at bedtime’ and enjoyed it far more when he was listening to it while tucked up in bed.

The first matter discussed by the group was whether Ocean is a children’s or adult book. Most of those present felt that it lacked the necessary depth and plot to make it a good adult novel, but that it would be an engaging read for children at bedtime. However, it was pointed out by a few readers that the novel may be too dark and philosophical for younger readers. Some of the readers admitted to not being avid fans of the fantasy genre, but did not dismiss the book on the grounds that it was more geared towards the children’s book market. However, one reader noted that, while the novel might aspire to join the ranks of JK Rowling and Philip Pullman, it fell far short of these heavyweights and was nothing more than a bland children’s book.

Gaiman’s writing was praised at the meeting – all agreed that he effectively evoked the world of the child and that the writing was very engaging and attractive. Gaiman’s use of imagery and his depiction of the power of fear was felt to be particularly strong. One member commented on how much she had enjoyed the descriptions of food in the book. Descriptions of food were lush and often central to the action – the protagonist associated the kind of food he was eating with his level of safety and revelled in the wholesome fare at the Hempstock’s farm.

All felt that something intrinsic was missing from the novel – it needed to delve deeper, to interrogate the lives of the characters further, and not simply skim over the issues. Threads were introduced only to be abandoned: such as the plot device of the opal hunter who commits suicide, which opens the novel, but is never explored further. Similarly, the protagonist returns as an adult for a funeral, but his life between childhood and adulthood is never covered, nor is the detail behind his return. One member remarked that the novel felt like ‘a fragment of a bigger story’. It was thought that a lot of background detail and explanation was lacking, which frustrated rather than intrigued readers. There is a fine line between keeping one’s readers in suspense and causing them to lose interest, and many of the Reading Group members fell into the latter category.

The book explored ideas of time and memory; showing how we all have our own version of the truth and how the past is rewritten and reshaped over time. One big question raised by the novel was: is the fantasy real? At the meeting, it was debated whether the entire fantasy element of the novel was symbolic – if it was all the creation of a young boy who had suffered something traumatic in his childhood and used his imagination to deal with it. If Gaiman was hinting at this, most readers felt that he didn’t give them enough on which to build this theory.

One reader remarked how she looked for themes and meanings, but was continually disappointed. It was noted that detail is important to a children’s story, but Gaiman introduced many such elements only to abandon them later. Another commented that the book wasn’t fantastical enough to be a strong fantasy story, but equally, it wasn’t developed enough to be enjoyed as a work of realist fiction. Only two members were genuinely enthusiastic about the novel – impressed by the writing, entranced by the fantastical elements, moved by the boy’s fear and confusion, and happy to revel in the vivid world created by Gaiman.

Many members were muted in their response to the book and were of the opinion that it didn’t really work as a book group read. However, those who truly disliked the book were vocal in their disapproval! One member recounted how he had been willing to give the book a go, but his impatience grew to the point where he wanted to throw it across the room. ‘I wonder if I'd approached the book stoned, would it have been more enjoyable’, was his most memorable comment.

As Gaiman’s book failed to impress the Group, it received a mark of just 5.3, but the true failing of the book was evidenced in the fact that the meeting ended early.

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

What I've been reading...

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Philippa Gregory, The Taming of the Queen (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

Last week, Christine and I were invited back on to Chris Mann's Drivetime radio show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to discuss Philippa Gregory's latest novel, The Taming of the Queen. Taming centres on the marriage of Henry VIII to his final wife, Katheryn Parr, whom he predeceases. Having read a few of Gregory's earlier novels (her well-known 'Tudor Court' series), I knew what to expect and there weren't really any surprises. That's not necessarily a bad thing; for me, reading a Gregory novel of historical fiction is an enjoyable, stress-free experience. Gregory is good at what she does – it's not earth shattering, or incredibly profound, but nor is it the meaningless, bodice-ripping stuff of which her critics like to accuse her. For me, Gregory takes a fascinating period of history and humanises it. She gives a voice to female characters who are too often footnotes in history, or merely depicted as the titillating companions of more famous men.

Gregory researches her novels extensively and this is evident in her descriptions of the religious and moral debates of the day. She takes certain liberties with fact and embellishes where records are absent, but this is largely successful. There are, however, a few bum notes – the sex scene in the opening chapter of the novel hints that Gregory may be feeling a little anxious about today's craze for erotic fiction, but the description is cringe-inducing and painfully awkward. Similarly awful is Gregory's fictional account of how Katheryn Parr managed to gain a pardon from Henry VIII when he was hell-bent on executing her.

Despite these missteps, Gregory has written a compelling and absorbing novel. Christine was not quite so commendatory, but she too found the story enjoyable despite feeling that the final months of Katheryn's marriage (when her life hung in the balance) was too rushed.

Anne O'Neill

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Calling all members: recommend a book!

Image credit: Pimthida, Flickr

We're trying out a new way of picking our monthly book whereby each reading group member (whether you attend in person or not) may submit the title of one book which they would like to see discussed. All of these titles will then be placed in a hat and a new one drawn out at each month's meeting.

WCRG members at home and abroad are invited to submit their preferred title via email to wolfsonreading@gmail.com. The full list of recommended reads will then be added to the blog along with synopses and book jacket images.

There are no rules governing what you can suggest. We have always been quite flexible in interpreting the word 'contemporary' in our group name, but books published from the 1920s upwards is probably a good guide. Recommending particularly long and complex books (400 pages and upwards) is not discouraged, but such titles may be reserved for reading over the summer vacation.

You don't have to have read the book yourself in order to recommend it – the book can be a favourite of yours, or one you've always wanted to read. If you have read the book before, please consider adding a line or two explaining why you are recommending it.

We want every member to feel part of the reading group, so please send in your recommendations! And while we'll only put one book title from each member in the hat right now, you are very welcome to suggest additional book titles also.

April 2016: Our next book

The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman

The next meeting of the Reading Group will take place on Wednesday, 27 April 2016 at the usual time of 7.30pm in Plommer A. We will be meeting to discuss Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

From Amazon.co.uk:

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac - as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly's wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark - from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman.

It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed - within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.

His only defence is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.

Everyone is very welcome to join us on 27 April and we hope to see you for the usual lively discussion and refreshments. However, if you are unable to be with us, please email your comments and scores so that they can be shared with the group.

March book review: 'The Rosie Project', by Graeme Simsion

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Book: The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion

Publication date: 2013

WCRG meeting: 23 March 2016

Rating: 6.8

The lighthearted nature of Graeme Simsion’s ‘charming’ book seemed to infuse the reading group last night, as all were in particularly high spirits while discussing The Rosie Project. It may not be a great work of literature, but the majority of the members who read The Rosie Project enjoyed it enormously. One reader memorably remarked that the book is ‘funny as a fit’ and that she regularly thought ‘I know that person’ while reading it. Those who responded less favourably to the book were disappointed by the predictability of the romantic plot line, with one reader commenting that it was something of a ‘one joke book’ where they grew weary of the repetitious Asperger joke.

Comparisons to the TV show The Big Bang Theory and Mark Haddon’s bestselling The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime were also made, with some readers preferring the more adult insights provided in The Rosie Project. Two or three readers found it to be very similar to the TV show and were not surprised that the book began life as a screenplay, with its focus on humorous, if somewhat unrealistic occurrences.

While the majority enjoyed the novel immensely, all admitted that the plot was predictable, especially as Don’s relationship with Rosie progressed. No one really doubted that Don would end up with Rosie in the end (it is called The Rosie Project after all), but many found the speed with which Don changed his thinking and way of life unbelievable. All save one member agreed that Rosie’s ‘father project’ is the weakest part of the novel. Most found that particular plot at best confusing, at worst completely irrelevant. Only one reader was intrigued by Rosie’s search to learn the identity of her biological father and satisfied with its denouement. Some readers expressed incredulity at the lengths Rosie, but particularly Don, was willing to go to in order to test all of the DNA samples, particularly considering the ethical lines he was wiling to cross.

The insights into university life and the political scheming which goes on in academe were felt to be particularly well-observed, and Don’s refusal to conform to these social codes of conduct (such as with the student who plagiarised part of his assignment) was a source of amusement. Don’s comically awkward interactions with women were also a strength of the novel, particularly in scenes such as where he practiced his dancing with the skeleton, or, where Don set the timer on his watch in response to someone asking him to ‘give them a minute’.

Only one reader questioned the integrity of the novel, arguing that Simsion was irresponsible in his portrayal of Don Tillman, depicting him ambiguously as both an eccentric character and someone potentially on the autistic spectrum. By failing to research the matter carefully and write more thoughtfully about Don’s life experiences, this reader felt that Simsion offered an overly simplistic view of Asperger's syndrome.

However, other reading group members strongly disagreed with this assessment of the novel, with many describing it variously as heart-warming, poignant, and revealing. Most members felt that the novel raises awareness of a condition which is often poorly understood, and gives some insight into the challenges faced by those living with an autistic-spectrum condition; introducing them to a difficult subject in an accessible and memorable way. One reader reported that a friend, who is the mother of an autistic child, appreciated the book and ‘recognised every page’. And another member, who is herself the mother of an ‘Aspie’, found the story to be ‘fun, warm and loving’ and worth sharing with her son at bedtime.

One reader admitted feeling quite envious of Don’s uncluttered life – his carefully organised schedule and his daily meal plans, for example. In response, another reader mentioned that this more simple, streamlined way of living is garnering attention in certain quarters right now. The thinking behind it is that all decisions take energy to make and, if one makes the performance of non-important tasks automatic, one saves energy which can then be expended on things one considers more important.

While no one is rushing out to buy the sequel – The Rosie Effect – all those present (and those who sent in email reviews) found The Rosie Project to be a very enjoyable read. All save one member gave the book at least 6 out of 10, leading to an overall WCRG rating of 6.8.

Saturday, 27 February 2016

What I've been reading...

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Robert Harris, Dictator (Hutchinson, 2015)

Just finished reading the above book and I loved it. It is the third in a trilogy of novels centred on the life of Cicero, as narrated by his slave/secretary Tiro during turbulent times in Rome’s history (weren’t they all turbulent?) when Julius Caesar has become part of the triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus. It concludes with Cicero’s rather brutal death and his realisation that he has miscalculated in his support of the young Octavian, later to become Augustus.

None of this is not a plot spoiler: Harris’s research of the period is extensive – his bibliography is impressive – and he keeps very close to the written sources. In fact, one reviewer said you might as well read the sources rather than Harris’s fictionalized account as he keeps so close to them. Harris’s writing style is clear. His characters are well drawn and you really care about the fate of Cicero, his daughter Tullia and his slave/secretary Tiro, as well as a host of other characters in the book. He maintains the tension throughout the book even if some of us are aware of how it must end. Harris was a political journalist in his other life and it shows. He enjoys recounting the political machinations of the Roman senators.

I love this kind of fiction based on fact. I can enjoy a good story in the hands of a master craftsman, but also feel I am learning a bit of history. There are, however, some weaknesses. Occasionally Harris slips into slightly jarring modern vernacular; for example Pompey and Crassus are said to stand for election “on a joint ticket”. But overall this is compulsively readable and succeeds in re-creating the social and political world of late republican Rome – I’m a great fan of Robert Harris as a writer. And the book makes me want to read the sources, all in the Loeb Classical Library. If you feel that modern government today is far from ideal in its corruption and greed, perhaps reading this novel might help put it into perspective. But then perhaps we should have learnt a stronger lesson from our Roman forebears.

Christine L. Corton

March 2016: Our next book

The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion

The next meeting of the Reading Group will take place on Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at the usual time of 7.30pm in Plommer A. We will be meeting to discuss Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project, the debut novel of this Australian writer, published in 2013.

From the book jacket:

Love isn't an exact science – but no one told Don Tillamn. A handsome thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don's never had a second date. So he devises The Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie – 'the world's most incompatible woman' – throwing Don's safe, ordered life into chaos. Just what is this unsettling, alien emotion he's feeling?

Everyone is very welcome to join us on 23 March and we hope to see you for the usual lively discussion and refreshments. However, if you are unable to be with us, please email your comments and scores so that they can be shared with the group.