Black Water by Louise Doughty

Last night, Louise Doughty came to The Haven at Fulham Broadway where some of this book club and a number of other book clubs heard her talk about the book and a little about her previous book Appletree Yard.  There is something refreshing about hearing an author talk about the process - admit that writing is hard and hearing how considered the small stuff is.  For instance, where the main character goes into town early on in the book, Louise had originally written he wanted to go in for 'some bits and pieces' but considered this too feminine, so opted for the line 'a bit of shopping'.  I'd never really considered the gender status of some of our normal phrases.  Or even how culture and country affect they way that we use phrases.  It was also interesting to hear how a flash of inspiration, in this instance, the idea of a man, lying in a hut, listening to the sounds of the jungle wildlife, at night and expecting the worst to happen...the question is why, how did he get there and who is he......

To answer some of those questions: the protagonist is Harper an Indonesian/Dutch man, partly brought up in America and Holland,  haunted by his past and the massacres of in Indonesia in 1965. Complex in its breath this book explores relationships, guilt, race and colonialism, along with that grey area of the security personnel who do the work government and their agencies don't want to be seen to be doing. 

A fascinating book that I recommend reading.  As this was an event we don't have our usual word to describe it or marks out of 10 from the group.  But personally I would say slow to start, but riveting and give it 7.

Next Book

Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig

Date

12th April, Thursday at 126 Harbord St

I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou

This is the now famous book by the poet Maya Angelou, her 1965 autobiography, the first of 7 books.  The book describes Maya and her older brothers early life, her rape at 8 and becoming a mother at 16.  How she over came rape, racism, and a disjointed childhood to graduate from high school.  Subsequent books cover her later life, but this is her most famous.  Not all of us had finished reading it, it's funny how the story is so well known but we hadn't read the book, it seems that the themes have leached into popular culture and we know the story.  As you would expect from a poet the prose is lyrical and descriptive, but at times feels dated,

Words used to describe it:
Illuminating, not what I thought, expecting more, beautifully written but

Marks out of 10
Between 6 - 7

Next Book

Black Water by Louise Doughty

Next Meeting

Tuesday 13 March at the Haven, Effie Rd, Fulham, London SW6 1TB

Berlin Poplars by Anne B Radge

"Just before Christmas on a farm in Northern Norway, 80-year-old Anna Neshov, matriarch of a troubled family, is taken gravely ill. Her three sons have been quietly immersed in their work: one an undertaker, one a window-dresser, and the eldest running the family farm, but now they are forced to reunite for the first time in many years. Their personalities are as disparate as their careers, and tensions mount from the second they meet, climaxing over Christmas dinner when the matter of inheritance prompts the revelation of disturbing family secrets," - from Goodread A good synopsis of the story.

The book generated an interesting discussion about the nature of family, sexuality, the scars of war,  and prejudice.   

Words used to describe it:  clunky, ghoulish, macabre, well drawn characters, bleak, sad, no redeeming features

Marks out of 10:   between 2 & 7

Next Book 

I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing - Maya Angelou