So, this book is quite hard to classify - it doesn't seem to fit any particular genre I'll say - I'll just get this out of the way here!
I had read aboSo, this book is quite hard to classify - it doesn't seem to fit any particular genre I'll say - I'll just get this out of the way here!
I had read about this book just the one time in a British Sunday supplement and had thought to myself that this would be an interesting read without delving deeply, at this stage, into the actual premise of the book.
On the back cover of the Bloomsbury paperback edition (2019) the back cover reads "this is the story of three woman" saying little else apart from the flow starting there of the "astonishing" reviews by Caitlin Moran, Marian Keyes, The Times, the Observer and the New Statesman.
So, the book is meant to be about desire from a female perspective. To me, this is where the trouble starts. We all have our own interpretation of books and of how things are handled but, for me, I'm not sure how the stories of "three women" can ever be representative of womankind, 'desire' and attitudes towards relationships.
In the order that they appear - Maggie forms a crush on a male teacher. They don't have a "relationship" but are involved sexually and he exploits Maggie - wanting, of course, to preserve the relationship that he has with his own wife and family. In my opinion the relationship exploits a young girl and is essentially abusive.
Lina is married but has a non-existant sexual relationship so looks for more from an old flame. The sex is plentiful and descriptions of their physical activities and dalliances are graphic. This said, the desire (to meet, to have sex and to be fulfilled) seems one-sided and essential to Lina - her male lover, it seems, could take it or leave it.
Sloane is in an open-relationship and has sex with other people with the full knowledge and consent of her husband. Though more free (and more affluent and quite beautiful) it still seems the case that Sloane does not 'have it all'. Despite being able to 'have and take' in a more honest way (via sex, via life) this does not seem to shift the creeping doubt and anxiety that this woman feels within her own self and mind.
The descriptions of sex and of 'how' these women feel about themselves and their relationships are fully explored within the text but I just don't see the honesty here (I just don't 'get' the real relationships that the 'author' had with these contributors) and I think that the book is written in a bit of a candy floss/stylised (not substantiated) way. To me, this work seems too fictional to be fully real (if this makes sense).
What I also really don't understand is the fact that the author homed in on just three women - 3 women - I ask you - why???? Not sure how (in the States, the UK, the western world - etc.) this could ever make the premise of a book. So, I call up three of my girlfriends and ask them to give me some descriptive, juicy and really revealing info of their sex lives and tell me how they feel about all of this? Step one - they wouldn't do it - not even to me (many people hold this type of stuff back actually - particularly if the physical in their lives impacts on the mental). Step two - even if 'honest' it just wouldn't be representative of other women / attitudes in general - the sample size is just too small. Step three- why the hell would I ask this anyway? I am by no means a prude but sometimes you just want to keep some of your sex life AND underlying thoughts about your sex life private. How did the author think that talking about three women in this way would constitute a book?
I just don't see the real point of this book and I'm not sure what I gained from it. If you really do want to read about female desire then reading a few books by Nancy Friday will be more valuable and I dare say more honest than this one.
I had wanted to read this book for some time but ultimately awaited its arrival into paperback. The book was a quick read, it was compulsive reading oI had wanted to read this book for some time but ultimately awaited its arrival into paperback. The book was a quick read, it was compulsive reading over a couple of evenings and I remain hugely impressed by the book itself. I'm sure it's easy for any famous person to talk about the warts and all of fame - Allen does this here but adds flesh to the bones and is ultimately brilliant as she talks about her own desires/wants as well as her own failings. The title is exactly right - Allen does not hold back and I felt, whilst reading, that honest messages were conveyed. Allen does not perpetuate any self-image of perfection, in fact it's quite the contrary. Allen insists, I feel, that all humans are frail. Whilst we may be working towards our own ideals of human and life perfection then life and reality just has a way of taking over. I'm totally impressed that Allen has her own way of challenging ideals of fluffy media perfection and she tells it like it is in honest speak. My admiration of her has only gone up a few notches as she showcases a modern woman's view of the world, her own frailties alongside her own personal victories. Simply enjoyable, interesting and thought-provoking to read this lady's account of our modern culture and a complete hats off to her for not holding back on some of the personal difficulties she has faced both in child and adulthood. Generous, raw and real....more
I genuinely enjoyed reading this book and it has proved to be one of the classiest memoirs/autobiographies that I have read in a long while.
Simon takeI genuinely enjoyed reading this book and it has proved to be one of the classiest memoirs/autobiographies that I have read in a long while.
Simon takes a lot of time here to explain her formative childhood memories and upbringing before writing about how she almost accidentally established herself as a singer and musician. To me, there seems little ego but lots of interesting insight and experience gained in younger years that ultimately informs the person that Simon was always set to become.
I am sure that we can all imagine that knowing what to put into an autobiography is difficult. What to put in what to leave out? I think that Simon does this well. There's a great deal to be found on how the author sees people - Simon reads people extremely well and seems able to tune into their personal strengths and weaknesses, even with her own blood family where she is often forced to be critical.
Simon also follows the relationships path and explores and explains the strengths and weaknesses within her own romantic relationships. Notably 'explained' is her own relationship with James Taylor, all for better, for worse - in any given time I think it would be it difficult to be as frank as she has been about the utter vulnerability of being in any kind of close relationship. Maybe her strength is in her honesty?
Her style of writing, again to me, is beautiful. Simon has an eye and an ear of what fascinates and entertains but above all puts her emphasis on relationships and on people with a humble and honest approach to showcasing their glories and frailties.
A very enjoyable read and one that gives so much insight behind the facades of showbiz towards life in general and the vision of life as a precious gift. Such a pleasure to join here Carly so thanks for the read. ...more
In a nutshell, I thought this book was ok. I didn't find the text or storyline magnificent by any stretch. Likewise, this book is not poor. To me, the In a nutshell, I thought this book was ok. I didn't find the text or storyline magnificent by any stretch. Likewise, this book is not poor. To me, the fiction is very British with a middle-class tone. Middle-class people do what middle-class people do in Britain (they go down to Bristol and up to Cambridge - to study of course) and live their middle class lives. The male protagonist here belongs to a certain group, clique and niche as he grows up, is educated and is then springboarded into life. Then he lives his life (as people do, middle-class or otherwise) but the binds from his childhood and adolescent relationships never truly leave him - instead they haunt him and dominate him for life. There is a sense of nostalgia and a sense of mystery that runs throughout the book and the reader is kept on mild tenterhooks by the author by a puzzle being presented but never being truly solved. All the way through his life the protagonist Tony seeks to unearth a hidden truth that lies behind the suicide of his boyhood friend Adrian. Only in the last few pages of the text is the riddle given away and yet this is all still left open to some interpretation perhaps. Barnes as an author is undeniably clever. He feels no rush to reveal the puzzle and yet the work is compact and quite elegant - definitely a text that can be read and digested in a day or two if required. His characters, intentionally of course, are really frugal and joyless and despite their status and potential I doubt that any are truly happy as they approach life a bit like a chore and as something within itself that has wronged the bones of them. I did enjoy the book, I hated the empty characters but I did and do appreciate the gentle and compact storytelling. As an ending, I didn't find the answer to the story's puzzle exactly plausible, I also didn't find this utterly terrible (are readers meant to?) - it all seemed a bit 'er, ok then' to me. No doubt I'll read the author again and yeah the book is ok - just not a diamond sparkler!
I found this book to be a very genuine, warm and enjoyable read.
Rather than hitting the autobiography genre, this book fits more into the memoir categI found this book to be a very genuine, warm and enjoyable read.
Rather than hitting the autobiography genre, this book fits more into the memoir category. Additionally, rather than celebrating any form of celebrity success, this book is nostalgic and looks back into the past and 'normal' everyday British life of a young and only just growing up Mary Portas.
The author talks fondly of her early upbringing, the central figure of her mother and of her hardships and very obvious pain after her mother's death. Her tone of writing is funny, affectionate and quite often self-deprecating towards many of her self-confessed failings and she knits together some of her early thoughts on life and the universe without ever being maudlin or self-obsessed in any way. Often, Portas sees herself as quite a uncomplicated and unassuming girl who is often at the mercy of higher, bigger forces in life and you can feel her honest vulnerability and voice jump off the page.
I like a memoir that captures your heart and this one contains so many references to the recent past decades in Britain whilst actually ending the narrative still within the early eighties. With little chunked chapters entitled 'Bird's Eye Super Mousse' (oh yes, I remember them) to 'Mr Kipling French Fancies' (yum) and 'N. Peal Cashmere Socks' (posh), each little shift in the life of Portas is captured by small snippets of cultural memories that chart the changes in life patterns, habits and whims that surround us all as we grow. It's a lovely hint of British nostalgia to feast on but also contains a tender and thoughtful narrative that simply sings more thought-process than fame.
Portas is an intelligent writer and this was a little book I found myself to be quite charmed by. Would recommend, especially to British nostalgia enthusiasts with a weakness for the 70s and 80s.
Yes. I like this one. I think you could give me pretty much anything by Sebastian Faulks and I would lap it up. This one is a bit different as it is aYes. I like this one. I think you could give me pretty much anything by Sebastian Faulks and I would lap it up. This one is a bit different as it is a book of 5 short stories (and damn, how much do I HATE short stories?) yet here I think I 'get' what Faulks has tried to do.
The stories are very varied. In a nutshell;
Part 1 - A Different Man - puts Faulks in his natural terrain as a writer about war. The memoirs about the Second World War are harsh and gruesome but, even after all the darkness, the protagonist finds that life and an appreciation for the simple things is possible. This, to me, is 'the possible life' as offered in the title.
Part 2 - The Second Sister - is a wee bit Dickensian. Again, Faulks explores the harshness of life and concepts of toil, reward and faith. Basically, the message here could be to 'take the rough with the smooth' but to appreciate the little things in life whilst the going is good. A good few morals can be found in here.
Part 3 - Everything can be Explained - goes a bit sci-fi and futuristic but, at its soul, tests the concepts of humanity and love. It also tests the themes of loyalty, relationships and feelings across family and lovers. There is, as ever, a slight twist though to be found in this tale.
Part 4 - A Door into Heaven - tests, for me, concepts of faith, love, loyalty, servitude and the fear of sexual love, worshipping false or real idols and of giving too much via this faith.
Part 5 - You Next Time - deals with the concept of romantic love, destiny, heartbreak, reality and relationships.
As with all short story novels, they end up like little boxes of chocolates full of tasty treats and then the left-behind ones that you can't be doing with. In my eyes, this book made such a strong start where Faulks tackles the war genre beautifully. The 'romantic' end song of Part 5 was pretty trite to me though I'm afraid. It felt weak and as lame as some of the popular music songs it talks about. It was not up my avenue in anyway!
That said, I can forgive Faulks because I think his writing is generally more than worthy here. As ever, Faulks makes me think of life in its many forms. I loved the descriptions of Victorian London in Part 2 as I appreciated in awe and horror the contrasts of amazing lives lived in Europe during World War II as illustrated in the first piece.
Interesting reading that I did not really want to put down save for my unenthusiastic attitude about the final offering....more
Hmm, a very insightful book here that was loaned to me by a work colleague.
The general premise of 'Leadership and Self Deception: Getting out of the BHmm, a very insightful book here that was loaned to me by a work colleague.
The general premise of 'Leadership and Self Deception: Getting out of the Box' is that many workplace problems and issues are caused by the self and that they can only ever be overcome if each individual takes responsibility to 'get out of the box' of blame, negativity, destructive behaviour, battling with other colleagues, etc.
If it sounds complex that's probably because it IS(!), yet a fictional narrative helps to explain the philosophy so it becomes comprehensive to the audience. Although it took two prior attempts to 'launch' into the reading because of a heavy work commitment (no joke!) putting time aside over the December holidays made the reading possible and profitable. I found that although the narrative was easy to understand and even simplified, the book was more digestible alongside constant reflection. Uncannily, clearing the work desks helped so to speak and I have thus found the book should be able to help me in my working life as I am striving for a better work/balance and an acceptation of where my 'true' responsibilities at work start and end. These are definitely my major bugbears so I am hoping that some continued reflection after reading can help me with these.
As I hope to explore my working life 'outside the box' where I feel less hemmed in by the demands of work colleagues and industry pressures, I can truly think of and pinpoint work colleagues who could give the reading of this book a spin to help teaching and the senior management of teaching in the UK more transparent and less blameworthy. Consequently, the relationship between this book and certain industries (my industry for sure) is very interesting to me as I very much think that much of the modern world is trapped in a culture of blame and does not enter the realm of being truly open-minded and honest.
Two other lasting thoughts! Firstly, the book would be a great 'book club' read by anyone who is experienced in a profession where 'jadedness' has set in. And finally, that I am keen to read-up on more of the work of the Arbinger Institute. Essentially, this book is their baby and they have won me around by reminding me that even a competitive and highly-achieving working life has a need for humanity from all sides in order to sustain a degree of joint respect and sanity....more
I bought this book about a year ago and I am really glad to have read it now.
'The Valley' is exactly as its name suggests, a story of 'a hundred yearsI bought this book about a year ago and I am really glad to have read it now.
'The Valley' is exactly as its name suggests, a story of 'a hundred years in the life of a Yorkshire family' - and, for anyone not in the know, the valley described is the actual Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, England. Within the pages, the writer Richard Benson re-tells his family story that lasts for over a century through characterisation of his ancestry against the backdrop of pit-life, South Yorkshire working class cultures and ultimately pit closures that affected the life and blood of an industrial region. Benson's narrative built up from family stories is everything a reader could wish it to be. I found it to be funny, hearty, affectionate and, at many times, heart-wrenching. Truths indeed were difficult, life indeed was very hard, brusque and culture certainly had a 'hard-edge' and masculine slant. There was little room for sissies here and hard life and tough times dominate as the 'making' of truly gritty people.
Two pointers though that may be worthy of mention. Firstly, a lot of the appeal of this book lied with its local appeal to me. Although born about 10 miles away from Goldthorpe and its immediate surrounding area, I knew of some of the obvious difficulties affecting Barnsley/Doncaster during the strike in the eighties. I guess it made this book easy to relate to as I understand the local context. Secondly, I have to say that, at times, I found the strike narrative overly-lengthy. Yes, I 'get' what the author is hitting at but, at times, strike-related political narrative killed some of the true joys of characterisation in the book and stunted the flow for me. I presume that getting the balance right had to be a tough call for the author.
These things said, this book is a gem and quite unlike anything I have read before. It will appeal to anyone who is passionate about social history from a more personal and narrated perspective.
A priceless book that I will be passing on to family members and recommending heartily to others. I learned a lot more about aspects of my own local culture and have gained an appreciation for the gritty and under-appreciated alongside....more
A very interesting memoir that is brave in scope and can fit into many categories.
Personally, I first came across Winterson when I was a young teen afA very interesting memoir that is brave in scope and can fit into many categories.
Personally, I first came across Winterson when I was a young teen after watching the ground-breaking drama of 'Oranges are not the only Fruit'. This became cult-ish viewing for me and my crew of friends so it became established in me at a very young age that Winterson was a writing force.
This memoir is very 'orange-y' where Winterson explains even further her background story and persona. She does not hold back on the honesty and instead opens up on a range of issues that affected/affect her past and current self and she doesn't really leave a stone unturned. For me, Winterson expands at some length on her lesbian identity and on how it was not accepted by her adoptive family. She also expands on the concept of exclusion and on how the adopted child feels and sees life if a 'good' family fit has not been found. The effects of this alone can obviously be devastating, debilitating and long-term and this is certainly the author's key message.
Winterson's style of writing is lengthy, detailed and often a bit madcap and far-out. I would imagine that devotees are used to this style whilst newcomers may find some of the text a bit rambling at times. Even as a fan, I found the first half better - far more comical and direct, even when summarising tragedy.
Personally, with this book, I welcomed the insight into Winterson's world. Here is a writer who tells it like it is and who finds joy in the tragic and vice versa. I have always loved a writer who finds a meaning in the most mundane events and who can also see people for the gems and/or shits they can be. Winterson's world is full of these souls and this book describes how she tries to make peace with them all in order to 'win' and stay this side of sane herself!
Wonderfully whimsical and gently witty writing. Would definitely recommend....more
Ok then, first things first, I am not uber, uber, uber-familiar with Dunham and her work (believe that if you will) but I clearly know that she is outOk then, first things first, I am not uber, uber, uber-familiar with Dunham and her work (believe that if you will) but I clearly know that she is out there on the cultural landscape (remember, being UK-based, I am bound to be more culturally-saturated with football/soccer simply due to happenstance). This book then familiarised me with this lady who is obviously somewhat culturally fierce and, possibly due to her honesty and (over-?)sharing, is somebody to be reckoned with.
So what did I like about this book? The randomised memories - check. The subtle 'I'm mildly deranged and I will share my secret mind with you anyway' overall tone - check. The sheer difference of explaining life, confusion and just 'being there' - check. For this many reasons and more I liked it very much and I don't begrudge the author of her own rightful place in the cultural hemisphere due to this daring and sharing.
Dunham's book is an easy read although it does contain hidden depths amongst the peppered humour. If anything, there is a focus on themes like love, sex and family but generally this book ends up being a general memoir on modern life as well as a back-up prop to the mind of the author. Within the work she is able to portray what she is about and how her mind generally functions within the realm of possibilities.
Those of a not too-pompous nature and circumstance should enjoy this work. For me, it was an ideal beachy-read, fun and nothing too heavy. What I especially liked however was the scope of wisdom that it presented. Dunham is an interesting woman who offers some insight of what it is like to be young, bright and female today. Is this the work of a post-apocalyptic feminist? Possibly. Upon reading, maybe you too will find that her observations of her modern female life make you question yours. Let's face it, the heady days of Erica Jong's pseudo-feminism are long gone yet we are still bribed to take our place as 'a certain kind' of woman whilst active reality bites hard.
Simply ask yourself two questions:
Do you have it all? Do you want it all?
Really! Read this and see. I enjoyed spotting out the 'compares and contrasts' whilst being a sport along the way (unlike some of the more dour and ungenerous reviewers on here).
Vive la difference! La vie n'est pas toujours si belle mais, au moins, c'est toujours comique!
This book had been hovering around my book pile for at least a couple of years and although it really proved to be a harrowing story it also proves toThis book had been hovering around my book pile for at least a couple of years and although it really proved to be a harrowing story it also proves to be a tale of extreme courage and was a worthy read.
The name of the author, Shy Keenan, began to resonate with me a good few years ago as part of my safeguarding work as a Head of Year in a UK school. At that time, schools in my region were being well-versed in safeguarding training and the echoes of teachers knowing and being able to recognise possible signs of abuse in children was very prominent. It was shortly after this time that I read ‘Where Angels Fear’, a joint work between Shy Keenan and Sara Payne (mother of Sarah Payne who was killed at the hands of a paedophile in the UK).
Shy’s own story, as told in this book, is nothing short of harrowing and she talks candidly about a childhood filled with sexual and emotional abuse directed mainly by her stepfather Stanley Claridge. This is not a pretty tale and Keenan talks in graphic detail made every event even more harrowing when a range of social services associations did not listen or act, thus perpetuating the cycle of abuse devastatingly further.
Keenan tells her tale right through to the end where, by the strength of a unique willpower and eventual BBC media attention via Newsnight, she was able to tell her story to a much wider audience. Television coverage proved to be her breakthrough in eventually securing guilty verdicts and convictions of her aggressors for a long catalogue of abuse crimes against children.
‘Broken’ is certainly a memoir that will leave everyone tainted and horrified about what can go wrong when responsible people don’t listen. Although I often found the reading ‘too much’ and had to take breaks away from the ongoing stream of hateful abuse thrown in Shy’s way, there was a real momentum provided by the book to continue to the end and see it through. One obviously will come away from this work with a variety of emotions ranging from an anger of ‘the welfare system’ to a sheer and monumental respect for the courage of Shy. ’Broken’ is extremely hard-hitting, very matter of fact and, at times, difficult to grapple with the sheer levels of pitifully unacceptable abuse. The admiration you gain for Shy Keenan and the work she now carries out despite and in spite of her own abuse makes it bearable, entirely educational and worthwhile.
Shy Keenan is rare breed and a woman of such distinct courage. You are bound to have no doubts of either after reading this. Check out her work via Phoenix Survivors, a range of newspaper articles or You Tube videos if you want to know more. God bless this eloquent and brave-souled woman for telling it like it really is and for never, ever giving up. ...more
I think this book serves to show how your opinions of a book can change over the time you read it. The first forty or so pages and it didn’t even meriI think this book serves to show how your opinions of a book can change over the time you read it. The first forty or so pages and it didn’t even merit a one star. I found it icky and difficult and I struggled to decode any cohesive message. By the end of the book however and this was more of a four or five star read. It’s definitely original, in many ways challenging and it’s very difficult to label or ‘box’ under any particular genre. Barker has to be the most meticulous of writers in order to do this.
The lose ‘plot’ of the story revolves around the spectacle created by the illusionist David Blaine in London 2003 where he ‘existed’ for a period of 44 days in a raised perspex box perched near Tower Bridge and next to the River Thames. The central character and narrator, Adair Graham MacKenny spectates this event along with a cast of very random characters and associates. As part of the book, he questions life and questions Blaine and lives his own shredded but proud London life alongside. Is he happy? It’s hard to tell. Although MacKenny is capable of deep thought, contemplation and reflection his life is possibly as random as Blaine’s gesture – it has a scant but questionable meaning but only in the moment.
After digesting the book and having become habituated to Barker’s higgledy and jagged writing style after the best part of a reading day, I simply think that Nicola Barker is clever in being able to provide quite a dry and grey social commentary. What is then, in fact, the message that Barker provides? It will have to be different for every reader. Does it mean that, in real life, even the most remarkable gestures are, in layman’s terms, a pile of poo? Or, does it simply mean that as a writer you take your audience on the most weird and wonderful writing journey that your computer keyboard can cope with? Both trite explanations could indeed be strong possibilities.
After finishing the book, I don’t really know who amongst reading friends I could pass it on to. As I said, the first 20 or 40 pages nearly finished me off and I didn’t find it matching to my reading tastes. Thank heavens though that I stuck to the journey – it provided a whole different route that I’ve never ever been down before. The title ‘Clear’ is just an oxymoron for this journey; it’s possibly the most un-transparent novel I have read in my life!
For better or worse though, I can’t wait to read ‘The Yips’ now – another Nicola Barker one that is lurking on my book pile. Must put those ‘weirded out’ reading specs on for that y’all! ...more
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