Taking a particular interest in introspective novels at the moment, in which I include Roddy Doyle’s Paula Spencer, a highly skilled and totally believable piece of writing, the only problem being that a blow by blow account of Paula’s rather dismal life, despite its momentary triumphs and disasters, just didn’t really appeal to me as a recreational experience. Day, by A.L. Kennedy, which admittedly I’m only haf way through, is similarly convincing and intriguing to a point, but I’m not sure I’m going to stay the course. I never felt I needed action in a novel, but to me Day (unlike Paul Spencer) lacks the element of interraction to make it a novel rather than a character study.
Talking of action, maybe I should read more history. This week’s guest speaker on our writing course was Adrian Tinniswood whose The Verneys sounds like a rattling good read to me. Maybe I’ve been reading the wrong century – or am I being deceived by that lurid cover?
Ali Bacon / Books and Other Things 