Guest Review (2): We Are Completely Beside Ourselves across the Atlantic.

Here we go readers. This is the first International book review is gracing our screens. Contenders for the Man Booker Prize 2014 quest are coming in far and wide and it gives me great pleasure to introduce the marvelous musings by a chap who seems a whole other world away. All it takes is a book to bind us.

Guest Reviewer: Douglas Gordy
Occupation: Retired, taught Theatre at the University of San Francisco and St. John's University, NY.
Note: He lives in Walnut Creek, CA., almost exactly halfway between Karen Joy Fowler's residence in Santa Cruz - and Davis, where most of her book is set.

Although to a certain extent, all works of art, literary or otherwise, depend on an element of surprise, certain such entities are more dependent on one's prior knowledge than others (for example, one's enjoyment of Hitchcock's "Psycho' will vary greatly depending upon how much one knows about the identity of Norman Bates' mother going into it!).  Although the big reveal in Karen Ann Fowler's Man Booker Prize longlisted novel, "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves' occurs fairly early on (exactly a quarter of the way in - on page 77 of 308), whether one knows the nature of the character of Fern beforehand or not will ultimately determine how much one appreciates the author's achievements.  I DID know, having read about it in a spoilerish review, and until such point found the book to be almost annoyingly coy ... which Fowler's narrator herself sheepishly admits.  Since it is difficult to speak about the book WITHOUT talking about that central element, those who haven't read the book and want to retain a pristine reading experience should depart NOW!

My only prior acquaintanceship with Fowler was with her most successful book, 'The Jane Austin Book Club', which I enjoyed, but probably never fully appreciated, since I read it as a result of having already seen the very fine film adaptation.  I was rather surprised to see her name on this Booker list, and initially chalked it up to a perhaps misguided attempt for gender parity (and the inclusion of some American authors with the revised eligiblity rulings) in the selections.  But Fowler's new work is a most worthy selection, creating a funny, harrowing, emotionally upsetting and thoroughly immersive experience for the reader.  The novel centers on the lifelong effects on an American family of undertaking the raising of their biological daughter with a similarly aged chimpanzee.  A mystery remains till almost the end as to why the chimp had to leave the family, what happened to her, and how that impacted the lives and destiny of her two siblings.  As the 'brother' becomes an animal rights activist and fugitive from justice, the book includes some rather gruesome descriptions of experimentation on animals that are not for the weak of stomach, but are entirely necessary for the book's plot and message.

The novel is narrated by the 'other' daughter, Rosemary, looking back on the events which shaped her family and created all their disharmony and dysfunction, while she is a college student attempting to make sense of how she got to be the mess she is.   I was initially turned off by her somewhat snarky persona, but realized it provided a much needed dusting of humor to what eventually becomes quite grim.  The final chapters 'cheat' by jumping ahead almost a decade (wait, aren't we narrating from her college years?), but the jump is necessary for resolution and heightening the emotional denouement.

The book is also otherwise far from perfect, and I suspect it will NOT win (and may not even make the short list), due to the fact it will NOT be to everyone's taste.  With all the backwards and forwards and sideways segues, I found myself at odds at times in pinpointing exactly WHERE we were in the story, but eventually was able to piece everything together.  Also had to backtrack in order to remember who one minor character even WAS, since he had disappeared from the story for a good 100 pages.  Another niggling point, but I also noticed a few annoying inaccuracies - for example, Rosemary mentions the family's bread maker in their kitchen in 1979, although such machines were not even invented till 1986, and did not become commonplace in the US till the mid-90's!   All in all, I am glad I read the book and that it DID make the long list, although there are several other tomes I've read recently I would consider worthier selections (i.e., Tom Rachman's 'The Rise and Fall of Great Powers', Smith Henderson's 'Fourth of July Creek', Mira Jacob's 'A Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing').

Drinks & Discussion; To Rise Again at a Decent Hour

A small underground wine bar in the capital was the location of the To Rise Again at a Decent Hour drinks and discussion night. It was a glorious evening of anecdotes and quotes complimented by an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. I mean, really, does an evening get much better that wine, cheese and a relaxed conversation dancing and darting between chapters of a  book which links everyone together. It was a humble affair, rather than an great crowd which meant there was time for each person to dip into speech, to say their opinion without feeling like they had to stand up and button their jackets in an attempt to hold the floor.

Joshua Ferris's main character Paul O'Rourke provided much of the conversation, much of which was of how likable or unlikable he was. Was this part of a clever and dynamic skill of the Author- to purposefully create a character that at times would make you're skin itch at annoyance? If the character was unlikable in his manner and opinions then Ferris had tapped into that human conditioning of how sometimes a person can just be quite annoying and you can't put your finger on why. To be able to convey this by the use of words deserves praise.

O'Rourke's need to not only be accepted, but to dedicate his own life to those of  the families of his girlfriends was another intriguing discussion. Many felt that this should have been taken deeper as this would help us understand why O'Rourke spent much of his time obsessing and researching into ancient religion which took up a considerable amount of chapters. If there was a bit more background of O'Rourke's own family or of what his family thought of his atheist beliefs then a consensus felt that a clearer understanding of this Dentist's insecurities would come to light.

The main subject of having an identity being copied through the use of social media was praised by all as everyone at the table admitted to having a profile one of the many networks referenced in the book; facebook, twitter, a business website, making comments on online newspaper articles etc. This was an element that grew anxiety through the whole group; a truthful stab showing how open we are to the world. We easily objectify ourselves with screens and it doesn't take much, as we learnt from this book, that even close friends and colleagues might believe the screen personality over the person they are in physical contact with.

This book caused suitably varying opinions and it was a pleasure to hear everyone highlight thier own views. For little snippets of sentences to have been marked by several members of the group.
For that blasted 50-page in C word to spark interesting conversation.
For us all to connect on a Thursday evening.
Thank you to all who came.

Please could everyone think of questions they would like to ask Joshua Ferris and I will have a interview with him for the blog and I would love you all to make you mark. Email me your questions.

The next Drinks/Discussion night will be on We Are Completely Beside Ourselves"; so go and grab that little yellow book and begin reading!

http://www.bedford-strand.com/

Guest Review (3): Got to Love That Dentist

For those that walk to work, it is probably wise not to read on the journey. We all know how annoying it is to have someone looking at their "me-machine", to quote Ferris' O'Rourke, walk slap bang into you because they are not looking where they are going. Somehow my mind would rather someone do this to me if they were to be reading a book. I'd rather know they were indulging in literature rather than checking Facebook. Walking and reading proves to be a health hazard, should this be the case, like our third guest reviewer, the advice would be to don the pjs, shut the world out and get turning those pages.

 Guest Reviewer: Ravi Pau
Occupation: Senior Account Manager, Insider Communications and Editor-In-Chief, Pints and Plates

In Joshua Ferris' To Rise Again at A Decent Hour, we follow our protagonist Dr Paul O'Rourke in a first person perspective.  This helps provide an unique insight into the character. But it does come with an almost infuriating meandering tone that dances around just a tad too much.Whilst slightly infuriating at the beginning,  it does become charming and almost charismatic after a while, in the way that I'd imagine American's find English people. 

It gives Ferris the opportunity to put in these fantastic lines like  'I don't get pussy whipped. I get cunt gripped. I get cunt gripped and just hope to get out alive'. But to read that means dancing through the other bits that Ferris feels, and generally are, important. They just don't feel it at the time. 

Without trying to give too much away - as it is a book you should try. When I first began reading it, I was baffled. I struggled to understand where it was going and I couldn't possibly fathom a link between a New York Dentist, the state of Israel and the history of Zionism and other related Jewish history... Then suddenly, it clicked and I realise the symbolism between the Dentist, his personality and so on and had demolished half the book in what felt like five minutes. 

The book uses comedy to to ask some very serious, interesting, questions about life at it's core. It just takes too long to get there for my personal preference though.... I can think of a few people that might have put it down by the time it begins.

Worth noting that this point, Ferris incredibly struggled on this book. I understand that he spent nearly a year writing it and binning it before considering quitting writing. In the time between starting it and finishing it, he had written two other books and the birth of the internet gave him that click to finish.  I think that the gap is pretty evident, which is why it takes so long to get started...

Guest Review (2): The Joshua Ferris Collection

Reading on the commute really hits the spot for clocking in valuable time spent on these novels. I'm loving looking through the windows of how we all our devouring the list.

Guest Reviewer: Melissa Minty
Occupation: Licensing Co-ordinator, Penguin Random House

To rise again at a decent hour' is a difficult book to describe to others - the story of a dentist whose life is hijacked online (a website for his dental practice, email, facebook and twitter) where a story unfolds of an unknown biblical tribe, previously believed to have been wiped out by the Israelites, of people who doubt.


I suppose in a way it's a story of finding self / coming home. O'Rourke has always yearned to be a part of something bigger and encompassing, of belonging; with no big family or community of his own, he's been drawn to those of the women he's dated. He's looking for someone or something to make life meaningful - and perhaps being an Ulm, part of a tribe of his own, a tribe who in fact believe in doubting God, will provide what he's looking for.

Plot explanations aside, it's a fantastic read. The characters are flawed and believable, and the research that has gone into the background of the Amalekites makes for a convincing read. 

I really enjoyed this book, and loved the character of O'Rourke, with his issues with all sorts of things (modern life; technology and social media; religion; the success of his team; flossing). Ferris' descriptions and phrasing were amusing and summed things up wonderfully. I love the concept of a God that wants to be doubted. 


The statement that flossing extends your life by up to seven years has also led me to re-evaluate my own dental habits.

Guest Review (1); To Rise Again at a Decent Hour

Guest Reviewer: Lizzie Davey
Occupation: Project Editor, Dorling Kindersley

A dentists's view of life, the universe, and everything, To Rise Again at a Decent Hour is a beautifully written and funny investigation of what it means to be alive. Protagonist Paul O'Rourke is wealthy, employed, and living in New York, yet struggles to enjoy his situation. 

O'Rourke is obsessively drawn to the traditions and closeness of the large family of his ex-girlfriend (and receptionist) Connie. Initially introduced as a rational atheist, he has an obsession with Judaism and an intense desire to belong to a community. His search for meaning is intense. He attempts to find the meaning of life in baseball, golf, the gym, indoor lacrosse, and languages, then leans steadily closer towards the occult, the religious, and the obscure, drawn there by the mysterious appearance of a stranger spreading their opinions across the internet in his name.

The epilogue closes with O'Rourke 'without any expectation or understanding, doubtful of any hope of success', but not unhappy. Generally this is a hilarious yet insightful novel, with the added benefit of offering a look into the fascinating world of dentistry.

To Rise Again at a Decent Hour; Joshua Ferris

Boom! No more than 50 pages in and Ferris lets out that 'c' expletive which I loathe. I'm sure many would. I'm sure many would just shrug it off, flicking it away like a piece of fallen dirt on a shoulder, barely noticing. Others, like myself, wince. But this is important to the character, for we see that Paul O' Rourke, of whom in those 49 previous pages is painted to be rather placid, in a monotonous way. Paul O'Rourke is a dentist. He likes things just so, especially when it comes to dentistry and to his practice. He pedantic about keeping a spotless reputation.  He dislikes the plethora of choice that New York brings him. He dislikes the modern world. This, Ferris displays in a beautifully comic way, where you will shout out "YES" as you read and  you'll want to briefly clap in praise as all the annoyances that our technological fueled life have infiltrated into our everyday speech and movements are brought to light. Collectively billing all ipads, blackberries and mobile phones under the term "me-machine" through the book is a charming term for how we all are indulging ourselves in screen interaction rather than face to face action.

The use of the 'C' word, allows us to realise that Paul O'Rourke is capable of letting things get to him with a real pent up anger and frustration. A sense that when being pushed too far, he would act out without social graces in order keep his squeeky clean status intact. So when an online profile is set up in his name, Paul O'Rourke slowly moves from frustrated to paranoid and into the dark realms of obsession. Ferris meanders us through the turmoils of how we deal with ourselves, and in this case Paul O'Rourke's self is his own nemesis.

The book morphs itself into two narratives. One being Paul o'Rourke attempting to find a trail of who his online self is and what this person is doing using his name and occupation all over the internet, and the second narrative sees Paul O'Rourke reminiscing about his previous failed relationships and how the families of the girls he fell in love with had a impact him, most notably with regards to religion.

There are some fairly lengthy and detailed accounts of various religious beliefs and doctrines, in particularly with the unraveling of Judaism, and also the opinions of atheism. These pages, whilst being relevant to the depths of obsession that O'Rourke falls into, do, at times, (7am commute on the central line) feel quite complicated and overwhelming. The sheer level of information and research that Ferris puts into his work makes for an epic forest of a read but one in which you feel wholly and contently pleased with yourself for getting through. Ferris discusses social values and boundaries and how offence can often be taken without one knowing, and this is something that we all fear . Resoundingly clever as aged religious beliefs are mirrored with modern advances of technology; both are revealed to be completely  and dangerously encompassing.

Guest Review (1): We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves

I am now beginning to build a web of people across London, England, and further afield who are embarking on this quest. I love getting emails from you all showcasing the passion to jump on board this quest with me. I'll setting up casual book drinks and discussions where I'll invite those that are reading/have just read the same book on the list, and this'll be a chance to bring books to swap for the next reads. These groups then can have their review of each book included on the blog, as this will open up the blog to a wide range of opinions which will, in time, lead to a vote for who we think should win.

For reviews, I encourage honest in thoughts, whether liked or disliked, this is a open chance to say exactly why this book managed to float you boat or if it's merely nothing more than a good door stop. If able to, please include a photo of you reading the book on your commute, at work, on the sofa at home, in bed etc as this will be a lovely little window into how each book is being read.





Guest Reviewer: Chantal Lyons
Occupation: MSc Environment, Science and Society, UCL

I must begin by confessing to being a bit of a philistine. I rarely read the kind of literary fiction that receives prestigious nominations, and most of my forays into it haven’t left me particularly satisfied (and, I’ll say it, I’ve found much of what I’ve read in the genre to be unbearably pretentious). So I find it interesting, but also heartening, that Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves has been longlisted this year. I read it when it was first published, and apart from its Man Bookerish title, I wouldn’t have pegged it as literary fiction at all. Either my taste must be refining, or the judges have decided to go broader this year. I welcome it.

To the book then. I knew about the twist from a review I’d read for it, but I’m glad it was spoiled for me, because I doubt I would’ve picked the book up otherwise. There’s a lot of Philip Larkin-esque misery stuff (“they f**k you up, your mum and dad”) around these days that simply don’t appeal to me. Fowler’s book, however, is defined by a unique concept that elevates it – and one that’s perfect for an animal lover like me.

Fowler's writing, apart from a few instances of purple prose, is highly immersive, while the humour is dry and well-observed. Once you know exactly why Rosemary Cooke's family is so unusual, the emotional heft comes from discovering in agonising, piecemeal fashion the inevitable yet still hard-hitting revelations of the past. This is a story that simply won't let you go, and will linger long after you've finished it. It poses hard questions and acknowledges that there may never be 'right' answers to them, and thoughtfully explores the consequences of a scientific experiment that really did happen in real life to several American families during the 1960s and 70s.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is beautifully written, and bound to make your eyes prick with tears. I particularly appreciated the bittersweet ending, characters’ lives irrevocably blessed, scarred, and changed. Life is never otherwise.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

After a recent change in jobs, I've gone from a twenty two minute walk to work to a thirty-seven minute commute on the central line. Carriages filled with suits. Eyes on ipads. Michael McIntyre, (whom I love) has a really fantastic quote of tube reading, "You get on in the morning and every single person is reading the Metro. Everyone, everyone. Why doesn't one person just read it to the carriage?"

Yes, finding out the weather for the week is important, and the "Good Deeds Feed" does restore a certain faith in reality that is often lost, but a time to sit for near on forty minutes, or even folk who have a twenty minute journey, should be taken advantage of  and a spine should be opened not a paper. Catapult yourself anywhere other than the overwhelmingly humid swarm of people surrounding you.

Karen Joy Fowler's novel is my first one to read on The Man Booker List. Charmingly modest in size to fit easily into a bag or briefcase, or even an over coat pocket. But this is the tube, in summer, so I doubt any of those commuting through London are donning the overcoat as they leave their front door. So, let's get back to the book. Charming in size and charming in nature.

The words are as light as a pretty little fairy-cake without being overly sweetened or synthetically sugared. The prologue, as indeed, with the rest of the book, hops and skips it's way over childhood memories. The narrator darting back to resurfacing visions, smells and feelings as she tells this story of her upbringing. This is a book focusing on family, on family values, and how parents chose to raise their children. Rosemary, a daughter, now adult, is depicting where she thinks her parents went wrong and how this effected her, at the time, and who it has made her in the present.

To reveal a little of my own personal status, I am currently dealing with a broken family situation, and thus many of the sentences rang true to me, easy to relate to. But then no family is ever perfect, and I suppose everyone has that moment when they are an adult, when they realise that actually their own family doesn't make sense. It doesn't fit the rules, the fairy stories, the happy ever afters. Reading this, I imagine, we all will find similarities that will draw us further into the book;

[On speaking about her Mother] "I think now that she was one of those women who loved her children so much there was really no room for anyone else."

"If your brother loves you, I say it counts for something."

"In most families, there is a favourite child. Parents deny it, and maybe they truly don't see it, but it's obvious to the children."

Rosemary has a unique upbringing. This is all I'm saying as I most definitely do not want to spoil this for anyone, as the unsaid factor defines Rosemary. It was not a gasp out loud moment, nor was it a shock. It quite simply made my eyebrows rise slightly, my forehead crease in intrigue, my lips to form an "o" shape as I whispered, "oooo that's clever".

I have less than a hundred pages left and I will finish it by the time this weekend slips into Monday. I have an inkling of where I want Rosemary to be by the end but I'm not certain this will happen.  Ms Fowler is leading me there gently, meandering away from anything that would seem to easy, and skimming in stones of curiosity to keep me on my toes.