COMIC FICTION NICK HORNBY A Long Way Down (Viking) no
Not long ago, some bright spark critic hoping to effect a controversial talking point compared Nick Hornby - that purveyor of cute, witty, heart-warming books about drifting middle-aged men — to Charles Dickens. This is not quite as spurious as claiming that the average episode of EastEnders is akin to Shakespearean tragedy, as Hornby’s characters are generally far too unambiguous, his worldview too generous and forgiving to merit comparison to the great Wctorian novelist and social
commentator.
Hornby does, however, continue to spin a fairly diverting yarn, as evidenced by his latest novel, in which a quartet of desperate, divergent characters are brought together on the roof of a building called Topper’s House one New Year’s Eve. All four arrive in search of an appropriate precipice from which to jump to their deaths. There’s Martin, a perma-tanned Kilroy-esque former television star, disgraced and ostracised by his family following an affair with a minor. Jess is a Iippy, underachieving 18-year-old with a high-flying politician father. American JJ is a failed rock musician, and Maureen is the depressed, middle-aged mother of
severely disabled Matty.
Having bonded in their despondency, they resolve to grant themselves a six-week stay of execution to see if their lives improve. The scenario is tall enough to keep you reading but the book’s impact is undermined by the fact that only one member of l-lornby’s unlikely family - the tormented Maureen - is really believable, while the lives of the other three are a little too
rarefied to merit any real sympathy. (Allan Radcliffe)
Reviews
AUTHOR MEMOIR AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS Magical Thinking (Atlantic) 0
AUGUSTEN BURROUOHS
Augusten Burroughs has already provided the world with two hugely successful bestselling memoirs. Running with Scissors. about his troubled childhood. and Dry, about his battle with alcoholism. While those two books might have had some merit (although this reviewer can't understand the current mania for such memoirs of damaged lives). this latest collection of life observation snippets from the author is utterly devoid of any drive. purpose or interest. making it a thoroughly tedious trudge from one page to the next. Reading essentially like a rubbish gay take on Sex and the City (complete with Carrie-
at—the-laptop with all those 'meaningful' one— liners). this is turgid and Iumpen stuff, and its slapdash nature smacks of a cash-in on the author's Current celebrity before it all goes tits up. You'd think anecdotes about getting sucked off by priests. shagging undertakers or meeting Puff Daddy at the Kentucky Derby might be interesting, wouldn't you? Y0u'd be very wrong.
(Doug Johnstone)
SOCIAL FANTASY RUP THOMSON Divided Kingdom
(Bloomsbury) 000
Imagine. if you will. a United Kingdom where society is in Such decline that the government feels it must take a bold and unprecedented course of action; to segregate the populace according to their personality. splitting families and
34 THE LIST 12—26 May 200:3
friends for the greater good. That IS the troubling premise of DIV/ded Kingdom. a social satire that follows one man's guest to make sense of this brave new world. Though the reader has to suspend significant belief in acceptance of the narratives premise. from here Rupert Thomson spins an engaging allegory that has a lot of fun wrth the ‘scrence' of humour stereotypes and offers a fresh View of British society and universal human nature. Where he succeeds is in the very personal nature of Our hero's iOLirney. It's a very modern Gulliver 's Travels with one man questioning the self- fulfilling labels pinned on us and the impact of personality on human behaviour while he comes to terms with a childhood trauma. (Mark Edmundson)
SOCIAL DRAMA STEPHEN
ELLIOTT
Happy Baby (Picador) 0000
Much emphasis has been made in the American press of the sadomasochism in Happy Baby. Permit a more prudish revrewer to find it just as remarkable that Stephen Elliott has successfully written a
novel backwards. Hrs much-feted debut. edited by Dave Eggers. is a superbly poised piece of writing with the book casting successive glances back into the life of Theo. a brutalrsed reform school kid from Chicago.
The pOInt at which the story ultrrnately concludes may feel arbitrary. but the Journey through the passive abuse of his adult relationships and the ferocious institutionalised assault on his childhood is all the more horrific for its context: he turns out a beautifully fleeting description of the metal floor as his anti-hero is raped by a guard. On the surface his limpid prose captures the mundane nature of violence. but beneath is both an aching hollowness and an inexplicable urge towards lost innocence. (Tim Abrahams)
POETRY COl l t ClION JACKIE KAY Life Mask
(Bloodaxei 0000
A poet born to a white mother wrth a Nigerian father and adopted by white Scottish parents could hardly avoid addressing issues of identity in her work. Indeed. in her fiction and prevrous collections of poetry such as the multr-award-wrnnrng The Adopt/on Papers. Kay has never flinched from mining her own diverse life experience to explore issues of ambiguous gender and cultural identity as well as the grand old themes of love and loss.
Her latest collection focuses on the ways in which we use masks to hide our true selyes to the detriment of our most intimate relationships. with typical warmth. honesty and playful dynamism. ‘There's Trouble fo' Maw Broon'. for instance. raises laughs
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Tim Lott The Seymour (apes A novel masquerading as a l‘it)l‘.‘flCI|Oli€ti tragedy about a man who sets up CCTV in his home and records a living heil. Viki/7g.
Marilynne Robinson Gilead The PUili/C‘t Prize- Winning tale of a mystic. poet and humanist. ‘/ii'.'igo. Unorthodox Styles Sneakers: The Complete Collector '5 Ci /i( to The creative consultancy bring us a shod-load of trainers. Thames 8. l-liid'son. Siddhartha Deb Surface A reporter is sent on a vague mission in India and inadvertently uncoyers history n the making. Picador.
wrth its expose of adulterous disharmony Within the Br‘oons' cramped household. tvleanwhile. the series of pieces detailing Kay's first meeting wrtn ner birth father and her break -up with a lover are moyrng. quietly angry poignant and l)l'()\.'()(2£ttl\.'(}.
(Allan Radc'itfe'
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