www.|ist.co.uk/books
FABER REMINDS US OF THE DIVISIVE, INFLAMMATORY
POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD
Baptism of fire
Michel Faber's latest novel is a savvy exploration of religion, publishing and the media, and Claire Sawers discovers another memorable addition to his oeuvre
ichel Faber is a tough act to follow. especially when you're Michel Faber. The chameleonic author has built an impressive back catalogue that l‘lips between postmodern memoirs of a Victorian prostitute. ghostly love stories or a sci-ti thriller about a woman addicted to picking up hitchhikers. So where exactly do you go next'.’ Full of surprises. and always with a literary ace or two up his sleeve. in The l'li’t’ (inspe/ Faber has produced not quite the most controversial book of all time. but a book telling the story of the tnost controversial book of all time.
'l‘heo (iriepenkerl is a junk food-eating ja/x lover. and an expert on ancient languages. When he stumbles across 2()()()-year-old scrolls giving an eyewitness account ol (‘hrist’s crucifixion. he sees a last-track to glory. pltis instant cash. The translator has also just been dumped. so the timing is perl'ect. Without dwelling too long on the impact this lilth gospel may have on Christendom. not to mention book sales. (iriepenkerl goes ahead and publishes. l'nlike Matthew. Mark. Luke and John's gospels ~ ol‘ten criticised as badly translated. exaggerated. or by men who never met Jesus -- (iriepenkerl tells the gospel according to Malchus. a servant in Jestis’ inner circle.
During (iriepenkerl‘s ['8 book tour with the so-called 'Fire (iospel'. there‘s an episode where he looks tip
Ania/on customer reviews of himsell‘. It’s full of
Faber industry-savvy observations. and insights into the linancial and PR side ol the literary world. Some readers praise (iriepenkerl (shortened to (irippin -- it's easier to type into (iooglel for the book’s honesty: many write it oil as a lake: others spit hate in his cyber
direction. blaming him for shattering their (‘hristian l'aith. Faber. born in Holland. now living in the Highlands. wrote The Fire (ins/le/ l'or (‘anongate's Myths series. in which .-\lexander Mc('all Smith. Margaret Atwood and Ali Smith have all updated classic myths tor modern audiences.
Besides showing the rollercoaster ride blockbusting authors quickly find themselves on. Faber wants to remind Us oi the divisive. inflammatory power of the written word. Being an award-winning author himself. with his 2002 novel The ('i'iiiis'oii Peru] and [lie ll'liilt' currently being turned into a Hollywood lilm. it's a chance to draw from personal experience not something he‘s in the habit of doing. A treasured Faber trait is his ability to crawl into the skin of wildly different characters. turning small walk-on parts into fully developed. 3!) cast members. In the past he‘s been scarin convincing as a l‘)—year-old whore. surgically enhanced alien. manic depressive wil‘e and (‘eltic supporter. As characters go. (irippin was no doubt a much smaller leap to make.
Like (irippin. trying to convey the book’s ‘leisurely complexity" on a ['8 talk show. Faber is lilexing his literary and academic inuscles here. but covering everything in easy to digest. page-turning and often very funny prose. Reworking the Prometheus myth. he covers religion. global politics. celebrity bookwornts and author groupies. .\'ot quite the coming ol‘ the second Messiah. it's definitely prool. that one ol- our most entertaining and original authors has risen again.
The Fire Gospel is published by Canongate.
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THE BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS
>l< Alexander McCall Smith Oops, he’s done it again as the Precious Ramotswe and lsabel Dalhousie creator delivers La '8 Orchestra Saves the World, a story of friendship and music set in WW2. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Tue 4 Nov; Polygon.
=i< Michel Faber The man behind Under the Skin brings us a tale which dreams up the discovery in Iraq of new biblical writings. See preview, left. Canongate.
>i< Niall Ferguson The telly historian from Channel 4 (the Scottish one that isn't David Starkey) talks up his new book which focuses on the importance of cash to modern civilisation and how it has driven every major turning point in history. Wellington Church, Glasgow, Wed 5 Nov. >i< Alasdair Gray The grand old man of Scottish letters chats long and hard about his new project Fleck, a reimagining of Goethe's Faust. Something only he could really pull off. Waterstone’s, Glasgow, Thu 6 Nov.
>i< The 12th Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair Another excellent line—up for this year's EIRBF with Sheila Rowbotham and Sara Maitland doing events in the remaining few days. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh, until Sun 2 Nov.
>l< Will Eisner One of the true masters of the medium presents a trio of books giving you a masterclass in how to create your own comics. See review, page 31. Norton
=l< Dave Gibbons An insight into the world of The Watchmen from the artist who brought Alan Moore's vibrant and intelligent world to life. A stunning visual companion packed with glossy full colour art. See review, page 31. Titan.
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