The London Train by Tessa Hadley

The London Train

This is another book read on the basis of its review in Planet, and so I was aware of the structure made up of two almost entirely self-contained parts, and the narrative device which links the two, that the protagonist narrators of each half have an affair. However I have a feeling these might have started as two completely separate ideas and some literary editor suggested there pairing in order to form a work of 'standard' novel length.

I was on the point of giving up on the book about two-thrids of the way through the first half, as while well written, I had come to detest the central character, Paul.  This reaction was due to him being a selfish and self obsessed individual and I found it hard to be spending time with someone, inside the head of someone quiet as pathetic as him.

However I made the effort to give the second half a go, and I really enjoy this half of the book.  The only problem being the temptation to shout at the book when Cora starts her affair with Paul.  Having invested in Cora it is sickening to find her desiring Paul, you want to warn her about what he is really like. 

The intensity of this reaction is a real testament to the quality of Hadley's writing, and I wonder if the second part would be as strong with out the insight into the character Paul that you have from the first.  However I think it is worth the risk and so I would recommend that skip to Page 165 and just enjoy the second half. 

Biggles Learns to Fly by Captain W. E. Johns

Biggles Learns to Fly

I think the last time I read Biggles was in the Library at Knights Templar, so that means about 15 years ago, and so it was nostalgia that made me pick up a couple last time I was in Oxfam books.

I am sure that I should be looking down my noise at their formulaic "Boys Own" style - however I'm not because I was gripped by the story and completely taken in by the characters even though most of my brain could see them as cardboard cut outs.  I have just put Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong on the pile to go to Oxfam, a book about which despite all its acclaim I was only ever lukewarm, but Biggles I think I am going to keep as I think I will want to read it again.   

Blind Girl in the Garden by Paul Groves

Found in Childhood

She, aged seven, is trying

to play with my daughter, her

exact contemporary.

Ox-eye daisies gaze at the electric

blue sky. Eyebrights witness

butterflies too drunk ever

to get their pilot’s licence.

Her statuesque face is subservient

to her ears. Fingers

stretch in anticipation

of futures constantly flowering

into presents. I want

to embrace her, to spit

in the dust like Christ

and anoint her with the paste,

letting in the light.

Swallows dip in flight

as if skimming milk;

our dog bounds

over the lawn, sight as keen

as a focused camera;

the visitor ponders

and labours on tentatively.

All I can think of is

the Birmingham Millais;

two girls near Winchelsea;

a clearing shower;

achingly bright colours

and a double rainbow;

a tortoiseshell on a clock

that would never be marvelled at;

nearby, delicate flowers.

slugs & snails & puppy dogs' tails: Helping boys connect with God By Carolyn Edwars

Slugs and snails and puppy dogs' tails

This book has a simple message, "boys are people too".  And I guess it is worrying that there is a need for anyone to have to write a 200 page research backed book to tell people this.

Within the book I started to build a picture of Carolyn, she is middle class, possibly in twin set and pearls, certainly at home on the set of Desperate Housewives, how much these things are true I don't know but what was encouraging was even with this image she was still saying the right things.  I particularly liked the fact that she affirmed that parents simply watching TV with their children was an important part of a strong relationship, it is part of another common sense statement, to connect with your children, your church's children you need to be interested in them and in the stuff that interests them.  What is sad is all to often you can tell that adults, parents, aren't actually that interested, people who can't image that a child would ever say anything worth really listening to.  

While the focus is boys, Carolyn holds the gender divide fairly lightly, boys aren't so different from girls but importantly society often treats them as if they are different, and in treating them as different society often frustrates the development of those parts of the person that ease the connection with the spiritual and with God.

The great problem for books like this is that they will almost invariably be read by people who already get it.  The people who need to hear the message wouldn't read it in a million years, but well done Carolyn for trying!

Body Beautiful by Ifor Thomas

Body Beautiful

This collection of poems records Ifor Thomas' treatment for prostrate cancer. 

While some of the poems don't quiet work as a collection it has a real life. Ifor is witty, able to face the indignity of hospital life, the absurdity of it, and the fears that come when facing a potentially terminal disease 

There is a danger for the poet in writing such an 'issue' based collection, to say it would be a 'help' to others facing cancer is glib and patronising both to the poet and those with cancer. 
We should ask 'is this good poetry?' And the answer is yes.