Archives for November 2006

Susan Vaught

Bloomsbury

074758284X

September 2006

The art of the review is often to circle gently around the crux of the novel without ever giving away the ending. Unfortunately the ending is at the heart of this novel. So in the immortal words of pre-internet newsreaders everywhere, if you don’t want to know the result, look away now.
Blowout is a book about a failed suicide. Jersey Hatch is an ex-jock and golden boy who for some reason took it upon himself to put his dad’s gun to his head and press the trigger.
Although he survived he’s not done himself any favours. Consequences include a loss of verbal control and his short-term memory is’ erm shot.
The narrative follows his journey to try and discover just why he might have done such a terrible deed. Blowout tells of his attempts to re-establish his relationships with those who might be able to help him discover more about his state of mind that terrible day.
And while Jersey’s emotional struggle with his situation and continuing dark thoughts is well recounted, some of the supporting characters, notably his mother, are defined solely by their anger.
The author clearly knows her facts, Susan Vaught is a clinical psychologist based in the States where the most common method of adolescent suicide is shooting (in the UK it’s a drugs overdose). She’s treated survivors so she knows just what the consequences, both physical and emotional, are.
A central theme of the book is dispelling the myth that people only commit suicide for big reasons. Blowout explores ‘the effect that such a terrible act has on family, friends and the person holding the gun’.
The trouble is that while this may be factually correct, the build up to Jersey’s search for reasons leads you to expect the exact opposite. In the end knowing that the reasons behind his actions don’t seem that significant gives a deflating aspect to an optimistic ending.
Books that attempt to fictionalise a ‘condition’ will inevitably be compared to Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. This is an interesting read but it’s not in that class.

Bali Rai, ill. Chris Riddell

Walker Books

1844287785

Sep 2006

A humorous and thoroughly humane guide to politics. Necessarily implicated through his own politicised opinions and views, Bali Rai’s candid explanations of the mechanics of politics are both engaging and accessible. Together with expert illustrations by Chris Riddell, who as political cartoonist for ‘The Observer’ is no apprentice to illustrative political satire, Bali Rai provides an insight into systems of governance.
Divided into two distinct sections, in the first of these Rai imparts an introduction to politics, explaining its application and constituent parts in the United Kingdom. An overview is given of the major political parties, of political ideologies and the relationship between politics and the media. The second part of the book arose from responses to a questionnaire Rai held with young people whereby he probed whether there were other areas of politics they would like to know about. A succinct outline of the Iraq war, the war on terror, global warming, education, racism, asylum and immigration are provided within this portion of the book.
Written in the demotic, it is hard not to feel at points that the profane use of language will not detract from some of the lucid points being raised here for some readers. Whereas in Rai’s novels this lends credibility to his characters and the situations they are implicated within, here it may serve to marginalise his work from key sectors of the market, most particularly perhaps in more staunchly traditional education settings.
As well as the clear elucidations that he presents, one of the most enviable elements of the book is the way Rai stimulates and challenges further thinking on the part of readers. This is aided through provision of a list of web-sites and books. Rarely have politics been presented so palatably and with less jingoism and jargon.

Beth Webb

Macmillan

1405091754

Sep 2006

‘I will find a way to take the power I deserve, he thought. Even if it means I have to work in the dark.’

Ancient magic, mysticism and darkness run rife through Beth Webb’s debut novel, the first in a quartet, ‘Star Dancer’. An evil is coming and it has been prophesised that a Star Dancer will protect the people. The Star Dancer is to be born beneath the stars and Druids are awaiting the fulfilment of the prophecy, praying to the spirits and the Goddess.
Tegen, child of Clesek and Nessa, is born beneath the stars, brought into this world by Gilda, but the possibility of her being the Star Dancer is rejected by and is abhorrent to Witton, chief druid, and his followers who cannot except the role who might be executed to a woman. Preferring to believe themselves to have been forgotten and left without salvation rather than to accept the truth, fear and apprehension predominate within their society.
On discovery of her ability to dance, Tegen begins to realise and to practice her powers. So it is that when Witton falls ill and his death seems inevitable, Tegen is able to nurse him back to health.
The sonorous nature of Webb’s prose together with the complex and convoluted relationships she intertwines between persons in the novel makes for an at once rewarding and absorbing read. Skilful craftsmanship imbues the natural with an energising electro-static charge’ here is a book with a genuine buzz!