You will be relieved to know that I have survived my reading crisis*. (see last month’s Bookends.) I have found some feel-good books and I want to tell you about them.
The first is ‘Sweet Sorrow’ by David Nicholls. This is for me the antithesis of Sally Rooney writing about young love. It is highly competent, confident writing that is funny, piercingly observant and of course achingly sad, as most books are with this subject matter. I recognised the title as being a quote from Romeo and Juliet. “Parting is such sweet sorrow,” sighs Juliet from her balcony and this is an indication that this particular Shakespeare play weaves its way through the whole book, not as any sort of metaphor (as nobody dies at the end of the story) but more as a framework onto which the whole plot hangs.
I have loved this play since being a student. It was the time of the Franco Zeffirelli film and myself and my friends could quote chunks of the script, particularly the big romantic speeches. Now it greatly added to my enjoyment of David Nicholls’ story. It is the 1990s (that is in the story, not when I was a student) and Charlie Lewis is having a tough time. His home life is rubbish and school has been difficult. Now he has left and he is not at all sure what comes next. He meets Fran by chance and becomes involved in her youth theatre group. The book gives us Charlie, 20 years later, telling the story of what happened. An Observer review says that this is a rare offering: “a popular novel of serious merit.” That is exactly it. Sweet Sorrow is funny, nostalgic, gentle and beautifully written.
The second book is ‘The Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig. Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had made one different decision, one different choice? What other career, other experience, other relationship might you have had? Nora thinks her life is going nowhere but in the wrong direction, and she decides she has had enough and is going to end it. She finds herself in a sort of friendly purgatory. It is in the form of a library full of books that contain other possible lives that might be hers and she is given the opportunity to try them out. At this point the book reminded me of the film ‘A Wonderful Life’ with Jimmy Stewart. It is on my list of favourite Christmas films and I shall watch it sometime in the next few weeks. In the film the character is shown how his life is a force for good and how he improved the lives of others. Nora has a slightly similar experience, realising how even the smallest kind act can have an effect out of all proportion. She learns what is really important in life and that there is always potential. Nora was a philosophy student and there is a tranche of quotes from Camus and her favourite Thoreau among others, about the business of being alive. As an inveterate over-thinker myself, I did like the idea of : for goodness sake just live your life, try to live it well but don’t be consumed by angst, guilt and hand wringing. A lesson for me definitely and a lovely read.
So, the third book is a strange one: ‘The Keeper of Lost Things’ by Ruth Hogan. I knew nothing about the author but I remember finding the title appealing. It made me think of St Anthony, the patron saint of lost things (not to be confused with St Jude who is the patron saint of lost causes. A very different matter!) As it happened this thought was very prescient as the central character is indeed named Anthony and his house is called Padua. St Anthony of Padua you see. Anyway, this book is entertaining, sometimes funny, although I will admit to on a couple of occasions thinking no, this is one step too far, my belief in this writing is stretched to its limit. The author employs a selection of literary devices. There are stories within stories. There is a parallel narrative going on which doesn’t join up with the main story and provide resolution until almost the end. The first sentence is also the very last sentence. Many authors seem to find this ploy very satisfying. Added to which there is more than a hint of the supernatural. You do need to concentrate somewhat!
Anthony loses the love of his life before he has even married her and the idea of loss runs throughout the book. It might be a missing jigsaw piece, a dropped glove, a biscuit tin of cremated ashes mistakenly left on a train or the more ephemeral loss of hope, love or friendship. All the hanging threads are sewn together at the end of this slightly old- fashioned book. I use that term as a comment rather than a criticism. If you are in the mood for something slightly different, then maybe you would enjoy this.
Obviously this has not been a Christmas column as such but I would like to bring one title to your attention, should you be looking for a small bookish gift, small in both size and cost.
‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas. There are many editions on Amazon. Mine is now about 30 years old and was a present from a small son, thus doubly precious. I love the cover with artwork by Edward Ardizzone. It is still available and is simply a delight.