I haven’t read Matt Beaumont’s previous novel, E, so I wasn’t sure if that would make reading E2 difficult. It didn’t, so you can read this book, and enjoy it for the genius it is.
To a small dash of political spin and verbal thuggery and a sprinkle of shallow self-absorption and image obsession (think Ugly Betty and The Thick of It), add a bowlful of clever writing, razor sharp humour, and precise comic timing, and you have E2, a 21st century, electronic-age satire.
For the full review, please go to Beat online magazine.
We have Gary Walker, from the 1960s pop trio The Walker Brothers, talking about his book, at the Firestation. Back in the mid 60s, their fan club in the UK was larger than that of the Beatles.
Gary and John decided that, with so much written about themselves and the group, it was time to set the record straight. Their book is about what really did happen and what life was like as members of one of the biggest bands of the 60s.
...We start in 1887 when Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) was studying for his school exams and his older brother Aleksandr was hanged for his part in the failed assassination attempt on the Tsar. We follow Lenin in exile as he lives hand to mouth, tracked and watched by the secret police and others, moving from city to city across Europe, often at a moment’s notice and dependent on the help and protection of friends and supporters. Rich in fascinating detail, for example we are told that at the time of Aleksandr’s execution, hanging in Russian was slow strangulation at the end of a rope, Helen draws a vivid picture of Lenin’s life in those seventeen years. Poverty stricken, insecure, and existing in the shadows, he continued to work tirelessly, writing and debating, and risking everything to get works smuggled into Russia. In all of this Lenin was supported by the several women in his life – his wife, mistress, mother and sisters. Helen also examines the effect this uncertain life had not just on Lenin, but also on these women, until his return to Russia ...
At the same site as the review, there is also an interview with author Helen Rappaport.
Well, a month has gone by and its time for the second Bookswap evening. This time Marie Phillips and Scott Pack will be talking and eating cake with:
Helen Rappaport - historian and novelist, whose new book, Conspirator, looks at Lenin's 17 years in exile. and Kate Clanchy - award-winning poet, whose new book, Antigona and Me, is an account of her relationship with the Kosovan refugee she employed as a cleaner and nanny.
The first evening was tremendous fun and I'm looking forward to this one. Don't forget to bring a book to swap.
I’ve been off work for the last two weeks. It was holiday but for various reasons we didn’t go away. Just as well as DTS was ill…however, I haven’t done any of things I meant to do, except help DTF with her Uni work. I have, however, been discovering lots of new things.
Thursday night, I attended a really fab Book Swap event at the Firestation Arts Centre in Windsor. Scott Pack, (Friday Project, columnist, ex-Waterstones, and Me and My Big Mouthblogger) had the idea and organised the whole thing. He jointly hosted with ‘Gods Behaving Badly’ author Marie Phillips, and had arranged for authors to come and talk:
Robert McCrum, former editor-in-chief at Faber & Faber and literary editor for the Observer. He wrote My Year Off, about life after a stroke, sounds dismal but is compelling reading.
It was unlike any book/literary event I have ever been too – and I've been to/organised hundreds. The ‘stage’ was set like a living room, with sofa, cushions, chairs, lamps, rugs – even tea and coffee (authors only) and cake. These were made by Scott’s lovely wife (congratulations) Rhian – everyone had some. I opted for one of my favourites – marcaroons – delicious! She also makes beautiful ceramics - check out her website. There was great conversation, book swapping, questions, all very relaxed and informal. The questions were meant to be of a non-book variety, and some of the best included cat worming, worst experience at Infant School, and one about a rat in a loo. All very surreal but fun.
Half way to the event, I realised my chosen book was maybe not going to be the easiest swap. Not because it isn’t worth reading, but it rather falls in the ‘misery memoir’ category - I had decided on Wasted by Mark Johnson. This was a reading group offering and as the point of the group (for me) was to read something I would never choose for myself - this was a recent choice. (See review to come). My fears were realised as several people screwed their noses up at it. My explanation that it had the best and most brilliant description of the high taking certain drugs raised some interest - and some eye-brows. I finally did swap it for Kim by Rudyard Kiplingwhich I realised I have never read but really want to. I discovered that someone had brought an even more difficult swap than mine - a book about child abuse in the Pitcairn Islands. Those of you familiar with the Mutiny on the Bounty story, will know this is where the mutineers made their home.
It was so much fun at the end talking to new people. I was staggered at how far some had travelled. (Hi to Stuart and Andrea from East London!) The event even got a review in the Independent. Roll on September’s swap!
The joy of trolling around the internet, is finding new things and I have discovered a new band - Mumford and Sons. I have not as yet found an album to purchase, but I have listened to some of their songs on line and I like.
I'm curious about them and I would even go so far a to buy tickets to see them live - if I can find them at a venue I can get to that does not require logistcal planning of military campaign proportions! I tried to get tickets to see them at the End of the Road Festivalin Dorset, (close to Salisbury and Blandford where I could stay with family), but sadly they're sold out! Seeing bands at this stage in their careers mean I can actually afford the ticket price. Given the costs of travel and refreshments on top, I rarely go to gigs anymore. I'm not mean - just poor!
I have reviews to write, so I'm away - in the meantime, enjoy the books and music - or not.
Slightly mad but friendly bookseller, event organiser, reader, writer, reviewer, with no time to read, write or review everything she like to! Can be obsessibe when something inerests her, and has a low tolerance for intolerance.
I haven’t read Matt Beaumont’s previous novel, E, so I wasn’t sure if that would make reading E2 difficult. It didn’t, so you can read this book, and enjoy it for the genius it is.
