Hugh M. Clarke

Engaging and Thought Provoking

Reviewed: 31-12-24

This book is well performed by Michael Maloney. I enjoyed the pace and the deep, calm tone of his reading. The characters stood out clearly and had distinctive voices. The book itself is a combination of war-time novel, romance and moral exploration, subjects well handled by the writer.

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Bigotry and Alienation

Reviewed: 07-09-24

This is a thought provoking story, and one that highlights the prejudice and racism that exists to this day, in the US, the UK and elsewhere. It was written in 1940 and through its examination of a double killing and the workings of the justice system, the book explores the alienation and disconnection experienced by a young black man, Bigger Thomas. In the early stages of the novel, Bigger is essentially ‘dead’, empty and drifting. He speaks few words and believes in nothing and no one. Killing therefore comes easy to him. The first killing is that of a young white woman, the daughter of Bigger’s rich and benign employer. The second is of a young black woman, Bessie, Bigger’s girlfriend, whom he does not love, because Bigger can love no one, not even himself.

The novel resembles that of Albert Camus’ “The Stranger”, though Camus’ novel was written two years later. Both explore the existential themes of freedom, responsibility and isolation. Through the trial of Bigger Thomas, “Native Son” sets out to demonstrate that, while Bigger may have committed the crimes he is accused of, it is the racist society within which he lives, that created the killer in him; the racist society that found him guilty (of murder and rape) even before he committed the crimes. His only advocates are to be found among members of the local Communist Party - Jan, a man of principle, on whom Bigger initially tries to pin the crime, and Mr. Max, an elderly, white Jewish lawyer. It is the latter who defends Bigger in court and by the end of the novel, Bigger has not only confessed his crimes, but has also come to life, confessing his soul and forming a bond of trust and connection with Mr. Max, giving Bigger the one and only meaningful relationship he has ever had.

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1 person found this helpful

Flat Performance

Reviewed: 20-03-24

Neither story nor narration worked for me. Even significant moments lacked drama. I was expecting a deeper story.

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Engaging Ideas and Story

Reviewed: 07-03-24

This is an enjoyable experience, well read by Juliet Stevenson. From different character angles, the book explores an interface between science and spirituality. The characters are engaging and sometimes eccentric. Well researched.

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Disappointing

Reviewed: 28-12-23

The performers did their best with an unsatisfactory narrative and a set of characters which were difficult to know and to be interested in.

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5 people found this helpful

Eye Opening

Reviewed: 06-12-23

The small and significant details of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians are generally not spoken about. This book is refreshing in that it reveals these State behaviours and their impact on the lives of Palestinians.

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2 people found this helpful

Disappointing

Reviewed: 21-08-23

For a writer I normally enjoy, this book was disappointing. She did not make good use of an original idea, i.e. reversal of the black and white roles in slavery. I don’t think anything new was said about slavery, which any decent person knows is and was wrong, regardless of the perpetrators. Ben Arogundade reads well and with a dignified tone. Charlotte Beaumont’s reading is too flat.

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Disappointing

Reviewed: 07-07-23

Having read some reviews, I was looking forward to this book. However it has proved to be very disappointing. I had problems following the story and it seemed very confused. It was difficult to empathise with any of the characters. I think the reader did his best, but the material is hard to work with.

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The Sun Never Rises

Reviewed: 12-03-23

Several dull American men go travelling in Paris and fishing in Spain. They spend lots of time “having another drink” but rarely say or do anything of import or interest, beyond trivial talk about people they know, including their equally dull English friend and travelling companion, Brett (female) who also features in the novel and frequently enjoys “another drink”. They attend a bullfight and Brett falls in love (at first sight) with the young and handsome bullfighter, with whom she temporarily elopes. The relationship lasts several days and she decides to return to the lacklustre man she started with.

Having endured this book, I cannot understand how Hemingway achieved the reputation for good writing. “The Sun Also Rises” is prosaic and lacks insight and poetry. It is tiresome, misogynistic, boorish, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic. Even the Spanish fiesta fails to come alive. Rather than being a “sunrise”, this novel is for me, grey and overcast.

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2 people found this helpful

Strikes The Right Balance

Reviewed: 26-02-23

This is a very enlightening book, written with a lot of humour and, at the same time, making some very serious points about men and our friendships. It is well researched but does not come across as a heavy text book. The author is very honest and open about his own friendship struggles and he has spoken with others who have investigated the issue academically. Authors rarely read their own work well, but Max Dickins is an exception (final pages of ‘messing about’ excepted). His is an expressive voice and one that lends itself to the confessional nature of the book.

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