We are a group of friends who love to read. We
get together about once a month to talk about a book that we've
all been reading. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree, but
we usually have a good chat, whether it's about the book or just
a gossip!
Last month's book
Last month we had a break because
of the Christmas holidays.
This month's book
This month we are reading The
Sea by John Banville. The next meeting is at 8pm
on Wednesday, 10th February 2010 at Ruth's house.
"From
your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put
one foot before the other. But when books are opened you
discover that you have wings."
HELEN HAYES, On Reflection (1968)
THE SEA
by
John Banville
Incandescent prose. Beautifully textured characterisation.
Transparent narratives. The adjectives to describe the writing
of John Banville are all affirmative, and The Sea is a ringing
affirmation of all his best qualities. His publishers are
claiming that this novel by the Booker-shortlisted author
is his finest yet, and while that claim may have an element
of hyperbole, there is no denying that this perfectly balanced
book is among the writer’s most accomplished work.
Max Morden has reached a crossroads in his life, and is
trying hard to deal with several disturbing things. A recent
loss is still taking its toll on him, and a trauma in his
past is similarly proving hard to deal with. He decides
that he will return to a town on the coast at which he spent
a memorable holiday when a boy. His memory of that time
devolves on the charismatic Grace family, particularly the
seductive twins Myles and Chloe. In a very short time, Max
found himself drawn into a strange relationship with them,
and pursuant events left their mark on him for the rest
of his life. But will he be able to exorcise those memories
of the past?
The fashion in which John Banville draws the reader into
this hypnotic and disturbing world is non pareil, and the
very complex relationships between his brilliantly delineated
cast of characters are orchestrated with a master’s
skill. As in such books as Shroud and The Book of Evidence,
the author eschews the obvious at all times, and the narrative
is delivered with subtlety and understatement. The genuine
moments of drama, when they do occur, are commensurately
more powerful. --Barry Forshaw
