Guy Bellamy ~~ The Mystery of Men

If you love theatrical farce…..this is the book for you. It centres around the fateful decision of a group of clubbable men to insured their individual lives with other members of the group being the beneficiaries. In this literary version of ‘men behaving badly’, there is comedic timing in the descriptions, sharp lines in the dialogue, Tom and Gerry violence that just avoids cruelty and a strong feel of Britain in the 1980s. Most had their softest spot for Vernon Jones, the failed suicide who inadvertently discovers sexual prowess. However the women are without depth and some felt there was a streak of mysogyny in this barroom tale.

 

Differences in sense of humour reflected in the scores which range from 4 to 9 with an average of 7.6.

David Whitehouse ~~ Mobile Library

On the whole most members of the group enjoyed Mobile Library, although it was not for everybody. Mobile Library is a fable about fables and a book that oozes a love of children’s literature.

 

The story explores many themes. One is the nature of family and parenting, as it follows a group of characters as they steal and travel the country in a disguised mobile library. There is an abused boy (Bobby), a girl with learning difficulties (Rosa), a mother accused of abduction (Val) and a homeless ex-serviceman (the Caveman) and these imperfect characters form a new loving ‘family’ It was also refreshing to have such a lively portrait of a disabled girl where her disablement is a side issue. Another is the mobile library that crosses the country and the children’s books it contains, offering an escape (real and imaginary).

 

As for writing style, we thought it clever, fresh and modern, with short chapters and sharp but evocative description. The structure is also clever in that the introduction is the end but not the denouement.

 

One of our big debates was whether the book was for adults or children. Our conclusion was that, although it drew on fairy tale themes and had a seemingly naïve style, it was an adult read. Many of us felt that despite the cloak of fantasy and fairy tale, there was something disturbing about the book…but then many classic fairy tales are disturbing.

 

As a result the book is an unusual hybrid of ‘real life’ and modern fairy tale and to enjoy it the reader must be able to accept the surreal elements. Escaping in a mobile library van that has been hurriedly painted white to a semi-derelict castle and zoo in Scotland fails the reality test and if this is what the reader is looking for, it is not for them. You will also be wondering where on earth were Social Services.

 

An original read that is deceptively simple that draws on memories of childhood stories and does something imaginative with them.

 

Read for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize.