[ebooktalk] Re: Stonemouth by Iain Banks
- From: "CJ & AA MAY" <chrisalis.may@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:18:14 +0100
I have tried three of his books now, the last being The Wasp Factory, but I
just can't get along with them, although the reader may have been partly
responsible for this with The Wasp Factory.
Alison
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Tar Barrels
Sent: 26 April 2013 00:12
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Stonemouth by Iain Banks
I finished this the other day, and although it wont make my top ten this
year, I warmed to it as the story unfolded. That being the case, Clare wont
be surprised to hear that just about all the characters are unsavoury. It
could have been cut by about a third, and some of my book group colleagues
felt the language was needlessly obscene. I have to confess it didn't really
bother me. What did bother me was the idea that some communities like this
may exist. Astonishing! The action ostensibly takes place over a 3 to 4 day
period, the main character having sought permission from the gangs to return
home to Scotland to attend the funeral.of the head of one of the families.
The reason he needs to seek permission is because without due respects being
paid and permissions granted, they'd probably kill him. The action then
moves backwards across the years, as the circumstances of his estrangement
are explained. I thought it was really well written, but I'd need to have
more sympathy for the protagonist for it to really grab me. It felt like
ground well trod by this author, so I'll probably try his earlier stuff.
June
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