Engleby:Sebastian Faulks

About the Author: Sebastian Faulks was born on 20 April 1953 and was educated at Wellington College and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He was the first literary editor of The Independent and became deputy editor of the Independent on Sunday before leaving in 1991 to concentrate on writing. He has been a columnist for The Guardian (1992-8) and the Evening Standard (1997-9). He continues to contribute articles and reviews to a number of newspapers and magazines. He wrote and presented the Channel 4 Television series 'Churchill's Secret Army', screened in 1999. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.His first novel, A Trick of the Light, was published in 1984. His other novels include The Girl at the Lion d'Or (1989), set in France between the First and Second World Wars, and the bestselling Birdsong (1993), the story of a young Englishman called Stephen Wraysford and his harrowing experiences fighting in northern France during the First World War. The main narrative is intercut with scenes from the life of Stephen's granddaughter, Elizabeth, a young woman living in the 1970s who travels to France to discover more about her grandfather's life. The Fatal Englishman: Three Short Lives (1996) is a multiple biography of the lives of the artist Christopher Wood, airman Richard Hillary and spy Jeremy Wolfenden.His fifth novel, Charlotte Gray (1998), completes the loose trilogy of books about France with an account of the adventures of a young Scottish woman who becomes involved with the French resistance during the Second World War. A film adaptation of the novel, starring Cate Blanchett, was first screened in 2002. His next novel, On Green Dolphin Street (2001), is a love story set against the backdrop of the Cold War. Human Traces, a book set in the 19th century and telling the tale of two friends who set up a pioneering asylum, was published in 2005. His latest novel is Engleby (2007). He has recently written Devil May Care, a new James Bond novel commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate to mark the centenary of Ian Fleming's birth in 2008.

About the Book: The narrator is a young man, Mike Engleby, who is a fresher at Cambridge in 1973. He appears to be from his journals, somewhat of a loner, a voyeur who watches others live their lives and appears to feel part of it albeit with no apparent direct engagement with his associates. He has an addiction for prescription drugs and his life so far has been on the fringes of society, having engaged in petty theft and drug dealing. He is from a dysfunctional family with hints of domestic violence. Despite this he has succeeded in achieving a scholarship to Cambridge. He alternates between having a photographic memory and periods of amnesia. Although on the face of it he has a social life, he attends lectures with Jennifer, whom he appears to lust after, there are evenings at the folk club and university 'socs.' But the reader waits for a proper conversation to take place. Although he is physically present in the events that are described his 'friendships' appear to be imaginary. The reader comes to realise that he is a 'wierdo'. The narrator describes in the unravelling of memories which the reader tries to piece together and these are intertwined with the apparent disappearances of three women, in which there are hints of suspense.

The Review; The key messages from the group were those of poor authorship and an implausable story line leading to a difficult and uncomfortable read. For some this was the first introduction to the author whom they would not read again. For others more credence was given to the authorship and intended readers' reactions. For example, sympathy with the character at a younger age and as a victim of physical abuse (within the family)and bullying (physical and emotional) at school. Empathy dulled as new and progressively deviant behaviours were revealed with Engleby as the perpetrator. The group discussed the muddying of fantasy and reality and points in the story line as intended fact and those that were a distortion and fantastical reinterpretation by the character as he moved out of touch with those around him. A voyeur who latched on to situations and people. None were surprised by his capacity to murder, but the portrayal of the normalising intellectual narrative, vague and confused retrospectives, caused most discomfort.

All members struggled with the book in different ways but more commonly referenced in discussions was the implausible character and the plot setting, the insufficient clarity in the writing to secure the readers access to the intended fantasy and reality, and many had difficulty engaging with the character whom they disliked.

Many however identified with the University setting and period through musical and place references. They also felt credence to the author's intention to take the reader through an uncomfortable journey. Some consideration and understanding was given to mental health nd personality disorder diagnostic issues. Many recognised the high intellect and the failure in emotional capacity to deal with relationships in life.

In all, the underlay of class issues and the isolation and dis-jointed experience of the character gave an 'out of place' feel linked to emotional despair and mental health issues. However while members recognised that there were interesting moments in the book and resonances, it did not straddle the environmental (place and time) and internal individual psychological journey particularly well. What can be said is that this book brought out a high pitch of reaction in the readers.

The choice of books for the next read was; The Stars Tennis Balls: Stephen Fry

Stark: Ben Elton

A load of old balls:Jo Brand

Having a lovely time:Jenny Eclair

The selected book was; The Stars Tennis Balls: Stephen Fry

Thanks to Rob for hosting the meeting and to Mike for the venue.

The Shadow of the Sun:My African Life by Ryszard Kapuscinski

About the Author: Ryszard Kapuscinski was born in 1932 in a multinational market town in Pinsk, near the eastern borderlands which is now Belarus. He grew up witnessing the horrors of war and of displacement. He kept the same child's eye for injustice when he became a correspondent in Africa for the Polish Press Agency (PAP). There was scarcely a revolution that he did not witness in the 1960's and 70's as he reported on the decolonisation of the Africa. He lived through dozens of coups. To each he brought the eye of a commoner; he carried his own water flagons and waited for hours at overcrowded bus stations. In part, his point of view was forced him by the economic stringencies of his new agency.

About the Book; He himself writes; 'I lived in Africa for several years. I first went there in 1957. Then, over the next forty years, I returned whenever the opportunity arose. I traveled extensively , avoiding official routes, palaces, important personages, and high level politics. Instead, i opted to hitch rides onpassing trucks, wander with nomads through the desert, be the guest of peasants of the tropical savannah. Their life is endless toil, a tormenet they endure with astonishing patience and good humor(sic).

This is therefore not a book about Africa, but rather about some people from there - about encounters with them, and time spent together. The continent is too large to describe. It is a veritable ocean, a separate planet, a varied, immensely, rich cosmos. Only with the greatest of simplification, for the sake of convenience, can we say "Africa". In reality, except as a geographical appellation, Africa does not exist.'


The Review; Generally this book was very well received. It had many of us searching the internet for historical evidence and supplementary reading. Kapuscinski's writing shows a deep affection and respect for a continent that has such deep seated and complicated traditional values that it continues to destroy any apparent progress in peace or economic development. Indeed he goes on to say that there is no such continent as Africa, due to the complex constituents of its parts. Through his determination and the purposeful resurrection of old contacts he was one of the very few journalists to enter Zanzibar during the revolution. After a perilous flight he was then taken hostage and only narrowly managed to escape by boat. He talks about Rwanda and gives a very insightful and detailed description into the tribalism that led to the horrific civil war. He describes the end of European colonialism and you can see an almost identical repeat of corruption as each country develops independently. He explains the rise of Amin and generally paints a pretty grim picture of the way in which the politics of these countries was manipulated by the old colonial powers trying to maintain some control You can see why he is often described as a war journalist as he gives amazingly lurid accounts in his despatches from the civil war zones in particular Liberia.

As a result of living with the people he describes the customs and religion with wonderful feeling and vivid description, the reader is transported to heat, the smells and the danger of some of the circumstances in which he finds himself.

Some of the stories of cobra's under the bed, the never to be repaired hole in the road, the Arab salt traders, the witchcraft, the values and the subsequent behaviours that were observed were often chellenging for some members to comprehend - but also came as a welcome light relief from the more typical topics of Trbalisms, Genocide, Drought, Starvation, War Lords and Child Soldiers.


The book wasn't without it's critics, one of the group dismissed it out of hand as 'a pure work of fiction'. Others felt that there was very little if any redemptive spirit in the book and there was no sense that anything was likely to improve. You could say that as a journalist he can and should only tell us what he sees.

The next book: Sarah's Key : Tatiana de Rosthnay

Thanks to Mary for hosting this meeting.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

About the Author : There was no information about the author on the cover of the book and the assumption was made that this might be Tatiana Roy’s first novel. However a Google search established that Tatiana de Rosnay was born on September 28th 1961 in the suburbs of Paris. She is of English French and Russian decent. Her father is French scientist Joel de Rosnay, her grandfather was painter Gaetan de Rosnay. Tatiana's paternal great grandmother was Russian actress Natalia Racheweskia, director of the Leningrad Pushkin Theatre from 1925 to 1949. Tatiana's Mother, Stella Jebb, daughter of Lord Gladwyn, is I.K. Brunel's great-great-granddaughter. Tatiana is also the niece of historian Hugh Thomas. Tatiana was raised in Paris and then in Boston, when her father taught at MIT. She moved to England in the early 80's and obtained a Bachelor's degree in English literature at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich. Returning to Paris in 1984. Tatiana became press attache for Chrissie's and then Editor for Vanity Fair magazine till 1993.

Since 1992, Tatiana published 8 novels in French (publised at Fayard and Pion) . Tatiana also works as a journalist for French ELLE and is literacy critic for Psychologists Magazine.

Tatiana de Rosnay is married and has two teenagers, Louis and Charlotte. She lives in Paris.

About the Book; Though a work of fiction, it is fact-based, recounting though a work of fiction, it is fact-based, recounting the horrific events that occurred in occupied France in the summer of 1942, and in particular the Valedrome d’Hiver round up of Jews which took place on 16th July 1942, in the heart of Paris. As the author herself said – “This is not a historical work and has no intention of being one. It is my tribute to the children of the Vel’ d’Hiv’. The childen who never came back. And the ones who survived to tell.”
The narrative is based on a dark period in the history of France and one seldom mentioned, when thousands of Jewish families were forcibly kept in the Velodrome d’Hiver before being separated from their children and being sent in to transit camps such as Drancy prior to being despatched to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. The chilling fact being that this was perpetrated by the French Authorities. The author alternated between the events of 1942 and the present day. The past centring round a 10 year old Jewish girl Sarah Strazynski to go to the Vel’ d’Hiver with her mother and father having left behind her 4 year old brother locked in a secret cupboard with the promise she would return to him soon. The present revolves round an American writer, Julia Jarmond, married to a Frenchman whose family was connected to the deportation of Jews, and her subsequent involvement to the exclusion of all else.

The Review; The group’s discussion opened with agreement that the book was fascinating in illuminating an event that was unknown to all. General comments were, intriguing, a good read, thought –provoking and depressing. Most agreed that the attention was held and one was totally absorbed in the first half of the book, but that when Sarah was out of the picture it lost its impact. The ensuing narrative of unfolding events was considered to be laboured and trite, but necessary to cover the question of guilt caused by suppression of secrets and subsequent start of the healing process.
The discussion widened to cover the parallels of collaborators in Holland and Italy, the reluctance of most Jewish people to discuss events, anti-Semitism in general and posing the question – what if it had happened here? Would it have been any different? One member had a personal contribution to make regarding family history and another had moving account of a visit to Auschwitz. So we are left to ponder how easily unchallenged, passive indifference and intolerance, when fired, escalate to active persecution and brutality. Why do we never learn from the past?

In summing up the book was poignant and gripping and its value for stimulating through across a wide spectrum involving many moral questions relevant today overrides any shortcomings in the story line itself.

The three books out forward by the host were:

Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale
Engleby by Sebastian Faulks

Thanks to Mike and Lorraine for hosting the meeting