About the Author - BS Johnson described as an 'experimental' writer one of many in the 60's was born to a working class family. He was evacuated out of London during the second world war. Leaving school at 16 he worked in various roles in accountancy. He studied in the evenings and learned Latin and attended a pre-university preparatory course at Birkbeck College which led to him passing the university exam for Kings College London. He achieved a 2:2 degree and went on to write novels that had some resonance of personal experience.
The Plot
Christie first takes a job at a bank as he has an interest in money and how it works as he was form a less than wealthy background. It does not live up to his expectations and studies book keeping and takes a job at Tapper's a massive cake and sweets manufacturer. He discovers Double Entry Book Keeping; debit and credit and defines this for his own purposes aggravation and recompense and keeps a book on his life. He has few friends a colleague Headlam and his love interest 'the Shrike'. He documents his aggravations and also becomes the aggressor and is convinced that no one will be interested in reading his journal. The Shrike whilst exploring Christie's body not in an erotic way, discovers a lump. He is treated but it becomes apparent that he has terminal cancer. It is almost as if there is realisation when the nurse says to him that he should not be writing about it but out there living it.
The Review
For many it was the first time that they had read BS Johnson and found it amusing and written in a style that was raw and challenging. Term challenging was used in the context of challenging the norms and the culture of writing that had prevailed through the 50's and certainly was representative of the experimentation that was taking place not only in the writing but in lifestyle. The narrative did appear to reflect the personal experience of BS Johnson and like Christie was living his life on the periphery of life itself and not feeling as if he was engaging with it as he wanted to and therefore internalised life's experiences. By not too long it had become too light as he became ill and died! Some of the group had read the other of novel by BS Johnson that had been offered by Rob 'House Mother Normal'. This novel was written in the context of a geriatric nursing home. Each chapter was dedicated to the conversation and internal dialogue of it's guests. It became apparent that as each chapter progressed each of the individuals became increasingly senile, however in a strange way more honest. It was apparent that the nurse did not enjoy her job and had little time for individual needs or conversation. This book caused more debate than the one that was selected. Johnson created his character's who were very genuine with great sensitivity and intuitively developed the internal dialogue of each of the characters and their lonely world. Discussions on the current state of social care for the elderly and very real concern about ho scenes like this could and probably do exist in geriatric nursing homes which in effect are closed communities.
The book that was selected was The Help by Kathryn Stockett
No comments:
Post a Comment