Our January book group choice was, 'Leonard and Hungry Paul'. We had been looking for a humorous book after discussing a few too many angst-ridden novels, but this one did little for me, although the opening line made me laugh.
Leonard was raised by his mother alone with cheerfully concealed difficulty, his father having died tragically during childbirth.
It is about two friends who are the opposite of today's youthful obsession with fame and looks. I found Hungry Paul downright annoying. Interestingly, however, the book provided a really long and lively discussion about present day society.
This was a re-read for me and I was able to study it a little more objectively than the first time around, some years ago. What a strong sense of privilege his writing contains, along with descriptions of battle that demonstrate what a stupid waste of life armed conflict is.
I referenced Grave's 'Greek Myths' while reading Pat Barker's, 'The Silence of the Girls'. I enjoyed that book very much and as a result have borrowed, 'Toby's Room' from the travelling library. It is set in the First World War, covering the same period as the Graves biography, and it mixes real and imaginary characters from the Slade School of Art, which is an added interest for me.
Pat Barker's main area of interest is that of war, but fleshed out with good characterisation.
I've just finished the first of Ferranti's quartet of Neapolitan novels. It's the story of two girls growing up in 1950's Naples. I found it took a while to get going and could have benefited from some crisper editing, but once the large cast of characters had settled into place I enjoyed the read and shall seek out the next book. (It reminded me of my holidays in Italy in the fifties, men walking past and talking to me and pinching my bottom - and my father being absolutely furious!)
Definitely an interesting and very varied reading list!
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