The Girl on The Landing - Paul Torday

Part of my free books donated (thanks Sally J ) Now how to write this to give it a good review without getting my personal emotions clouding it… Ok so this thing I read on book reviews states I should focus on the `purpose, content, and authority` So here we go…( written while listening to Kerrang Radio which is apparently `For those who love music… and haven’t given up on life!`)

Title – The Girl on the Landing

Copyright date – 2009

Type – Fiction

General Subject Matter – Mental health, mystery, Fiction – anyone read help me out ppl!

Special features – Book group reading notes at the back (brief)

Price – Free from the library of Sally – anyone want me to post it to them I’m happy to do – books are here to be shared – just email me your address (Originally £7.99) 1 copy only.

ISBN – 978-0-7538-2340-8

Back cover reads:

 `You think you know someone – but you never really do…

Elizabeth has been married to Michael for ten years. She has adjusted to a fairly monotonous routing with her wealthy, decent but boring husband. Part of this routine involves occasional visits to Beinn Caorrum, the dank and gloomy house is a Scottish glen that Michael inherited from his parents. There are memories there that Michael will not share with her.

But then, on a holiday in Ireland, Michael begins to change. It starts when he thinks he sees, in a picture, the figure of a girl on a landing. As he changes, life becomes so much more fun and Elizabeth sees glimpses of a man she can fall in love with at last. But who-or what-is changing Michael? As Elizabeth finally gets to know her husband she realises that their fragile happiness is threatened by his past…a past that seems as unsettling as Beinn Caorrun itself…`

I think the author gave an authentic view of a life within the character of Michael and the struggle we have in life of doing what we are told is best for us, in our interest, and what we want to do. I think the books ending aims to dramatise Michael’s condition and I am disappointed at the turn that it takes. I strongly feel that battling stigma is not aided by literature such as this although I appreciate that it brings issues into the public domain. As this book continued I found myself being irritated with the portrayal of `Michael` or `Mikey` but I was still compelled to read on, which I think reflects the high quality of writing.

hmm.............

I like the informal style of the book, but I always feel as if I am being told the story by the characters; not standing inside their head.

The length of time it takes me to read a book is usually and indication of the how devourable it is – just like when you really enjoy a pudding (carrot cake for me please!), and I read this in less than a wk.

I like the confinement of narrators to that of Elizabeth and Michael as I personally find too many story tellers distracting. I think that `Lamia` dictating a chapter would have, been an interesting addition – although I’m not sure how that would work.

The book is not over dramatised, although suspense was lacking toward the end.

I think I simply found myself irritated at the interpretation of mental health (working in the field I think I’m abit touchy here).

To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from this book and merely read it due to reading `Salmon Fishing in the Yemen` which I found really amusing, (yes I would recommend it even if you have no knowledge of fishing at all). This book lacks the light hearted comedy of that book. Comedy would be tricky to link in with this books content.

Account of the veil of medication, bluntness and the robot like existence ate bought to life (ironic I know) in this book. I think that people who have taken medication, particularly antipsychotics would identify with the characters accounts of a lifeless existence. To be honest the book dwelled on a great sadness in the pit of my stomach that I cannot remove. Who wants to live a life of no emotion? What is the point of feeling nothing?

 I can understand why Michael wants to break free from `chemical restraint` of medication and it raises the thoughts in my mind, why is sexual suicide an acceptable in a life of medication? What life will people have forced to be `stable` all the time?

I would recommend that others read this book and I think it is well written and captivating. I think the lack of pictures is important to allow each reader to create there own Beinn Caorrun.

The book seems to be set in a very small world – which I wonder if this is a reflection of the author’s views on the parameters of the two core characters minds and worlds?

Elizabeth & Michael appear stoic. I cannot think of any of the cast that I would want to hug or take home. Modern day relationships are printed out in practicalities with no great romance featuring (shame!). Elizabeth and Michael seem very flat and two dimensional, but I believe this is purposeful and fits within the story.

The major theme appears to be the marriage; the relationship. The lack of emotion makes it clear that this is no love story. It is a marriage of practicality – like when two close friends make a pack to get married at 30yr so that they both die alone (ha ha Jon your not married so out pack stands) There is a distinct lack of sub plots or intrigue about the worlds that surround both characters, which I think is ashamed.

 The most endearing quality of the tail is a happy tail thumping black Labrador called `Rupert` (a dog will always win me over). No great detail is given to the scenery in Ireland or Scotland which is a shame because I have never been to these places and require more stimulation to engage with the novel.

On a final note- I am intrigued to look up the Keats poem `Lamia` and really liked the reading group pointers at the back of the book (having ran a reading group notes in the past this may have eased painful silences). I also love epilogues- a small insight into the future that we each individually imagined. (I think the most fun thing about meeting authors is asking them there thoughts about what would happen next! Yes this refers to Audrey N who I will post a picture of her book signing.)  Overall though, to be honest though I found the ending unsatisfying and unjustifiable of a sequel. 

Worth a read.

Related Book – Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (I intend to read this – send me the book if you have it lying around!)

P.S  I’d appreciate comments on the review please and ways in which I can improve and develop the ways I translate my thoughts on the book I read – I still think there is a lot locked up there with the cobwebs still waiting to come out!

Three Billy Goats Gruff

I made this video for my friend Tilly but my friend Sally said she'd like to see it so here you go.....you may find it amusing!

Free books for me - woop!

Oh free book boooks boooks....this will keep me busy for a while. Courtesy of the Crossthwaites - Thank you :)

The Russian Concubine Kate Furnivall

The Russian Concubine – Kate Furnivall

I’ve read several books since starting this one which is never a good sign if you can put a book down. I won't review those books here though.

The book is set in China and focuses on Lydia Ivanova the daughter of Valentina from the previous book. She has grown up in a settlement in China where different nationalities are segregated by country of origin.A ghetto with many secrets and harsh realities. Hated by the locals and referred to as `fanqui` (foreign devil) Lydia struggles to make her way in the world. Being a second generation immigrate known as the Russian girl who doesn't speak Russian she has no idea where she sits. Schooled in English, desperate to travel to the shores but struggling to feed herself and control her mother there is little hope.

She dreams of living in England but stranded without a passport the only way for her and her mother to obtain one is to marry an English man - who all seem a bore. To be honest this book just doesn't hit any chords with me and I think it just doesn't have the romanticism of the first book set in Russia. I find myself waiting for the characters from the first book to appear (Countess & Son) which is a real shame. The mafia references to the snake gang and difficult situations Lydia gets herself into just do not excite me. Chang (love interest) just doesn't conquer up the heroic images of Jens Friis form the previous chapter of this series. 

I may read the third book to see if it fulfills any desires but I'm afraid that after about 4 weeks and 269 out of 577 i have decided to jack it in with this one. Maybe I was just too bowled over by the first book and am disappointed by the tragic story of a young carer with an alcoholic mother in this book. I hope people who read the entire book can correct my opinion. I think the tragedy of Valentina is just too much for me!