Reading the 20th Century discussion

Our July 2021 theme will be Booker Prize Winners from the 20th Century


Please choose a book which won the Booker Prize during the 20th Century that you would like to read and discuss.

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.

If your nomination wins then please be willing to fully participate in the subsequent discussion

This link lists all the winners...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Happy nominating

I nominate the 1976 winner...


Saville (1976) by David Storey

I have heard great things about Saville and everything points to it being a very worthy Booker winner. Here's what convinced me that this would make a great book to read and discuss...

'If you are looking for an intellectual and artistic honesty, a patient thoughtfulness and detailed insight into other lives...this novel will delight and move you' Guardian

In spite of his brilliance, Colin Saville doesn't fit in easily at the grammar school in town - 1940s middle-class society is so different from the mining village of his childhood. He makes tentative friendships and meets girls over long, empty summers but feels like an outsider with them and, increasingly, at home.

Following the pattern of David Storey’s own early years, Saville is a remarkably honest portrait of the tensions between parents and children, the difficulties of making one’s own way in life, and the social divisions that persist still.

Here's more praise...

‘This is the story of Colin Saville, a miner's son, and his growth from the 1930s on, his rise in the world by way of grammar school and college. At first there is triumph in this, not least for the father who had spurred him on, but later “alienated from his class, and with nowhere yet to go” Colin finds himself spiritually destitute, bitter, still held against his will in the place that made him ... A feast of a book ... it engenders remarkable tension because this self-effacing author, before removing himself from the book, seems to enter organically into his characters, writing from the gut of their experience.’ – Sunday Telegraph

‘Reading this magnificent book is like drinking pure spring water from cupped hands. It has no false notes, no heaviness of emphasis, no editorial manipulations of plot to prove a point. One becomes so totally involved in the lives of these people that their every word and action becomes charged with meaning.... Reminiscent of a nineteenth-century classic.’ - Jeremy Brooks, Sunday Times

‘Mesmerically readable, Saville is a revelation. It is alive with light and air and a kind of perpetual motion.’ - Michael Ratcliffe, The Times

‘Again and again I found myself paying Storey the reader’s finest compliment of saying, “This is the way it has to be, because this is the way it really is.” If you are looking for an intellectual and artistic honesty, a patient thoughtfulness and detailed insight into other lives, a controlled drama of ordinary and extraordinary people, this novel will delight and move you.’ - C.J. Driver, The Guardian

‘Saville is not one word too long. It was worth the ten years it took to write for the result of this industry is a clarity of style and a purity of design. An epic narrative, crowded, naturalistic and riveting.’ - Valerie Jenkins, Evening Standard

‘Not once during its 506 pages did the familiar man with the stop-watch intervene to challenge my total immersion in the life of Colin Saville.’ - David Caute, New Statesman

‘This minutely focused novel of childhood and growth is David Storey’s most ambitious book so far. His previous novels seem in retrospect to be mere ranging shots or flanking attacks: this is the assault on the stronghold.... a major achievement.’ - Eric Korn, Times Literary Supplement

‘No one has written of this classic dilemma with such detail and penetration as we find in Saville, nor has any previous novel so totally described a working-class family in transition during the real revolution of the forties and fifties.’ - Ronald Blythe, The Listener

‘A marvellous evocation of place and character ... this is a book made more than usually remarkable by its intensity of feeling.’ - Daily Telegraph

Interesting choice, Nigeyb - I've also heard good things about Saville yet don't know anyone who's actually read it. Funny how some books fall out of fashion and other renew themselves across time.

I read Saville a couple of years ago and was impressed. I have read all of the Booker winners, some of them a long time ago.

Saville sounds really good, Nigeyb.

I'm tempted to nominate Troubles as I've been meaning to read the Empire Trilogy by J.G. Farrell, but I see this didn't actually win - there was no Booker Prize for books published in 1970 due to the dates changing, and it was awarded the "Lost Man Booker Prize" for 1970 in 2010! Do we think it qualifies?

Hugh wrote: "I read Saville a couple of years ago and was impressed. I have read all of the Booker winners, some of them a long time ago."

That's impressive, Hugh. I'm thinking about either Heat and Dust or Moon Tiger - any thoughts, negative or positive, on either of them?

Positive on both, but it is a long time since I read Moon Tiger. I probably won't nominate, but if I did The Bone People would be interesting to discuss.

Judy wrote: "I'm tempted to nominate Troubles as I've been meaning to read the Empire Trilogy by J.G. Farrell."

Yes, I think it counts, Judy. There's also his Siege of Krishnapur which is set earlier. I too want to read that trilogy.

Totally spoiled for choice on this one.
Moon Tiger is a great choice and won the judges vote for its decade at the 50th anniversary of the Bookers.
I agree, Hugh that The Bone People would be interesting. Not so much the classic Booker material for it’s time, I gather.

My nomination though is A.S. Byatt with Possession: A Romance

The Wikipedia blurb says

The title Possession highlights many of the major themes in the novel: questions of ownership and independence between lovers; the practice of collecting historically significant cultural artefacts; and the possession that biographers feel toward their subjects.

It won the Booker in 1990 and the story is set in the 1980’s in England and interspersed with events in the 19th century.

I know this forum has a love for detective fiction, and you get this too, in Possession.

Just want to say this is an excellent theme, and I dearly loved Moon Tiger.

Jonathan wrote: "My nomination though is A.S. Byatt with Possession: A Romance"

Oh, good choice, Jonathan. I've read this but would happily plunge in again, it's such a rich and layered book, plus it's very funny in places. Ha, I see what you mean about it having a detective element :)

Kathleen wrote: "Just want to say this is an excellent theme, and I dearly loved Moon Tiger."

Good to hear there's a lot of love for Moon Tiger. I hope you might also nominate, Kathleen?

I'm surprised at how few Booker winners I've read before about 2010, so good to get the chance to catch up.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Just want to say this is an excellent theme, and I dearly loved Moon Tiger."

Good to hear there's a lot of love for Moon Tiger. I hope you might also nominate, Kathl..."

Nice of you to encourage me to nominate, RC! I was thinking of The Famished Road from 1991, but it's quite long. So another one I'd consider is Staying On from 1977. Hmmm.

Possession is one of my favourite winners, and Staying On was very enjoyable too.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm tempted to nominate Troubles as I've been meaning to read the Empire Trilogy by J.G. Farrell."

Yes, I think it counts, Judy. There's also his Siege of Krishnapur which is set earlier. ..."

Thank you RC. I was slightly confused by the order of the trilogy, as Troubles was written first and is listed as first in the trilogy but Krishnapur is set earlier, as you say... but I think they are only loosely linked anyway.

In that case I will nominate Troubles

Here is the blurb:

Winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize

1919: After surviving the Great War, Major Brendan Archer makes his way to Ireland, hoping to discover whether he is indeed betrothed to Angela Spencer, whose Anglo-Irish family owns the once-aptly-named Majestic Hotel in Kilnalough.

But his fiancée is strangely altered and her family's fortunes have suffered a spectacular decline. The hotel's hundreds of rooms are disintegrating on a grand scale; its few remaining guests thrive on rumors and games of whist; herds of cats have taken over the Imperial Bar and the upper stories; bamboo shoots threaten the foundations; and piglets frolic in the squash court. Meanwhile, the Major is captivated by the beautiful and bitter Sarah Devlin.

As housekeeping disasters force him from room to room, outside the order of the British Empire also totters: there is unrest in the East, and in Ireland itself the mounting violence of "the troubles."

Troubles is a hilarious and heartbreaking work by a modern master of the historical novel.

So many brilliant choices, everyone!

Ok, I'll nominate Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively.

Claudia Hampton, a beautiful, famous writer, lies dying in hospital. But, as the nurses tend to her with quiet condescension, she is plotting her greatest work: 'a history of the world ... and in the process, my own'. Gradually she re-creates the rich mosaic of her life and times, conjuring up those she has known. There is Gordon, her adored brother; Jasper, the charming, untrustworthy lover and father of Lisa, her cool, conventional daughter; and Tom, her one great love, both found and lost in wartime Egypt. Penelope Lively's Booker Prize-winning novel weaves an exquisite mesh of memories, flashbacks and shifting voices, in a haunting story of loss and desire.

It's now a Penguin Modern Classic and, more importantly, comes endorsed by Kathleen, Hugh and Jonathan ;) I did a 'look inside' and was sold on the trenchant voice immediately.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "My nomination though is A.S. Byatt with Possession: A Romance"

Oh, good choice, Jonathan. I've read this but would happily plunge in again, it's such a rich and lay..."

And the audio book is read by Samuel West - so that ensures it gets my vote!

Thanks everyone


Below is my summary of nominations so far. Please let me know if I have missed anything

Who else is thinking of nominating?


Nominations so far...

NIGEYB: Saville by David Storey
JONATHAN: Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt
JUDY: Troubles by J.G. Farrell
ROMAN CLODIA: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

That's a delicious little list! Nigeyb, I think Kathleen is still pondering her nomination.

I'm too interested in the current nominations to add another at this point. :-) Thanks!

Kathleen wrote: "I'm too interested in the current nominations to add another at this point. :-) Thanks!"

Me too, I won’t be nominating this time as I’m already torn by the options :)

I feel the same way!

So it looks as though we have all our nominations


I'll post the poll tomorrow. This is your last chance to slip another nomination in before the poll goes up


Nominations so far...

NIGEYB: Saville by David Storey
JONATHAN: Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt
JUDY: Troubles by J.G. Farrell
ROMAN CLODIA: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

Time to vote....


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Nominations...

NIGEYB: Saville by David Storey
JONATHAN: Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt
JUDY: Troubles by J.G. Farrell
ROMAN CLODIA: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

Nigeyb, I loved the list you gave us. I found a couple I want to read, but I cannot wait until July. In any case, thank you.

Shame you won't be joining us, Chrissie, but I know what you mean about not being able to wait. I even had to second-guess myself before voting for my own nomination :)

RC, I meant that I loved the list of Booker winners and runner-ups. I want to read Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and I don't want to wait to July for that. Both Moon Tiger and Troubles interest. me. I don't know which to vote for. I will probably end of reading both. Before I read Moon Tiger, I want to read Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time / Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir. Saville I would also read but I cannot get it.A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book was very good, but I am more hesitant toward Posession.

Ah, sorry for misunderstanding, Chrissie :) I was surprised at how many I haven't read from the Booker list so it was hard to pick just one.

I gave Possession 5 stars but I know some readers had issues that there is inset poetry which carries the story. The Children's Book is one I've got my eye on, and yes, I too want to read Heat and Dust.

It looks as though Troubles by J.G. Farrell has already got this one sewn up with about a day and half to go until the poll closes.

There is still time to vote, or change your vote, if you want to influence the outcome....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Nominations...

NIGEYB: Saville by David Storey
JONATHAN: Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt
JUDY: Troubles by J.G. Farrell
ROMAN CLODIA: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

It does look like it Nigey, I've read all of these before except the Storey which does look enticing, but have been wanting to re-read the Farrell for a while. And I'm trying to curb my book buying habit.
I did try the Byatt again recently but it didn't seem to work for me the second time round, although I did enjoy The Children's Book - possibly more for the territory than the execution! But really liked the Lively even though I'm more a fan of her children's books.

J.G. Farrell is certainly in possession of the lead for now but there could still be troubles ahead.

🤣

Very good, Jonathan ;)

[Groan] ;))

It would work better if Possession was in the lead from Troubles!

I voted for Possession since I’m trying not to read books I don’t own. The library does have Troubles, and I’m a fan of NYRB, so I may join either way.

We have a winner....


Troubles by J.G. Farrell

Thanks to everyone who voted, discussed, nominated and commented

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Nominations...

NIGEYB: Saville by David Storey
JONATHAN: Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt
JUDY: Troubles by J.G. Farrell
ROMAN CLODIA: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

So our celebration of the early years of the Booker has chosen the one that only won thanks to a retrospective jury whose decisions must have been influenced by hindsight - a luxury that was never available to the original panels. Troubles is a fine book, so no complaints...

Interesting point, Hugh.

A number of us have been talking about Farrell for a while now so I'm looking forward to finally getting to him.

Indeed so Hugh. We should disqualify it and rerun the poll ;-)

With Troubles as the winner, who else would be interested in a buddy read of Moon Tiger?

I know I will read it in May, after reading Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time. I have purchased both.