Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker (also published as Ten White Geese)
Why I have it: No idea.
Summary: A Dutch woman goes into hiding on a remote farm in Wales. When she arrives, there are ten geese but one by one they die. Why?
I’m thinking: No. It’s all over the shop – perhaps that’s the poetic element reviewers raved about but it’s not for me.
Harriet Said by Beryl Bainbridge
Why I have it: Because Cleo said it was one of the darkest books she’s read.
Summary: Two girls – one the ring-leader, one the faithful servant – make a great deal of trouble for a man living in their town.
I’m thinking: Yes.
Checker and the Derailleurs by Lionel Shriver
Why I have it: Thought I would check out Shriver’s complete back-collection after reading Double Fault.
Summary: One drummer, Checker, is gifted and original. Another drummer, Eaton, is diligent but not gifted. He’s also envious. Did I mention there’s a band? Gets ugly.
I’m thinking: Maybe. It didn’t pull me in from the outset so will be further down my Shriver-to-be-read-list.
Good to hear you are thinking yes to Harriet Said. Thank you so much for the shout out!
The book immediately reminded me of that brilliant movie, Heavenly Creatures, starring Kate Winslet – have you seen it?
I haven’t but it was based on the same story and I’ve heard it was very good – I must check it out.
I’ve read Bainbridge’s “Master Georgie”, a Booker Prize Nominee. She danced on the dark side, for sure…even in her personal life, where death apparently was a fascination; she collected murder trial records and books on forensic medicine.
Though primarily a novelist, Bainbridge was quoted: “I have never really written fiction; what would be the point? What is more peculiar, more riveting, devious and horrific than real life?”. I tend to agree with her.
The opening chapters were certainly written with an edge – looking forward to the whole story (and will know wonder where she got the idea while reading!).
I recently got a copy of The Detour, now I’m wondering why…. My vote goes to the Bainbridge!
Clearly we both read the same brilliant review somewhere…
Shriver’s a bit hit and miss for me though not read this one. And while haven’t read this specific Bainbridge either, I read several a couple of years back when there was a Beryl Bainbridge Week somewhere. Loved each one – dark and with a spiky edge but also very witty in places.
Must admit, I’m a bit of a Shriver fan – Kevin remains one of the most incredible reading experiences I’ve had (a roller-coaster). I loved Post-Birthday World and BIg, and I’m looking forward to her new one coming out later this year.
Certainly going to give Bainbridge a try – not a genre I usually go for but when it’s ‘thriller with a literary edge’ (as her work seems to be), I’m there.