Stump

[dreamer_easy]

Next book off the stack: Stump, by Niall Griffiths, a short novel the narrative of which alternates between the dialogue of two thugs in a Morris Minor, and the stream of consciousness of the one-armed recovered alcoholic they've been sent to bash. Griffiths does this amazing thing where he switches effortlessly between the thugs' less than intellectual conversation, conveyed in dialect, and lush, poetic prose. There's a lot of violence and ugliness, though not as much as in Wreckage, the heartrending sequel, which I read first. Stump is often funny and even optimistic despite everything.

Comments

[whochick.livejournal.com]

Ooo, that sounds really interesting. The way you describe it reminds me of all the reasons I like Nikki Gemmell - one minute gorgeous, next minute harsh and abrasive.

You read anything by Gemmell? She's an Aussie :)

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to read one of her raunchy ones!

[whochick.livejournal.com]

Bride Stripped Bare was the one that made her, but I think Shiver is probably my favourite. She alternates between this breathtaking description of everything and really, really honest, gritty depictions of sex.

I've read one of hers that gave me the right irrits - can't remember the name of it. Regardless, I always buy the latest by Nikki because of her potential to shock me out of a reading fugue.

[arjuna-lj.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you for reminding me about him. I've only read Grits, which was part hard slog, part sitting in wonder at his ability to throw you into a completely alien (to me) set of heads. Bit like Magnus Mills in the beauty:harshness balance.

*off to library*

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

I read Restraint of Beasts! And hope to read more.