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Roman Clodia's Reviews > Beyond Black
Beyond Black
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(Original 1-star review below)
I tried this again listening to the audiobook and got on better than with reading: maybe because listening allowed me to skim over some of the grim seediness? The narrator also distinguishes the voices so that there's more of a sense of personality. In any case, I was relieved to be able to finish this on a second try as it's a real-life book group choice.
Make no mistake, this is dark, dark, dark, and the wit only lightens events a mere shade. Al's childhood is totally the stuff of nightmares - and it's no surprise that she's suffering a form of PTSD.
But the big question at the heart of the book is whether and to what extent Al is a medium able to speak to spirits of the dead? (view spoiler)
This is still my least favourite Mantel to date: the core plot arc is thoughtful and clever but despite the wonderful writing, the whole thing drags on too long with a saggy middle. It's also quite a burden to spend so much time in the company of so many vile people and/or spirits. However well Mantel conveys the cacophony of their voices overwhelming our ability to 'hear' the story, just as they drown out Al's own thoughts, the resultant harsh noise was too much for me.
--------------------------------------------
Oof, no - I've loved other books by Mantel (the Wolf Hall trilogy, A Place Of Greater Safety, Eight Months on Ghazzah Street, Mantel Pieces) but my gut feel that this one just wasn't going to be for me were vindicated within pages and I dnf with relief at 20%.
Mantel's writing, as usual, is fantastic: witty, slightly off-beat, surprising - but the story of a medium and her companion working around the suburban, sleazy outskirts of London, complete with a lecherous, masturbating spirit guide (a real spirit or mental health issues?) defeated me. A long (long) description of Alison's spiritualist show, and back stories of a failed marriage (Collette) and an abusive childhood (Alison) just weren't doing anything for me.
A bit embarrassing as this is the choice of my IRL book group.
I tried this again listening to the audiobook and got on better than with reading: maybe because listening allowed me to skim over some of the grim seediness? The narrator also distinguishes the voices so that there's more of a sense of personality. In any case, I was relieved to be able to finish this on a second try as it's a real-life book group choice.
Make no mistake, this is dark, dark, dark, and the wit only lightens events a mere shade. Al's childhood is totally the stuff of nightmares - and it's no surprise that she's suffering a form of PTSD.
But the big question at the heart of the book is whether and to what extent Al is a medium able to speak to spirits of the dead? (view spoiler)
This is still my least favourite Mantel to date: the core plot arc is thoughtful and clever but despite the wonderful writing, the whole thing drags on too long with a saggy middle. It's also quite a burden to spend so much time in the company of so many vile people and/or spirits. However well Mantel conveys the cacophony of their voices overwhelming our ability to 'hear' the story, just as they drown out Al's own thoughts, the resultant harsh noise was too much for me.
--------------------------------------------
Oof, no - I've loved other books by Mantel (the Wolf Hall trilogy, A Place Of Greater Safety, Eight Months on Ghazzah Street, Mantel Pieces) but my gut feel that this one just wasn't going to be for me were vindicated within pages and I dnf with relief at 20%.
Mantel's writing, as usual, is fantastic: witty, slightly off-beat, surprising - but the story of a medium and her companion working around the suburban, sleazy outskirts of London, complete with a lecherous, masturbating spirit guide (a real spirit or mental health issues?) defeated me. A long (long) description of Alison's spiritualist show, and back stories of a failed marriage (Collette) and an abusive childhood (Alison) just weren't doing anything for me.
A bit embarrassing as this is the choice of my IRL book group.
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Reading Progress
January 4, 2023
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Started Reading
January 16, 2023
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"Don't really fancy this but it's this month's choice in my IRL book group..."
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January 16, 2023
– Shelved
February 5, 2023
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Finished Reading
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by
Laura
(new)
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rated it 1 star
Jan 17, 2023 12:31AM
Have you tried "Fludd" - starts out so funny and degenerates into a weird romance based on a convent - very strange.
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That was my first try of Mantel and after dnfing, it put me off her for years. Wolf Hall brought me back.I can see the subject matter is absolutely right for Mantel, just not for me.
I remember liking Everyday is Mother's Day - and Eight Months on Ghazzah Street. Her memoir - I thought very uneven. So many only know her through the Wolf Hall trilogy. I read her books years and years ago because she grew up v close to where I grew up - near Glossop and in fact went to an all girl's school that some of my friends went to - a Catholic school - with nuns - Harrytown in Romily. She wasn't a celebrity when I was growing up but her books were always available in the local library - and probably promoted as a local writer - Alan Garner also was a local writer. Libraries are wonderful places!!
Wow, Mantel and Alan Garner as your local writers! I liked Ghazzah Street too but I think Mantel might be one of those writers whose books are so different that liking one is no guarantee you'll like another.
is it me, or the star rating keeps creeping up on this one? 🤨😆
You're right, it's crept from 1 to 2 then this morning to 3 stars as I think the last couple of chapters are excellent!
I pushed on through this because her prose is magnificent and I was hoping for some redemption but yeah, it was bloody hard going. Like Possum if the whole story was like the last ten minutes and the monsters might well be real. Or like A Nightmare On Elm Street directed by Mike Leigh.
