A Week in December By Sebastian Faulks ~ A Book Review
A Week in December By Sebastian Faulks ~ A Book Review
Here’s a review of a superb book I’ve just finished reading - it was a real eye-opener . . .
Author of Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks (see I’m even imitating the hackneyed prose of a world weary reviewer) is an author to be reckoned with.
From his aforementioned ubiquitous first book right up to trying on Ian Fleming’s shoes he’s certainly covered some ground.
But, with A Week in December he breaks some new ground, from my perspective at least. The story covers 7 days in the run up to Christmas 2007 and follows the lives of a very diverse group of people living in London.
It’s truly fascinating !
Faulks delves into the lives of this eclectic group of people, including a train driver, a professional footballer, a would be terrorist and a hugely wealthy hedge fund manager, with superb acumen.
He masterfully walks the fine line between sufficient detail to enable a connection and understanding with the character and too much to become a bore.
For A Week in December Faulks must surely have done a lot of research into the types of people portrayed, their jobs and lifestyles, completely believable, superbly nuanced with small but fascinating pieces of fact and information.
I think I found they voyeuristic glimpse into their totally alien lives as riveting as the storyline itself - you cannot but invest in them and follow them to the conclusion of the book.
The book is superbly structured as the totally disparate bunch of characters gradually move towards a point of commonality and event in which they all share a part.
Once this idea started to show itself I rather stupidly thought for brief second “this is ridiculous, this lot would never collide” but of course the beauty of the book is even though it’s chronological the story is about a varied group who just happen to be tied by being in, or associated to, a specific place at a specific time - the back story of the lives involved - hence the chance of diversity.
It’s a superb book and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it, as well as a great read it’s also a tremendous insight into another world, another world to me at least - the lives of people living in London, a modern Dickensian tale, if you will.
If you can or are minded to . . . do give it a read.
All the best
Rod
Jordan said,
February 26, 2013 @ 12:52 pm
Rod
I really loved Birdsong after it was recommended to me, and with me being a peace not war person, wouldn’t normally have even looked at.
May have to purchase a copy of the above, knowing your high critic standards.
Sounds a good interesting read.
Jordan
Rod said,
February 26, 2013 @ 3:25 pm
Jordan,
it’s a long way from Birdsong, which is a tremendous piece of work as you say.
I found the insight into completely different lives fascinating, it’s one of those books that’s good without a quick easy way to say why.
If yo do drop across a copy and give it a go let us know what you think
All the best
Rod
Jordan said,
February 26, 2013 @ 4:27 pm
Rod
Already purchased, i will send you the bill should i think it poor!
Jordan
Rod said,
February 26, 2013 @ 6:18 pm
Jordan,
I hope you’re not disappointed, I don’t think you will, it’s a very cleverly constructed book with a good ending as well.
Happy reading
Rod