A Week in December by Sebastian Faulkes

[GrumpyGregry]

Over the New Years Break whilst my family enjoyed the synthetic thrills of the rides at Disneyland Paris I stayed indoors and read a book. As it turned out I read a very good, and highly enjoyable, book. 'A Week in December' by Sebastian Faulkes (Here is a review from the Times)

Just one thing though... throughout the book a recurring character appears. An unnamed unlit pavement cyclist who whizzes past most ?all? of the other main characters at one time or another....

He never injures anyone, and I'm assuming it's a he, the worst that happens is he makes someone jump. As a plot device he acheives nothing, nothing changes as a result of his passing, nothing hinges on his presence apart from maybe right at the end when Hassan makes his key choice on Waterloo Bridge under the dual stress of fright and hypoglycemia.

So what was Mr Faulkes trying to acheive by including this character in his splendid book? Anyone?

 

[rich p]

Sorry, Greg, no idea!

I'm just in a state of shock that he's written a book worth reading. He seemed to run out of steam about two thirds of the way through Birdsong and has been living off that ever since. I even wondered if his wife or gardener had written Birdsong for him!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I've just finished it, having got it for Christmas. Like others, I enjoyed "Birdsong" but everything else of his I found a bit lame. Thoroughly enjoyed this one though, well researched and quite funny in parts. As for the pavement cyclist ... I did wonder how long it would be before a thread about him appeared on here. I thought it worked quite well as a narrative device (because it built up throughout the book to the point where it was crucial to the plot at the end) and was quite funny. As well as being - sadly - all too accurate a portrayal of many cyclists.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I think Waterstones was pushing this book before Xmas. It was one of several titles that the staff were recommending to customers at the till. There were stacks of them behind the counter. Being weak-willed, and with the the girl on the till being so nice, I nearly bought one, but changed my mind and bought the book recommended by Nick Hornby instead.

 

[rich p]

Hey Rich, I thought I was the only person who felt like that. Since everyone else seemed to think SF was marvellous I've always kept quiet about thinking he was overrated, but now I can come out and say it with pride! (I also feel this way about Ian McEwan)

A fellow traveller TMN!

I gave up on Ian McEwan 20 odd years ago after finding his short stories too repulsive. First Love, Last Rites or Between the Sheets - can't remember which.

Not as long as my grudge (see other thread!) but ongoing!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Over the New Years Break whilst my family enjoyed the synthetic thrills of the rides at Disneyland Paris I stayed indoors and read a book. As it turned out I read a very good, and highly enjoyable, book. 'A Week in December' by Sebastian Faulkes (Here is a review from the Times)

Just one thing though... throughout the book a recurring character appears. An unnamed unlit pavement cyclist who whizzes past most ?all? of the other main characters at one time or another....

He never injures anyone, and I'm assuming it's a he, the worst that happens is he makes someone jump. As a plot device he acheives nothing, nothing changes as a result of his passing, nothing hinges on his presence apart from maybe right at the end when Hassan makes his key choice on Waterloo Bridge under the dual stress of fright and hypoglycemia.

So what was Mr Faulkes trying to acheive by including this character in his splendid book? Anyone?

TBH I thought the book was pretty awful; and the cyclist did really get on my nerves after a while. After I'd finished the book I began wondering if I'd missed the point - perhaps the things were all happening at the same time and the cyclist was supposed to bring the book together (i.e. on one manic journey he linked all the storylines?). I can't be bothered to go and check whether that's even possible...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

fwiw as I've gone multi-modal commutewise I buy three paperbacks a month in Waterstones to kill my time on the train(s), I select these by looking at the pictures on the sleeves/titles on the books in the 'literary fiction' 3 for 2 pile. Well, it works for me.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Kate Atkinson's 'Started Early, Took My Dog' and am looking forward to 'The Slap' but at the moment I'm engrossed in a (non-fiction) book about 1415/Henry V

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've just finished it, having got it for Christmas. Like others, I enjoyed "Birdsong" but everything else of his I found a bit lame. Thoroughly enjoyed this one though, well researched and quite funny in parts. As for the pavement cyclist ... I did wonder how long it would be before a thread about him appeared on here. I thought it worked quite well as a narrative device (because it built up throughout the book to the point where it was crucial to the plot at the end) and was quite funny. As well as being - sadly - all too accurate a portrayal of many cyclists.

It is meant to be representative of London in the late 00-ies (well the bits of London Faulkes moves in anyway) so I guess, at the very least, he has opinions on pavement cyclists! Perhaps there's a sequel coming based on the cyclist's point of view?

 

[Woldwanderer]

A strange book; well written, but some very uniteresting characters. I only managed two thirds before looking for the next read.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I gave up on Ian McEwan 20 odd years ago ...

I gave up on Ian McEwan after reading the astonishingly up its own arse "Saturday Night". Stocked full of characters I wanted to slap, poorly researched and incredibly dull. I haven't felt the need to try anything else of his.

 

[Fiona N]

In response to the OP - I seem to recall SF having a rant somewhere (Times?) about unlit pavement cyclists so I kind of assumed that this was 'pay back' but it just seemed a bit lame.

And I don't mind unhappy endings but a baddy getting away with the loot is a bit much

 

[Dave Davenport]

I really liked Birdsong and Charlotte Grey but have found the rest of his stuff pretty ropey. Similarly I think Ian McEwan's 'the innocent' is a great read but haven't liked a single other thing he's written.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

And I don't mind unhappy endings but a baddy getting away with the loot is a bit much

That's why I thought the story was pretty realistic.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

In response to the OP - I seem to recall SF having a rant somewhere (Times?) about unlit pavement cyclists so I kind of assumed that this was 'pay back' but it just seemed a bit lame.

And I don't mind unhappy endings but a baddy banker getting away with the loot is a bit much normal

ftfy

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And I don't mind unhappy endings but a baddy getting away with the loot is a bit much

See when I watch the likes of a James Bond film, I'm sitting there thinking to myself

'If I was the villan, then I'd just shoot the smug bast*rd on the spot and be done with it!'

I wouldn't make a great Bond villan, would I?? I'd have cut Sean Connery in half with that big laser thingy in Goldfinger for sure!