Books of the year

It's always inspiring to read so many pages in the weekend newspapers with recommendations from authors journalists and critics listing their favourite books as the year ends.  

So, let me suggest a few titles that might appeal, potential Christmas presents.  It's two and a half years since I last compiled such a list (1).  Most of my selections are of books published in 2023, the best of those that I have read this year.

Before this, however, I must pay tribute to all of the authors whose creativity transports readers so vividly, setting us as witnesses into places actions and time-zones, both real and imagined. At the same time, I'm reminded of what may or may not be some people's image of writers.

This time last year "Act of Oblivion" written by Robert Harris was selected by the Times as its historic fiction book ot 2022. As soon as the paperback edition was published this year, I snapped up a copy and - was not disappointed. Set in Cromwellian England, this 550-page epic novel tells the spell-binding story of the murder of King Charles I and the ruthless pursuit of fugitives by the secretary of the regicide committee. Set in the context of his work across different and more recent eras in our history, Harris's genius for narrative warrants public attention and respect. As such, this is a candidate for my novel of the year.

Another classic - in my opinion - albeit hailing from the previous year is "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2017.  As a sign of the author's prescience, his superb novel's theme has become an even bigger theme in many ways this year - Artificial Intelligence.  Set in the near future, relevant to our era, this novel is both topical and worrying in equal measure.

On the international front, Scandinavian noir continues to grab the imagination if only because there is a continuing supply of excellent authors and of icey locations catering for that bleak atmospherics fix.  This year I found "You Can't See Me" by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir.  It's part of the author's "Forbidden Iceland" series.  A family reunion in remote Iceland turns out to be at least as scary as you might desire and expect.

Towards the end of the year, I examined the bookshelves at home for another read, being too lazy to brave the winter storms to buy something new.  To my delight, and with thanks to my late wife's book-buying habit, I have discovered an author familiar to many but new to me.  One novel is entitled "Leaving Home" published in 2005, the other "Undue Influence" is from 1999. Their author (now deceased) is the art historian Anita Brookner whose style and pacing is such a contrast to Noir, to crime or to political fast-paced and page-turning thrillers. She tells stories using proper prose and syntax about seemingly uncomplicated everyday lives and featuring few characters. Both novels centre on a thoughtful female lead who is preoccupied with internally analysing life and relationships. She communicates in a calming manner. 

Examples of the opposite style - rapid, action-packed crime thrillers - came my way this year from two well-known American authors. David Baldacci's published his latest "Long Shadows" about FBI agent Amos Decker and the murder of a federal judge. It is complete with all sorts of twists and turns which kept me going with 575 pages to be turned; as did his 600-page crime thriller "The 6:20 Man." I learned much about the rasping greed of some New York traders. His novels may be long but time flies as each involved plot evolves relentlessly. 

The other author that fits broadly into this category is John Grisham. Two new books by him grabbed my attention. "Sparring partners" marks a change of style consisting of three stand-alone shortish stories. Their themes concentrating on legal dramas will reassure Grisham fans. His other book this year was "The Boys from Biloxi." This involved a more apparent style change in which Grisham has written an almost Baldacci-esque blockbuster. A first novel from his pen running to over 500 pages, this one is a legal drama set in a coastal location with dire complications unfolding for owners of gambling casinos and strip joints.

Another author deserving of a mention has two unrelated and thematically contrasting novels on my list.  One is "The Undertaking" and the other is "The Colony."  Both are the work of Audrey Magee.  The former is a love story against the backdrop of the German invasion of Russia in World War 2; while the latter, which was long-listed for the 2022 Booker Prize, is a movingly haunting tale about survival and romance on an idyllic island off the west coast of Ireland as threats to the Irish language lurk.   

My choice for the non-fiction book of the year is Manchán Magan's "Listen to the land Speak."  Magan is an acknowledged expert on Irish folklore and linguistics. The originality of this book is its stunning ability to bring pre-historical verbal accounts from Irish mythology to intersect with archaeology.  Using clues from a range of sources such as place names geography and local legends he manages to place certain myths to ancient sites that local people have always known about.  This book is a follow-up to his earlier work about Irish linguistics "Thirty-two Words for Field."

By coincidence the next book I read bore on a similar theme - as if I had been subconsciously directed to read one after the other.  The ironically entitled novel "Haven" written by Emma Donoghue, the Irish-Canadian screenwriter whose earlier "Room" was a Booker Prize finalist and adapted as a movie winning an Oscar. "Haven" is a story of early Irish Christian monks in 600AD Ireland establishing a monastic base on a rugged and bare island.  A fictional account of events follows, which may or may not bear a resemblance to the actual occupation of Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2).  This international asset was infamously used a few years ago as a location on two episodes of the fantasy Star Wars (3). "Haven" is another candidate for my top novel of 2023.

I conclude with a discovery of another new author. Earlier in the year this book caught my eye, being special for two reasons.  The first was that it was stamped on publication by the Times reviewer as its novel of the month; the second was the surname of the author.  "Squeaky Clean" is the debut novel by Callum McSorley.  It's reminiscent in some ways of the Booker prize-winning "Shuggie Bain" insofar as it is a gritty story set in Glasgow and at times a difficult story to observe. Callum's book is an assured debut recounting life and survival in the midst of organised crime and violence.  Powerful stuff and scarily realistic.

©Michael McSorley 2023

References

1. https://michaelmcsorleyculture.blogspot.com/2021/06/summer-books.html

2. https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/skellig-michael/

3. https://www.skelligmichael.com/star-wars/

Music makes the World a Better Place

"If music be the food of love play on, give me excess of it..."  When William Shakespeare wrote these words, he may or may not have had in mind the recent series of concerts performed live in venues close to me during August 2023.

What makes them stand out is that most were provided free of charge, all have been performed live, and each presented with such perfection as to leave a lasting impression that the world can be and is a better place.

This is in contrast to our daily exposure to a never-ending litany of national and global crises which affect us all.  It's impossible to ignore events ranging from political stalemate at home and upsetting stories from the National Health Service, a horrible cost of living crisis, the horrendous impacts of climate change in so many different places with loss of life, property and natural habitats, the distressing scenes of migrants fleeing persecution and poverty attempting escape across dangerous seas, never mind the security threats posed by a despotic invasion of Europe.  None of these crises makes anyone feel that the world is a better place.

 

Looking at the life's positives for a change, the month's extravaganza of concerts began on 4 and 11 August with two evening events in Belfast's Ulster Hall where the Ulster Orchestra performed beautiful music by big-name composers including Claude Debussy, Robert Schumann, a symphony by contemporary composer David Matthews, a beautiful suite by an "unknown" Swedish-speaking Finn Ida Moberg, a Schubert overture and Jean Sibelius's imposing 7th symphony.  Quantity and quality.

 

 They followed this up the next week with two more free events on the 16th and 18th, both lunchtime concerts again in the Ulster Hall.  The music this time was composed by Maurice Ravel followed by Beethoven's second symphony; with a work by contemporary composer Judith Weir followed by Dvorak's life-affirming 8th symphony completing the four-strong series.

In between times, the Ulster Youth Orchestra presented a celebration concert on 12 August to mark its 30th year annversary.  A packed Ulster Hall heard these gifted "youngsters" play Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto with patron Barry Douglas on piano; and after the interval their other piano patron Michael McHale played Gershwin's piano concerto in F, and the Orchestra completed the programme with a rousing rendition of Bernstein's West Side Story Symphonic Dances.  The outcome was the spontaneous delivery of two standing ovations from a well-pleased audience. 

Bearing in mind that all of these events are taking place ahead of the start of the "New Season" for 2023/24, as the Ulster Orchestra follows its pair of lunchtime concerts in Belfast with a visit to meet its wider audience this time in Dungannon.  Ranfurly House on the historic Hill of the O'Neill's has become the splendid and scenic setting for the local authority's Arts Centre.  The orchestra played a programme of movie music and some classical pieces.  The latter included works by Ravel and rhythmic Slavonic Dances composed by Brahms and Dvorak; the movie music featured popular themes from blockbuster films such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.  Once again the Ulster Orchestra was rewarded with a rapturous standing ovation from an enthusiastic family audience.

A week later, the Ulster Orchestra performed yet another free concert in Belfast, the Presbyterian Assembly Buildings, a rehearsal event for a Berlioz Festival taking part in La Cote-Saint-André in southern France.   The final article, so to speak, will be given by the Orchestra in France on 31 August.  Rugby teams preparing to visit France in September have been going through arduous "pre-season training" ahead of the Rugby World Cup also hosted by France.  I'm thinking that the Ulster Orchestra is on an equivalent muscular course.

We all love traditional music, or trad - as in "folk music" more generally.  My wife Marie and I have, pre-Covid, attended a variety of literary and music events at Homeplace in Bellaghy, the modern new arts centre inspired by its own Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney.  On a late cancellation, I got a ticket to see the virtuosic fiddle player and composer Colm Mac Con Iomaire on 26 August perform live in the intimate setting of its Helicon auditorium.  It was one of a series of events arranged to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the poet's death.  

©Photo John Melrose

I'd known of Colm's rise to fame when, along with Glen Hansard they established the successful rock band The Frames back in 1990.  To hear him play live, fusing celtic-inspired haunting airs and gorgeous melodies with the seemingly paradoxical addition of modern recording technology was a magnificent joy to experience. The image below is extracted from the Homeplace summary of artists appearing at the weekend anniversary commemoration.

 

Marie had known and admired Seamus Heaney from his short time lecturing lyrically to her English degree class at Queens University Belfast and, I think, would have approved of my return visit to Homeplace.  With the imminent first anniversary of her passing in mind, I dedicate this account with love in musical memory of my late wife. 

©Michael McSorley 2023

New films for the "Barbenheimers"

As climate change provides north-western Europe with excessive rain this July while southern Europe swelters under abnormal heat, America's movie industry wilts as actors and film-makers go on strike for the first time in 60 years.

Creatively speaking, however, it is rewarding for audiences to see the movie industry mirroring many of the global concerns of the day on the big screen.  Apart from climate change and the cost of living crisis, the issues absorbing people include national security and the threats of war, human rights, as well as the merits or otherwise of AI - artificial intelligence.  At the same time people are ravenous for the return of normal activity like evenings out.

With perfect timing, two of the year's most anticipated films have been released in Canada, the U.S.A and Europe on the third weekend of July.  Given the pleasant summer weather in June, the early summer had provided little incentive to sitting indoors in cinemas.  By contrast, however, heavy and persistent rain have prevailed in July across both Britain and Ireland, resulting in people escaping from unseasonable weather into cinemas as a refuge to see the brand new Barbie and Oppenheimer films. 

The record crowds have even become a self-contained news story in the main evening TV news (1).  More interestingly, one newspaper reports (2) that the simultaneous release "has prompted some cinemagoers to take on the challenge of seeing them on the same day.  That's four hours and 54 minutes viewing time."  Barbenheimers is the new term for those adherents.

With both films on my radar, I considered rising to the escapist challenge.  After diligent consideration of the journalist's strategy, my choice was to vary implementation of the challenge.  It suited better to see the Oppenheimer epic on a Sunday evening; and instead of exposing my sitting apparatus to the ordeal of an extra couple of hours' top class entertainment, I would stall a date with Barbie for a little over twenty-four hours.  An incentive was provided by the cinema's offer of a discount on Monday's.

The thought of spending three hours watching a film, much shot in gloomy black and white, to do with nuclear physics and the development of the atom bomb may at first sound unpromising.  I'm happy to report that Christopher Nolan's treatment of a serious subject with all of its arresting sound and light effects and the employment of the best acting talent allayed any doubter's reservations.  

This is a wonderful film, likely to stand the test of time.  The audience's attention was held in rapt silence from start to finish, with the film's message best articulated during the final 45-60 minutes.  Its portrayal of the ex-post policy inquiry provided much of the drama of a courtroom with senior lawyers taking on politicians.  The theatrics also displayed strong hints of an abiding McCarthyite attitude among some politicians.

 

Despite having read previews about Greta Gerwig's brilliant work on previous movies, particularly on screenplay, my expectations of Barbie were low-ish before attending the screening.  And yet they were exceeded in every way.   Barbie presented such a visual contrast with the sombre tones of Oppenheimer.  Audiences will be aware of the use of bright primary colours and the origins of the Mattel toy story.  Without giving away the feature's means of communicating its message about feminism and human rights more broadly, I have to say that the use of subtle techniques and particularly smart satire make this an unmissable film.

In a way, the satire reminded me of the 2017 Nobel-prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro and his 2022 book, Klara and the Sun.  Barbie and her friends were somewhat reminiscent of that story's "AFs," Artificial Friends.  

On which point, I see irony in the Barbie story and its industry's current travails over striking actors.  This is that one of the principal concerns, apart from fair pay, driving the industrial relations discontent is Hollywood's use of AI in making movies.  It was interesting to read comments made by the actor Brian Cox in Leicester Square London at an Equity rally in solidarity with the American SAG-AFTRA union when he said (3) - "the wages are one thing, but the worst aspect is the whole idea what AI can do to us."

Otherwise, we have two superb films released on the same day, substantially contrasting both in message and in techniques, a pair of artworks that are worthy of recognition, and both of which stimulate the imagination and debate about important topics in positive ways.  

Together, Barbenheimer is set to be a major highlight of summer 2023, possibly even a phenomenon.   

 

©Michael McSorley 2023

 

References:-

1. BBC News 24 July 2023 "Barbie movie wins box office battle in US"  https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8334779191626017893/2005588484089038740

2. The Times Saturday 23 July 2023 Sidonie Wilson "The atomic blonde double bill" 

3. The Times Saturday 23 July 2023 Stars align Andy Rain/EPA photo

Mid-winter days out

A popular saying fits the early weeks of a new year like an exhortation to act after the excitement of the festive period fades.  Variety is the spice of life.   

Ingredients can include books, films, night classes, visits to theatres to see shows.  Positive diversions help us make the most of life and, come to think of it, to cope with loss.

About a year ago, I wrote about attending entertainment and arts events, using the Observer newspaper's column "On my Radar" as the template (1).  Its aim - to present examples from the worlds of cinema, reading, music and elsewhere to illustrate what's on and worth checking. 

If only as an escape from "the bleak mid-winter" not to mention the daily diet of shocking stories that emerge from news reporting, allowing ourselves some time to be diverted is important.  It reminds us that the world's a better place as we focus on cultural events.  It's also a good strategy to get a new year off to a lively and productive start.

Cinema

Having seen Cate Blanchett's brilliant portrayal of the Dublin investigative journalist "Veronica Guerin" in 2003 against the villainous John Gilligan played by Gerard McSorley, and read a preview (2) of her latest role  - "Blanchett is simply the best she's been" - as a fictitious orchestral conductor in "Tár," this made a first visit in 2023 to the Queens Film Theatre compulsory.  

A few days after I watched her, she won the prize for Best Actress at the Golden Globes.  If she repeats the success at the Oscars in March, I won't be surprised.  Naturally it is music like Mahler's fifth symphony, Elgar's cello concerto and a special film score composed by Iceland's Hildur Guðnadóttir which are at the front, centre and backdrop to Tár.  But it is Cate Blanchett's commanding performance that dominates the soundtrack, as the conductor's life changes. 

A propos Oscars, the observation by BBC news that 25% of the 2023 Oscar nominations feature Irish-made films brings cheer and huge pride to many on both sides of the border.  An Cailín Ciúin, Aftersun, An Irish Goodbye and the Banshees of Inisherin (the most insightful piece about the Banshees film - see 3) are there on merit.  Where we live there is quiet anticipation about the big event in Los Angeles on 12 March.

Cathedral Arts Festival

Since 2005, Belfast has been fortunate to have had the Out to Lunch festival (4) take place in January.  It provides an eclectic range of short lunchtime shows in the aptly-named and atmospheric Black Box, with a wholesome lunch included in the ticket price.  A perfect tonic to dismantle any blues, more so in 2023 after its being stalled by Covid19.  The latter's impact is evident from the enthusiastic public response and the 18th's rapid sell-out of several events.

I attended three music gigs.  Special Consensus are from Chicago and play bluegrass with a virtuosic 4-piece line-up of mandolin, banjo, double bass and guitar; the Skallions are a high-octane group from Belfast and, as hinted at in their pun (spring onions) title, play reggae with consistent applomb; and a trio of harmonious Irish musicians (Dónal O'Connor, Harry Bradley, Libby McCrohan - fiddle, flute, bouzouki) played "Trad for lunch."  

The Skallions

Excellent musicianship and vocals all round presenting completely different styles of music and song.  Selecting three music events out of a festival programme with over 60 gigs exemplifies variety with quality.  And not bad value with the added attraction of professionally-catered food like lasagne or vegetarian stew before heading out into the fresh afternoon air.

Books

I have two recommendations for reading to start the year, one novel and the other non-fiction. The former is the debut by Irish writer Audrey Magee, "The Undertaking."  It was long-listed for the Booker Prize last year.  It tells what is essentially a love story set firmly in the context of World War 2, told through German eyes and their battle against Russia.  

Normally I would avoid war dramas. Not so on this occasion, however, with a gripping tale narrated from the aggressor's perspective.  My attention had recently be drawn to the author by rave reviews of her new novel, The Colony which will soon be winging its way to me. Audrey appears soon for interview at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy.

The author, journalist and presenter Manchán Magan caught my attention with his informative and funny factual book "Thirty-two Words for Field."  He is not only an accomplished linguist and travel writer but he is also an expert on the sagas of Ireland.  And likewise, as his book illustrates, knowledgeable of the folklore of several other countries.  His book, "Listen to the Land Speak: a journey into the wisdom of what lies beneath us" tantalisingly fuses our island's pre-Christian fairy stories with archaeological evidence.  His efforts to match them up and even to place some examples of sagas geographically are so well constructed as to be convincing.

Visual Art

It is encouraging to witness an example of north-south co-operation given the political pressure on cross-border trade arising from Brexit.  In November, to explain and set the scene for the loan by the National Gallery of Ireland to the Ulster Museum of a Goya masterpiece (5), a lecture was given in Belfast by the Dublin Gallery's keeper of Spanish and Italian art.  

For starters the history and importance of the portrait, Doña Antonia Zárate, was clearly explained. The exposition reminded the audience of a spectacular art theft during the Troubles.  More generally, the detail of the Gallery's collections was summarised in impressive depth.  Whereas this Goya returns to Dublin at the end of January, the success of the loan seems likely to lead to further similar exchanges.

Apart from free entry to the museum, the venue is a welcoming refuge from wintry days.

Television drama

By chance I discovered a new drama series broadcast on ITV, rather than the much-hyped and allegedly excellent equivalents available on platforms like Netflix. Rather than appealing to my normal diet of Nordic Noir, "Maternal" is a medical drama, set somewhere in the U.K.  

It tells the contemporary stories of three senior doctors, each one having just returned from maternity leave, juggling the demands of child-rearing and of working in a hectic NHS hospital with all the well-documented current issues present.  Brilliant scripts, realistic plot-lines, impressive acting - very dramatic and definitely worth watching. 

I also watched the Holywood movie "Green Book" on television recently.  I recall seeing it in a cinema on its release in 2018 and loving its message.  Based on a real-life story, it deals with a tour of the southern States in 1962 by an black American classically-trained pianist, having to play jazz after being denied any opportunity to perform classical music, chauffeured by an white Italian, and encountering problems of racial and policing intolerance.  A message whose relevance lingers today (6).  It's available on the i-player (7).

To end

In a way, there is no conclusion.  There are always more superb events to see.  

That begins next week in the Grand Opera House in Belfast.  The traditional (and experimantal) music ensemble Common Ground will perfom live, presenting a postponed Belfast International Festival concert. The group's founder, the fiddle-player Martin Hayes, has collaborated with everyone from Yo-Yo Ma to Sting and Paul Simon.

The upcoming gig will feature musicians including pianist Cormac McCarthy, cellist Kate Ellis, and bouzouki/harmonium player Brian Donnellan.  We are promised beautiful traditional music with each artist exploring jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical. 

But before that another film beckons.  This afternoon my daughter and I will go to watch Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans" which, I'm told, is a favourite to win best film at the Oscars.

 

©Michael McSorley 2023

 

References

1.  https://michaelmcsorleyculture.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-for-weekend.html

2. The Times Saturday Review 14 January 2023 Kevin Maher preview

3. The Times Saturday Review 28 January 2023 Kevin Maher interview with Martin McDonagh, playwright & director Banshees of Inisherin

4. The Out to Lunch Festival 7-29 January 2023 https://cqaf.com/ 

5. https://www.ulstermuseum.org/whats-on/goya 

6. BBC News 28 January 2023 "Video shows police beating Tyre Nichols in Memphis" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64435109

7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000yxc4/green-book