Ajay Close

I can't honestly say I liked this book - mostly I was desperate for it to finish. But somehow it still retains a space on my bookshelf, and I'm not sure why.

It may be the writing quality - I have not come across many authors with such a secure grip on lyrical prose as Ajay Close. The imagery is perfect. The dialogue has a definite zing to it. But that's part of the problem. I am sure there are some very witty and erudite people in Glasgow, but this novel gives the impression that everybody show more in that city, right down to underpaid postal workers on their lunch hours, engage in witty repartee of incomparable quality that never lets up for a moment. Sorry Glasgow, but I don't believe it.

What I also couldn't quite believe was the central premise - that the post office employs people with the remit to go pootling round the city playing Sherlock Holmes just because a letter with a poorly printed address seems to contain a blackmail threat. I know there was a passing nod towards 'correct procedure' which would have involved the police, but that's all it was, as that would have blown the plot to bits. And the blackmail threat was pretty ambiguous when it came down to it. The police would probably have laughed. And told the posties to get back on their rounds because it's a disgrace that the first post doesn't arrive 'til gone three (etc etc).

The book leaves me wondering whether it's possible for writing to be too good? I think it is, because there was a good story in here that was drowning in prose. Just make it a bit more believable and I'm sure I would have really enjoyed it. show less

Not a book I would have chosen to read - reading it for bookgroup! Beautifully written. Each chapter reads like an individual piece of writing for a magazine (for example). There is a story runs through the novel but I feel it is secondary to the writing. A woman is having an adulterous relationship with a man who presents the religious programme on the telly and this relationship lifts and falls upon the experiences in the girl's life. Her sister appears, which exaggerates the effect of show more their unorthodox upbringing as children. There is something about the girl being under a curse set when her hair was stolen from the hairdresser, but I have to say any subtle point in this went right over my head. show less