Paul Read

I really enjoyed Paul Read's debut novel The Art Teacher last year, so when I spotted his follow-up, I had to add it although I am desperately trying to reduce my TBR pile.
I was surprised how different the two books were. Both very good, but very different. I guess that in itself speaks for the author's skills.
Told from the protagonist's first-person point of view, Blame was a story about coming to terms with your past. The main character, Lucas, is successful at his job (he is a bit of a pharmaceutical wizard), but he's a failure when it comes to relationships and he has a definite self-destructive streak. Following his father's sudden, unexpected death, Lucas sets off on a journey of self-discovery that takes him on an impulsive trip to New York but also back to his quaint English seaside hometown. There were lots of layers to this story that were gradually peeled back. It's - what I would call - a family drama and explores issues of guilt and redemption. It raises the question of how much we can trust our childhood memories and the age-old question of how much parents 'damage' (I had a far more offensive expression here ;)) their offsprings.
I really enjoyed the book within a book set-up. Lucas finds the diary he wrote as a boy in 1989 complete with childlike drawings, and that's how the reader discovers the details of what happened back then.
I have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed when all was finally revealed and couldn't quite understand why Lucas had been making such a fuss and had been estranged from his Dad for so long. Perhaps that's because I'm too used to reading deeply disturbing and depressing books or maybe it was the male perspective that made it more difficult for me. The book calls attention to the special relationship between fathers and sons, and Lucas learns that he and his Dad had maybe more in common than he ever wanted to acknowledge.
I would rate the story itself 3.5 stars. What undoubtedly elevated this to a strong 4 stars, was the delivery. The writing was mesmerising! Perceptive and eloquent, Mr Read impresses with his smooth and almost poetic style. (I used my dictionary several times, great vocabulary-building exercise for non-native English speakers like me). Can't wait to find out what Mr Read will come up with in his third book!
Thanks to Legend Press, Paul Read and NetGalley for my ARC.… (more)

Paul Read’s THE ART TEACHER, a twisty edgy and gritty debut from a new voice in fiction. With a mix of literary and crime suspense, a school teacher gets caught in the middle of a war between his pupils--gangs, drugs, intimidation, bullying, and murder.

Patrick Owen teaches at London’s Highfields Secondary School. Denis Roberts was one of the more problematic members of his Year Eleven Art group. As a child, he had an operation to repair a cleft lip and the scar remained, running angrily up the left side to his nostrils. (you definitely do not feel sympathy toward this character).

Patrick found the kids of today communicated with words he simply did not understand. From their walking to their exposure of boxer shorts. Control was something that had gone out the window. From confiscating mobile phones to breaking up fights. An ongoing battle.

We also hear about Patrick’s past and his personal life. Separated from his wife, Ana and his three-year old son Danny whom he misses dearly. He was once a musician- a guitarist for a band.

Soon a student is murdered in cold blood. Patrick is drawn into the investigation.

Read captures the realistic classroom and the brutality of the environment of the school, teachers, teens, and the emotions. A total chaotic nerve racking stressful out of control world. With youths taking over and the teachers are at their mercy.

Read is also a teacher which lends itself to insights of today’s troubled teens. Patrick is drawn into dangerous situations, horrific cultures, classroom tensions, and devastating consequences. Not a lot of likable characters and difficult to read at times.

The book also includes a sneak preview of Blame, his second novel centering around a man called Lucas, with a job in pharmaceuticals.

A dark disturbing psychological suspense of social issues, violent gang cultures and a police investigation, centered around an educator in an inner city school culture.

A special thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks … (more)

"Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face."
What a great first sentence which immediately drew me in.
Separated from his wife, Ana, and missing his three-year-old son, Danny, Patrick - a once-promising musician - is stuck teaching art at an underachieving inner-city school in London dealing with kids with challenging behaviour on a daily basis. Following an incident with one of his pupils and some questionable actions, things quickly escalate as Patrick becomes embroiled in violent gang culture and a police murder investigation during which the media hones in on the once-almost-famous band member turned disillusioned educator.
This is Paul Read's debut novel. Although the author assures us none of this is autobiographical, Mr. Read's experience as a teacher clearly shows. The passages about the art teacher's daily struggle with disinterested students and unsupportive school management were agonizing. Although I was shaking my head at most of the decisions the main character made, I couldn't help but feel empathy towards him. The settings and the characters came across as very authentic.
The prose was vibrant and Read was brilliant at capturing the despondent atmosphere of the school and the rough sink estate troubled by gangs, violence, and drugs. You felt the menace and the despair. Yet, there was humour as well. Some of the protagonist's observations made me laugh out loud.
A gripping read that kept me engaged throughout needing to find out how it would end.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to Legend Press for my ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.… (more)