The Paperchase

I stumbled across this in a charity shop, and having been impressed by the last Theroux novel I read, Strange Bodies, I bought it. It’s not science fiction in the slightest, more of a family drama slash mystery. The narrator is a UK-based American, who is surprised to discover he’s been left his uncle’s house on a New England island in a will. The uncle was a celebrated writer, who faded away and became a recluse. The narrator leaves his job at the BBC and goes to live in the house – it’s a condition of the will: he only gets to keep it if he lives in it. And something about the papers left by his uncle, and the stories, and histories, of his neighbours, persuades the narrator there is a deeper story here – a mytsery about show more his uncle’s death, or his life. From a variety of unrelated facts, and assorted residents of the island, and friends of the late uncle, the narrator figures out the secret at the heart of the family. The problem is the prose, and the narrator, is so laid-back the revelation doesn’t really have the impact it should. True, it’s not especially earth-shattering, and very personal, but it’s the point of the novel so I’d expected something with more consequence. There’s a nicely digressive tone to the narrative, and the characters are well-drawn (and mostly likeable), but I polished this off about as quickly as I would a commericial crime novel and I had expected more of it. show less

If you enjoy the puzzle of a roman a clef - the challenge of separating fact from fiction - here's a book that will have you cry "Uncle!". Marcel Theroux, son of writer Paul Theroux, and nephew of writer Alexander Theroux, has constructed a delicious tale of a BBC journalist who, upon inheriting his uncle's island residence, takes leave of his dead end editing job, to explore the freedom of a modest inheritance: a picturesque house belonging to his uncle in a setting much like Martha's Vineyard.

Anyone familiar with the personality and passionate interests of Alexander Theroux, as divulged in his novels, will soon recognize Alexander as the fictitious deceased uncle. However, the line between fact and fiction, though sometimes dotted, show more can sometimes become a double yellow line that should not be crossed. It is essential to beware the curves between fact and fiction.Through a story within a story, involving Sherlock Holmes older, obese and obscure brother, Mycroft, Marcel develops a lesson regarding the dangers of speculation in seeking a novel's "key".

As a fan of the writings Marcel's real life uncle, I couldn't help but be fascinated and teased by the speculative possibilities of the story. Marcel, by the way, seems to have the writing gifts of both his father and uncle. He makes the island scenery come alive ( much like a travelogue), constructs a clever and intricate story, and is offhandedly funny and witty in his first person narrative. If you're a fan of either elder member of the Theroux clan, you will enjoy this book, ummmm (sorry)...thoroughly! show less

A short novel which plays with memory and identity, this crept up on me and stuck around for longer than I would have guessed from the first few pages. The narrator inherits the home of his long-forgotten uncle, and finds surprises about his family and himself... So far, so ordinary? The writer elevates the material by keeping most of the secrets safe, and just pulling back enough curtain to allow us th make our own minds up. More a puzzle than a mystery, then, and very good because of it.

Damien March, a bored BBC journalist on the night shift, suddenly inherits a house on an island off the coast of Cape Cod from his long-lost uncle Patrick. There is a condition, however - he must preserve the house exactly as it is. Given that his uncle was somewhat eccentric, and the house is littered with bric-a-brac (e.g. a collection of ice-cream scoops), this is not as easy as it sounds.

In trying to settle into the house, Damien comes across letters and old manuscripts that reveal more about his uncle than he perhaps wanted to know. One of the stories is about Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's little-known brother, carrying out a vigilante-style murder of a man who is abusing his deaf wife and children. When he meets a deaf woman on the show more island whose abusive husband died in mysterious circumstances, he begins to wonder if the story is more than just fiction.

I enjoyed the exploration of Patrick's stories and what they revealed about his life, whether literally or in the subtext: "As I surrendered to the story, I had the odd feeling that I was entering my uncle's dream life." I also liked that the unexpected conclusion was hinted at through Patrick's fiction, some of which is reproduced in the middle of the book. "Paperchase" is an appropriate title, because Damien does come to know his uncle, and in the process to understand more about his family and himself, almost entirely through the paper that Patrick has left behind. Patrick had cut himself off from the family and the rest of the world for many years, so the stories were all that was left.

This was a quick read, and a surprisingly rewarding one. I say "surprisingly" because in the early parts of the book I was not really impressed - I didn't care about the characters, and the writing was not lively enough to sustain my interest. But it grew on me as the action shifted to the island and the story of Mycroft Holmes, and the ending was handled really well. So by the end, I had a really positive view of the book. Itdidn't sear itself into my memory as great books do, but it was certainly a worthwhile and ultimately thought-provoking read. show less

An engaging story with an interesting and likable protagonist. At times it seems to ramble but then you find that it just drew you deeper in - enveloped in the atmosphere. A short but rewarding read.

Disappointing; it read smoothly enough, but added up to very little.