The Owl Service for grown-ups

Diana wrote:

 > Stephen Kane wrote:

  >> Just read When They Lay Bare by Andrew Greig. Like his other novels it's
  >> superb.
  >>
  >> Definitely not for kids but anyone fascinated by Alan Garner's The Owl
  >> Service should find it of considerable interest. OT but hopefully of
  >> interest.

 > Thanks for the recommendation. I haven't read any of his books, and have
 > ordered _When they lay bare_ from the library for holiday reading.

Any feedback?

Stephen.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: The Owl Service for grown-ups 

"Stephen Kane" <none.RemoveThis@none.com> wrote in message
news:BD8460CA.12856%none@none.com...
 >
 > Diana wrote:
 >
  >> Stephen Kane wrote:
 >
   >>> Just read When They Lay Bare by Andrew Greig. Like his other novels it's
   >>> superb.
   >>>
   >>> Definitely not for kids but anyone fascinated by Alan Garner's The Owl
   >>> Service should find it of considerable interest. OT but hopefully of
   >>> interest.
 >
  >> Thanks for the recommendation. I haven't read any of his books, and have
  >> ordered _When they lay bare_ from the library for holiday reading.
 >
 > Any feedback?
 >
 > Stephen.
 >

I started _When they lay bare_, but unfortunately I have not yet finished
it. I started the book on holiday, when I turned out to have less reading
time than I had hoped. I eventually had to return it to the public library
unfinished (it was an inter-library loan from another branch library, and I
couldn't renew it again).



I found the beginning of the book rather heavy going, particularly the
sections which included dialect. It seemed as though there was a strong
atmosphere, but slow plot development at first. Maybe I've just been
reading too many children's books and lightweight novels recently!



However, in retrospect the part of the book I did read was memorable, so I'll
probably try it again in the future.



What are the particular strengths of Andrew Greig's novels?



Diana<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: The Owl Service for grown-ups 

Diana wrote:

 > Stephen Kane wrote:

  >> Diana wrote:

   >>> Stephen Kane wrote:

   >>>> Just read When They Lay Bare by Andrew Greig. Like his other novels it's
   >>>> superb.
   >>>>
   >>>> Definitely not for kids but anyone fascinated by Alan Garner's The Owl
   >>>> Service should find it of considerable interest. OT but hopefully of
   >>>> interest.

   >>> Thanks for the recommendation. I haven't read any of his books, and have
   >>> ordered _When they lay bare_ from the library for holiday reading.

  >> Any feedback?

 > I started _When they lay bare_, but unfortunately I have not yet finished
 > it. I started the book on holiday, when I turned out to have less reading
 > time than I had hoped. I eventually had to return it to the public library
 > unfinished (it was an inter-library loan from another branch library, and I
 > couldn't renew it again).
 >
 > I found the beginning of the book rather heavy going, particularly the
 > sections which included dialect. It seemed as though there was a strong
 > atmosphere, but slow plot development at first. Maybe I've just been
 > reading too many children's books and lightweight novels recently!
 >
 > However, in retrospect the part of the book I did read was memorable, so I'll
 > probably try it again in the future.
 >
 > What are the particular strengths of Andrew Greig's novels?

Sorry you found it heavy, although I know what you mean.

I've read three of his now (That Summer, The Return of John MacNab and When
They Lay Bare), haven't read his first, Electric Brae, or his latest, In
Another Light. They are all very different in terms of story but have in
common a weightiness that lingers, a sense of real people's lives, loves,
thoughts and feelings, in a way that reminds me somewhat of Anita Shreve's
novels.

Stephen.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: The Owl Service for grown-ups