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amysantos's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! It was one of the few books which has made me laugh both inwardly and outwardly. The depth and detail in the book is brilliant but equally it is an easy book to read. A very different book to The Wasp Factory but equally enthralling.
enno's review against another edition
4.0
I had previously only read The Crow Road, and this book seemed very familiar in its themes. David Tennant is enjoyable to listen to.
vbroes's review against another edition
5.0
Consummate novel-writing from Banks. Riveting throughout, truly fantastic dialogue, and inventive prose.
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
I have read 3 of Iain Bank's novels, The Crow Road which was wonderful, The Wasp Factory which was brilliantly and blackly humourous and a Sci Fi which I struggled with. I really enjoyed this book as well, with a cast of well drawn characters and a story of what happens to a person over a 5 year gap. There is real menace for the hero Stewart who had been run out of town 5 years before but returns for a funeral with a gang leaders permission. At heart it's a love story and I didn't feel disappointed at any stage. Highly recommended and perhaps it's time for me to try some more of his books.
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
As always, the problem with loving a living writer's work is the wait between books - Stonemouth was worth it!
Set in a smallish port town in Scotland, the action shifts between modern day and Stewart's youth (if one can count scenes at age 20 as "youth"). As a boy he was part of a group of boys, getting into a bit of trouble that includes the really tragic death of one of them in a paintball match. As a young man he was friends with one of the town's two Big Men, Joe (godson to the other), taking hill walks with him and visiting the home - and, of course, in love with Ellie, eldest daughter in the clan. Ellie and Stewart get engaged, and then a week before the wedding he has a quickie with another girl (the daughter of Ellie's father's rival, no less) that is caught on camera... Life in danger, he flees for London and a new life. Five years later he's back for Joe's funeral on a few day's dispensation from the new "Mr. M" (Joe specifically asked for Stewart's presence).
As with almost all Banks' non-SF books, the characters are people you might actually know (Song of Stone is one exception) doing things that average, ordinary people do. The writing is gorgeous, one of the things I love most about his work. Even though he uses name brands (a Ford Ka, BlackBerry, etc.) it won't feel dated in a few years and, unlike some books I've read recently, it's done sparingly enough to set the place and tone and not feel like product placement.
Sadly, now I have to wait for the next book...
Set in a smallish port town in Scotland, the action shifts between modern day and Stewart's youth (if one can count scenes at age 20 as "youth"). As a boy he was part of a group of boys, getting into a bit of trouble that includes the really tragic death of one of them in a paintball match. As a young man he was friends with one of the town's two Big Men, Joe (godson to the other), taking hill walks with him and visiting the home - and, of course, in love with Ellie, eldest daughter in the clan. Ellie and Stewart get engaged, and then a week before the wedding he has a quickie with another girl (the daughter of Ellie's father's rival, no less) that is caught on camera... Life in danger, he flees for London and a new life. Five years later he's back for Joe's funeral on a few day's dispensation from the new "Mr. M" (Joe specifically asked for Stewart's presence).
As with almost all Banks' non-SF books, the characters are people you might actually know (Song of Stone is one exception) doing things that average, ordinary people do. The writing is gorgeous, one of the things I love most about his work. Even though he uses name brands (a Ford Ka, BlackBerry, etc.) it won't feel dated in a few years and, unlike some books I've read recently, it's done sparingly enough to set the place and tone and not feel like product placement.
Sadly, now I have to wait for the next book...
battyboy's review against another edition
1.0
can't take a book that describes a cigarette as 'anorexically slim' seriously ngl
loveallthis's review against another edition
4.0
A classic Iain Banks fiction book (as opposed to an Iain M. Banks bit of sci-fi, which I also love but sadly didn't read any of this year), Stonemouth is - of course - about a fairly successful, attractive young man going back to his hometown in rural Scotland after a period away, who once he arrives must confront unpleasant realities and/or old enemies. I've read about a half-dozen of these, and while repetitive, this one was still quite a fun read. It had gangsters, after all, and it was quite a bit sexier than other entries in this bit of Banks's oeuvre.
Very sadly, Iain Banks died in 2013, and Stonemouth is the second-to-last fiction book we'll get from him. (The Quarry has just gone on my reading list.)
Four stars: lost one for originality, but mostly made up for it in heart. RIP, Mr. Banks. We'll miss you.
Very sadly, Iain Banks died in 2013, and Stonemouth is the second-to-last fiction book we'll get from him. (The Quarry has just gone on my reading list.)
Four stars: lost one for originality, but mostly made up for it in heart. RIP, Mr. Banks. We'll miss you.
mambo's review against another edition
3.0
The first novel I’ve written from Banks (including Iain M. Banks) and I did enjoy it! It’s definitely a slow burn but I think one that becomes really cinematic as Banks is so generous with his visuals we’re able to set the scenes well for a series of increasingly awakened an intense interactions in Stonemouth.
I love his use of dialect, even between characters this is such a great way to world build and identify friendships and tones of dialogue. The strength of this is within the ensemble characters. Stewart is a great narrator but honestly not a very real character. His motivations and intentions all seem slightly elusive and I found I couldn’t quite pin him down as the protagonist. It lead to feeling like some exchanges and actions were out of place for him, or that they weren’t making sense. The same goes for Ellie, who I found fairly distant throughout the novel and with these two as a romantic pairing? I couldn’t quite see it. It’s a shame because most all other character are well fleshed out - funny, flawed and endearing.
I love his use of dialect, even between characters this is such a great way to world build and identify friendships and tones of dialogue. The strength of this is within the ensemble characters. Stewart is a great narrator but honestly not a very real character. His motivations and intentions all seem slightly elusive and I found I couldn’t quite pin him down as the protagonist. It lead to feeling like some exchanges and actions were out of place for him, or that they weren’t making sense. The same goes for Ellie, who I found fairly distant throughout the novel and with these two as a romantic pairing? I couldn’t quite see it. It’s a shame because most all other character are well fleshed out - funny, flawed and endearing.