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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
3,5 and upped it to 4 since I think I'd liked it a bit more, if I read it instead of listening to the (very good) audiobook in 2 days. I should have given this book a little bit more time and attention. But still, I really liked this book and the ending was definitely not, what I expected.
This books does tackle some important issues in an unusual setting - unusual in the way, that I didn't expect them in this setting.
I'd have loved it, when I had seen some character development in any of the protagonists, but they're manly set in stone characters and basically that's where (some) of the problems they have to face come from (at least it feels like that to me).
Nonetheless, this book is deep and did show me a world I never really thought about and made me think as well as educated me on some (British) problems, I didn't know about before.
As an afterthought: it reminded me in tone and mood a bit of the Half Bad series by Sally Green. If you're in the mood for a dark YA witch story that also deals with human darkness and society and repression combined with a bit of magic, go for it. (Maybe the Scottish accent of both audiobook narrators also had to do with my connection...)
This books does tackle some important issues in an unusual setting - unusual in the way, that I didn't expect them in this setting.
I'd have loved it, when I had seen some character development in any of the protagonists, but they're manly set in stone characters and basically that's where (some) of the problems they have to face come from (at least it feels like that to me).
Nonetheless, this book is deep and did show me a world I never really thought about and made me think as well as educated me on some (British) problems, I didn't know about before.
As an afterthought: it reminded me in tone and mood a bit of the Half Bad series by Sally Green. If you're in the mood for a dark YA witch story that also deals with human darkness and society and repression combined with a bit of magic, go for it. (Maybe the Scottish accent of both audiobook narrators also had to do with my connection...)
I thought this was only okay and honestly thought that under a different writer this might have been better. I was bored for half of it and tense for the rest and after halfway point was wondering what was the point of this book. And at the end, I still did not have an answer. I’m giving it 2 stars because some of it was interesting.
A fascinating inclusion on the Man Booker shortlist, coming from an unknown, unpublished writer. The narrator is 14 year old Daniel, whose schooling has been frequently severely disrupted and who has no meaningful relationships with anyone outside his immediate family, and yet who commentates throughout with keen observation, empathy, intellect and a vocabulary that betrays the authorial hand. For these reasons, I felt that the voice of the writing was not quite true. On the other hand, there were many things I loved - the poetry of much of the writing, the strong and yet mysterious sense of place, the tension cleverly built in a plot in which, really, not a lot happens. And "Daddy" is a beautifully created, brutally imaginable character.
Well written. Reminds me of Withering Heights i.e. grim.
Elmet was a surprise inclusion on the shortlist of the 2017 Man Booker Prize. Or perhaps, with hindsight, its success should not have been surprising at all. It is, in fact, a genuinely original debut novel.
The story is narrated by teenager Daniel, who lives in a rural area of Yorkshire with his slightly older sister Cathy and John, the man they call Daddy. Daddy is a burly giant who has a reputation as a prize fighter and survives at the fringe of legality. His fighting skills are put to good (for that read “dubious”) use by debt-collectors and by organisers of illicit bare-knuckle fights. John and the children lead a somewhat nomadic life, especially after the death of the children’s grandmother. They move to a rural area of Yorkshire, where Daddy builds a house in a copse on land belonging to local landowner Price. This not only attracts the unwanted attention of Price (to whom Daddy seems to by mysteriously linked by past events) but also draws the enmity of powerful businessmen who see John as a threat. Daddy resists, and finds himself thrust forward as the champion of the downtrodden and exploited workers and tenants of the area.
“Elmet” was the last Celtic kingdom of England, which later became part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The novel is headed by quote from “Remains of Elmet” by Ted Hughes, which describes the area as a “badlands – a sanctuary for refugees of the law”. The title therefore juxtaposes the contemporary setting of the novel against a more timeless, ancient landscape. There are other elements which invite a ‘mythical’ reading of the work. The repeated reference to John as “Daddy” suggest that he is more of an archetype than a flesh and blood character. The simple yet lyrical narrative voice suits the teenage narrator, but is also redolent of the poetic language of legend. There are also clear references to tales of Yorkshire outlaws, particularly “Robin Hood and his Merry Men”.
This contrast between the ancient and the new is interesting but it also gives rise to some inconsistencies. John is often given a romantic aura – although a violent man, he seems to follow an ancient moral code, one which is, at heart, decent, coupling a respect for nature and with attention to the needs of fellow man. However, this ‘code of honour’ sometimes sits uncomfortably with the evidently leftist-liberal worldview of the novel, which is presented in no unsubtle terms. John’s children, for instance, very evidently represent a contemporary view on gender - Cathy is a strong female warrior (literally) whilst John is, it is strongly suggested, gay. On the whole, it seems that John is fine with this which, frankly, does not seem altogether credible. Indeed, in one of the initial chapters, there is a passage that implies that Daddy’s feelings towards Cathy verge on the abusive and which contradicts the generally positive portrayal of this giant. And John’s moral code, despite his defiance of the “bad guys” such as Price, is not too different from theirs, one in which disputes are solved through violence.
In my view, the novel works best if one reads it for its lyrical, narrative flow, and the sustained undercurrent of tension and violence which explodes in the final pages. The ending is deliberately harrowing and graphic, and I caught myself squeamishly looking away from the book. Yet, it fits the novel and is by no means out of place. Like Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss, also set in North England, Elmet explores contemporary concerns in a novel where the past seems to be continuously looking over our shoulders.
The story is narrated by teenager Daniel, who lives in a rural area of Yorkshire with his slightly older sister Cathy and John, the man they call Daddy. Daddy is a burly giant who has a reputation as a prize fighter and survives at the fringe of legality. His fighting skills are put to good (for that read “dubious”) use by debt-collectors and by organisers of illicit bare-knuckle fights. John and the children lead a somewhat nomadic life, especially after the death of the children’s grandmother. They move to a rural area of Yorkshire, where Daddy builds a house in a copse on land belonging to local landowner Price. This not only attracts the unwanted attention of Price (to whom Daddy seems to by mysteriously linked by past events) but also draws the enmity of powerful businessmen who see John as a threat. Daddy resists, and finds himself thrust forward as the champion of the downtrodden and exploited workers and tenants of the area.
“Elmet” was the last Celtic kingdom of England, which later became part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The novel is headed by quote from “Remains of Elmet” by Ted Hughes, which describes the area as a “badlands – a sanctuary for refugees of the law”. The title therefore juxtaposes the contemporary setting of the novel against a more timeless, ancient landscape. There are other elements which invite a ‘mythical’ reading of the work. The repeated reference to John as “Daddy” suggest that he is more of an archetype than a flesh and blood character. The simple yet lyrical narrative voice suits the teenage narrator, but is also redolent of the poetic language of legend. There are also clear references to tales of Yorkshire outlaws, particularly “Robin Hood and his Merry Men”.
This contrast between the ancient and the new is interesting but it also gives rise to some inconsistencies. John is often given a romantic aura – although a violent man, he seems to follow an ancient moral code, one which is, at heart, decent, coupling a respect for nature and with attention to the needs of fellow man. However, this ‘code of honour’ sometimes sits uncomfortably with the evidently leftist-liberal worldview of the novel, which is presented in no unsubtle terms. John’s children, for instance, very evidently represent a contemporary view on gender - Cathy is a strong female warrior (literally) whilst John is, it is strongly suggested, gay. On the whole, it seems that John is fine with this which, frankly, does not seem altogether credible. Indeed, in one of the initial chapters, there is a passage that implies that Daddy’s feelings towards Cathy verge on the abusive and which contradicts the generally positive portrayal of this giant. And John’s moral code, despite his defiance of the “bad guys” such as Price, is not too different from theirs, one in which disputes are solved through violence.
In my view, the novel works best if one reads it for its lyrical, narrative flow, and the sustained undercurrent of tension and violence which explodes in the final pages. The ending is deliberately harrowing and graphic, and I caught myself squeamishly looking away from the book. Yet, it fits the novel and is by no means out of place. Like Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss, also set in North England, Elmet explores contemporary concerns in a novel where the past seems to be continuously looking over our shoulders.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was surprised by how much I ended up liking this novel.
The writing and the narrator's voice was really evocative and compelling.
The writing and the narrator's voice was really evocative and compelling.
I’m in awe of this book. I am so deeply affected, shocking myself with both the nature and power of my feelings toward these characters, toward their actions. The prose was exquisite throughout...languishing in the poetic at times, then blunt when necessary. And the climactic build and explosion was a thing of horrific beauty. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this book. Mozley's writing, especially, is astoundingly beautiful. Her descriptions make references to nature and pull you into the physical settings of the book effectively. The book is written in 1st person and our narrator is extremely connected to the natural world, so having the descriptions be like this is very believable.
I really enjoyed the relationships Daniel has with those around him: Daddy, Cathy and Vivian, mostly. I feel that he makes a good narrator as the one who observes everything that happens, without necessarily being the one who pushes the story further.
The relationship the family has with their land and the natural world is beautiful, too. The land is an extension of themselves; they take care of it and it does the same for them.
When I started reading this book (some time in 2020, after the pandemic had been going on for a while), these were the things that captivated me and made me enjoy the book so much. There was also the vague mystery of the chapters that occur in the future and what Mr. Price might do to Daddy.
But then it kept getting darker and darker and my anxiety (that already was sky high) just got worse. So I stopped reading it.
I left it to stew for more than a year and only continued it in December 2021. The ending was even more intense than I ever though it could be, but the book never stopped being beautiful.
This book also manages to discuss some interesting themes. Mainly, I think it's a book about relationships: our relationship with nature, the relationships between ourselves, our relationship with power and money and land and our relationship with our own body. Mozley is able to hint at and explicitly explore all these things through the narration.
My rating reflects the book's beauty, but also my conflicted feelings about it. Because of the writing and the narration, the book makes me feel calm and at peace, but the actual story and happenings are rather stressful and tense, creating a rather weird dichotomy (at least for me). In spite of this, I do highly recommend this book, but I do advise caution to anyone who might be sensitive to several topics (listed in my content warnings because of spoilers).
I really enjoyed the relationships Daniel has with those around him: Daddy, Cathy and Vivian, mostly. I feel that he makes a good narrator as the one who observes everything that happens, without necessarily being the one who pushes the story further.
The relationship the family has with their land and the natural world is beautiful, too. The land is an extension of themselves; they take care of it and it does the same for them.
When I started reading this book (some time in 2020, after the pandemic had been going on for a while), these were the things that captivated me and made me enjoy the book so much. There was also the vague mystery of the chapters that occur in the future and what Mr. Price might do to Daddy.
But then it kept getting darker and darker and my anxiety (that already was sky high) just got worse. So I stopped reading it.
I left it to stew for more than a year and only continued it in December 2021. The ending was even more intense than I ever though it could be, but the book never stopped being beautiful.
This book also manages to discuss some interesting themes. Mainly, I think it's a book about relationships: our relationship with nature, the relationships between ourselves, our relationship with power and money and land and our relationship with our own body. Mozley is able to hint at and explicitly explore all these things through the narration.
My rating reflects the book's beauty, but also my conflicted feelings about it. Because of the writing and the narration, the book makes me feel calm and at peace, but the actual story and happenings are rather stressful and tense, creating a rather weird dichotomy (at least for me). In spite of this, I do highly recommend this book, but I do advise caution to anyone who might be sensitive to several topics (listed in my content warnings because of spoilers).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol