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A review by adunten
Stonemouth by Iain Banks
4.0
In case you were wondering (I was), the name of this book is simply the name of the town where it takes place, and which in a way is really the subject of the story: a small fictional town which sits at the mouth of the Stone river on the northeast coast of Scotland. In a Scottish brogue, it's pronounced something like, "Stoon-moath."
I've read a couple of Iain Banks' books now, and I'm noticing some trends, if two books can be said to make a trend: His stories are carefully crafted and unfold gradually and deliberately, doling out essential tidbits at intervals. This means they start slowly and take some time to really get into, but the pacing heightens the pleasure of seeing each piece of the story fall into place at its appointed time. And after building slowly to a critical mass, they end abruptly, like falling off a cliff. They touch on themes of regret and a painful past that haunts the present.
Stonemouth strikes me as first and foremost a romance, not in the bodice-ripper sense, but in the sense that this is a real love story. A love story which, like many of the great tragic love stories, shows us the destructiveness of love, lust, and jealousy, and how they can tear lives apart. But it's also very much a portrait of life in a small Scottish town. I can't help thinking Stonemouth would make a good movie, both because it's a relatively short, tightly crafted story, and because of the rich cinematographic opportunities it has to paint a picture of both parochial Scottish town life and the rugged Scottish countryside. That, and the possibilities offered by flamboyantly debauched friend and sidekick Bodie "Ferg" Ferguson boggle the mind.
All you need to know about the basic premise of the story is this: our hero, Stewart Gilmour, was exiled from his hometown of Stonemouth five years ago. He returns for a weekend for the funeral of an old friend, and his three days back in his old stomping grounds prove quite eventful. Old enemies, friends, and lovers will be encountered. Childhood memories will be re-lived. The nature of Stewart's crime and the precise chain of events which led to his exile are among the tidbits which are carefully parceled out. But there is, ultimately, some optimism, some hope that perhaps, after a high enough price in pain has been paid, the mistakes of the past really can be left in the past.
Unfortunately, Banks' female characters seem to be as flat and uninteresting as his male protagonists are richly realized and developed. Ellie Murston, the female lead and the focus of Stewart's thoughts throughout the story, is about as interesting as a plate of mashed potatoes. She's predictably beautiful, graceful, and sweet, accomplished at everything, and has no discernible personality at all. Her troublesome kid sister Greer is a far more fascinating character who could easily have a whole story written about her. Even the challengingly sexy Angelica is a worthier focus than vanilla Ellie.
Really, all of his central characters in this one are a bit hackneyed. There's the prodigal son, the perfect woman, the outrageous best friend/sidekick who's primarily there for comic relief, the resentful younger sibling who has grown up in the shadow of the perfect and adored older sibling, the over-protective older brothers...
Like other readers, I found the many pop culture, drug culture, and tech culture references jarring and a bit too glib. If you were wondering what time period the story is set in, you won't wonder for long. The story was written in 2012, and Banks wants to make sure you know it's modern day. It's all Rihanna, Cooper Minis, and Iphones. And to hear Banks tell it, you would think there's virtually no one in the town, at least not in the younger set, who doesn't get shit-faced on booze, weed, cocaine, or all three on any given night. I suspect Banks was trying a bit too hard to prove he can still stay in touch with the kids.
I've read a couple of Iain Banks' books now, and I'm noticing some trends, if two books can be said to make a trend: His stories are carefully crafted and unfold gradually and deliberately, doling out essential tidbits at intervals. This means they start slowly and take some time to really get into, but the pacing heightens the pleasure of seeing each piece of the story fall into place at its appointed time. And after building slowly to a critical mass, they end abruptly, like falling off a cliff. They touch on themes of regret and a painful past that haunts the present.
Stonemouth strikes me as first and foremost a romance, not in the bodice-ripper sense, but in the sense that this is a real love story. A love story which, like many of the great tragic love stories, shows us the destructiveness of love, lust, and jealousy, and how they can tear lives apart. But it's also very much a portrait of life in a small Scottish town. I can't help thinking Stonemouth would make a good movie, both because it's a relatively short, tightly crafted story, and because of the rich cinematographic opportunities it has to paint a picture of both parochial Scottish town life and the rugged Scottish countryside. That, and the possibilities offered by flamboyantly debauched friend and sidekick Bodie "Ferg" Ferguson boggle the mind.
All you need to know about the basic premise of the story is this: our hero, Stewart Gilmour, was exiled from his hometown of Stonemouth five years ago. He returns for a weekend for the funeral of an old friend, and his three days back in his old stomping grounds prove quite eventful. Old enemies, friends, and lovers will be encountered.
Spoiler
At least one of this cast of characters will die before the weekend is over.Unfortunately, Banks' female characters seem to be as flat and uninteresting as his male protagonists are richly realized and developed. Ellie Murston, the female lead and the focus of Stewart's thoughts throughout the story, is about as interesting as a plate of mashed potatoes. She's predictably beautiful, graceful, and sweet, accomplished at everything, and has no discernible personality at all. Her troublesome kid sister Greer is a far more fascinating character who could easily have a whole story written about her. Even the challengingly sexy Angelica is a worthier focus than vanilla Ellie.
Really, all of his central characters in this one are a bit hackneyed. There's the prodigal son, the perfect woman, the outrageous best friend/sidekick who's primarily there for comic relief, the resentful younger sibling who has grown up in the shadow of the perfect and adored older sibling, the over-protective older brothers...
Like other readers, I found the many pop culture, drug culture, and tech culture references jarring and a bit too glib. If you were wondering what time period the story is set in, you won't wonder for long. The story was written in 2012, and Banks wants to make sure you know it's modern day. It's all Rihanna, Cooper Minis, and Iphones. And to hear Banks tell it, you would think there's virtually no one in the town, at least not in the younger set, who doesn't get shit-faced on booze, weed, cocaine, or all three on any given night. I suspect Banks was trying a bit too hard to prove he can still stay in touch with the kids.