A twist in the tail (Engleby - Sebastian Faulks)

Member Name: honey000

Product:	Engleby - Sebastian Faulks
Date:	25/06/09 (149 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Kept me guessing - couldnt put down

Disadvantages: Sad

Sebastian Faulks is a veteran of many best selling novels and I am always tempted to pick up a new book by him when I spot it on the shelves.

His early novels Birdsong and Charlotte Grey focussed on war stories but over the past few years he has branched out and proved time and time that he is an extremely versatile author.

Engelby is the story of our hero(???) Mike Engelby who is the lead character of the novel.

The story spans a period of roughly 50 years from the 1960s to the present day and is mainly told through the eyes of Mike Engelby using a first person narrative technique.

The story commences in the 1970s when Mike Engelby, a working class boy from an impoverished background has, through hard work and intelligence won a scholarship to Cambridge. It is clear from the beginning that he is a bit of a strange one - in keeping with the time he drinks and takes copious amounts of drugs - but as the story is told by him you are led to believe that this is normal for students at the time.

Normally I dont like it when a story jumps around in time as this one does - going back to Engelby's time at public school (again on a scholarship!) and even earlier. Some of the horrible cliches relating to public school such as bullying are described and you begin to feel sympathy for Engelby.

Early on in the novel you discover that Engelby becomes infatuated with Jennifer - a beautiful History student at Cambridge. He manages to become part of her group of friends and spends lots of time with her but their relationship is very hard to understand!

When Jennifer goes missing (not a spoiler this is on the back of the book) the mystery deepens and we see the search and resulting events through the eyes of Mike.

The characters within the book are strong but, probably because you see then through the eyes of Engelby you don't really get to know them. And while you really get to know Engelby I wouldnt say that you will like him in particular! Although I got the impression that he is a phenomenly clever guy with lots of talents.

I dont want to ruin the plot for you so wont say any more about what happens. Just to say that this kept me gripped until the very end of the novel and I was surprised at the twist.

Faulks writing style is gripping and forces you to be sympathetic to the main character.

He covers such issues as bullying and child abuse - but in a slightly removed manner so that the horror of what may have happened is slightly removed. Faulks also manages to make the book funny in places - which is not what I expected from a book which talks about the disappearance of a pretty female student on the cover!

Suffice to say that I read this in 24 hours - couldnt put it down - a fantastic read, and one that leaves you, dare I say it feeling a little sad.

Available from all good book sellers for £6.99 (382 pages)

Summary: A good departure from war stories!