Round the World in Lamenty Days (The Laments - George Hagen)

Member Name: kirstymack80

Product:	The Laments - George Hagen
Date:	20/12/05 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: quirky, amusing, larger than life characters

Disadvantages: sad parts

Mary has just given birth. She is in hospital in Africa and has no interest in her baby. He was born prematurely and is in an incubator. And she doesn't want to touch him. The doctor, concerned about her, goes to another patient, Julia Lament, who has also recently given birth. He thinks if Mary touches another baby, she will get used to it and this will lessen the chances of rejection.

Reluctantly, Julia agrees. Anything to help another mother. But once Mary sees Julia's baby, she falls in love with him. He's so unlike her own weak, frail child. And when it's her turn to leave the hospital, she decides she wants to take him with her….

And so begins a bizarre tale of children switched at birth. Because Dr Underberg, however misplaced his intentions were, decides to make things right. He tells Howard and Julia Lament "A fine couple, ideal parents, who have lost a baby, on the one hand, and an orphan, abandoned by his parents, who insists on surviving". A plan brews - the Laments will take Mary's abandoned baby and bring him up as their own.

And let him be called Will.

* Humour *

Well this is a strange book, make no mistake! But from the start it's likeable and displays large amounts of black comedy, which I loved. The back of the cover suggests it's a 'close relative to that greatest of all American family stories, The Simpsons' which I'm not sure I agree with. I find the humour is subtle compared to the slapstick comedy that Homer and Marge exude.

One example I particularly liked is when the Laments are at their first home after Southern Rhodesia - they move to the Persian Gulf and befriend an American couple, the Howitzers. 'Trixie' is a glamour puss, hard drinking and wearing sunglasses all day long to hide her black eye. Chad, her no-necked husband is a loud talking, no nonsense kinda guy that says what he thinks and doesn't care who he insults. Before a dinner party, Will (who is three years old at this point and used to his nanny emptying his potty) pees into the carafe of olive oil to be served to the guests that evening.

"Say,", said Chip. "I love this bread!"

Trixie took the crust from his hand and tasted it.

"It's not the bread, honey, it's the olive oil. It's fabulous! Tangy!"

I found this highly amusing - the couple are an unlikeable pair and to see them get their comeuppance is oddly satisfying.

With the birth of Will's twin brothers, Marcus and Julius, Julia's maternal affections switch to the newborns. Will is now the 'older brother' and it's his job to keep them out of trouble as they grow into naughty toddlers. This sometimes means taking the blame for their mischievous pranks.

And so the reader is taken through events such as JFK's assassination and Winston Churchill's funeral as Will and his brothers grow up into young men. We see Will's bid to dig a hole to China, we see him dealing with the school bully in England (and adopting a semi-cockney accent with full on swearing technique!) and of course his first love, who is so vain that she carries a biscuit tin lid around with her to admire her reflection.

Will is a most likeable character. He is caring and decent to everyone he meets. The other Laments have their faults but Will is always the peacekeeper and the saviour, sometimes at odds when his twin brothers form a united front against him and fighting his own demons, especially 'The Midnight Chinaman'.

* Enjoyment factor *

I guess my main reason for reading this would be the travel aspect. Having been to a fair number of countries it's always enjoyable for me to read about other places and cultures and this book certainly dotted about the world. After reading the blurb at the front of the book regarding the author (see below) he obviously has a fondness for these places as he's spent time there. The characters that he introduces are different - some funny, some loud and some plain weird! This makes for an interesting read as we are taken on a journey to Africa, Bahrain, England and the good ole USA.

The countries are very well described, from the dusty Arabian medina and mysterious Arab man in the white suit, who seems taken with Julia to the rainy, British weather and 'trying' to enjoy a family holiday on a shingle beach with a spoiled picnic and crying children. Everywhere they go, the Laments attempt to fit in to their new life, but it's not always easy. Just because you live in a place, it does not mean it's your 'home'.

One cannot help thinking that the author perhaps pokes fun at some of the way the inhabitants behave in their countries - the American characters seem brash and loud, the English bullying and cockney but this is not done in an insulting way and indeed, may even raise a smile or two!

I did identify with this book quite strongly. As a child I moved around with my parents every few years and didn't live in the UK until I was about seven years old. I could understand the family's upheaval, the parting from childhood friends and the excitement of living in a new house with adventures still to come.

I felt quite sad each time the Laments moved - the characters that they meet are so well written about that one almost feels as if we know them. We know that Will has to leave his friends (again) and make new ones, but at the same time we know that wherever the Laments go, they will make a new life there.

* Other info *

RRP £7.99
ISBN 0-340-83274-6
371 pages (paperback)

* About the author *

George Hagen was born in 1958 in Southern Rhodesia. He later moved to London and New Jersey and studied film at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. After that he spent several years in Los Angeles as a screenwriter and he now lives in New York City with his wife and three children.

* Verdict *

And so to the awarding of the stars. Well it has to be five, of course! This is a Richard and Judy summer read and I have been lucky to find a few of their chosen books at bargain prices in charity shops, and this one was no exception. I paid 99p for it which I'm thrilled with - I enjoyed every page. At a cover price of nearly £8 I would suggest trying to find it cheaper, Ebay and Amazon are always good bets for current books.

This book provides all the right ingredients to make an enjoyable read - smiles, clever anecdotes, engaging characters, childhood games and laugh out loud belly laughs. Among the humour, there are also touches of the problems the Laments encounter on their travels - keeping that all important secret of Will's parentage, racism, unemployment and battling depression. There are some moments of real heartbreak and tragedy. The balance of the comedy with the serious is just right, and for that some credit should go to Mr Hagen.

This is an amusing and touching story of a family's struggle to find themselves. Sometimes you have to travel to many places to find your wish. Go with the Laments and enjoy the ride.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Have family, Will travel