Going Dark The Secret Social Lives of Extremists by Julia Ebner

"Never before have extreme actors and movements been more internationally networked than today."

This might sound like an odd choice for a relaxing read and granted it was not at all relaxing. It was reviewed in The Guardian, and the premise sounded particularly interesting, so I grabbed a copy.

One can only posit at the intense balls ( for lack of a better word) of the author, whose dicing with death antics include posing as a would be convert to gain insight into the worlds of some rather scary extremists. I mean the word extremist would predictably imply that they were scary. Working at an anti-extremist think tank, Julia Ebner, poses as a would be nazi and a would be jihadi bride to gain a clearer perspective of what goes on behind the scenes of these groups and it makes for fascinating and at times frightening reading. The biggest revelation is that people are people. Even those filled with hatred still go on dates, enjoy the social norms of being part of a group and it is that sense of belonging which often persuades people to take ever darker turns as their perception of what is acceptable shifts.

4 out of 5 - research can be deadly.

The Survivors by Jane Harper

 

"It was a good question. It had been asked a lot over the years, and Kieran was as familiar as anyone in town with the last known movements of Gabby Birch, aged fourteen."

Goodness I read this an age ago. The author of The Dry is back with an unrelated tale and one that I eagerly purchased as a pre-release. The pacing seemed a little off in this one, that is to say it took a long time to gain momentum, but when it did it was worth the wait. 

Set in a small seaside hamlet in Tasmania, the title refers to a statue that pays tribute to a shipwreck near the treacherous cliffside which contains caves which fill up at high tide. The shipwreck is a rather fitting description of the lives of the residents and returning exresidents of Evelyn Bay - so many haunted figures due to the ghosts of the past. A fatal accident and the disappearance of a young girl cast a dark shadow on the town and the author spends a great deal of time setting the scene, before we dive into the buried secrets and final outcome.

Thankfully patience is rewarded and the ending is quite something, which is rather vague I know, but I'm trying to suggest you need to seek it out for yourself.

4 out of 5 incidents don't get washed away.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (Lord Peter Wimsey #4)

 

"I have a peculiar instinct about pubs. I can find one blindfold in a pea-souper with both hands tied behind me.”

I've been reading this on my phone when I've not had a book to hand for what seems like a century. I'm not sure whether the medium contributed to the lack of pace, but this one really dragged for me. That's not to say it isn't full of some rather amusing quips - one would expect nothing less from the author, and yet I recall enjoying her 'Whose Body' mystery a lot more.

A member of the exclusive Bellona Club is found dead and who else but Lord Peter Wimsey could possibly be on the case? As pompous as ever, our protagonist sniffs out the death as murder rather than natural causes and voila, the game is afoot. I just wish he reached his conclusions at a greater pace.

3 out of 5 - oh do stop being clever and get to the point.

Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend

 

"The dual figureheads of Nevermoor's holiday season, Saint Nicholas and the Yule Queen, were in an Ages-long war over best embodied the spirit of the season."

Waiting for the next instalment of a Morrigan Crow novel seems interminable and yet dear reader I made it and it was worth the wait. I realise that having left my thirties behind, I'm perhaps not the target audience for these fantastic novels and yet I dearly love them. A new threat to wonderful world of Nevermoor is an insidious plague - how appropriate for 2020 - rather than coming from bats this one turns lovely Wunimals into rabid creatures and no-one is safe anymore.

Naturally Morrigan and friends will face off with the evil creatures behind this frightful plague and this reader ecstatically embraced the journey. Sometimes evil wears a smiling face and this volume delves into the notions of power struggles and unlikely allies.

What more can I say? Nothing much other than I want more please!!

5 out of 5 - I never tire of Nevermoor.

Chasing the Light by Oliver Stone

 

"I never did figure out how our picture was paid for; it was a secretive poker game among three parties that was way over my head."

In 2017 Oliver Stone visited Sydney as part of the Vivid festival and I was lucky enough to attend his International Game Changer speech and see this master storyteller up close. As a teller of tales Stone is impeccable both in public and in prose. His latest autobiography which commences with his early life up until he turns 40 is fantastic and definitely one to read for fans (as it deals with Platoon, Salvador, Scarface and Midnight Express).

Memoirs are always intriguing in that they are one perspective that sometimes lacks a broader perspective. This is particularly evident here as we embark on interesting anecdotes with a sense that the emotional journey isn't fully explored. Similar to the public speaking engagement, this is a well versed story teller recounting key tales, bouncing here and there and yet seemingly not giving all of himself. One gets the impression that the dark depths of Stone will remain hidden apart from hints here and there.

That is not to dissuade you from reading the book, it is deftly delivered with a behind the scene peek at the downfall of Charlie Sheen for example. Ultimately this plays just like a great film, where you're unsure as to the veracity of the narrator.

4 out of 5 - Stone was a damn good looking kid.

Alfie by Bill Naughton

 

“I mean the only experience that doesn’t do you any good is the one you learn nothing from.” 

Alfie is a grubbie, sexist pig that epitomises everything that is wrong with the notion of a harmless lothario. In a time before birth control was readily available, he carelessly wanders about stringing women along to get his leg over, while seeming like a complete narcissistic wanker.

Yep, can you tell I hated this book? Without the gleam of a young Michael Caine or a young Jude Law, his wretched personality takes centre stage. Is it well written. I guess so because it made me angry and disgusted at his self entitlement. Alfie is the ultimate tinder f**k boi, before that was even a thing. His pathetic nature is grotesque, reminding  me of a certain uncle who shall remain nameless. He is never as clever as he thinks he is and ultimately gives up any chance at a life with his son through his own deluded self-interest.

While he gloats about his sexual adventures "I believe that for any self-respecting geezer, he needs three birds on the go at any one time", his life is ultimately empty and meaningless. I'd love to see a sequel where his hair falls out and his options run dry. You'll note my score is low because I just hate this character so damn much.

2 out of 5, a hideous character study well wrought.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

 

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization of the way mind and brain manage perceptions. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think.”

Trauma has a negative transformative impact on our body that for some can last a lifetime. Dr van der Kolk's book provides some hideous examples of treatments gone wrong and the impact of some truly terrible events. He looks at various ways of treating post traumatic stress disorder and reflects on the inescapable connection between mind and body. While there is a lot of guff out there in the world about wellness activities, it isn't until stress or tragedy or emotional torture begin to have a physical effect that many of us really consider what is at the root of our issues.

I found this a profoundly interesting read, at times (due to the subject matter) it was difficult and yet the prose was always engaging and clear. Unlike a dull medical treatise, this is clearly delivered by a great storyteller. The author looks at various treatments and approaches to dealing with trauma from EMDR to yoga, in an open and engaging manner. While this book won't heal your ills, it might start you on a path to locating their source and effectively dealing with it.

5 out of 5, I bet everyone who reads this googles EMDR now.