So, having discussed this resolution over Christmas with the family, I thought I'd start with their offerings. And, after arguing at length with my mother about the meaning of the word "favourite" (see earlier post), my Dad offered up The Singapore Grip.
I'd never heard of this - nor really the author, although a cursory scan revealed that he also wrote The Siege of Krishnapur (which I've also not read, but at least knew of). Farrell died young, in a fishing accident, and this was his last book before he did so, written in 1978.
The book itself is, as one might expect, set in Singapore and details the invasion of the Malay peninsula during the 2nd World War. Much of the historical detail is lovingly rendered - and the story of the ineptitude and disarray is, apparently, true. The characters all represent a different form of obsession, be it with business, ideals, a girl, or oneself. The city is amazingly rendered and the considerable detail the book reveals creates an extraordinarily rich picture of life as it was at the time of the Japanese invasion.
But what's most interesting about this book - which is at times extremely funny, but feels a little dated perhaps when contrasted with a blunter, coarser modern style - is that it's my Dad's choice. It reads a bit like a boys Jane Austin novel; a comedy of manners and social graces but set in the context of war. Most of the things my Dad's sent my way previously are usually selections of fairly bombastic sci fi. But this nice, measured, observant novel is the one he called out as his favourite.
As the first in my year-long experiment, it was not at all what I expected. But that's partly the point of this whole thing. Makes me excited for the next one (Sister's).
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