This is a quite remarkable book. First off it's written entirely in an invented dialect. It's post-apocalyptic, and hugely so - the nuclear disaster is so far back in the past that it has become mythological (and well-garbled in the process). Humankind are living at an Iron Age subsistence level. A rudimentary combination of belief system and government exists, and Riddley Walker, aged 12, is a 'connexions man' charged with the interpretation of the travelling puppet shows which tell the stories of how mankind got to this state. However, Riddley can glimpse what has been lost -

"[..] I begun to get some idear of the shyning of the Littl Man. Tears begun streaming down my face and my froat akit.... How cud any 1 not want to get that shyning Power back from time back way back? How cud any 1 not want to be like them what had boats in the air and picters on the wind? How cud any 1 not want to see them shyning weals terning?"

and this will lead him on a dangerous quest and an examination of the nature of progress and the "confused collective dream that humanity terms 'history'." (Will Self, in the Introduction to the 20th Anniversary Edition.)

I won't kid you that it's easy to read, because it's not; Riddley's dialect takes some getting used to (you get the idea from the quote above), and occasionally it pays to read out loud to grasp the meaning, but I found after a few chapters I was reasonably fluent. But far from detracting from the book, I think it adds all the more to it. It makes you slow down and savour the fractured writing, the multiple meanings and the wordplay, and the story seems to lodge itself in your head in a surprisingly persistent way - I find myself thinking about it frequently, and occasionally Riddleyspeaking too.

Serendipity: I was given it as a gift, loved it, and decided I must buy a copy to release - when I got around to it. Two days later I popped into my favourite charity shop for a quick flick through the books, and there, in amongst all the second-hand chick-lit and John Grisham thrillers, was this copy of Riddley Walker! It was obviously there for me to buy and share, so I did. :o)

Trubba Not.

RELEASE NOTES:

I'm releasing this at the monthly meet rather than leave it to the mercies of a wild-release!

Sounds intriguing. I'll give it a go.

I actually finished this a week or so ago, but I've been digesting it and wondering exactly what to write about it. Moondark's entry is certainly a really good summary of it, but you really have to read it to get everything out of it. It is unlike anything I've ever read before. Although it is only a thin book it took me quite a while to read as the language meant I had to concentrate hard, often re-reading whole pages to get the gist of the meaning. I was a real exercise in trust, as there are whole sections which I couldn't follow at all, but then I'd pick up a thread again.

The language is beautiful to read, with a wonderful rhythm and creativity. It was particularly interesting how Hoban played with words with different meanings, and the idea that though the characters lived an iron age existence in relation to technology and how they lived day to day, they retained a far more sophisticated approach to language, with some of them even retaining (relearning) the ability to write.

My overall impression of the book - well as with many distopian stories it was bleak and depressing in parts, but fascinatingly rendered and really touching at times too. I'd certainly recommend it, but selectively as I realise it won’t be everyone's cup of tea.

I'll release it next week at the Leeds Oct meetup.

{icked up at the meet last night. :)

Picked up at Leeds Meetup.

After reading Hoban's The Bat Tattoo, and hearing good things about Riddley Walker, I had high hopes for this book. I wasn't disappointed - it was an interesting & absorbing read.

The story is set in Kent, a few centuries into the future, among the survivors of a terrible war. Reading & writing skills are treasured by a select few, but for the most part stories & histories are oral, shared, embroidered, evolving as new mythologies. The narrative is written phonetically by Riddley, in his own dialect. And that works very well - just like in Trainspotting where you hear the voice in your head. He tells of his society, rife with inequality and superstitions, and refers in passing to the history and events that have led to his situation.

Russell Hoban has an amazing imagination, and a gift for sharing it.

I wasn't at all convinced by the blurb but Gael convinced me that it might be worth a try and the comments on this book look very positive.

It took me a while to get going with this book as I needed to get my head round the language used in it but once I did I really enjoyed it. I've been meaning to bring it back for a while but it got buried under a pile of other things on my desk.

To be released at the Leeds Meetup tonight.

Picked this up at the Adelphi. Looks interesting if I can master the language!

Could't really get on with this book. Tried to master Hoban's view of a post-apocalypse world but the struggle to master his newly-coined language wasn't justified by my interest in the plot. In the end, I just gave up!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Taking this to tonight's Meet-Up

I picked this up at the meetup yesterday evening as the cover grabbed my attention and hesitated a little upon further investigation as the dialect lookedhard. Then I thought a little and decided that if I don't have a go then I'll never know if I miss a gem (I was thinking back to Clockwork Orange at this point which I held off reading for sooo long for the same reason!). I too have also read the Bat Tattoo which I thoroughly enjoyed so this swung my decision. Watch this space:-)