Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell

A Typical British Summer - Hotly Debated but a bit of a Washout! 

"After you'd gone, "The hand that first held mine", "The vanishing act of Esme Lennox", "The distance between us"  - all great reads with such evocative writing and powerful observations that we approached Maggie O'Farrell's latest book with great anticipation.  Our excitement was heightened by the prospect of the back drop for this story - that unforgettable British summer of 1976 - and the promise of reliving our warm memories of those long, sunny days.

Without revealing too much about the plot, a man's disappearance prompts his family to reflect on their lives and their upbringing .  The subtext is that early family life profoundly shapes our subsequent choices and relationships but since none of us could empathise with either the characters or their experiences, any revelations fell flat. Indeed,  the whole book was typical of most British summers - rather disappointing.  The characters' seemed to be trapped in the 1950s rather than 70s and many details (eg Aife's personal finances) seemed less than authentic.  Even their names jarred, none of us having ever met a man with a double barrelled first name and all of us becoming dyslexic with Alfie, er Aife.  But O'Farrell's greatest sin, was her lack of magic when it came to conjuring up those glorious, sunny days of 1976.  Aside from some passing references to drought and water bans, there was little to evoke that summer which still smoulders in our hearts.

Only two hussies had the stamina and persistence to plough through the slow opening chapters and make it to an end which didn't seem to justify the effort.   Perhaps the structure mirrored a heatwave with emotions bubbling up whilst the air temperature rises, then dissipating as the pressure drops? Perhaps Maggie O'Farrell's was forced to deliver to her publishers before she was truly ready? Or, perhaps she was courting danger, dabbling with the legendary summer that set the stage for so many of our own back stories?

Maggie O'Farrell did succeed where many have failed  - she stimulated more debate, critique and vitriol than any of the other authors we have reviewed so far.   It would be interesting to know what you think, dear reader?

The venue for our meeting was  Danielle's Bistro in Hexham.  Unlike our book, the meal and surroundings lived up to expectations  - predictably pleasant.  Comfortable ambience, attentive but not intrusive staff,  a solid menu,  reasonable food,  medium prices and no pressure to eat up and leave early.    No thrills here, no fireworks or fancy concoctions.  But a safe choice - guaranteed to satisfy.  Unlike Maggie O'Farell.

Humble apologies, no pictures of the food at Danielle's on this occasion but this photo of Beadnell on the Northumberland Coast, shows where I spent the summer of 1976.  I was getting wet, building dens, playing sardines and hide and seek, and listening to Radio 1 -  Elton John and Kiki Dee, 'Don't go breaking my heart' and David Dundas,  'Jeans On'.  It was the summer of my life!

I was here in August 76 - where were you and what were you doing? 

Our next read is a collection of short stories - at least a classic should be guaranteed to please - fingers crossed!