The Double By Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

                            

                                          More Like Double Dutch!

                               

....   Hailed as a masterpiece by some, branded unreadable by others, this early novella from the famed Russian author is a real 'marmite' read. In it, Dostoyevsky chronicles Mr Goldyakins' alarming descent into madness.Yakov Petrovich Goldyakin, a minor office worker, is ground down by the demands of a highly ordered, bureaucratic society in late 19th century Russia. Essentially the main character struggles to find and express his own identity, meeting his double who is exactly like him and yet exactly the opposite of him. Goldyakin junior is everything Goldyakin senior wishes he could be. The reader is left unsure as to whether the double really exists or is just part of the protagonists physcosis, a projection of his inner turmoil. The love hate relationship that develops between the two main characters demonstrates Mr Goldyakin senior's paranoia, he is convinced everyone is plotting against him. 

... The book is full of long monologues in which Goldyakin senior uses the first, second and, occasionally, third person highlighting his almost manic state of mind. He becomes more and more anxious as the story unfolds,  because he feels driven to wear a mask or false identity in public. The way in which the narrative jumps around excentuates his growing anxiety and loss of sanity. 

Although this is a short book it is a demanding read and skimming is not an option. The repetition of long Russian names takes a lot of getting used to and can detract from the plot. This was by no means a page turner but a worthwhile read and for the two Hussies who finished it, a great feeling of achievement. Interestingly, the novella is structured to mirror events, each scene having its own double. 

There are two scenes with Mr Goldyakin and the Dr, two scenes are set around carriage rides and two scenes depict the main character being ejected from an event. It would probably be worthwhile reading another version of this Russian tale.

.... Although Dostoyevsky himself felt the novella didn't work, it has been turned into a movie, written and directed by Richard Ayoade, it is due for release in 2014.

.... We met at Vercelllis Italian restaurant in Hexham to discuss The Double, a vast cavernous interior totally transformed several years ago from a filthy pit into a trendy modern space. Tastefully colour coordinated in shades of coffee ( brown), the restaurant felt clean and fresh, its wooden furnishings made it a little echoey but this added a vibrance to the atmosphere. The food was good and the service efficient and friendly. The portions were huge leaving no room for pudding or coffee. At £17 per head for half  a starter and a main course this wasnt a particularly cheap night out but it seemed quite reasonable value. 

                

....   Above shows a few sample dishes from the Vercelli Menu!

Our next book is on a medical theme....

                               THE LAST SCROLL by JAMES FRICTON

                                        

....   Join us and share your views for what should be a controversial read!

A Curious Incident Brought To Life

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night

                                                                    By Mark Haddon

                                                   

....The Hussies read this novel back in November 2012, all agreed that it suceeded in its mission to show the world through the eyes of a boy with Aspergers. Its childlike style made it easy to read but at times tedious because of the level of trivial detail the boy included in his narrative. Two years on and I would have to admit that although the title evokes a warm glow in my mind I have no clear memory of what the book was about. A good time to go and see the Royal National Theatres production of the novel, a great success in that won 7 Olivier Awards in 2013. The novel was adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott. As part of The National Theatre Live programme we had the opportunity to watch the play from the comfort of  The Gate Cinema, Newcastle. Despite showing it as sold out on line, the cinema was barely half full, a shame as the evening turned out to be an unexpected treat.

.... Great acting and a new and innovative approach to set design brought the story to life and really gave the audience an insight into the world of Aspergers/Autism. There were some familiar faces amongst the cast, most notably Nicola Walker (Spooks, Scott and Bailey and Last Tango in Halifax)
She played Christopher's mother Judy, a not altogether appealing character! She won an Olivier Award in 2013 for her performance.
Niamh Cusack took the role of Siobhan, Christopher's teacher and shared the narration with Christopher, at times her voice was a little grating but she was convincing as a special needs teacher.
The actor playing Christopher was excellent and could move the audience to laughter and tears in equal measure.

....Lighting was used inventively transforming a very plain stage bereft of  props into busy stations
moving trains and alarming tube platforms. The production had the cutting edge feel similar to
that of the new TV series of Sherlock Holmes and a fantastic performance from Una Stubbs that reinforced the similarities between the shows.

....An excellent production that sucked the audience in making us forget that we were watching in a
cinema and not actually in the theatre. The play is coming up to the North East next year and I would definitely recommend a trip to see it!