There’s a low-lying hump of cloud whose edges are still visible against the purpling darkness, crawling eastwards, snuffing out the moon.
Thomas is almost twenty, his body already showing signs of ageing thanks to his work as a shankar. He lives with his mother in a dilapidated shack he has neither the time nor inclination to repair. Thomas took over the shrimp fishing business from his grandfather, aged sixteen, left to support both himself and his mother with little time left for the music he loves. On a spring Thursday morning, he gets up well before dawn to accommodate the tides, taking his horse down to the sea, hoping for a good catch but pollution has been taking its toll. Once the day’s shrimp has been sold, he heads home to find his mother with an American man who has the oddest proposition for him. Edgar is a movie director, intent on filming a novel for which Thomas’s stretch of beach offers the perfect location. He needs Thomas’s help negotiating the treacherous waters along a coastline peppered with sinkholes and offers a princely sum for doing so. Their recce of the beach that night ends with an epiphany for Thomas.
He gets the sense that something’s turning in his fortunes. All those dreary shifts at sea, gone unrewarded. All his ma’s relentless praying before bedtime. Well, at last a table scrap of luck’s been thrown to them to gnaw the meat off.
Wood’s descriptions of the bleak landscape and the difficulties Thomas endures are vividly cinematic and arresting. He and his mother lead a hand-to-mouth life. She’s been shunned for the affair she had with her history teacher which left her pregnant at fifteen. His life has been constrained by poverty and family obligation with little hope of change but he dreams of becoming a musician and catching the eye of his best friend’s sister. The arrival of Edgar with his tales of Hollywood and glamour are met with scepticism by Thomas overcome by the hope of a friendship and a future. Things may not quite turn out the way he expected but there’s hope for Thomas at the end of this atmospheric, dreamlike novella.
I’ve since read Wood’s The Young Accomplice on my Yorkshire break and it couldn’t be more different. It’s left me keen to explore more of his work.
Viking: London 9780241741344 176 pages Hardback (Read via NetGalley)
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I too have just read and enjoyed The Young Accomplice, so I was surprised to read how different this novella is. He’s an assured writer whose work I decided I needed to know better as I turned the last page, so this one described today is fimly on the list.
I admire that kind of versatility in a writer. I think I’ll read The Ecliptic next.
PS. Just reserved at the library!
Hurrah!
After finishing The Young Accomplice, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was struck by how distinct this novella seems in tone and style.
Exactly! I think that’s the mark of a very talented writer.
Such a tempting review! I really like the cover too.
And it’s a novella. One for #NovNov maybe!
Oh bumping this up the TBR now for sure!
Perfect for #NovNov!
I must admit, I’ve still got a copy of Wood’s The Ecliptic on my shelves from when it was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer Award. It got excellent reviews though. This novella sounds brilliant.
I loved his writing in this one. I think The Young Accomplice might appeal to you, too.
Love the cover! I’ve been wary of Wood thus far but should probably try something by him.
Isn’t it great. Really suits the novel which is as it should be but often isn’t. I’ve been impressed with both books I’ve read by him, particularly this one.
This sounds really interetsing Susan – thanks for the great review – I’ve just put in a request for a copy on Netgalley too 🙂
Delighted to hear that, Brona. I hope you’ll be authorised to read it.
That sounds so very good, Susan, the descriptions in particular. I’m definitely also curious as to how things turn out for him.
It’s such a striking piece of fiction, Mallika. Without giving too much away, I did find it’s resolution hopeful.
I’ve been reading Wood since his debut (though I missed one novel in the middle there) and I’m definitely keen to get hold of this, too. I think you’d especially like The Ecliptic.
Pleased to hear that. I’ve certainly been impressed with what I’ve read by him so far.
Oh, that’s GTK. I was eyeing this one just yesterday in an article and thinking how very good it/he sounded.
Perhaps because of its Booker longlisting? Highly recommend this one.
Yup, yup: exactly!
Thanks for this. The Ecliptic is very good too.
I think that’ll be the next by him I’ll read. Highly recommend this one.
I’ve just finished Seascraper. Benjamin Wood has a new fan – two books down, three to go!
Delighted to hear that! I have everything crossed that he’ll make it on to the Booker shortlist.