MikhailaMikhaila one word : backlog 😂 These were pre-recorded in case I was struggling to get anything out with the new bairn. However. Hazy has been a little star and sooooo easy in the afternoon I haven’t struggled
Hi! I've just discovered your channel and I find it so interesting! I haven't read this Paul Scott's book, but I read The jewel in the crown and I really liked it. I wanted to ask you if you have any recommendarion of Indian novels. I read The god of little things and really liked it. Thank you very much!
I got a number of Indian Novel reviews. I cover Salman Rushdie a lot. However, I would recommend Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss and UR Ananthanurrhy’s Samskara 😊
@@KDbooks Neither am I - it definitely sounds like it joined the Testaments Club - with the motto: "Give'em an award no matter what the books like because of their previous work" Scott was already dying when they gave him the award.
Try Quartet, Everyman's has a beautiful two volume edition in hardback. It is surely a great read, the only mild criticism of it is that it only tells things from a British POV. I like it though, especially because it very poignantly points out that the people who inherited the country's governance where all Indians who were internally British (by manners, education and sensibility) or wannabe British. This fact shaped the coming years of our nation.
The Raj Quartet is excellent. It’s a mammoth, but worth it. Perhaps Staying On won because the four volumes of the Quartet were overlooked. Heat and Dust is a good read, but not anywhere close to The Raj Quartet. Haven’t read Staying On, but it might not stand on it’s own since it really is the conclusion of the series.
Wow I read this back in 1987 and I remember it quite fondly, although I have never gone back and read the Raj Quartet which may be significant. It was early in my reading career and I was just beginning to understand what modern literary fiction had to offer. In Booker terms, it marks a turning point. There was demand for literature about India as the post-war generation grappled with memories of colonialism and the prize rewarded several such novels... written by white folk. The Siege of Krishnapur, Heat and Dust and Staying On. All fine novels in my opinion, but then in 1981 Midnight's Children wins and after that nobody is giving prizes to white people writing about India any more. I just checked and Philip Larkin was the chair of the judges the year that Staying On won the prize... so that's nice.
GuiltyFeat it would be interesting if you revisited this to see if your opinion has changed or has strengthened. I’ve not heard of the Raj Quartet prior to picking up Paul Scott. Any idea of the reception nowadays?!
@@KDbooks It's fallen out of fashion. There was a huge ITV mini-series in the early 80s so you mostly see the TV tie-in covers in charity shops. It was the first time anyone had heard of Art Malik and Charles Dance. The Jewel in the Crown. Your parents probably watched it.
The 1980 film (available free on TH-cam) is well worth a look. Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson as they would have looked had they got it together in 'Brief Encounter' in 1945.
Your review makes me smile. Love the brutal honesty. Do you ever pussy-foot around calling out bad books by certain authors, lest you be perceived as a less-than-enthusiastic progressive "ally"? I think most people expect, and desire, sincerity, whether good or bad.
GREAT!!!! I was so impressed by RAJ QUARTET and TVs JEWEL IN THE CROWN that I might have wasted time on that GLOP! Hey, like Martin Haaglund concludes in THIS LIFE: All any of us have is time. Waste not, want not an' 'at :)
I have to disagree with you on almost everything you said. I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the humor and the author definitely made me feel sadness at the end, and it definitely, absolutely definitely, stands on its own. You do not need to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one. As for it winning the Booker, there must've been different criteria back then for judging the Booker. I rarely enjoy a Booker winner these days, but did very much enjoy Staying On.
Ooof 2/10. That really just sucks when an author doesn't live up to the potential of the story he's trying to tell. Love your reviews as always. Can you even read a book about India now without comparing it to Midnight Children?
The Library of Allenxandria Luckily, Midnight’s Children is so different to many a novel is transcends most other books, so I never really compare it to anything else
I enjoyed it without reading others by Scott. I think the "ramble" is the point. Lucy is in limbo and lost and unpersoned. I didnt laugh out loud but I was amused by some of the ridiculous stereotypes and human coping mechanisms.
I completely disagree with you about this book especially the writing and clearly you didn’t care about it as the wife’s name is Lucy not Lily! I love the quartet but agree this book was a strange choice for the Booker.
Lorraine Taylor I just checked my copy - as I would hate to have made that mistake - and her name is Lily? Would you recommend the Raj Quartet? Is it in a similar style to Staying On?
KDBooks Sorry to contradict you but it is Lucy Smalley - the wife of Tusker - I think you confused her with Lila Bhoolabhoy the owner of the hotel who is a great character I think - and funny too. Yes I would recommend the quartet and the mini series Jewell in the Crown. A lot more plot - But I just loved the simplicity of Staying On - agree the ending was exquisite.
The ending's one of the saddest in English literature I think. Having lived in India for a while I understood exactly how she felt, and it was far worse for her in the days before the internet, satellite phones and cheap flights. Plus she has no real home to go 'back' to anyway, as she has lived nearly all her life in India.@@lorrainetaylor9852
You are a magician! How are you still reading other books while reading the Booker 2020 longlist?
MikhailaMikhaila one word : backlog 😂
These were pre-recorded in case I was struggling to get anything out with the new bairn. However. Hazy has been a little star and sooooo easy in the afternoon I haven’t struggled
Do you have any idea how it was received by the public when it was published?
Annie Aine Goolie I couldn’t find anything without there being a reference to The Raj Quartet 😅
Annie Aine Goolie however, if you can find something please do tell me know?!
half whispers. "well done Paul Scott, you've reached the Testaments club." LOL
Zimm Reads 😂
Hi! I've just discovered your channel and I find it so interesting! I haven't read this Paul Scott's book, but I read The jewel in the crown and I really liked it. I wanted to ask you if you have any recommendarion of Indian novels. I read The god of little things and really liked it. Thank you very much!
I got a number of Indian Novel reviews. I cover Salman Rushdie a lot. However, I would recommend Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss and UR Ananthanurrhy’s Samskara 😊
@@KDbooks thank you very much 😊
A Fine Balance by Rohintan Mistry is a superb book.
@@lindsayheywood7195 I STILL need to read that one!!!
Could a good editor extract a good novella from it? Or possibly two short stories? Sounds as if that at least could be salvaged?
John Warner possibly? Nevertheless, I am not sold
@@KDbooks
Neither am I - it definitely sounds like it joined the Testaments Club - with the motto: "Give'em an award no matter what the books like because of their previous work"
Scott was already dying when they gave him the award.
Try Quartet, Everyman's has a beautiful two volume edition in hardback. It is surely a great read, the only mild criticism of it is that it only tells things from a British POV. I like it though, especially because it very poignantly points out that the people who inherited the country's governance where all Indians who were internally British (by manners, education and sensibility) or wannabe British. This fact shaped the coming years of our nation.
The Raj Quartet is excellent. It’s a mammoth, but worth it. Perhaps Staying On won because the four volumes of the Quartet were overlooked. Heat and Dust is a good read, but not anywhere close to The Raj Quartet. Haven’t read Staying On, but it might not stand on it’s own since it really is the conclusion of the series.
Definitely stands on its own. You don't need to know anything about what happens in the Raj quartet to enjoy Staying On.
Wow I read this back in 1987 and I remember it quite fondly, although I have never gone back and read the Raj Quartet which may be significant. It was early in my reading career and I was just beginning to understand what modern literary fiction had to offer.
In Booker terms, it marks a turning point. There was demand for literature about India as the post-war generation grappled with memories of colonialism and the prize rewarded several such novels... written by white folk. The Siege of Krishnapur, Heat and Dust and Staying On. All fine novels in my opinion, but then in 1981 Midnight's Children wins and after that nobody is giving prizes to white people writing about India any more.
I just checked and Philip Larkin was the chair of the judges the year that Staying On won the prize... so that's nice.
GuiltyFeat it would be interesting if you revisited this to see if your opinion has changed or has strengthened. I’ve not heard of the Raj Quartet prior to picking up Paul Scott. Any idea of the reception nowadays?!
@@KDbooks It's fallen out of fashion. There was a huge ITV mini-series in the early 80s so you mostly see the TV tie-in covers in charity shops. It was the first time anyone had heard of Art Malik and Charles Dance. The Jewel in the Crown. Your parents probably watched it.
@@KDbooks The Raj Quartet is a magnificent literary achievement. I don't know if it's in fashion and I don't care.
@@sjw5797 I am tempted by the Raj Quartet, and I hear only good things about it (unlike this spin-off).
Maybe we will tackle it someday 💪
@@sjw5797 Absolutely, fashion is probably not a reliable standard of literary appreciation and engagement.
The 1980 film (available free on TH-cam) is well worth a look. Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson as they would have looked had they got it together in 'Brief Encounter' in 1945.
Your review makes me smile.
Love the brutal honesty.
Do you ever pussy-foot around calling out bad books by certain authors, lest you be perceived as a less-than-enthusiastic progressive "ally"?
I think most people expect, and desire, sincerity, whether good or bad.
I think this is a similar question to your other comment I’ve responded to.
Glad you like the review 👊
GREAT!!!! I was so impressed by RAJ QUARTET and TVs JEWEL IN THE CROWN that I might have wasted time on that GLOP! Hey, like Martin Haaglund concludes in THIS LIFE: All any of us have is time. Waste not, want not an' 'at :)
Oh dear! I’m reading all the Bookers & was hoping this one might be some light relief along the way! Clearly not 😊
hedgiecc Karen quite enjoyed this one, so there is hope that you’ll resonate with it and love it ☺️ I hope you do adore it!
I have to disagree with you on almost everything you said. I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the humor and the author definitely made me feel sadness at the end, and it definitely, absolutely definitely, stands on its own. You do not need to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one. As for it winning the Booker, there must've been different criteria back then for judging the Booker. I rarely enjoy a Booker winner these days, but did very much enjoy Staying On.
Ooof 2/10. That really just sucks when an author doesn't live up to the potential of the story he's trying to tell. Love your reviews as always. Can you even read a book about India now without comparing it to Midnight Children?
The Library of Allenxandria Luckily, Midnight’s Children is so different to many a novel is transcends most other books, so I never really compare it to anything else
I enjoyed it without reading others by Scott. I think the "ramble" is the point. Lucy is in limbo and lost and unpersoned. I didnt laugh out loud but I was amused by some of the ridiculous stereotypes and human coping mechanisms.
I've been watching my backlisted videos - almost done with August - it's so weird to see you with all your hair! haha
Spenelli Speaks 😂
Such a pity of a book... On other news I have the inheritance of loss from the library and I am pumped to read it soon
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
I can’t wait for you to read and review it
The mali is the gardener
Aaand this won the Booker 1977 🧐 Why exactly I wonder
Jyotsna's Bookscapades couldn’t even tell ya
it sounds boring from the title and cover alone...
Gagging4Lit it’s... it’s not great.... it’s not good
@@KDbooks but you;re the booker boy lol......
Gagging4Lit This Book never happened 😂
@@KDbooks 🤣
I completely disagree with you about this book especially the writing and clearly you didn’t care about it as the wife’s name is Lucy not Lily! I love the quartet but agree this book was a strange choice for the Booker.
Lorraine Taylor I just checked my copy - as I would hate to have made that mistake - and her name is Lily?
Would you recommend the Raj Quartet? Is it in a similar style to Staying On?
KDBooks Sorry to contradict you but it is Lucy Smalley - the wife of Tusker - I think you confused her with Lila Bhoolabhoy the owner of the hotel who is a great character I think - and funny too. Yes I would recommend the quartet and the mini series Jewell in the Crown. A lot more plot - But I just loved the simplicity of Staying On - agree the ending was exquisite.
The ending's one of the saddest in English literature I think. Having lived in India for a while I understood exactly how she felt, and it was far worse for her in the days before the internet, satellite phones and cheap flights. Plus she has no real home to go 'back' to anyway, as she has lived nearly all her life in India.@@lorrainetaylor9852