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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
Here We Are is the 2nd novel that I've read by Graham Swift. Almost 10 years ago I read [b:The Light of Day|277534|The Light of Day|Graham Swift|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389663652l/277534._SY75_.jpg|1236225] which is also by Swift. I was excited to pick up another book by this author especially since it was about a vaudeville/variety show. This story takes place in 1959 on the British coast. The three main characters are comedian Jack Robinson and the magic act of The Great Pablo and Eve. They spend their summer at Brighton Pier. A bit of a love triangle develops between Jack, "Pablo" and Eve.
I had high hopes for this book given the variety act setting but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I found it a little dry and hard to follow. I never truly "bonded" with any of the characters or felt the full joy/magic of the show. While the writer is obviously talented, this particular novel didn't quite connect with me.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Phil Davis. His British accent helped build the scene for the book. The delivery was a little dryer then expected but it matched the tone of the book.
What to listen to while reading...
When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along by Dion and the Belmonts
Dream Lover by Bobby Darin
Summertime by Scarlett Johansson
Wonderwall by The Cooltrane Quartet
Crazy in Love by The Puppini Sisters
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book!
I had high hopes for this book given the variety act setting but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I found it a little dry and hard to follow. I never truly "bonded" with any of the characters or felt the full joy/magic of the show. While the writer is obviously talented, this particular novel didn't quite connect with me.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Phil Davis. His British accent helped build the scene for the book. The delivery was a little dryer then expected but it matched the tone of the book.
What to listen to while reading...
When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along by Dion and the Belmonts
Dream Lover by Bobby Darin
Summertime by Scarlett Johansson
Wonderwall by The Cooltrane Quartet
Crazy in Love by The Puppini Sisters
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book!
baukjenefs's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
samstillreading's review
5.0
Of course I’ve heard of Graham Swift, but shamefully this is the first of his books that I’ve read. (I haven’t even read Mothering Sunday, which appears to be universally loved). To use a cliché, it certainly won’t be the last as Here We Are demonstrates a rare ability to transport the reader from their world straight into that of the story. I haven’t been lying in bed or on the couch, but transported to the pier in Brighton one summer in 1959. Here We Are is a relatively short novel, but each word is crafted with care and honed to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. This is the kind of story you will want to read without interruptions to get the most out of it.
For those who like their plot linear and the dots joined, Here We Are may not be the book. It is told in the third person by three characters; Evie, Ronnie and Jack and goes back into each of their histories and for some, into the future beyond that fateful summer in 1959. It is intriguing to set what is essentially a mystery in a summer holiday setting, juxtaposed against fun, freedom and forgetting the real world for a while. For the trio, this is the summer where a lot of big things happen. The narrative sneaks them in, suggesting at first a sense of disquiet that gradually builds to the major mystery. In between this, Swift delves into each of the character’s pasts with varying detail. Ronnie’s past is the most interesting (and also important for the plot) and describes his time sent into the country from London during World War II. The fracturing of his biological family and the increasing closeness with his new family is both painful and beautiful to read. It really made me feel quite close to Ronnie and rather protective of him. However, due to the Swift’s skill in painting the characters, I wasn’t put out when Ronnie suffered a betrayal from the others. I was quite accepting with the whole thing, something that just happens. Or perhaps it was because that was Ronnie’s reaction…
The unexpected element to this novel was the addition of magic and a magician. Ronnie, or Pablo/the Great Pablo, is the quiet character with a passion for magic, having learned during the war. Ronnie is keen to make a go of being a musician (despite his mother’s obvious horror) and on Jack’s suggestion, takes on Evie as his assistant. Eve (her stage name) is the one who is sawn in half or threaded with swords, but she doesn’t know how it’s done. Not really. Even Jack, a seasoned performer and ringmaster of the show, is astounded by what he sees on stage. But like the others, Jack on stage is an illusion and continues the theme throughout his career, often being called to by his most famous character’s name in the street. The narrative also continues the illusion theme, being deliberately dreamy and vague initially before details make the story more vivid. It’s very cleverly done and Graham Swift is a writer whose backlist I simply must catch up on.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
For those who like their plot linear and the dots joined, Here We Are may not be the book. It is told in the third person by three characters; Evie, Ronnie and Jack and goes back into each of their histories and for some, into the future beyond that fateful summer in 1959. It is intriguing to set what is essentially a mystery in a summer holiday setting, juxtaposed against fun, freedom and forgetting the real world for a while. For the trio, this is the summer where a lot of big things happen. The narrative sneaks them in, suggesting at first a sense of disquiet that gradually builds to the major mystery. In between this, Swift delves into each of the character’s pasts with varying detail. Ronnie’s past is the most interesting (and also important for the plot) and describes his time sent into the country from London during World War II. The fracturing of his biological family and the increasing closeness with his new family is both painful and beautiful to read. It really made me feel quite close to Ronnie and rather protective of him. However, due to the Swift’s skill in painting the characters, I wasn’t put out when Ronnie suffered a betrayal from the others. I was quite accepting with the whole thing, something that just happens. Or perhaps it was because that was Ronnie’s reaction…
The unexpected element to this novel was the addition of magic and a magician. Ronnie, or Pablo/the Great Pablo, is the quiet character with a passion for magic, having learned during the war. Ronnie is keen to make a go of being a musician (despite his mother’s obvious horror) and on Jack’s suggestion, takes on Evie as his assistant. Eve (her stage name) is the one who is sawn in half or threaded with swords, but she doesn’t know how it’s done. Not really. Even Jack, a seasoned performer and ringmaster of the show, is astounded by what he sees on stage. But like the others, Jack on stage is an illusion and continues the theme throughout his career, often being called to by his most famous character’s name in the street. The narrative also continues the illusion theme, being deliberately dreamy and vague initially before details make the story more vivid. It’s very cleverly done and Graham Swift is a writer whose backlist I simply must catch up on.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
rosie_06's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
paulsnelling's review against another edition
3.0
No words wasted in this short novel of three performers at the end of the pier. The magician loses the girl who can’t sing. It’s not really betrayal if it works out well, is it, but how would we know? Not as good as his last short novel, Mothering Sunday.
notizhefte's review against another edition
4.0
Was macht ein gutes Leben aus? Und wie kann man herausfinden, ob man selbst ein gutes Leben gelebt und zum guten Leben anderer beigetragen hat?
Solche schwierigen Fragen stellt sich Evie, die weibliche Hauptfigur des kurzen Romans, in dessen Zentrum noch zwei Männer stehen, Ronnie und Jack. Alle drei sind während des Krieges in England aufgewachsen und haben sich als junge Leute kennengelernt, die in einer Varietéshow auftreten.
Viele Rückblenden malen Stationen der Vergangenheit aus, mit guten und auch weniger guten Erfahrungen. Die Erzählung führt zu der Frage, was bleibt: vom Leben, vom Ruhm, von der Liebe.
Ein berührendes Buch, das gerade aus der Unvollständigkeit des Bildes, das es uns präsentiert, Überzeugungskraft gewinnt.
Solche schwierigen Fragen stellt sich Evie, die weibliche Hauptfigur des kurzen Romans, in dessen Zentrum noch zwei Männer stehen, Ronnie und Jack. Alle drei sind während des Krieges in England aufgewachsen und haben sich als junge Leute kennengelernt, die in einer Varietéshow auftreten.
Viele Rückblenden malen Stationen der Vergangenheit aus, mit guten und auch weniger guten Erfahrungen. Die Erzählung führt zu der Frage, was bleibt: vom Leben, vom Ruhm, von der Liebe.
Ein berührendes Buch, das gerade aus der Unvollständigkeit des Bildes, das es uns präsentiert, Überzeugungskraft gewinnt.
muuske's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0