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Serious Sweet by A.L. Kennedy
This is the final book I have read from the Man-Booker and have to admit I have not read anything quite like it before so still pondering. I take these challenges seriously so started the book over three time (found her writing hard to follow), made a character list, did chapter summaries and took copious notes and think I finally was able to follow (not comfortable till I get into the author’s head). The novel takes place in just twenty-four hours in modern day London and revolves around not only the traumatic events in the lives of the protagonists (Jon and Meg) that have caused their present day situations but is also a strong satire of modern life in London and the inner workings of the civil service. Jon is 59 and unhappily works for the civil service where he was used to rephrase. . . the man who took away the buts. If there was a part of reality that the service did not like then his job was to step in and rephrase. He is recently divorced and isolated both professionally and personally. He establishes a writing service that for a monthly fee he agreed to provide single women with twelve hand-written letters of affection and respect that would be delivered weekly. This is where he meets Meg. Meg is 59 a recovering alcoholic and bankrupt accountant that now works at an animal sanctuary. The story meanders as Jon and Meg wander through London trying to find each other (the meandering seemed slow to me). The novel is driven by the “meeting. Will they or won’t they meet and if they do will they be able to help each other walk through the traumas in their lives that are keeping them outliers. Writing is complex honest and at times brilliant but it overshadowed by the bleakness and sadness experienced by both Jon and Meg. As usual with any book that challenges me, I compulsively soldiered through and although I can’t really give it a solid thumbs up but glad I read it. 3.8