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Something to Answer For
Something to Answer For | P. H. Newby
5 posts | 4 read | 6 to read
P.H. Newby's seventeenth novel Something To Answer For was assured of a place in literary history when it won the inaugural Booker Prize in 1969. It was 1956 and Townrow was in Port Said - of these two facts he is reasonably certain. He had been summoned by the widow of his deceased friend Elie Khoury. She is convinced Elie was murdered, but nobody seems to agree with her. What of Leah Strauss, the mistress? And of the invading British paratroops? Only an Englishman, surely, would take for granted that the British would have behaved themselves. In this disorientating world Townrow must reassess the rules by which he has been living his life - to wonder whether he, too, may have something to answer for? 'Beautifully written, shot through with crisp, mordant wit, and Newby plays out his narrative with consummate skill.' Sam Jordison, Guardian
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review
Ididsoidid
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Mehso-so

I got a great sense of time and place reading Something to Answer For although I felt that the Suez crisis had little bearing on the core narrative. Townrow is on his way to Egypt following the death of his friend (?). As a very unreliable narrator, he slowly pieces together a past, present and future, the truth of which we are left to discern for ourselves. Engaging storytelling but ultimately tedious and felt a bit low stakes. 5/10

review
StellaDz
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Mehso-so

This was... good. Honestly I enjoyed it because the main character is the least reliable character I‘ve ever read, and the story is from his POV. By the end of chapter one, he‘s had three head injuries and then we‘re off to the races with: did this conversation happen? Did this event happen? Was that person really with him? What‘s his nationality? Name?

You almost forget he‘s there to solve his friend‘s death... if he is dead 🤷‍♀️

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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StellaDz
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The book club chose Man Booker Prize winner for this month‘s reading theme. I chose the very first winner (mostly because it was the only book listed as Mystery)! #currentlyreading

review
rwmg
Mehso-so

So-so is a bit mean, but Pick feels overly generous. Characfer with irritating name and concussion wanders round Port Said during the 1950s Suez crisis forgetting things.

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rwmg
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Starting this, the 1st Booker winner from 1969

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