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The Cone Gatherers
An immensely powerful examination of mankind's propensity for both good and evil, inspired by the author's wartime experience as a conscientious objector doing forestry work
Calum and Neil are the cone-gatherers—two brothers at work in the forest of a large Scottish estate. But the harmony of their life together is shadowed by the obsessive hatred of Duror, the gamekeeper....more
Calum and Neil are the cone-gatherers—two brothers at work in the forest of a large Scottish estate. But the harmony of their life together is shadowed by the obsessive hatred of Duror, the gamekeeper....more
Paperback, 200 pages
Published
May 1st 2012
by Canongate UK
(first published 1980)
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The cone-gatherers of the title are two labourers on a Scottish estate during the Second World War, who spend their days gathering pine-cones from the treetops so that the forest can be replanted after being cut down for lumber to help the war effort. A job so unexpected and remote from modern-day life that it sometimes felt like reading about men in a sci-fi novel performing some incomprehensible and repetitive task on an alien world.
It's very efficiently written, with not a word or comma waste...more
It's very efficiently written, with not a word or comma waste...more
This book would be the perfect pick for a book club. The story isn't adventurous or even particularly exciting, but it's chock full of things to think about. It screams for discussion. When I finished the last sentence I just wished I knew someone else in this world who had read it so I could talk about it with them. Woah, what was that about? The main themes are fairly obviously hatred and innocence, but there's so much depth to it. The story is set on a large Scottish estate during WWII. On th...more
It’s easy to see why The Cone Gatherers is used as a set text for Higher English classes (in Scotland at least - I don’t know if this is the case elsewhere) - it’s a short but dense novel, heavy with symbolism, at times almost threatening to collapse under the weight of its symbolic and thematic density. It’s by no means a difficult read, just very intense….and pretty bleak, it must be said.
I’m not sure why, but reading this book felt a lot like reading a play. I don’t know if this was because s...more
I’m not sure why, but reading this book felt a lot like reading a play. I don’t know if this was because s...more
First published in 1955 I was given this book by my daughter. This book is considered a masterpiece of Scottish literature. Many classics in my opinion, take a bit of getting into at first. But, when I was done, I felt moved. The story takes place during the Second World War. It is the story of two brothers who are not fit for service. To help their country, they have the job of being cone gatherers. They go to large Scottish estates and gather the cones from the trees to use as fuel. They are d...more
This novel deals with the story of two brothers on a remote Scottish island during the Second World War. They gather cones for the war effort and the novel deals with among other things the perceptions others have of them, in particular the views of the local gamekeeper who is disgusted by one of the brothers who is a hunchback and has learning difficulties. Comparisons can be made to "Of Mice and Men", which does slightly overshadow the story, but the well-drawn characters in particular the cha...more
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I didn't find this novel very exciting and at first I didn't think that I liked it at all. However, I found that I couldn't forget about it for weeks after i had read it. Jenkins' description of the setting is a little tedious if you aren't in the mood for it, but the way the characters are portrayed is exquisite and I found myself deeply invested in their lives towards the end of the novel.
With the shadow of World War 2 threatening to smother any brief happiness in this tale, two brothers are working on a Scottish estate gathering cones for the war effort. Like George and Lennie, one is always looking out for the other, but although the plot is gentle the tensions of violence, class-hierarchy and the malevolent game-keeper loom over everything they do.
I kept reading it in short bursts, not wanting to know what was around the corner for them both at every turn, but glad I finally...more
I kept reading it in short bursts, not wanting to know what was around the corner for them both at every turn, but glad I finally...more
i thought this book was ok. Because i am having to read it for my higher english i don't think that i was able to enjoy it as much as i would have have i had picked it up myself. at times i found it confusing and arduous and other times i was a bit annoyed having to look up what words meant glossary especially scottish words which i already understand. all in all it wasn't the best book i have read but it wasn't the worst
Unfortunately this was on our required reading list at school and I must admit that I hated it then and I still hate it now (9+ years later). The story is grim and dull with everything related to symbolism, thus making it difficult to enjoy. The characters are often irritating at times and I found the whole story line boring.
I wonder if I had read it on my own and wasn't aware of the symbolism if I would have enjoyed it more . . . some how I doubt it.
I wonder if I had read it on my own and wasn't aware of the symbolism if I would have enjoyed it more . . . some how I doubt it.
This book has obvious parallels with Steinbeck's Mice and Men yet I found it even more enjoyable. A very easy and yet powerful read with its themes of sacrifice, betrayal and class set in the Second World War. Paired down writing that's a pleasure to read.
I read this book for my exams when I was 16... A long time ago. It is one of my favourite stories and it brought me to tears. I found it so sad - very moving.
It's a book that makes you reflect... Well worth the read.
Vanessa :)
It's a book that makes you reflect... Well worth the read.
Vanessa :)
Too determinedly grim to be an enjoyable read. An obvious metaphor is used to describe Callum; clumsy and accident prone on the ground while graceful and fearless high in trees...
I had to read this for school when I was a lad. I didn't much enjoy the experience. Even at that age, despite having never read it, the book struck me as a poor man's Of Mice and Men.
If you want to read about the clear divide in society and the pure cruelty of human nature, then here's your book, Aslong as you dont mind being bored to death
This book contains great character development and symbolism but is perhaps slightly lacking in a really active plot.
Concise, haunting, damning &, sadly, probably still a very accurate snap of much of humanity as it was 55 years ago. Thanks for the loan, Elaine!
not inspired -not sure I knew what was going on and why.
The first book I ever really loved.
The ending really let it down.
Surprising, and thoughtful. A good novel.
simply the best book i've read in years.
Really well written, thought provoking book. Lovely setting in Scotland. Warning: it's heartbreaking.
Compelling short novel, which although it spells out many of its themes manages to leave a lot to the imagination.
Really liked this book, just a bit different. Good complex relationships between characters etc
Very powerful book - a definitely must read outside the confines of the classroom!
Quite simply, one of my favourite books of all time.
Stupid school English book.
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Author of a number of landmark novels including The Cone Gatherers, The Changeling, Happy for the Child, The Thistle and the Grail and Guests of War, Jenkins is rapidly attaining recognition as one of Scotland's greatest writers. The themes of good and evil, of innocence lost, of fraudulence, cruelty and redemption shine through his work. His novels, shot through with ambiguity, are rarely about w...more
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Nov 20, 2010 06:57am