The Night Climbers: A Novel

by Ivo Stourton

book data

58 ratings, 3.07 average rating, 18 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		12%
4		20%
3		37%
2		18%
1		10%

edit

published

September 18th 2007 by Simon Spotlight Entertainment

binding

Hardcover, 288 pages

isbn

1416948694 (isbn13: 9781416948698)

description

When James Walker first arrives at Tudor College, Cambridge, he is anxious to find his place among new friends. By accident, he encounters one of the ...more

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | Abebooks | compare prices…

new topic
discuss this book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 101)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only

01/17/08

Jason Pettus rated it:

Read in January, 2008

(My full review of this book is much longer than GoodReads' word-count limitations. Find the entire essay at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)

As regular readers know, when it comes to many topics in the arts, I like to do things a little differently here at CCLaP than at many other organizations; to cite one example, as a book reviewer I deliberately try to learn as little "industry" information about the publishing world as possible, eve...more (My full review of this book is much longer than GoodReads' word-count limitations. Find the entire essay at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)

As regular readers know, when it comes to many topics in the arts, I like to do things a little differently here at CCLaP than at many other organizations; to cite one example, as a book reviewer I deliberately try to learn as little "industry" information about the publishing world as possible, even to the extent of purposely avoiding such publications as Booklist and Publishers Weekly, even to the extent of never reading those "books to keep your eye out for" articles that come at the beginning of every literary season. And the reason I do that, of course, is because of the lessons I learned from working at a college radio station for four years as an undergraduate; that too much exposure to the secret gears actually running an artistic industry can very easily ruin whatever simple appreciation you used to have for that medium. I like to approach the books reviewed here in the same way as I imagine my average reader does; I like just walking randomly into bookstores and libraries, picking books sometimes based solely on what the cover looks like or what the dustflap has to say, of occasionally hearing someone mention a book that sounds intriguing and maybe filing it away in my endless "books to get around to one day reading" list at the back of my Moleskine notebook. It's a process I feel would become corrupted if I were to learn too much "inside information" about the books in question; that if I were to follow the fates of certain titles for months before they came out, if I were to see the entire promotional campaigns behind some of these titles, it would not only negatively affect what books I end up reviewing here but what I have to say about them.

And in fact I can think of no better example of what I'm talking about than the subject of today's essay, the solid and entertaining The Night Climbers by British first-time novelist Ivo Stourton; it is a book I just literally came across by accident at my neighborhood library earlier this winter, a book that probably otherwise would've never come to my attention (especially if my plate were full with a bunch of insider-benefit review copies of books I didn't particularly want to read in the first place), a book I checked out literally because I liked the cover and because the concept sounded intriguing. And it's indeed an intriguing book, I've now found after finishing it -- not a masterpiece by any means, and a little derivative to some other books I've read in the past concerning the same subjects, but certainly a whole lot better than most people's first novels, an undeniably tight page-turner that will really suck you into its cultured, high-class Cambridge world, a book you'll find yourself quickly zooming through and saying at the end, "Wow, that was a great little novel!" When such a thing is a pleasant surprise like that, it affirms to me that I've made the right career choice, that reviewing books for a living really is as fun as it can sometimes seem; if I had been following the fate of this book for months, though, if I had been bombarded with marketing material from overzealous publicists, I know for a fact that I wouldn't have liked it nearly as much, that I would've been disappointed by its shortcomings instead of delighted by its strengths. I like to think that makes me more like you than a lot of other book reviewers; I like to think that makes CCLaP's reviews a little more relevant to you than at other publications. It certainly makes my job a lot more fun, I can tell you that.

The son of noted radio personality Ed Stourton, recipient of a double first in English at Cambridge (American translation: really good grades), The Night Climbers is in fact set at Cambridge itself, at a college there called...(less)

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

06/02/09

Alana rated it:

bookshelves: 2009june, reviewed

Read in June, 2009

The Night Climbers by Ivo Stourton is an alluring depiction of a lush and decadent side of upper class student life at Cambridge. Of course, that life comes at a price, and perhaps that's more the crux of our story. James is a first-year student at Tudor College, so concerned that he might fall into the "wrong" set of friends that he ends up isolating himself from everyone rather well before he's even realized it. But a chance at something different literally barges into his life, g...more The Night Climbers by Ivo Stourton is an alluring depiction of a lush and decadent side of upper class student life at Cambridge. Of course, that life comes at a price, and perhaps that's more the crux of our story. James is a first-year student at Tudor College, so concerned that he might fall into the "wrong" set of friends that he ends up isolating himself from everyone rather well before he's even realized it. But a chance at something different literally barges into his life, giving him the opportunity to make the acquaintance of a particularly fascinating group and he latches on to them with fierce tenacity. Such a fierce grip is doubly important, as these friends have a secret evening pastime of scaling the buildings of Cambridge, challenging themselves with dizzying heights and dangerous climbs. Of course, we're not simply climbing buildings in this world, where status matters so much and to fall would mean complete ruin.
The story jumps between the "present" day, where Jessica seeks out James after nearly a decade of silence, and James' first year at college where the bulk of the story takes place as we learn about the various ways this group is bound together. Francis is the charismatic center, financing their pleasures with his father's money and practically personifying hedonism. Jessica is beautiful and rather calculating in her chilly exterior, though she is devoted to Francis and his well-being. Lisa strikes a rather odd chord, with a schedule full of often shady business ventures, and Michael is nicknamed Falstaff (he thinks for his wit, though the others point to his size), clearly interested in the status of their group more than the friendships. While living as though money is no object, Francis is cut off from his father and more than anyone else, he needs a new source of income... which sets the friends on a dangerous and thrilling money-making venture.
There are a few books that will provoke the phrase, "this is perfect for you" from my friends, but undoubtedly, I got that reaction from people when I told them about the plot. Full of fascinating characters, discussions of art, and beautiful prose, this book was a delight. Sure, there were a few small rough patches (for instance, his characters in their older state were not quite as believable as they were in their youth), but one might point to the fact that Stourton was a mere twenty five when this was published. I'm certainly looking forward to Stourton's other work, because I know that the Cambridge setting was certainly a bewitching thing for me (being an Oxford alum, I might have spent more time imagining my time at Oxford than the surroundings of Cambridge) -- and it will certainly be interesting to see if Stourton can produce something just as compelling with different scenery. If so, then he can certainly count on my reading whatever he produces.(less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

06/02/08

Leah rated it:

bookshelves: 21st-century, american-literature, junk, purchased-2009, read-2009

Read in April, 2009

There are a wide assortment of books [fictitiously:] purported to be 'The Secret History' (D. Tartt); 'The Night Climbers' is just one in a series. Before I waste any of your time: It fails. Tremendously. Probably the biggest issue is that Stouton is clearly (or, if not himself, his PR and publishers) trying to ensnare the more erudite and intellectual of contemporary literature readers. By the very nature of who would likely be attracted to the book, Stouton's writing caters more to a quick bea...more There are a wide assortment of books [fictitiously:] purported to be 'The Secret History' (D. Tartt); 'The Night Climbers' is just one in a series. Before I waste any of your time: It fails. Tremendously. Probably the biggest issue is that Stouton is clearly (or, if not himself, his PR and publishers) trying to ensnare the more erudite and intellectual of contemporary literature readers. By the very nature of who would likely be attracted to the book, Stouton's writing caters more to a quick beach-read type of audience. Not inherently wrong, flawed, or bad; rather, the writing (and the likely intended audience) don't mesh well whatsoever.

I had purchased this with the (clearly incorrect) hopes that the novel would be cultured, academic, and thoughtful. Suffice to say, it accomplished none of the holy trinity.
In a vacuum, Ivo Stouton's book is wholly unremarkable: the writing is mediocre (speaking loudly of having taken some creative writing seminars, but lacking any sort of intellectual framework) and peppered with pithy commentary that tries all-too-hard to emit an aura of aloof brilliance. There are a few off-the-cuff cultural references, but mostly I found it to be a bunch of psuedo-intellectual babble, written more as a projection of Stouton's own fantasies than to any sort of literary aspiration.

The book follows a confluence of events surrounding four undergraduate students at Tudor College, Cambridge. James, an entering freshman, tries desperately to emit a sense of self-assured mystery (which backfires: he finds himself alone after a few weeks), with the hopes of gleaning the attention of an intriguing group of four students: Michael, Francis, Jessica, and Lisa. This group of four engages in the eponymous activity - climbing the drainpipes, scaffolding, grotesques, and other elements of the Cambridge architecture (see: "The Night Climbers of Cambridge," a 1953 monographic non-fiction imprint of the same behavior). By chance, James encounters Michael - and then is slowly integrated into the social circle. Francis is fabulously wealthy, and supports all of them in an extravagant lifestyle of cocaine, alcohol, and decadent excursions. Michael soon falls by the wayside (and is unceremoniously eliminated from the story (a la Bunny, from 'The Secret History,' though painfully less interesting), having interfered in an altercation between Francis and his father.

The crux of the story occurs when, per the aforementioned altercation, Francis is no longer the recipient to his father's vast fortunes. The remaining four hatch a scheme, originally proposed by Francis (with whom the other three in the social circle are smitten), to acquire a non-negligibly large sum of money. As expected, this monetary acquisition is far from legal, and creates a maelstrom of unfolding events within the group that reverberate into their adult lives. Ho hum.

My main criticisms? ...Let's start.
The plot itself is boring and unpredictable. There has been a large cropping-up of books preoccupied with art, forgery, esoterica, &c in the past decade. Had Stouton written this fifteen years ago, it may have seemed fresh and interesting; it seems like a tired, worn story by 2009. Engagement with the plot was difficult; things don't pick up until some 130 pp into the story. It seems that Stouton's trying to breed curiosity and interest in the reader, but it comes off as unfocused meandering.

The characters are flimsy, and one-dimensional. None of the internal behaviors of the individuals are explored, in any sense, through the progression of the story: feeling any empathy towards Francis, James, Lisa, or Jessica is virtually impossible. Everything is narrated by James: first person narration, as any reader knows, is the most difficult form by which to convey suspense or mystery. Tartt's resounding success with 'The Secret History' is her incredible capacity to drift tantalizing suspense and curiosity while still writing from first-person.
At any rate, James does little particular exploration of his philosophies and thoughts. The story is told unenthusiastically and boringly; his internal monologues are stilted and come across as forced. Though the narration switches sporadically between present-day and Cambridge-day, the temporal shifts don't account for how predicably linear the story itself remains.

In all areas, I found this novel to be a disappointment. It's length was the real reason I bore through to the end: I read it over two days, and found it only the most precursory form of entertainment. An academic thriller, this book is not. It doesn't not come well-recommended, regardless of its inescapable comparison to The Secret History: slow progression, boring plot, flat characters, and unimpressive writing. (less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

06/15/09

Matt Moor rated it:

Beautiful, melancholy literature, reminiscent of The Great Gatsby.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

06/08/09

Jen rated it:

If you liked Donna Tartt's Secret History, you will enjoy this.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

02/20/08

Megan rated it:

Read in February, 2008

I'm slowly learning that any book compared to The Secret History will never, ever live up to that promise and the experience of reading will be even less enjoyable due to the comparison. This is a mediocre book, full of long amuteurish descriptions that often depend on brand names rather than adjectives. The end is clever, but the rest of the book is not worth slogging through to get there.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

08/13/07

karen rated it:

(review of isbn 1416588418)

bookshelves: books-claiming-to-be-just-like-secr, littry-fiction

theres a reason i have a "books claiming to be just like secret history" shelf. and this book is it. its not a bad book; the story is engaging and fast-paced, but at every turn there are too many parallels to one of the best novels ever written without the effortless grace of tartt. it just makes me want to reread secret history. like, right now.

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

add a comment

11/30/08

Scott rated it:

Although this book is rated here on Goodreads as a poor man's The Secret History, I very much enjoyed the plot and especially Stourton's descriptive almost floral language. Maybe it's the Britophile in me...too much time spent reading British music magazines...

Like this review? yes

add a comment

05/04/09

Dwynne rated it:

Read in June, 2009

This one barely kept my attention. I didn't care about the sleezy characters, hated being in the main character's mind, who had no interesting observations to make, and didn't like the every other chapter flashback format. Blah

Like this review? yes

add a comment

02/13/08

Diandra rated it:

bookshelves: 2008

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2008

recommended to Diandra by: Mom

An intriguing look into English high-society. An outsider briefly brought in to glance at it on the inside. Highly stereotypical and extremely dependent on ridiculous metaphors, but still a good read.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

01/27/08

Daniel rated it:

Read in January, 2008

An obivous first novel, Night Climbers still managed to enthrall with a subtle detacation to the world of the past. Not to be up for the Pulitzer but certently a writer to watch.

Like this review? yes

add a comment