Mark Reece's Blog, page 22

Review- 'Gut'

Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Divided into three section, this book examines the digestive process, the nervous system of the gut, and finally the ecosystem of the gut.

Enders's enthusiasm for her research interest (she was studying the gut when writing the book) comes across clearly on the page, and this is an interesting read. In additional to describing how the gut works, she discusses how the gut interacts with the rest of the body and its effects on general health. In particular, she comments on how the health of the gut can affect mental well being, drawing on evidence from both medical research and animal experimentation.

The author keeps the discussion at a basic level, although that is fine for the subject matter- certainly, some of the information she gives was new to me. Unfortunately, however, the topic at hand soon becomes obscured by the writing style. Enders seems worried about the intelligence of the general reader, and constantly uses silly figurative language, including extended metaphors that have little to do with what she is attempted to describe. A few of these would be forgivable, but to constantly do so quickly becomes grating.

Enders also has a habit of breaking off the narrative to give patronizing self help advice, organised into lists. This will start with her describing the impact of (say) a particular disease on the gut, then the book will continue thus:

Good ways to avoid infection
1) Always use a good chopping block!
2) Wash the food very thoroughly! And your hands!
3) Always keep your dishcloth separate from your toilet brush!

I exaggerate, but only a little. It is difficult to find the right tone when speaking about a complex subject, and Enders clearly has some interesting information to convey. A neutral tone may well have been more appealing than what was offered.

I also need to say that the illustrations were not helpful. I didn't mind the cartoon style per say, but they generally didn't illustrate anything. They serve only as visual jokes, which further exaggerates the tone. I would potentially read other books by this author, but if the style is maintained, only short ones.



View all my reviews

Review- An Inspector Calls and other plays

An Inspector Calls and Other Plays by J.B. Priestley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A collection of four plays, the titular work, 'An Inspector Calls', is by far the strongest and most powerful. A police inspector arrives at the house of a wealthy family to question them about their involvement in the suicide of a young girl. Their actions, and their attempts to justify them, expose the tawdriness of their apparently respectable values. The characterisation is a little stock (the young rake, etc), but the tension is built effectively, and the social democratic message fits naturally with the story.

'The Conways' tells the story of a family breakdown , with the acts shifting in time. In 'I have been here before', a mysterious stranger arrives at a hotel and proceeds to tell the residents of his conception of time. 'The Linden tree' concerns a professor of history facing forced retirement at the end of the second world war.

The writing in all of these plays is good- brisk- although they sometimes feel superficial. There are a lot of upper middle class characters arguing about science vs religion, the fate of man under socialism and so forth, over plenty of good port. The stage directions are sometimes unintentionally amusing- a young man turning up without a hat is often a portentous sign. The servants are generally good hearted, drop their aitches, and provide comical respite. Too often, there feels little at stake.

I have been here before is certainly the weakest of the plays- the mystery protagonist talks nonsense about the nature of time at some length- for much too long, in an unintentional irony.

Overall then, 'An Inspector Calls' is the only play of the four that encourages repeat reading, as it sucessfully creates conflict that does not rely on family spats. And the inspector's powerful final speech lasts in the memory:

'We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish'.



View all my reviews

The Colour Purple at Birmingham Hippodrome

Different mediums have intrinsic properties; on the page, poignancy lingers; on the stage, joy. That is evident in the recent performance of The Colour Purple musical, performed at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Even Celie's lament that she only knew her father when he raped her as a child, is soon forgotten.

I have to confess to not being a fan of musicals. However, the performance here was carried out with such aplomb as to evoke real pleasure. The role of Celie was less central than in the book, perhaps necessarily so, given the novel's epistolary structure. Also, there was very little focus on the missionary work of Celie's sister. Both of these changes helped to focus the plot.

T’Shan Williams and Karen Mavundukure were great as Celie and Sophia, respectively. In particular, the slow transformation of Celie from the browbeaten wife at the start of the play to the more confident woman at the end was achieved both by a gradual shift in the tone of Williams' singing, and subtle changes in her dress.

There were no weak singers, and the introduction of three gossips, acting as a kind of chorus between scenes, was a deft move. The year is periodically projected on the back of the stage, offering a redemptive note, implying that the evil men do will soon fade.

The audience was so packed that the start of the play was delayed by twenty minutes. The performances created a great atmosphere, with frequent laughter and whooping, and a standing ovation at the end. Perhaps even enough to make me more amenable to musicals in the future.

Review- Inferior

Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In this book, Saini argues that innate sexual differences are not as significant as are often supposed, and that there are occasions where scientists have over- interpreted results from their research in support of a view that is more informed by pre-existing notions of gender roles than an objective assessment of the evidence.

Saini discusses her thesis in relation to a number of areas, including neuroscience and medicine, although the focus during most of the chapters is on sociology- setting out the social context and the institutions in which particular ideas develop. This is not necessarily a weakness, but it does make the subtitle a little misleading. In places, the book is written in a 'he said, she said' style- I wonder whether more detail of the science should have been included to allow the general reader to make a more informed assessment about which theory should be preferred in the examples Saini raises.

I also wonder whether it would have been better for her to have set out her philosophy of science more explicitly. When discussing the circumstances in which various theories arise, she sometimes seems to suggest that there is an objective truth to be found, albeit that this is a plane that is hard to reach in reality. On other occasions, she hints at support for a more perspectivist epistemology- the idea that (in this instance), male and female scientists can have different truths. To my mind, this caused a little confusion on occasions.

The book is on much more solid ground when criticizing some scientists from over extrapolating from facts to general theorizing about sex differences. For example, whatever the precise nature of the differences between the brains of men and women, it is difficult to isolate sex from (for example) body weight or the fact that men and women live and are treated differently, which may produce physiological effects. Furthermore, extrapolating from brain differences to how people actually live requires an epistemology that, at a minimum, weighs up biological with social factors, and it is likely that empiricism is unsuited to this task. In other words, the interpretation of a fact is not itself a fact, and this is a problem that is made in many fields.

There is a strong argument to be made that whatever innate sex differences exist are irrelevant to questions of justice- equality is generally argued for on the basis that such differences that exist are not morally significant, rather than that innate differences do not exist per se. Therefore, the direct political importance of the questions raised in the book is not obvious, but of course, that is not in itself an argument not to raise them.

Saini is a good writer, and the book reads very easily; she also gives an extensive bibliography for those who want to pursue the subject in more detail. I'd recommend this book as giving a good overview of the topic in an engaging and passionate style.



View all my reviews

Review- The Colour Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Despite the poignancy of the subject matter, this book is a pleasure to read. Set in the segregated American south, the protagonist, Celie, is lonely and isolated, living in an effectively forced marriage, in which she is subject to constant abuse. With no one to talk to, and semi-literate, at the start of the novel, she composes letters to God.

The character development of Celie is outstanding, subtle and believable. By the end of the book, she has changed considerably but still possesses recognizable traits and insecurities that were evident from the start. The supporting characters, including the singer, Shug Avery, who helps Celie to change her life, are memorable in both their virtues and their foibles.

There is a danger when depicting regional dialects, as Walker does, that the language becomes intrusive or a barrier to understanding. However, that is not the case here. Enough colloquial words are used to emphasize Celie's background and level of education without overburdening the narrative. The epistolary form works very well, as it allows Celie's character to shine through while leaving enough gaps that the violent scenes do not become overpowering.

Walker's use of language is delightfully deft, making the world it describes seem a light place, despite all its horrors. It is a great work of art.



View all my reviews

Birmingham royal ballet Hobson's choice

Another great performance by the BRB, this time with the comic ballet Hobson's choice. Set in a boot shop, the ballet tells the story of how a lowly shoe maker marries the daughter of the shop owner, and ultimately becomes the master himself.

It's an interesting change of pace from the more dramatic works, and demonstrates the range of the dancers, who here elicited regular laughter. Many of them are skilled actors as well of dancers. And a demonstration of what an interesting city Birmingham is in many ways to possess a theatre of the quality of the Hippodrome.

One can only hope that with the imminent retirement of director David Bintley, a new generation will emerge to continue his fine work.

Review- Israel: a history

Israel: A History by Anita Shapira

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Shapira's book starts as a history of Zionism, detailing the growth of Jewish nationalism, although the focus of her work changes to the state of Israel following its founding after the second world war. She is sympathetic to Zionism (and, I think, to nationalist doctrine in general), although she is careful to avoid replicating the myths that all forms of nationalism rely upon.

For example, in her discussion of the Israeli war of independence, Shapira describes that despite the numerical superiority of the Arab population, and their most established economies at that time, the balance of power between the emergent Zionist state and the Arab peoples was much more equal than appearances would suggest, as demonstrated, for example, by the disorganization of the Arab armies, and their relatively small size when compared with the size of the Arab populations. Shapira also disputes whether the intention of the invading armies was the wholesale destruction of the Jewish communities in the emerging state. This gives much of the book, certainly the sections that describe the relations between Israel and the surrounding Arab states, an even handed feel.

Shapira also gives interesting discussions of how the doctrines developed by Zionist theorists were translated into the practices of the new society, such as the emphasis placed on the importance of agriculture, and also the ethnic tensions in the country that were exacerbated by the gathering of people from widely different societies and the mass immigration that occurred at various points in Israel's history, such as the break-up of the Soviet Union.

In my view, Shapira is much less strong when describing intellectual currents and their relations to social change. She is prone to make bland, sweeping statements, such as when at one point she claims that 'post-modernism' 'came to Israel', making life seem meaningless. I wonder whether this is accurate in any country, outside a tiny minority in academia. The author seems to have a naively philosophical idealist conception that 'people have ideas- they implement ideas- society changes'. The worldwide shift to Neo-liberalism in the 1980s was accompanied by significant violence that is barely mentioned here. The lightness that these topics are dealt with seems out of place in comparison with the depth of scholarship displayed elsewhere throughout the book.

Furthermore, the author's description of the Palestinian conflict seems less even-handed than her description of Israel's relationships with the other Arab powers. Several early leaders of Israel are quoted as being concerned that a long-standing occupation would change the nature of the state- to my mind, Shapira did not fully explore the extent to which this happened, and this omission is demonstrated in small ways throughout, for example, in the way that Palestinian attacks on Jewish population centres are described as terrorism, whereas the term is avoided for apparently similar actions by Jews in the mandate period, or else given scare quotes. It might also have been worth exploring whether there is a connection between Israeli governments' fears about the 'Arab street', and whether this may explain Israel's friendly relations with autocratic regimes in the middle east and elsewhere.

However, this is an interesting and well written book that seems to be designed with the general reader in mind, with little foreknowledge assumed and Jewish terms described throughout so as to aid comprehension. This makes the book both enjoyable to read and educational, in the best sense.



View all my reviews

Birmingham royal ballet unleased

Another compelling set of performances from the BRB last week, this time featuring three shorter works from women choreographers, including a world premiere: Sense of time.

I found that performance to be the most striking of the three, with its low lighting, electronic music, and stage comprising a wall of suitcases. Although the performance was billed as being about the nature of time, the atmosphere was that of a dystopian city, with the darkness and discordant sounds creating a sense of gloom, and beams of light invoking a sense of constant surveillance.

At one point, two of the dancers were separated from the others, as if they were two lover escaping to enjoy a few moments by themselves.

There was a problem with the stage part way through the performance that led to a delay, which was frustrating, and the tone became a little overwrought on occasion. However, this was an interesting and innovative work.

Lyric pieces with an exercise in pure dance, with little narrative. The performers used pieces of black paper to constantly change the shape of the stage and to guide their movements. The effect was graceful and elegant.

The final piece, Peter and the Wolf was straightforwardly joyous. The animal characters were depicted by different instruments, and the spoken narrative created a light and humorous air.

Overall, these three performances showed off a wide range of styles and moods, all shown to their best effect by the wonderful dancers of the BRB.

Peter and the Wolf

The Birmingham royal ballet company recently performed a children's version of Peter and the wolf at the Wolverhampton grand theatre, alongside another performance of a depiction of the seasons.

What a delight it was! All the usual skill and grace but condensed into an hour's performance. The titular ballet was perhaps better suited to younger children, as there was a voice over describing the plot, and explaining that the different characters were to be represented by particular musical instruments.

Although, perhaps it is asking too much of younger children to clap as long as the performance deserved?

Review- The torture garden

The Torture Garden by Octave Mirbeau

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Octave Mirbeau is a writer I enjoy, but having recently re-read this book, I consider it his weakest novel.

The story starts with a group of professional men at a dinner party, discussing philosophy very flippantly, before most of them come to a consensus that European civilization is based on murder. One of the party proceeds to tell the rest about his visit to a Chinese 'torture garden'.

After being involved in a scandal involving a leading politician, the story teller describes being sent to 'Ceylon' (modern Sri Lanka) on a pretended scientific expedition (in reality, to get him out of France until the trouble has died down). While there, he meets an English woman- Clara, who takes him to China to visit a 'torture garden', where torture is practiced as an art form alongside botany. There, they view incredible scenes of torture and degradation, which Clara enjoys sexually. The story teller is obsessed with Clara and soon becomes subservient to her.

Mirbeau is in general not a good character creator, and here, the characters are pure ciphers. The story teller goes to places and does things for very little reason. Clara is a bundle of 'sins', pursuing sexual sadism apparently to the exclusion of all else. The use of the word 'sin' regards Clara is telling- for a book aiming to highlight hypocrisy and to satirize European civilization, it is oddly moralistic regarding her. The rather misogynistic portrayal undermines the book and becomes wearying.

There is very little plot in the sense of events occurring in any coherent order- the narrative is driven by the need for the authorial voice to be heard, loudly. The book ends abruptly, as if it had been forgotten rather than finished.

Despite all that, this is a book I would recommend. Mirbeau is a brilliant descriptive writer, and his depiction of the torture (and the flowers) is staggering. I always remember the scene of a group of rebels captured by British colonial troops, who are buried in sand and their heads watered "like cabbages" so that they don't die too quickly. And the authorial narrative, although sometimes intrusive, is staggering. There are passages where the story is almost entirely forgotten as Mirbeau gives wonderful memorable condemnations of social institutions, colonialism, and hypocrisy in general. I won't quote those passages here, as they deserve to be read in their proper place.

The novel seems to only be available via small presses, with dubious translations. Somehow, this seems fitting, and I wonder whether Mirbeau would be pleased that the book is considered too filthy to have achieved any respectability, even after over a century since it was first published!



View all my reviews