Una storia di fantasmi

by Helen McClory

Tom dorme con gli occhi aperti, rannicchiato nella sua solita posizione. Órla osserva il suo compagno nel letto. Tom. Chi è Tom? Un uomo cui piacciono la birra, la palestra, le donne. Forse. Tom è anche il coinquilino di Daniel, che lavora in un seminterrato in cui, come in un laboratorio segreto, una prodigiosa stampante 3D è in grado di riprodurre qualsiasi cosa. Ora Tom è ossessionato da un diario del XIX secolo nel quale, tra un appunto e l'altro, si riporta la testimonianza di un omicidio. In effetti, da quando ha iniziato a leggere quel diario Tom non è più lo stesso. Come se qualcosa ne avesse preso il posto. Chi è Tom adesso? "Una storia di fantasmi" è il romanzo di tre vite intrecciate, tre personaggi segnati da eventi inconsueti, atmosfere sospese e incontri inspiegabili con entità misteriose ai margini della realtà. Tutto comincia con un'innocente festa per accogliere il nuovo coinquilino, tutto finisce con una serata di Halloween che si trasforma in un rito dai risvolti surreali. Daniel, Órla e Tom assistono impotenti al crollo dell'illusoria stabilità delle loro vite, confrontandosi con una forza oscura proveniente dal passato che sfugge a ogni spiegazione razionale. Con la sua prosa poetica e volatile, Helen McClory firma la storia di fantasmi del nostro tempo. Erede di Henry James e Shirley Jackson, McClory pone un nuovo, decisivo tassello nella grande tradizione letteraria dello straniante e del perturbante. Un tassello opaco come uno specchio in frantumi, un punto di vista frammentato in tre personaggi, tre voci spezzate che di volta in volta celano o svelano nuovi elementi della loro storia. Una fessura attraverso la quale esistenze diverse sembrano sovrapporsi, lasciando che entri qualcosa di radicalmente altro.

Genres: Scotland, Fiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Helen McClory lives in Edinburgh and grew up between there and the isle of Skye. Her first collection, On the Edges of Vision, was published by Queen's Ferry Press in August 2015 and won the Saltire First Book of the Year 2015. Her second collection, Mayhem & Death, was written for the lonely and published in March 2018.

There is a moor and a cold sea in her heart.

Reviews

[Clive Grewcock · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only a few pages in but for some reason it isn't gelling with me, so I've made an early decision to bale. It seems popular enough so maybe I'll try again at some point in the future.

[Bertie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ambitious in many ways, in particular with its three perspectives, but this was ultimately more of a hindrance to me than a positive. Essentially the same short and fairly simplistic narrative is played out three times, and even though some new information is divulged each time, ultimately it left the narrative feeling slow and repetitive, particularly during a long-feeling third repeat. It was, however, an interesting way to explore the fact that characters are all unreliable narrators, with each recalling the same conversations with one another slightly differently. However, the gap between these parallel conversations occuring in the book made them difficult to easily compare - perhaps more frequent perspective-shifting would have worked better.

I often lost the thread of McClory's more vague and emotive passages and didn't feel the novel revealed as much about the human psyche as the blurb promised, but that might be more down to me. The object of Daniel's replication machine offered some thought-provoking insight into the future of 3D printing, although there didn't seem to be a clear final connection back to the central plot. I loved the setting of Scotland, and McClory's descriptions were often wonderful, particularly in the more wild and remote settings. The perspective-switching in the finale also made for a more exciting finish. McClory deserves praise for writing such a brave and original novel, but unfortunately it was a risk that didn't quite work out as far as I'm concerned.

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

tegin siin sihiliku katse lugeda kaasaegset šoti kirjandust, aga kahjuks saadud elamus oli veidi... meh. ilmselt küll ei ole asi šotlastes, vaid selles, et ma ei oska suurt midagi arvata sellisest.... gooti õuduse ja maagilise realismi sugemetega loost. suhestusin eelkõige asjaoluga, et siin tegutseb ports millenniale, kes oma 30 tuuris vanuste ja normaalsete karjääride kiuste ei saa endale ikka keegi omaette kodusid osta ega üürida, vaid peavad elama põhimõtteliselt kommuunis ja jagama omavahel nii autot kui võileibu kui lugemisvara kui luupainajaid (või kummitusi või misasi see seal lõpuks on). kõik see toimub mingis nimetamata šoti linnas, mere ääres.

lugu ise otseselt igav ei olnudki ja ma veits ikka elasin kaasa nii põimuvatele suhtelugudele kui sellele Bitterhalli-müsteeriumile, mida siin harutatakse (leitakse mingi vanaaegne päevik ja loetakse ja analüüsitakse seda - kas see kõik sai olla päris? kas see on ilukirjandus? kes selle kirjutas? kui see polnud päris, miks see mees meie sõpra kummitamas käib?). ja mulle meeldis see võte kolme jutustajaga, kes kõik sama lugu natuke erinevalt räägivad, nii et sa saad aru, et sa ei saagi aru saada, mis täpselt päriselt juhtus või mida tegelikult öeldi. aga samas ikkagi liiga palju oli mingeid lihtsalt... tundlemise hetki või kellegi nägemusi või ma ei saanudki aru, igal juhul peatükke, kus niisama soniti.

[Sarah Tinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I interviewed the writer to find out the inspiration behind the book and the challenges that come from writing in multiple perspectives. You can read it on my blog here: https://sarahtinsley.com/2021/03/12/d...

The novel centres around three characters, scrolling through their perspectives and centring on a series of strange events that draw them together. It's dark, beautiful, and rubs over some intriguing ideas such as the power of objects and the notes in the margins that are made throughout history. I loved each of the characters in their flawed, obsessive viewpoints, and got completely lost in her gorgeous prose, particularly when we were taken to wild places.

[Stefano Cucinotta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sono grande fan della McClory: le sue sono le raccolte di racconti Weird horror migliori degli ultimi anni, a mio parere. Questo primo romanzo invece non è del tutto risolto. È maledetto da un titolo italiano e da una copertina che confondono e portano altrove. Semplificando ci troviamo di fronte a un triangolo alla Rooney con un pizzico di paranormale che però è la parte meno interessante e un po' più polverosa. Ottima caratterizzazione dei personaggi, ma la storia è di una banalità disarmante, parte troppo tardi, non chiude, lascia perplessi. Scrittura ottima, ma spesso manieristica e troppo criptica, quasi poetica: nei racconti brevi funziona questo evocare per metafore, qui molto meno. Un'occasione un po' sprecata.

[Holly Fleming-Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set for early April release, Bitterhall will be the newest instalment in Helen McClory’s bilbliography, which includes Mayhem & Death, On the Edges of Vision and of course, the Goldblum Variations. Bitterhall takes the form of a novel told in three unreliable perspectives.

Publisher Birlinn describes the plot: “Daniel, Orla and Tom share a flat and narrate the intersections of their lives, from future-world 3D printing technology to the history of the book, to a stolen nineteenth-century diary written by a dashing gentleman who may not be entirely dead.

“A Hallowe’en party leads to a series of entanglements, variously a longed for sexual encounter clouded by madness, a betrayal, and a reality-destroying moment of possession.”

Largely, the story is told in short chapters, rarely longer than just a few pages. These act as short and sudden bursts of introspective, feeling, and unease. These are helpful as each segment is so full of content, it makes sense to have these little breathers at the end of every big thought.

So much character is packed into the whole piece, but especially in the first pages and chapters. Within a very short amount of time, I felt like I had something of a keen grasp on Daniel’s character. Though, as our narrators are so unreliable, I was second guessing this. Still, the opening was especially rich.

McClory’s writing is technically brilliant: she is a true wordsmith and sorcerer who can bend words around her fingers into poetic and fantastic sentences. Her writing is something you can truly become lost in; I believe it has almost a sonorous quality, like a dark lullaby.

[Rebekah Barton · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Sorry, I lost the will to live tbh

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more - the first 2/3 I found a rather compelling page-turner, but it almost felt like the story started to unravel when the actual main character (who I found the least interesting of the three) narrated what I think was meant to be the denoument. I understand at least some of this is style/ personal taste and in parts it felt more like a long prose poem/ stream of consciousness, which does tie in with the story in a way...just felt like too many words and uncertain whether the reflection of a clouded mind turned out entirely as intended by the author. I did like the descriptions in the first two sections, and felt most of the characters were better realized, even the minor ones. Tom just became a bit too much of a cipher; I found the mental health conflict (supernatural or otherwise) less convincing/ more of a slog. At a certain point, I'd rather have read a section narrated by Mrs Boobs, the cat!

[Molly Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ambitious, clever book that missed the mark for me.

Some lovely descriptions of Edinburgh and the settings and a wonderfully dark insight into the descent into madness, yet there was too much superfluous writing that really meant nothing to me. Whole chapters where I didn't really understand the point nor was I moved. We see the same events from the eyes of all 3 protagonists and it became repetitive. The ending was probably the most interesting part but you have to read the rest to get there.

Ultimately, it was a bit of a slog to get through.

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully written but completely lacking in plot and characterisation. Told from three different perspectives but I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters as we didn’t get to know enough about any of them despite there being 350 pages. The 3D printing thing I found completely random (probably some metaphor which went completely over my head). Ended up skim reading towards the end to just get through. It does get to the point in the end but what a slog.

[Maeve Devine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good ghost story and the copying machine and the characters and the setting was so cool but it did fall flat bc I felt there was no purpose for the possession. I felt I didn’t know enough.
Inventive writing style too but I wanted more. Ending was unsatisfying
I read it for class though and I learned about the concept of hauntology which is super interesting and so I’m glad I got to read this book :)

[silviottide · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ci ho provato fino a metà, e credo di avergli dato anche troppe chances. Non fa per me, elemento creepy e sovrannaturale troppo debole e, soprattutto, la scelta di tornare indietro a raccontare dall'inizio la storia dal punto di vista di ognuno dei tre protagonisti proprio no, ammazza completamente il ritmo. Ore perse.

[segosha · Rating 4 out of 5]

very accomplished use of perspective shifts. unsettling and gripping. it's difficult to properly convey the feeling of madness from within it, and I think mcclory has come as close as anything I've read.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich, compelling novel about desire, fictions and identity, by turns creepy, joyful & poignant, written with flair and an impressive command of character and language. This is my first experience with Helen McClory’s fiction and I am eager to explore her back catalogue.

[Elizabeth Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, a haunting blend of old and new and beautifully written.

[Tobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. Some Gothic elements, some fantastic structural work, and a trio of memorable characters at the novel's heart. Highly recommended.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Il mondo di Cry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non l'ho apprezzato. Lento e poco scorrevole.

[Sarah Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book. started ok, but then the story telling switched to the other 2 main characters snd started repeating.

[Rachel Elvidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book, ostensibly about three friends who find an old diary, but which is actually about story telling and how we create reality within our own heads.

The three voices which tell the story are distinct, whole and utterly believable, which is ironic as the book is about disintegration, merging and different versions of truth. By keeping the voices so strong, the multiple versions of events are all equally convincing and you can choose to read this as a ghost story or a story of mental collapse.

I really cared about what would happen and I thought the ending was extremely well done, with great sensitivity, and I was very moved by it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does everything and more that us eager readers seek in fiction: to entertain, unnerve, suprise and delight. Characters and narratives deliciously ambiguous and novel pulsing with imagery, humour and craft. Transportive and lush.