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Stonemouth Iain Banks 9781408702505 Books

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Stonemouth Iain Banks 9781408702505 Books

I became acquainted with Iain Banks through his science fiction stories of The Culture. Those novels are universe-spanning space operas, taking place far in the future. Well worth checking out.
Then I read his novels The Crow Road and The Steep Approach to Garbadale, both of which take place in contemporary Scotland. I especially like The Crow Road, which has much in common with Stonemouth. Both center on the consequences of going home again. In Stonemouth, Stewart Gilmour returns to his home town (the name of which is the book's title) to pay his respects at the funeral of an old acquaintance. That old acquaintance also happened to be the patriarch of a local crime family, and the grandfather of the girl Stewart was going to marry. Stewart returns with much apprehension because there is an old score to settle with his ex-fiancee's family, one caused by the events that led to his fleeing Stonemouth. The novel tells the story of Stewart's experience of returning to a place of lost love, bitter humiliation and genuine fear.
As is the case with The Crow Road, the strength of Stonemouth is the voice of Stewart, who narrates the novel. I found myself not only rooting for a happy ending for Stewart, but wishing I could meet up with him and have a pint or two. Warm, funny, and often suspenseful, Stonemouth is a very good novel. Highly recommended.


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Stonemouth Iain Banks 9781408702505 Books Reviews

Banks was self-indulgent in this novel, and commits a capital sin of sentimentality. Still, he writes a decent gordian knot here, and his female antagonist and protagonist are both very well drawn.
The first Iain Banks book I read was also the first he ever wrote WASP FACTORY. I was so impressed by that book that I ended up buying, sight unseen nearly half a dozen of his other books, just to see what else his mind had come up with. He's referred to as one of the most imaginative contemporary authors in recent years, but you'd never know that from this novel. I've read three other of his books since the first, and although none have really wowed me like his debut, they've all been very creatively considered and curiously told stories. Except for this one.

Essentially a soap opera, this book tells a story that is about as mundane and straightforward as it gets. A man named Stewart returns to his old Scottish hometown of Stonemouth for the funeral of an equally old friend. Some sort of event from his past led to him being exiled from his town, and his return is fraught with the constant possibility of violence. The reasons behind his exile are made murky and tantalizing at first, but when all is revealed, it turns out to be about as intriguing and surprising as any given episode of Days Of Our Lives.

Other authors can still pull this kind of thing off -- Richard Russo, for instance -- but this story ends up feeling overlong, padded out with repetitive descriptions of places and conversations with people who never really feel real. Even our narrator doesn't totally jive as a human being. A lot of the book feels forced as Banks -- twice the age of his crafted narrator -- shoehorns cultural touchstones into his novel in order to prove the age of the narrator. Various movies, shows, songs, and techno-speak is awkwardly mentioned to authenticate things, but it only comes across as clumsy. This is also interspersed with occasional rants by the narrator that appear to have nothing to do with the plot. For instance, about three pages is spent on complaining about religion at funerals. This stuff, it seems, is only in here to throw some fat on what is a pretty bony and boring plot.
Most people know Iain Banks as a sci-fi writer but this is not that, more literary fiction. I enjoyed the book very much. The characterizations and narration are believable and sharp. My husband, who read the book as well, thought it was too slow moving. The four stars are from my point of view not his.
When I started this book on , I wasn't sure if I'd read it before, but that was only because I'd read the opening several times before deciding to purchase the book, and just couldn't remember. I did enjoy the book. I am a fan of Iain Banks' regular fiction, more so than his science fiction. This is solid Banks fiction with a troubled relationship between the lead character and in his case, most of his hometown. I can recommend it.
If you can persevere, this book is well worth reading. The Scottish words are an occasional problem for some. The author is very descriptive and has a wonderful command of language. Some of the violence is excessive. I understand there is a successful BBC Proram based on the book. Read the book first.
I agree with the reviewer who commented that the setting felt real, and that the ending was up in the air until the last minute. There was also suspense, and danger that seemed organic and believable. I'm not really sure why I withheld the fifth star. Maybe because I felt like I've seen this movie one too many times. It is an archetypal story -- well told, for sure -- but a bit too familiar. It's a good book, but not on the same level as The Crow Road or Whit. Or even Steep Approach to Garbadale. I enjoyed it, and will certainly re-read it, and from anyone else I would call it an excellent book. Guess I just expect groundbreaking and earthshaking from Iain Banks. Some might say that's my problem, not his, and they'd be right. Still, that's my 2¢.
A real surprise. I have all his books, and love them all, but this was a real surprise. Wonderfully written, of course, but quite different from all his other books. None of the usual shocks / irony / cheerful brutality / etc. In a sense, not much more than "just" two love stories (Stu's love of El, and Stu's love of coastal Scotland).

The feel of the novel is so markedly different that, about half way through, I even toyed with the idea that it was ghost written! But no, it's Banks alright; just a quieter and gentler Banks. Getting a bit older, Iain?

But, as always, a rollicking good yarn and well worth the read.
I became acquainted with Iain Banks through his science fiction stories of The Culture. Those novels are universe-spanning space operas, taking place far in the future. Well worth checking out.
Then I read his novels The Crow Road and The Steep Approach to Garbadale, both of which take place in contemporary Scotland. I especially like The Crow Road, which has much in common with Stonemouth. Both center on the consequences of going home again. In Stonemouth, Stewart Gilmour returns to his home town (the name of which is the book's title) to pay his respects at the funeral of an old acquaintance. That old acquaintance also happened to be the patriarch of a local crime family, and the grandfather of the girl Stewart was going to marry. Stewart returns with much apprehension because there is an old score to settle with his ex-fiancee's family, one caused by the events that led to his fleeing Stonemouth. The novel tells the story of Stewart's experience of returning to a place of lost love, bitter humiliation and genuine fear.
As is the case with The Crow Road, the strength of Stonemouth is the voice of Stewart, who narrates the novel. I found myself not only rooting for a happy ending for Stewart, but wishing I could meet up with him and have a pint or two. Warm, funny, and often suspenseful, Stonemouth is a very good novel. Highly recommended.