Group Read: Arthur & George by Julian Barnes

Arthur & George by Julian Barnes.
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2005

We plan to read this in February, which for me at least will be about 4 years overdue, as I have had it on the shelves for ages. I have loved a few Julian Barnes works, and can't wait to get into this one.

Preliminary discussion anyone?

Which, if any, of this authors' works have you read?
What (if anything!) did you like about it/them?
What do we reckon this one is about? (no spoilers if you know please- I reckon its about friendship seeing as it's two blokes hanging about on the front cover, but who knows, right!??)

Hi Megan!

I saw the TV mini-series and didn't connect it with the book that's been on my shelves since 2012. But the mini-series was fascinating and I'm sure the book more so.

I've read The Sense of an Ending, and in addition to Arthur & George have Nothing to be Frightened of, a memoir. I liked but did not love The Sense of an Ending, but honestly can't remember much about it and got rid of it.

I might be in!

I can't do another challenge read. I can't. I can't....

Okay so I might be in too ;)

Added this thread to the group wiki.

I have requested the book from the library, so if it comes in, I will read it with you. I have read two other books by Barnes - The Sense of an Ending and The Noise of Time. I thought both were very good - I like how he writes, how he unfolds a story.

>3 karenmarie: I have read Sense of an Ending too, and loved it. I found the writing pretty amazing, from memory.

>4 BekkaJo: You can do it! You can do it! (you can do it) :)

>5 drneutron: I had a wee look-see at that and decide it was beyond my ken, as they say. So thanks!

>6 Crazymamie: I hope you get it, I wouldn't think there would too much demand given its year of publication.

I’m up for this as well. Have had the book for ever, but I’ve been meaning to read it ever since I saw the TV series.

Previously I’ve read The Sense of an Ending and The History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters.

>8 SandDune: TV series, huh. I wonder if my local video rental store has that ;) (I am actually wondering, as they have film, TV, cult, recent, and oddities). i will go check!

Eta- oh yeah, that's right! I have read The History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters too!
Eta (again)- and Flaubert's Parrot ;) It's all coming back to me now ;)

Megan--I loved Barnes' Flaubert's Parrot, which we did for our Bowie read and I have missed these kinds of reads with you. Thanks for setting this up!!

Both A&G and The Sense of an Ending are sitting on my shelves, so it will be good to get to one of them. I have the fourth cover with the town on front, so from the 1) scenery and the 2) clock and the 3) fact that is says "As Seen on Masterpiece" and 4) the author I am thinking an historical Brittish novel; and from the title? Yup, two blokes are in the story. That's all I know.

>10 Berly: I have the first cover, which I reckon is the most appealing. Being the snob I am, I don't think I would have been that interested in it if I was looking at cover #4!!! It looks *historical* . (I know, I'm sorry). 1, 3, and 5 look good to me though.
I am glad to bet getting to it. Those Bowie reads were hard to book horn in, but so worth it!

>11 LovingLit: I didn't choose my book for the cover. It was the only one available at Powell's!! LOL. I also would have gone with 3 or 5. Hmmmm...what are the splotches on 3? : )

>12 Berly: blood!??! Foul play??? Oooh, the plot thickens (before it's even begun!)

Not another group read...but OK, I guess my arm is twisted and I'm in. Looks like my library has 1 of 3 copies available on for Kindle - I don't know if I should borrow it now, or wait until I finish a couple of other books I'm reading.

Count me in! Any excuse to get another book read and off the TBR pile. ;-) The only Barnes I have read is so far is The Sense of an Ending.

Yay- so many takers!! I can assure you, it is goooood. I only say that as I accidentally started it a tiny bit early. Oops.

*phew*
No one noticed I started early.
:)
So far I love the turn-around telling of Arthur's and then George's story....and an even better sign, I can't wait to get back to the other one's!

Starting mine tomorrow!!

>14 rretzler: Ugh, I should have borrowed it when I had the chance...I just looked today, and I'm now on hold. #1 on 3 copies.

>19 rretzler: that's a shame! Maybe they wont take long to read their copies?

I am so drawn into each of their stories, and can barely wait to see how their lives cross paths. How will they meet? (will they met at all!!??- surely...)

>19 rretzler: >20 LovingLit: Fortunately, it didn't. I got on the 1st and started it! I'm only 25% in and feeling so badly for poor George...I can't imagine what is going to happen in the rest of the book.

>22 rretzler: Poor George indeed! He is so stoic and convinced that sanity will prevail, as you would, I guess. I am half way through now.
The 2nd quarter of the book changes from such swift turn-abouts between George and Arthur, and has one lengthier section about each, I like how this one is paced, it is very effective.

>23 LovingLit: Megan. I agree - I did enjoy the lengthier sections about both and thought them effective.

In the second chapter, I think it was easier to see where George was headed, but not so easy to see what would happen with Arthur.

I came into reading this book with absolutely no preconceived notion as to what it contained except that it was about Arthur Conan Doyle. I had read nothing by Julian Barnes. The writing seems so "matter-of-fact" to me. There are no passages to highlight and wonder what they mean. Everything seems to be stated as fact. I think this possibly took me aback a little, but in thinking about it, I guess it makes sense that the author is basing his historical fiction on factual happenings, so the writing needs a factual tone. Also, I suppose he is developing the plot a little like a mystery which works well with a more factual basis - although I have read many mysteries that do not come across as "matter-of-fact" as this book does.

I did like the following quote near the end of Chapter 2 (I promise this is not a spoiler):

Until then, he must negotiate the great Grimpen Mire, where green-scummed pits and foul quagmires on every side threaten to pull a man down and swallow him forever.

I'm currently about 77% of the way done and in Chapter 3 where Arthur is meeting with Captain Anson. One thing comes to mind during this conversation - it occurs to me to wonder whether we are dealing with an unreliable narrator, as Anson brings out some facts which were not previously known to us. I wonder if it is leading somewhere or not.

Skipping over the conversation for now, but the library has just informed me that my copy is ready for pick up, so I'll be back here soonish.

>24 rretzler: I like the matter of fact tone, in fact one thing I dislike in books is the loaded comment, or some other teaser comment that is designed to dangle a potential future event in your face. I like the fleshed-out descriptions and well-rounded back stories of it all.
I came to the book with no knowledge of the plot at all- I didn't even know that Arthur was Arthur Conon Doyle!!! It was cool having that unfold on me in such a casual way...maybe you should spoiler alert that part of your comment!!?!?

I haven't come across Captain Anson yet, but am looking forward to meting him!

>25 Crazymamie: good idea! See you soon (ish) :)

>26 LovingLit: Fixed my comment so that it shows as a spoiler now. Sorry if that was a surprise to anyone.

I finished the book this evening. I'll hold off on commenting until nearer to the end of the month.

I came across another cover this afternoon (which I used for the TIOLI challenge)



Also, I found some reading guide questions on Book Browse, which can be found here, if anyone is interested in discussing after reading the book.

There also appears to be a nonfiction account of this book - I found this information on Wikipedia: For a definitive account of Conan Doyle’s involvement in the tragedy surrounding George Edalji, imprisoned for maiming cattle, read the Victorian/Edwardian tragedy, ‘Conan Doyle and the Parson’s Son: The George Edalji case’ written by Gordon Weaver. This book is a non-fiction account of a miscarriage of justice, involving the solicitor son of an Indian vicar, in Victorian/Edwardian England. The case brought in Arthur Conan Doyle, whose involvement obtained a pardon for Edalji and ultimately led to the creation of the Criminal Court of Appeal. The book was described by Peter Costello, the specialist writer on Arthur Conan Doyle, as the definitive study of the George Edalji case. The work was originally published by Pegasus/Vanguard and is now available on Amazon/Kindle. Gordon Weaver’s account preceded the historical fiction drama, ‘Arthur and George’, written by Julian Barnes. For further information visit www.theplebeian.net

ETA I don't know why the web address in the spoiler isn't hidden - it is within the spoiler brackets but for some reason it still shows.

>27 rretzler: ooh, I like that cover! The web address isn't showing in the spoiler now...maybe you fixed it in the edit?

I will definitely look at the reading guide questions, although, I found that the questions I have read for other books are pitched a little young. Maybe it was just that book :)

So was it satisfying for you? What would you rate it? I am looking forward to talking more about it when I have read more. I am just up to the bit where Arthur and George have met, and Arthur has send his man up to George's town to do some investigations.

I am loving the reading journey, which for me is the main thing, but I am also loving the story!!

>28 LovingLit: Strange, I still see it on my screen, but if it's not showing for anyone else that's good.

I was leaning toward 4 stars throughout the book, but ultimately I ended up giving it 3.5. I enjoyed reading it and am very glad I did, but in the end, I don't know, I guess I wasn't crazy about how it wrapped up.

>29 rretzler: interesting...I am dying to keep reading, but each evening my eyes close before I want them to!

Durn it, why is it already 10pm here? I was sure I was going to go to bed early and read A&G!

I finished!!
I loved it.

And there are many talking points. Such as, the ending!!! Yes, it was a relative non-event. But I like that it was not conventional. It certainly takes the mystery-wrap-up from a different angle. Fantastic! More later...

Finally getting to Arthur & George. I am about 80 pages in and that's book two. I am not finding either of the two main characters that lovable. Hoping they meet soon and the book changes up a bit.

I just realized I had italicized my whole post just up above, so have rectified that.

I was enjoying the gentle unfolding of these who characters' lives in those early pages, even if I wasn't particularly enamoured with either of them. I don't wanted to dampen whatever enthusiasm you have for the book Kim, but mine waned slightly in the last quarter.

Well, I will give it another 50 or so pages and see how I feel. No worries. It's worth a try!

And, do we have the will to complete? :)
I originally gave it 4.5 stars, but downgraded to a solid 4 upon reflection. It is a very good book. Told very well. But it was just missing a little *something* for me to give it more.

>36 LovingLit: Megan, that's the way I felt. I can't put my finger on what that "something" was. My husband's cousin wasn't really far enough along in the book to comment. I'll have to follow up with her to see what she thought of it.