Turbulence, Giles Foden

[hedge]

I've just bought a new book that I suspect is lablit - about scientists trying to predict the weather for the D-Day landings in WWII. I think it might be based on real events but its certainly fiction.

So far its pretty good, though there are a whole lot of scientist stereotypes. The boffins are very boffiny.

[Editor]

I am nearly finished with this, and I confess it's a bit of a damp squib. The writing is strangely patchy. Paragraphs stuck together that don't seem to relate. Contrived transitions between present-day and memory, characters you don't believe in. There are some beautiful descriptions, and the science is pretty interesting, but as a human narrative I think it's failing. And I so wanted to like this book.

Has anyone read 'The Last King of Scotland'? I'm wondering if it suffered the same problems. I saw the film, which was excellent, but a good screenplay can do wonders.

[hedge]

Haven't read TLKOS but you are right about Turbulence, I finished last night and wasn't too impressed. I do admit to getting into the whole D-Day landing vibe and I sort of liked the scenes when all the weathermen were bickering over the phones. it was a fascinating insight into weather forecasting - but that doesn't mean it succeeded as a novel.

It really reminded me of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, another lab lit novel. An interesting scientific premise but a sort of diffident scientist character you didn't quite believe in.

[scurry_imperial]

I was not too impressed either by Turbulence - didn't work for me at all - but I don't want to say too much more before the Fiction Lab...

[Mad Dan Eccles]

I expect a full report, as I won't be able to make it on Monday.

[Beatrice]

Half way through and I really like it! I like the reminiscences about his Africa upbringing and the Scottish village is so atmospheric. I also am interested to know about forecasting and like the description of all the balloons and other kit and having to make hydrogen from lime.

[scurry_imperial]

The Fiction Lab was split on the initial scoring (Jenny will have the details) but all the blokes hated it. I found it clunky and unbelievably plotted. Somehow Foden managed to drain all the drama from one of the most exciting and important events of the twentieth century. Mesmerisingly bad.

[Mad Dan Eccles]

No really, don't hold back.

[Editor]

Hey Beatrice, did your likingness extend to the ending?

I didn't like it at all, I'm afraid. I really wanted to, but it wasn't written well.