Book of the Month: If You Can Walk You Can Dance (and a Tisbury baby)

'If You Can Walk You Can Dance' 

by Marion Molteno

If you like biography you will probably warm to this novel because its characters feel so absolutely ‘real’. It weaves a complex multi-layered melody over the course of three ‘books’ within one. Set initially in in Africa it moves across frontiers with key protagonist, Jennie as she’s uprooted from her home and family caught in the midst of political turmoil. She eventually lands in London and finds herself in a women’s commune.

This is the story of a naive and sensitive young woman who learns much about herself, relationships and music during her many adventures. Far less about dance than it is about music, Molteno is clearly a master of her subjects: Africa, politics, musical semantics and most of all the fickle and fathomless arena of human emotions. All our senses are engaged, ears most of all since this is a dialogue rich story in which we hear what lies beneath the words with painful clarity. I have been introduced to a plethora of new musical instruments and forms: the shehnai, tabla and mbira (I even looked up and listened to some African Mbira music while I was reading – definitely added the right tone!)

The writing is lyrical and poetic and often sentences are left open-ended as if the stave has produced a rest which we must all take. I liked this for the most part, although lovers of a ‘racy story’ may find its meandering rhythms and movements a bit slow. I decided to follow its lead and took it gently. And it grew on me until I realised I had no choice but to be drawn to its conclusion which wasn’t exactly where I wanted to go, but which probably makes it a much more true reflection on ‘real life’.

Marion Molteno is one of our newly discovered Tisbury authors, although she’s been writing for many years and all her novels have either won or been short-listed for awards. ‘If You Can Walk You Can Dance’ won a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and her publishers have reissued it, which alone says something for its quality.

Best bit? There’s a paragraph about love and what true lovers see in each other (clue: Book 2, Chapter 4) which is one of the most beautiful pieces of prose about love I have ever read. So, for those thinking ahead to February this might make an extremely good Valentine’s gift. And for any music-lover, I echo the words of a review on the back cover ‘Anyone interested in a new way of thinking about music should read this novel.’

Liz Darcy Jones

Book Ambassador

P.S. Congratulations to another new Tisbury author and aromatherapy expert, Michaela Boldy, on the ‘birth’ of her new book, ‘Essential Oils for Childbirth’. This sounds like the perfect gift for any mother or grandmother wanting to ease their granddaughter’s or daughter’s birthing process! Beatons Tisbury has copies or order through your tearooms. 

Book of the Month: Lost Children

'Lost Children' 

by Christopher Hart

Our ‘nest of novels’ category at Beatons is deliberately small, its titles sparkling jewels within their genre. This new addition – by our most recent Beatons Tisbury author Christopher Hart – was described in a recent review in The Sunday Times as ‘edgy and totally gripping… feels appallingly authentic.’ It’s like a black pearl, dark with an irresistible lustre and a cracker of a story!

To tell anything of the story-line would deprive you of its gritty blood – as red as the soil of the village which indelibly stains the heart of Dr Nicholas, one of the novel’s two protagonists. Yet with immense delicacy Chris Hart drips moments of innocence and even tenderness as we follow its other heroine - a child - through a poisoned paradise somewhere unspecified in Central America.

I have never made a prediction about a book. Here’s my first…

This will one day be a blockbuster film. If it hasn’t been snapped up yet and you have the contacts, send them to ‘Lost Children’.  In the meantime, for our readers, here’s the deal. You'll need a strong stomach and heart, and to be ready for a visceral ride into an unknown land of nightmares, its skies peppered by stars of humanity (most of them children) and earth by indifference and tyranny.

Parents, give this to every teenager contemplating a gap year travelling. It will tell you something of their mettle if they still pack up and go. Don’t blame them if they stay at home or change their itinerary!  I’m not going to pretend this book didn’t make me squirm in places, but its finely drawn characters and plot had me read it in two sittings. Would make a great Christmas present for any frequent or retired travel-lovers who want transporting out of their comfy chairs into a totally believable landscape ravaged by greed and corruption.

  Liz Darcy Jones

Book Ambassador