The Fire Gospel by Michael Faber

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Theo Griepenkerl is a scholar of ancient languages and is resigned to a life of obscurity.  Then on an artefact-finding mission to Iraq he ‘rescues’ some Aramaic scrolls from a bombed museum and smuggles them home to Canada.  What his translation reveals is the work of a scribe called Malchus: an early Christian and contemporary of Christ himself.  The scrolls give a frank eyewitness account of the Crucifixion which could have incendiary implications for the faith of millions and Theo now has a publishing sensation to promote.

This is a great little book, a combination of theological satire and book-world farce and Faber does not hold back on stirring things up.  It’s funny and thought-provoking as we follow Theo on a rollercoaster ride as a newbie author with a publishing sensation on his hands.  At the same time we are treated to the warts and all writings of Malchus.  It’s a celebration of human fallibility.

Highly recommended.

The Hopeless Life of Charlie Summers by Paul Torday

Hector Chetwode-Talbot, Eck to his friends, has left the army and is slightly at a loss as to what to do next, when he is approached by an old army pal, Bilbo Mountwilliam.  Bilbo runs an investment fund company and persuades Eck to join the company as a 'greeter'.  All Eck has to do is supply the contacts with entertainment and large G&Ts and then the fund managers will do the rest. Soon Eck is able to buy himself a luxury sports car and a decadent flat in the city.

It is on a golfing trip to France with his friend Henry Newark that Eck first meets Charlie Summers, a fly-by-night entrepreneur who is hiding out in France after a 'misunderstanding with Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue'. Charlie's latest scheme is to import Japanese dog food into the UK.  Henry casually mentions that Charlie should 'look us up' if he is ever in Gloucestershire. Not only does Charlie Summers look Henry up, he arrives with his suitcase, intent on staying with the Newarks and relaunching his dog food business in their area.

Torday’s novel contrasts dog food and fund management and in the end they both come out smelling rather ‘off’.  Charlie and Eck both have to make decisions about their ethics when it comes to making money and have to suffer the consequences.  The book is a comfortable read but the underlying message is unmistakeable and lives up to its predecessor “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”

Recommended