Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel:

Yann Martel

‘Beatrice and Virgil’

Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd, 2011

224pp. £8.99

978-1847677679

‘Beatrice and Virgil’ is the interestingly formatted story of a successful writer called

Henry who moves his life to a foreign country in order to have a thorough break from

his world. During this recess, a reclusive taxidermist, also called Henry, begins an

unusual working relationship with him, seeking advice in writing a play based on

conversations between a donkey called Beatrice and a howler monkey called Virgil.

This pair is also present in his taxidermy shop.

The play, which we are given passages of scattered throughout the book,

contains the essence of the story as it is told while the drama played out in Henry’s

life during this time gives the frame work. The Holocaust is what it comes down to.

The more the story develops, the more this becomes apparent, yet each step into the

reality of the author’s way of telling it is surprising.

The conversations, seemingly every-day, are simple and beautifully

constructed. Delicate and strange analogies balanced with impending violence make

for a shattering impact. An interesting insight from the author in an interview for

‘goodreads’ website observes that the way in which the reader is fed small sections

from the play relates to how little we can hear of the experiences of the victims of the

Holocaust, and that by using the vessels of Beatrice and Virgil we can hear

terrifyingly small clips of the victims’ realities. This is incredibly effective. It creates

the impression of doomed souls standing in a blank space on the edge of terror and

disaster, pulled from the world and onto a page just so that we can hear their voices

for a moment. They are real and not real. When they are sucked back to the world, it

is as though all of the sounds and colours of the horrors of war rise up at once. The

reader is left with the impression of how the Jewish people in hiding during the

Holocaust where standing in a nowhere place, in a suspended life, talking and waiting

together.

Pulling all of this together, Henry at the centre of this story is portrayed as a

fictional version of the author. This has the effect of causing the reader to feel drawn

through the story not just with the character but with the author himself too. You are

discovering this mysterious situation together and this unites you in all the revelations

 to be endured in this book.

‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro:

Kazuo Ishiguro

‘Never Let Me Go’

London: Faber and Faber Ltd, 2010

304pp. £7.99

978-0571258093

The story focuses particularly on the lives of three friends; Kathy, Tommy and Ruth

as they go through school, grow up together and attempt to face the world, or the

version of it permitted to them. You see, they are not three ordinary children,

Hailsham is not an ordinary school and the lives they grow into are not really their

own.

Kazuo Ishiguro writes this incredibly fragile story, delicately balanced on the

edge of heartbreak to illustrate how strong the heart is and how precious the soul is,

 No matter the circumstances in which it has been cultivated, and when provided with a

limited amount of time. When discussing his ideas behind the book in an interview

with his publishing company, Ishiguro talks about our small life spans and how

compressing it to a snapshot of a life, we can look closely at the things that would

become the most important to a character in that situation. What he has achieved is a

perfectly naïve and innocent tale that caused me to feel breathless practically

throughout the whole book. It hurts to read but it is worth it.

There are many other points and questions in the book, such as how far we,

as the human race are prepared to go in the name of science, how far we might be

prepared to turn a blind eye. It also presents the idea of the extent to which we will

accept our fate. It is indeed rare, the person that will actually escape the bounds of

their lives, not knowing what might be on the other side. We are certainly resigned,

most of us, to the lives to which we have been conditioned, creatures of habit and

safety that we are, much as it may cause us to ache inside and long for our own

freedom.

The book is cleverly written, with a sense that it could have been written by

accident. It reads as though it is a one and only story inside a person that has been

wrenched out with blood and tears, not the work of a revered literary giant. I am sure

this is no mistake; told from the perspective of Kathy H, it is the perfect tone for her

story.

Click here to see the latest edition of the Travellers Times

http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ifeelasawoman_reportv2.pdf. Executive Summary: http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ifeelasawoman_exec_sum_web.pdf

Grayling: Removing the sickness benefit trap: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jan-2012/dwp008-12.shtml

Putting children first – £20 million to help separating families: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jan-2012/dwp009-12.shtml

Mencap believes that government plans for PIP “threaten the ability of many people with a learning disability to live independently”

The government opened its consultation into Personal Independent Payment (PIP) assessment criteria on Monday (16 January). 

PIP will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from 2013, ahead of which, the government has been looking at changing the assessment criteria for PIP. Ministers said that without reform, there would be 2.2 million people on DLA by 2015–16, but with the introduction of PIP, this figure falls to 1.7 million.

Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller said: “We are replacing DLA with Personal Independence Payment and introducing a new face-to-face assessment and regular reviews – something missing under the current system. Under PIP, support will be focused on those who need it most, with a greater proportion getting the higher rates compared to DLA.”

David Congdon, Mencap’s head of policy and campaigns said: “The government predicts that half a million disabled people will no longer be found eligible for support through PIP. This directly contradicts the coalition agreement to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected.

See more at: 

http://www.mencap.org.uk/news/article/half-million-disabled-people-may-lose-benefit

For this to work “Focus for Action” needs you to share your knowledge and experience of the range and quality of services provided by the NHS (hospitals and GPs) and the Local Authority (social care). If you do not currently use any services maybe you have a family member, friend or neighbour who does, so please pass this invitation on to them.

Come along to the first meeting on Tuesday 21st February 2012 at 10am – 12pm at Victoria Hall, 39 High Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AH.

At the meeting users of health and social care services can share their concerns. Once the main areas of concern are identified, priorities can be set for follow-up work. We will then work with the relevant authorities to draw up solutions, which will provide users with the services they need.

If you are interested in joining this group, or would like to know more, please contact the LINk Office on 0116 229 3103 or email gill@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk, alternatively just turn up on the day, where we look forward to meeting you.

The number of lone-parent families has dramatically increased over the past 10 years, according to latest government figures.

The figures show that in 2011 there were 1.96 million lone parents with dependent children, compared to 1.7 million in 2001.

The popularity of marriage is also continuing to decline, according to the Office for National Statistics’ Families and Households in the UK 2001 to 2011 bulletin.

Click here – Number of lone-parent families rockets