Boxer, Beetle [Hardcover]

 

 

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This first novel moves between the present day and England a few years before the Second World War. Kevin, a collector of Nazi memorabilia and the sufferer of a very unpleasant medical condition, is sucked into a dangerous adventure, as he tries to unravel a seventy-year old mystery involving beetles, boxers, eugenics, and fascists.

Among the book's great characters, are an upper-class entomologist, a beautiful but violent Jewish boxer, and a spirited composer of atonal music who longs to escape from her family so she can go to a big city and learn to be witty, ironic, and brittle. Some of these people may not be particularly likeable (although one does warm to Seth 'Sinner' Roach, the boxer) but they are always interesting, and are treated with enough depth that, as well a being repelled, one also feels compassion when faced with their flaws, failings, and delusions.

'Boxer Beetle' displays a great depth of learning and the reader learns about invented languages, anti-Semitism in England and America before the war, and the battle of Cable Street among other things. The recreation of thirties England feels perfect.

In conclusion this book is funny, exciting, and clever; telling its story with confidence and verve, whilst never becoming pretentious or vacuous.

I desperately wanted to like this book. Its unusual enough and "clever" enough that I wanted to get that buzz of excitement at discovering something fresh and original. But in the end I found it hard work. Always clever. Always taking me down unusual pathways and telling me interesting things about subjects that I knew nothing about, but somehow missing out as true story-telling. Somehow missing a heart.

The good news is that the book is ambitious, inventive and well written. So I'm sure the author will be worth following in the future.

I bought this book mostly on the strength of its cover. I know that's supposed to be a rookie mistake, but then again, the graphics are charming, the book is well-made, with good-quality paper and so on; and it turns out it was a jolly good read anyway. The title, also, was a bit of a draw: it seemed to promise something Kafkaesque; though in that regard it didn't quite deliver. Instead of Kafka's labyrinths we are presented with a mixture of crime, obscenity, and scientific discourse. That is to say: with murder, lots of graphic hetero- and homosexual intercourse (though mostly homo-), invented languages, dissonance, Darwinism, eugenics, and Nazism. It's a good recipe, especially if you're one of those readers who likes to come away from his (or her) reading feeling a bit grubby.

The book switches back and forth mostly between two time-lines, before World War II and the present. In the past we are given the story of the relationship between two very different individuals: Seth Roach and Sir Philip Erskine; one a talented Jewish boxer from London's East-end, the other an aristocrat interested in eugenics. The former, a law unto himself, and prone to violence; the latter, a bit of a fop. Both of them are gay, though Sir Erskine is in denial. In the present we follow a despicable boy, Kevin Broom, in his hunt (under duress) for a certain piece of Nazi memorabilia. What makes Kevin particularly distasteful is his infliction with a certain condition, trimethylaminuria, which basically means he sweats urine.

Of course, the two stories link together quite well; the plot is well constructed, and to the author's credit, what we have here is a bit of a page-turner. It's also very well written, and whilst I wouldn't say this book contains anything sublime, is perhaps lacking in emotion, clearly a lot of research has gone into its writing, and the end result is an eloquently written, if filthy, fairly humorous murder mystery. The description in the book almost reeks a little bit of Dickens. The names in any case -- Grublock, Gittins, Pearl, Broom, Roach, Siedelman, Erskine, Zroszak &c -- all seem to possess a sort of Dickensian potency.

It's a very good book; and considering it's Ned Beauman's first effort, I am certainly looking forward to his next.

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2.0 out of 5 stars boxer beetle
Peculiar book, described by the critics as a laugh a minute, I was sorley disapointed,characters that you dislike intensley,I smiled once, very disapointing.

Published 1 day ago by Mr. David J. Bryan

2.0 out of 5 stars clever/clever
it reminded me of THE END OF MR Y and i didnt like that either. An author trying hard to show how clever and knowledgeable s/he is. Read more

Published 22 days ago by bettyparry

3.0 out of 5 stars Undecided....
I am not sure what to make of this book - the amazing reviews and quirky title convinced me I needed to read this. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Reader2011

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read in a long time
I came across this book in a hotel "library" just before we headed to the airport and I'm very lucky that I did. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Harley Quinn

4.0 out of 5 stars A riotous read
'Boxer Beetle' is a hard novel to define. It is a highly accomplished debut, by a scarily talented young author, and well worth a read. But what's it about? Read more

Published 7 months ago by Quicksilver

3.0 out of 5 stars Too ambitious
I too really wanted to like this book. It gets off to a good start - how many other books do you know where one of the protagonists is a nine-toed, gay, Jewish boxer?! Read more

Published 9 months ago by Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever first novel, but still great fun!
I don't normally bother with debut novels, but something drew me to pick up Boxer Beetle, and I am really glad I did. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Daniel Turnbull

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and original!
Boxer Beetle is a thoroughly enjoyable read, full of quirky characters with a captivating storyline. Read more

Published 9 months ago by ths0105

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvellous read!
One of the best books I have read in many years - interesting, witty, erudite, sexy and unexpected. It would make a block-buster movie, without doubt.

Published 9 months ago by R. A. Vink

5.0 out of 5 stars About Time.....
I loved this book. It was the cover of the book that attracted me to buy it I do admit but I am glad that it did. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Mancini

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