- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New edition edition (3 April 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0753816822
- ISBN-13: 978-0753816820
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,406,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Karen Sainsbury's first novel begins with the discovery of an aunt who's died of a "giant hiccup"; this surreal, funny, unsettling device sets the tone for the whole of Powder Monkey, a fine and accomplished comedy. The scene is Somerset. The "heroes" are Keith, Tam and Cameron, teenage sons of a blunt, brusque, sheepfarming Dad and a Mam who "hates anything to do with nature" and who is so self-absorbed she absentmindedly cooks her blouse with the frozen peas. Bad enough, but then things take a turn for the worse: gypsies brawl outside the local and the police are injured by all the clothes-pegs used as missiles, then Mam gets a job retraining in the ex-Soviet Bloc. Struck by the sense of the world passing him by, a rather slow, boring, rain-sodden world at that, Keith carpes his diem and decides to use his skills as an amateur moon-photographer to get a place on a Bristol University astro-microbiology course. He fails. Then he decides to try again. He fails again. If this sounds boring, it shouldn't--Sainsbury's sly, slanted voice keeps things lively, funny, involving and poignant.
The only time Sainsbury's prose slightly fails her is when she shifts the winsome plot to the city. Luckily she doesn't do that very much: as the boys try to lever themselves out of the "green tomb" of the West Country, and the parents try to save themselves from the consequences of this, Powder Monkey turns into a jolly, mad, dippy, gratifyingly comedic romp through the post-industrial English countryside--with all its lager louts, light pollution, sheep massacres and loved-up clubbers driving dangerously home. Think Cold Comfort Farm, but on E. --Sean Thomas --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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We were crushed together, drifting across the flooded field in the dented metal bathtub. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
We were crushed together, drifting across the flooded field in the dented metal bathtub. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am grateful that I didnt pay much for this book.
The description given here makes the book sound well worth reading, but dont believe the hype. If only the person that wrote the description had written the text instead.
The plot is boring and unengaging, the writing style is dull and utterly uninspiring. I appreciate black humour, but it seemed grossly lacking in the humour department. Granted I did laugh twice, but this didn't make up for the rest of the book leaving me incredibly disappointed and frankly rather depressed.
I would not read anything from this author again.
The description given here makes the book sound well worth reading, but dont believe the hype. If only the person that wrote the description had written the text instead.
The plot is boring and unengaging, the writing style is dull and utterly uninspiring. I appreciate black humour, but it seemed grossly lacking in the humour department. Granted I did laugh twice, but this didn't make up for the rest of the book leaving me incredibly disappointed and frankly rather depressed.
I would not read anything from this author again.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Powder Monkey by Karen Sainsbury.
I loved this. It's unusual to find something as fresh and funny. I laughed out loud in places. You have to enjoy black humour and understand the irony to fully appreciate this book. I found the main character, Keith McNab endearing and sympathetically drawn. I felt for him as he encountered sex for the first time, had his first job in a bottle factory working on the night shift, travelling there on the works bus surrounded by glue sniffers and all for a pitance to pay off his brother's debts. I greatly enjoyed all the other attempts at work he had. Cleaning out the dead budgies from his neighbour's aviary with the reward of a weak glass of squash and a packet of biscuits past their sell-by date. His visits to the old folk's home where his mam worked to help spreading the meanest amount of butter on damp slices of white bread for their tea, where all the residents thought he was their own son, even the ones who'd never had children.
Nearly everyone in Keith's life is portrayed as replusive and absurd but Karen Sainsbury manages to make them all believable and funny.
Against all the farcical horror of Keith's day to day life is the backdrop of the open skies viewed through the antique telescope Keith buys with his inheritance from a dead aunt who is discovered by Keith's brother at the beginning of the book, rotting in her chair covered in cobwebs and still holding a month old copy of the Sun. The cosmos symbolises the unending possibilities of life. Keith glimpses them and struggles to touch them. Karen Sainsbury captures the confusing world of a seventeen year old child/man.Sucking lollies on the on the swings in the park one minute and fathering a premature baby the next. All of this a tremendous mixture of pathos and humour.Amazing that this was written by a woman. I can imagine this book becoming a cult amongst the student population and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I loved this. It's unusual to find something as fresh and funny. I laughed out loud in places. You have to enjoy black humour and understand the irony to fully appreciate this book. I found the main character, Keith McNab endearing and sympathetically drawn. I felt for him as he encountered sex for the first time, had his first job in a bottle factory working on the night shift, travelling there on the works bus surrounded by glue sniffers and all for a pitance to pay off his brother's debts. I greatly enjoyed all the other attempts at work he had. Cleaning out the dead budgies from his neighbour's aviary with the reward of a weak glass of squash and a packet of biscuits past their sell-by date. His visits to the old folk's home where his mam worked to help spreading the meanest amount of butter on damp slices of white bread for their tea, where all the residents thought he was their own son, even the ones who'd never had children.
Nearly everyone in Keith's life is portrayed as replusive and absurd but Karen Sainsbury manages to make them all believable and funny.
Against all the farcical horror of Keith's day to day life is the backdrop of the open skies viewed through the antique telescope Keith buys with his inheritance from a dead aunt who is discovered by Keith's brother at the beginning of the book, rotting in her chair covered in cobwebs and still holding a month old copy of the Sun. The cosmos symbolises the unending possibilities of life. Keith glimpses them and struggles to touch them. Karen Sainsbury captures the confusing world of a seventeen year old child/man.Sucking lollies on the on the swings in the park one minute and fathering a premature baby the next. All of this a tremendous mixture of pathos and humour.Amazing that this was written by a woman. I can imagine this book becoming a cult amongst the student population and I look forward to reading more by this author.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was drawn to the book by its bright, bold cover, and i feel this is representative of the book itself- it is funny and fast moving, and centres on Keith MacNab, our 'bedroom hero' and his family- his abusive father, unsettled mother nad his bullying older brothers. Keith wants more out of life than sheep farming. He spends his days sweeping up dead budgies and stargazing.He meets disaster after disaster with the comment 'Oh right' (he is a male and males aren't allowed to show their feelings)
The book is about no hopers- so many novels are about people who can and have achieved great things. Powder Monkey is the voice of the rest of us,the ordinary (!) you and me, and our aspirations, however big or small. Dallas or dynasty it aint, but its real, poignant and strikes a chord with everyone. A really striking debut novel.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Would not recommend.
I am grateful that I didnt pay much for this book.
The description given here makes the book sound well worth reading, but dont believe the hype. Read more
The description given here makes the book sound well worth reading, but dont believe the hype. Read more
Published 7 months ago by The Ology
Irregular reader
I really liked this. I bought it at the last minute, to take on holiday, along with 'three men on a bummel','the girl as green as elderflower' 'Labarinth' ' time waster letters'... Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2006 by D. R. Baker
Powder Monkey Brings The House Down
At last a book that reminds me how I felt as a teenager- with no girlfriend or job prospects and 'no way out'- this book is geniunely superb, from its fiery cover, to its gritty... Read more
Published on 26 April 2003
Weird and wonderful, cutting edge rawness
Catcher in the Rye, Billy Liar, Trainspotting - they all caught the contemporary voice of disaffected youth. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2002 by C. Morrison
At last - a writer worth reading!
If you've never visited Somerset or particularly the town of Frome this book will hardly encourage you to - it seems a depressing place of rain, smoking chimneys, dull pubs,... Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2002
powder monkey
I loved the title of the book, also the colourful dust cover. However, i was dissapointed with the contents of the book. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2002
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