Hi everyone.
There’s been a bit of a gap between blogs. Apologies, but I am grounded due to a streaming cold and rattling, hacking cough. ‘Tis the season for it, although I have been lucky as I haven’t had a cold for 18 months! Our weather doesn’t help as there’s been a lot of rain. I know that other parts of the planet are currently having bad weather but our recent storm has brought some serious flooding to parts of the South West of England. Did you know that this is the 3rd storm in this month alone?
Do you remember the UK having so many ‘storms’ in the winter? I do not remember this. It got cold, with snow that settled, with the glass to the inside of our bedroom windows getting iced up. You had chilblains on your toes and fingers and as you dressed you could see the ‘cold’ as you breathed out. But storms like these? No. I kind of wonder what storms my small grandchildren will encounter as they grow older.
This weather rather reminds me of two books I have just read. The first is the latest book by Ian McEwan, What Can We Know, the second, EJ Swift’s Where There Are Wolves Again and both deal with a future that is blighted by the inevitable consequences of Climate Change.
The McEwan book, is, as you would expect, a near masterpiece and is, perhaps, one of McEwan’s best books for some time. I say a near masterpiece because there’s always the niggling factor of McEwan’s love for the literary class and academia – there’s plenty of that in the book. However, there’s also a hint of science fiction here and certainly some dystopian descriptions of a post Climate Change world, which I found intriguing especially as in the book, the life that we currently live now in the 2020s is long gone.
Half of the book is set a century ahead, in 2119, and we’ve had the ‘great derangement’ (the 21st century’s collective denial, apathy and inaction regarding climate change) and the ‘inundation’ (a catastrophic flooding of the planet due to rising sea levels and a 2042 Russian accidental nuclear attack that ended up in the Atlantic ocean, resulting in England becoming an archipelago). What I found fascinating is that the taking of ferries across the Weald Sea and the idea that only the mountain tops are left of what was once England, the fact that Nigeria is the new leader of the world and that the States is run by feral factions and warlords, is so normal it is barely thought about by the characters in 2119. This is England, and while life and the entire country has changed way beyond our 21st Century minds might grasp, the change is something that happened, but, it is treated as nothing more than, ‘you know, it was a long time ago, and this is how we live now’. There is much that is omitted, which I found a near perfect example of ‘show not tell’.
In this first half of the book, we meet Tom, a typical McEwan literary type, who is researching a 21st century poet, Francis Blundy and especially a lost ‘Corona’. Now while I thought the exposition of how our planet will look like in a hundred years time was genius, I did learn a great deal about poetry and especially Coronas, which apparently are a series of linked sonnets usually written around great emotional themes. Tom is obsessed with this particular poem by Blundy and the loss of it. In this half of the book we get to know how the reading of that poem went, and, of course, being McEwan, it was read at a dinner party so we also learn more about the guests and their relationships with each other.
And then the reveal, as the second half of the book is a description of what exactly was going on at that dinner party and we learn….. nope, no more plot. You have to read it yourself!
Meanwhile the second book, Where There are Wolves Again is pretty much a YA novel but none the worse for it. But this time, rather than an aside, Climate Change surrounds the two characters, Lucy and Hester. We meet them in 2020 and take our leave from them in 2070, with the book alternating between the two women. Lucy is a climate change activist focusing on land rights and re-wilding, and Hester is a documentary filmmaker focusing on ecological changes in this new world. Hester is also a lover of dogs – and wolves.
Unlike the McEwan book there is much description of the ghastly heat that is to come, that will come, to temperate, rainy England. And yet this is a book that holds much hope for the future. We see an England, devastated by heat and the ‘browning’ of the landscape, turning towards re-wilding and new ways of dealing with the changes in the weather. The county of Somerset, for example, is allowed to flood permanently (parts of it are flooded now, in 2026) and becomes a renowned marshland that attracts many different species of birds including pelicans. So, in contrast to the McEwan, this book looks unflinchingly at the awfulness of climate change and yet ends with an inkling that climate change might actually lead to a better future. Yes, this is a hopeful book.
One can hope! Because that’s certainly all I can do, I don’t/can’t go on marches now so all I do about climate change is think about it and do my small, teeny weeny bit to mitigate a small teeny weeny part of it. Mind you, I don’t think anything will be done until serious damage is done and we lose some important cities, and the deaths from heat become too large to ignore. A bit too morbid for a blog? Nope, not for me, it’s the face-the-facts nature I have.
A pity isn’t it, that the good and the great, the politicians and ‘influencers’ continue their blind and blundering, short-term humbug ways.
Anyway, do read, McEwan’s book, as the taken-for-granted state of a hugely changed world in his book is stunningly depicted – by the not-being dwelt upon. And for some hope read more about re-wilding in both the EJ Swift book and elsewhere. For example, here’s a link to re-wilding in the UK.
That’s all for now, and no photos, not with this cough and cold! Keep warm and well.
With love, PennyX
They both sound interesting books. I’ll try and get hold of them. It’s interesting how goo science fiction can interpret a future, and which bits seem to be right. It’s a pity there is less of this type of science fiction, of the scientist written type and more of the fantasy type available now, which I don’t much like. I remember the ‘Jack frost’ visited windows, and the chilblains. Not much fun. Or the stone hot water bottles in the bed, and staying well under the covers. My Mum used to put her next days underwear under the mattress to keep warm to put on! Hope the colds go away soon. Trish S
Oh yes, we put underwear on an unlagged boiler, which was in a small dressing room. You had to run from your freezing bedroom to this room and hurriedly put on the underwear and everything else. Chilblains were ubiquitous and you used pink ointment to soothe them, which wasn’t much use!
The McEwan is well worth buying as a hardback, as it’s a very good book and a keeper. The other one I read on my kindle.
I know what you mean about the fantasy SF. Like you, I’m not interested. But this type of SF, absolutely yes. At its best it captures the future brilliantly.
Thanks Trish 🙂
Hi Penny,
Thank you for the book suggestions – I am always looking for something new and interesting to read.
Take care of yourself.
A pleasure Cindy and the McEwan is very good but I recommend both as an interesting contrast to each other.
Thanks 🙂
Hi Penny – thanks for the book suggestions. They both sound intriguing. You are right about the number of storms we are getting (not only this winter but the previous few too). I remember winters, only about 20 or 30 years ago, when it was the usual thing to have to deice the car every morning before you went to work and the sound of people scraping their windscreens filled the air. Now it’s a real rarity here in the southern part of the UK. Hope your cold improves very soon.
Another example of how things are changed is that years ago we used to go regularly to the annual bash called ‘Bonfire’ (not Bonfire night) in Lewes. This of course is on November 5th and it was always absolutely freezing. Not so now, as it is now usually unnaturally warm for November. How will this end, one wonders?
Thanks, Sylvia 🙂
Thanks for these recommendations Penny. Another book dealing with climate change – although not its main theme, which is a detective/thriller – is ‘Winter Grave’ by the always excellent Peter May. This book, like many of his, is set in Scotland in the nearish future, in which England is already largely underwater and Scotland is subject to extreme arctic conditions as a result of global warming. He also touches on the human aspects of mass migration northwards to avoid the heat – another topical issue. Definitely worth a read.
It never fails to amaze me, and still shock me, when I read stupid climate change denying comments on social media. What stone do these people live under?!
I hope your cold gets better soon, and look forward as always to whatever topic you next write about. X
It is astonishing that so many people still deny that i) climate change actually exists and ii) think, well what can we do anyway. I think with regard to the former, maybe they are young and just don’t have the years to remember the way weather was in the past. We absolutely did not have the windy weather we have now plus the unnaturally warm winters we have with far too much rain.
Looked up the book and bought it on my Kindle. I need an easy read these days what with this cold which, fingers crossed, I think is just about to improve.
Thanks Kathy 🙂
I just came back from the library. Ended up getting two mysteries as I am trying to distract myself from the awful things happening here in the US and the fact that it has ben so cold with seemingly no end in sight. I recently herd an interview with Ian McEvan . I have read a few of his previous books and thought they were really good, so I will put this o my list. Even thought the subject mater may be difficult. I will put this on the list with The Correspondent which also comes highly recommended. i do not have much going on these days as I have been staying home so much of the time. I have not been able to do my my regular walks because of the weather. I do hope you feel better Penny. Love, Darby
Those two books were read soon after Christmas, the McEwan is really excellent with an equal amount of literary reference to poetry and the subtle mentions of life lived that is incredibly different to the 21st century. Plus of course, a mystery to solve as to where that poem is now. It might well feature as my best read of 2026.
We’ve been reading about the cold spell in the States, it must be horrid, hope it ends soon. I too haven’t been out much. I bet you are getting frustrated about that – I know I am. Can’t wait for better weather (here it is too much rain) and getting out and about.
Thanks so much Darby 🙂
These sounds like interesting reads! I have been doing some lightweight reading, a means to escape from stress and such, a little bit each days, some days more than others. I do wonder about the weather as it seems a little drastic here at times.
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We’ve been reading about the cold spell in the States. Hope all is well near you. The McEwan is so good, but not exactly light reading. And yet it is so original and interesting – you might be intrigued by it.
Thanks Mireille 🙂
Sorry to hear you are unwell with a nasty cold , I do hope it clears soon.
Both of the books sound very interesting next time I’m in town I will check out our local book store as I prefer to buy local not online.
Like you I do fear for my little grandchildren as to the world they will inherit . I do get so frustrated with the climate change skeptics , especially those in power. Talking of a hot climate many parts of southern Australia have experienced record heat this week with temperatures in the high 40’s C.
The McEwan is a brilliantly subtle book. You could say, what is it really about? The search for the poem? Or the subtle asides and descriptions of lives lived that are drastically different to the 21st Century? I think the latter. And the fact that the difference is not seen as dramatic or out of the ordinary? Genius. I am sure you will like this book Jill.
We’ve been reading about the 40+ temperatures in Australia. That’s too damn hot!
Thanks Jill
I loved how McEwan’s novel was so “it happened, get over it”. An entirely fresh approach to Armageddon. I rate this book and his previous novel Lessons as two of his best. Good to see his writing still inspires as he gets older.
Exactly! That was what was so original about the McEwan book. Very much, OK it happened, so…? It was almost, so what!
I haven’t read Lessons and will look for it.
Thanks Gail 🙂
Th weather has definitely changed over just the last few years. I honestly don’t understand how people can deny the reality of climate change. I think it’s more “head in the sand “ mentality than actual denial. If I don’t acknowledge it, it doesn’t exist. I will look for both of these, but gosh I’d love to read something light and airy to escape the dark things going on in our country right now. We have had several inches of snow and temps below zero for days now. As much as I love snow, I hate when it’s so cold you can’t go out and play in it. I hope you are soon better, Penny!
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Actually neither of the books leave you depressed and you could see the McEwan book entirely about the literary aspects of the ‘poem’ and the protagonist’s search for it – on that level it’s quite the ‘where is it….’ book. The second is far more hopeful and not at all heavy. Both are interesting in their different interpretations of what might happen. Especially the McEwan which, like Gail, says, is very much. OK it happened, so what! Which I found very intriguing and original.
Climate deniers are very much head in sand. But I don’t mind any ordinary types feeling like that (who wouldn’t) it’s the politicians who ought to know better, and probably do, but are so unwilling to do anything. These people I detest as they will ruin my grandchildren’s lives.
We’ve been reading about the cold weather in the States – hope our winters improve soon!
Thanks Marsha 🙂