The Nickel Boys, a novel by Colson Whitehead

This fine novel --a Pulitzer prize winner -- is the author's follow-up to Booker-nominated The Underground Railroad and bears a similar theme, a century or so later.  We follow the experience of a talented but impoverished black schoolboy, Elwood, in Florida in the latter half of the 20th century. Through no fault of his own and as a consequence of the brutally biased criminal justice system, he ends up in a reform school. We follow his experiences of extreme racial discrimination and cruelty in the hands of the sadistic school staff.  The reader is exposed to the generally well hidden extent of white supremacy and advantage in American society at the expense of the black population, whether it is the much superior food and accommodation provided for the white boys in the school or the exploitation of the free labour provided by the boys for the white local community. 

One both admires and is frustrated by Elwood's apparent acceptance of his dire experiences in the school and feels the sense of relief when he manages to escape and ultimately thrives in the slightly more equal society of 21st century New York. But this apparent happy ending doesn't last...... no more spoiler than that. ❤❤❤❤❤

Great British Plans: Who made them and how they worked by Ian Wray

Ian writes this text from his position in the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Practice at the University of Liverpool. He addresses the question of whether or not the major UK projects over the past 300 years have been the result of organised public planning. Some of the the interesting examples he uses are the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666, the development of the concept of the Romantic English landscape, the building of British motorways, and the Channel Tunnel. 

The history of each of these projects and other well chosen examples is set out logically and arguments well argued, with the somewhat surprising (to the layperson) conclusion that most of the projects were poorly served by any form of central planning but relied on the enthusiasm of individuals or local organisations. A sequel discusses similar projects in the US but is still in my pile of books to be read some time soon. ❤❤❤❤

The Wall, a novel by John Lanchester

Intended as a read for the Oxton Men's Book Club but not yet discussed due to the virus. An interesting take on the dystopian theme, in which we see the main character Kavanagh as he starts a period of conscription that has to be undertaken by all citizens below a certain age.  The role that all such people have to play is to act as lookout on the concrete wall that has been built around the entire coast of the UK to protect the country from invasion by sea by 'Others', who clearly want to be immigrants and have to be repelled by force.  The penalty for failing to protect the country is to be expelled and sent out to sea.  Social unrest is heavily monitored and suppressed.

The event that has caused this situation is referred to only as the Change but clearly an environmental phonomenon, as we learn that  sea levels have risen to the extent that there are no longer any beaches.  The culprits for the Change are the older generation; it is easy to identify with this group, which included Kavanagh's parents, whose idea of enjoyment is to sit at home watching nostalgic videos of people on beaches. The novel does not end well for Kavanagh nor give any hope of relief, despite his finding a partner, Hifa, and their choice to join a small and select band of people allowed to 'breed' and add to the population.

As all dystopian stories do, this novel invites discussion of whether or not the described scenario could ever occur.  Could the Change predicted here turn out to be the effect of the coronavirus, with the consequences being the effect on young people of the political decisions taken to protect the elderly at all costs? We are still accumulating evidence for this idea. ❤❤❤