ORDINARY THUNDERSTORMS
BY WILLIAM BOYD
One May evening in London, Adam Kindred, a young climatologist in town for a job interview, is feeling good about the future as he sits down for a meal at a little Italian bistro. He strikes up a conversation with a solitary diner at the next table, who leaves soon afterward. With horrifying speed, this chance encounter leads to a series of malign accidents, through which Adam loses everything—home, family, friends, job, reputation, passport, credit cards, cell phone—never to get them back.
The police are searching for him. There is a reward for his capture. A hired killer is stalking him. He is alone and anonymous in a huge, pitiless modern city. Adam has nowhere to go but down—underground. He decides to join that vast army of the disappeared and the missing who throng London’s lowest levels as he tries to figure out what to do with his life and struggles to understand the forces that have made it unravel so spectacularly. Adam's quest will take him all along the river Thames, from affluent Chelsea to the gritty East End, and on the way he will encounter all manner of London's denizens—aristocrats, prostitutes, evangelists, and policewomen—and version after new version of himself.
Ordinary Thunderstorms, William Boyd's electric follow-up to his award-winning Restless, is a profound and gripping novel about the fragility of social identity, the corruption at the heart of big business, and the secrets that lie hidden in the filthy underbelly of every city.
William Boyd is the author of ten novels, including A Good Man in Africa, winner of the Whitbread Award and the Somerset Maugham Award; An Ice-Cream War, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and shortlisted for the Booker Prize; Brazzaville Beach, winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize; Any Human Heart, winner of the Prix Jean Monnet; and Restless, winner of the Costa Novel of the Year.
Born in Accra, Ghana, in 1952, Boyd grew up there and in Nigeria. He was educated at Gordonstoun School and attended the universities of Nice (Diploma of French Studies) and Glasgow (M.A.Hons in English and Philosophy) and Jesus College, Oxford, where he studied for a D.Phil in English Literature. He was also a lecturer in English Literature at St. Hilda's College, Oxford, from 1980-83. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He has been presented with honorary Doctorates in Literature from the universities of St. Andrews, Stirling, Glasgow and Dundee. In 2005 he was awarded the CBE.
His screenwriting credits include Stars and Bars (1987, dir. Pat O'Connor), Mr Johnson (1990, dir. Bruce Beresford), Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (1990, dir. Jon Amiel), Chaplin (1992, dir. Richard Attenborough) A Good Man in Africa (1993, dir. Bruce Beresford), The Trench (1999, which Boyd also directed) and Man to Man (2005, dir. Régis Wargnier). He adapted Evelyn Waugh's Scoop for television (1988) and also Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy (2001). His own three-part adaptation of his novel Armadillo was screened on BBC 1 in 2001 and on A&E in the US in 2002. His film about Shakespeare and his sonnets — A Waste of Shame -- was made in 2005 for BBC 4. He has written two original TV films about boarding-school life in England -- Good and Bad at Games (1983) and Dutch Girls (1985).
He is married and divides his time between London and South West France. Author photograph © Eamonn McCabeREVIEW:
Adam Kindred, a climatologist, in London on business, when from an act of kindness in returning something left behind by a stranger, finds himself suddenly involved in a criminal manhunt…and he is the criminal. Having done nothing wrong, he hides out thinking the police will find the criminal and he will be free to go. Unfortunately, the next day he is a wanted man. What ensues is a result of the item Adam was trying to return…a simple folder. Adam opens it to find the man, a doctor, was involved in a big money deal with a drug company and so now not only are the authorities after him but also the people involved in the pharmaceutical deal.
Because there is obviously a lot of money to be made or lost, this isn’t going away. Adam hides for weeks that turn into months. Finally, he decides he has to leave the underground seedy way of life and clear his name. He decides he can’t take this anymore and must strike back. …but how and with what? All he wants is his life back. What should he do? What would YOU do?
Much of this book is action packed but also a bit unrealistic to me. It is rather far fetched but for the most part, I must say, it holds your attention. There are plot twists and an ending that will satisfy most. I just think it was a little too much action for me along with too much I didn’t know. I felt like I was at the movies where I am always asking my husband “Why did he do that?” or “What was that for?”. If this action packed thriller is your cup of tea then this is the book you want to win. For myself, it was a little too far out there and if I had it to do over again…sorry Mr. Boyd, I would have saved my time for something more suitable for my likes.
THANKS TO SHAWN AND THE GOOD PEOPLE
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE FIVE COPIES OF THIS EXCITING
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE
TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!
IS 6 PM, EST, MARCH 29
GOOD LUCK!
51 comments:
I would like to read The Dream Lover.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I like the fact that the book holds your attention and has a lot of plot twists.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Interesting how a chance encounter can change your life--
karin56381 (at) gmail.com
I find it fascinating (begrudgingly) that people have homes in different countries. Wow - to be able to go back and forth from England to France. Must be nice.
libneas[at]aol[dot]com
I think that I would like to read Brazzaville Beach.
libneas[at]aol[dot]com
I didn't understand some of what he was talking about in the review. but if I had to book I probably would like it
Please enter me
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
I'd like to read his book The Dream Lover.
Wow, I think the plot sounds fascinating (and scary!) with the stolen identity.
stephaniet117(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would like to read Restless. Sounds amazing. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
this new novel sounds gripping and unique. Thanks for this giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I haven't read any of his books but Restless looks good.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
It sounds interesting to me.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I love that it takes place in London.
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I am excited to read about his life in hiding....anything like this really intrigues me! Thanks for the chance. bekki1820cb at gmail
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Please enter me in the giveaway.
I found it interesting that the guy was just an average joe.
I haven't read any of his books. Several titles looked interesting, but I think The Blue Afternoon would be where I would start.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I just think it's interesting (and quite timely) that our hero in this story is a climatologist.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I think I'd like to read Blue Afternoon. The summary sounds interesting.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
I would also like to read The Dream Lover.
colleen
candc320@gmail.com
This sounds like a fast moving, exciting book. I'd like to read it to see if I have the same reaction as you. I also like my books to be fairly realistic.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
I like the concept of going underground London to where the "lost" people are living and surviving.
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com
a novel about the fragility of social identity, the corruption at the heart of big business, and the secrets that lie hidden in the filthy underbelly of every city - that sounds exciting to read
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I would like to give School Ties a chance as I haven't read any of them
anjamie4 AT gmail dot com
It must be nice to have homes in England and France. Wow!
anjamie4 AT gmail dot com
Boyd is a screenwriter as well as a novelist.
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I would like to read "The Dream Lover"!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
Oooh, I like thrillers and lots of plot twists, keeps my attention. Great review :)
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com
Restless looks like a good one, too
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com
I'm intrigued by this action/thriller that takes a good man down into the underground. Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I haven't read any of his books, but I have seen the movie version of A Good Man in Africa starring Sean Connery.
His book Restless also looks interesting.
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Wow! It seems that everything that can go wrong does go wrong for the main character! And just from one chance encounter!
I have never read anything by William Boyd, but his books definitely look like fun reads! Especially School Ties!
Nat Tate looks like an interesting book!
ashleymaymott(at)aol(dot)com
I find the review interesting about people living underground in London. I read an Agent Pendergast book by Preston and Child that covered similar territory in NYC.
I like book that keep your attention.
fmd518(at)gmail(dot)com
I have not read any of this authors books. realy would like to!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
Wow - you never know what event will have the most effect on your live - or someone elses! Thats why its important to be aware of every moment - sounds like a great book!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
One thing that I found interesting is the title of this book. At first, I thought the book would be about thunderstorms until I read the review. It sounds like an intriguing book and one that I would like to read.
Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com
I have not read any of this author's books but I want to! One that looks interesting to me, besides Ordinary Thunderstorms, is Restless.
Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com
I liked reading about the author's extensive education and the fact that he has so many screenwriting credits. cool stuff!
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com
I haven't read any of his books yet but Brazzaville Beach stuck out to me on his webpage.
catss99@yahoo.com
I like and appreciate how you are always honest in your books reviews. Like in this review when you thought some parts were unrealistic. Not all reviewers are honest and they sugar coat it. I like the honest opinion especially of someone who is always fair in reviews (like you! :)
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Ordinary Thunderstorms
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Ordinary Thunderstorms
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I found William Boyd's educational journey fascinating. I look forward to reading Ordinary Thunderstorms (great title). Imagine meeting a stranger and the result is life-changing without a clue as to why.
cyeates AT nycap.rr.com
I read Brazzaville Beach...yikes, that was l990! I also read Restless in 2006. Greating writing and fantastic characters!
cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com
Ordinary Thunderstorms for +2
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com
I think I would like to read Bamboo
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com
Amazing what a chance encounter can do to a life, eh?
thank you,
kaiminani at gmail dot com
Thanks. Ordinary Thunderstorms +2. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
Ordinary Thunderstorms. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
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