Soon

by Charlotte Grimshaw

During the long summer holiday, the Lampton and Hallwright families gather in a large beach house belonging to Prime Minister David Hallwright and his wife Roza.

The weather is perfect and outwardly all is well, but the harmony is disturbed when Simon Lampton's brother Ford arrives for a visit.

Ford casts a cold eye over the company, barely disguising his contempt for David Hallwright. To add to Simon's discomfort a young man called Arthur Weeks makes contact, asking about Simon's secret past affair, while Roza tells her small son Johnnie a continuous story about a group of fantasy creatures a story that contains uncomfortable parallels with their current lives. When Simon agrees to meet secretly with Arthur Weeks, the result will threaten the security of them all...

Charlotte Grimshaw's exhilaratingly gripping and clever narrative traces the lives of its beautiful people 'moral imbeciles' in Ford's words as they jostle for position in their leader's court.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Charlotte Grimshaw is the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels and outstanding collections of short stories. She has been a double finalist and prize winner in the Sunday Star-Times short story competition, and in 2006 she won the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Award. In 2007 she won a Book Council Six Pack prize. Her story collection Opportunity was shortlisted for the 2007 Frank O'Connor International Prize, and in 2008 Opportunity won New Zealand's premier Montana Award for Fiction or Poetry. She was also the 2008 Montana Book Reviewer of the Year. Her story collection Singularity was shortlisted for the 2009 Frank O'Connor International Prize and the South East Asia and Pacific section of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Grimshaw's fourth novel, The Night Book was shortlisted for the 2011 NZ Post Award. She writes a monthly column in Metro magazine, for which she won a 2009 Qantas Media Award.

Reviews

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this tense, brilliantly written book. Will be reading more by Charlotte Grimshaw.

[Sarah Laing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, racing through it, loving the voyeuristic nature of observing almost-John Key and his sycophantic, conservative-as-hell minions, and all those that serve him - the Nuiean nanny, the tennis coaches and personal trainers. Grimshaw is very much concerned with what lies beneath and there is so much concealed here - the (anti)hero Simon Lampton has a lot to hide and Roza too has a secret agenda. She tells a strange twisted fairy tale to her precocious 4 year old which almost betrays her true feelings, although it's a grotesque version of reality, a David Lynch version starring evil dwarves and dead cats. My sympathies remained with Simon, even though he was so corrupt and he'd sacrificed so much in order to be outwardly successful and shuck off his loser alcoholic dead father. I wonder if there's going to be another one - there was an intriguing development at the end - I would read it.

[kagami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, and I'm being somewhat generous because I enjoyed the descriptions of nature; that was like being on holiday, the images are so alive (especially when read in not-particularly-warm England).
The story takes place in contemporary New Zealand and is not uncomplicated; there are undercurrents and tension, something is expected to burst out and happen around the Prime Minister's seemingly relaxing summer house by the beach, and some things kind of do happen, but.... Unfortunately I found the whole thing a bit underwhelming.
I don't understand the choice of title. I won't spoil it if I say that Soon is the name of an invented obnoxious dwarf, the main character of a series of stories that a mother tells her 4-year old. The stories are in italic in the text and, apart from being too complicated to be real children's tales, are convoluted allegories of the mother's experience of the social exchanges taking place at the house. I'm not sure what I found more irritating, the stories themselves or the inability of the doctor to see them for what they were.
I also struggled to enjoy the novel because none of the characters are particularly likable. In fact, most of them aren't well enough described to be likeable. A lot of things pivot around the teenage adopted girl, Elke, but other than being "dreamy", clumsy, messy, but also physically attractive, we don't actually know much about her. We don't know enough about any of the characters except Simon, from whose standpoint we experience the events. He himself isn't the nicest of protagonists.
There is also the matter of the political commentary. I thought there is too much left-wing, or anti-right propaganda in this book, and I found it too blatant for comfort. The right-wing PM and his pack are all a bunch of mean buggers who live a life of privilege and luxury and spend their days devising ways of screwing the poor. The only half-decent people in this story, Ford and Claire, pure and victimised by circumstances arguably outside of their control, are both left-wing and anti-government. I just thought that was too flat and too simplistic.
Overall, not a great read, but the nice depictions of New Zealand plants around the ocean and sand dunes on hot summer days are a an enjoyable mind-candy for the sun-starved.

[books are love · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a light read this is not the book for you. I am ambivalent about this book.

The writing is superb and the lines that the author draws in societal classes and their differences and problems is excellent. The book starts off slow and slowly gains momentum. When you first start reading, you wonder if this is just another story about someone's vacation. As you delve into the book you see it is more and a few plots unfold. The fight for power is a big plot throughout the book. Another being to rise above your original societal standing and stay above your origins at any means possible.

The biggest theme you receive from Simon is how you really have no idea who you are, what you are capable of and how you feel about things until it is in jeopardy. This is when Simon sees life differently and we realize how voraciously he loves his family and will protect them no matter what. You will feel for Simon but he will also exasperated you too. his desire to be above his old station and his insecurities will drive you buggy at times.

Roza is the center of many of the issues. Born into privilege, she becomes a wild teen and changes her ways or does she? The socialite marries well and is now vying for power at every moment in the book. There is more to Rosa than meets the eye.

The book sends a message about greed, power and roles in society. The author, in the end, leaves the door open for a continuation of the book into another with these characters.

[Emma Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I admit I was a little sceptical at first about the political themes, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Grimshaw focuses on what is beneath the surface, offering fascinating insight into the characters and their messy, sordid lives. Even though the characters aren’t all that likeable – Simon in particular assumes an anti-hero role, but I found myself fascinated by these people and the world they live in.

I haven’t read Charlotte Grimshaw before, but I intend to add some of her other books to my never ending to-read pile.

4/5

I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book full of any likeable characters, and certainly parallels with the current government. Not sure I enjoyed it, but it is a very good book.

[Emma McCleary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted good things for this book and was left totally underwhelmed.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent - a scathing satire about politics both personal and national, keenly observed.

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly prissy writing. I loathed the 'Soon inserts'. Did enjoy having a main protagonists pov - and working out more about Simon.

[Christine Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Good descriptive writing and great characters

[SuzAnne King · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was difficult to like any of the characters in this book but the story had me spellbound. I like stories about the choices people make and why they make them. Is it human nature that drives us do what we do to get to the top, to survive, win or succeed? Or do we drift along due to circumstances beyond our control?
The main character is Dr Simon Lampton who considers himself a moral person yet he has managed to drift into a close friendship with a self-righteous and entitled political beast. During a summer holiday shared with high powered friends and their wives, the Lamptons and the politician are tussling over the love of their shared daughter, who is the natural child of one mother and the adopted child of another.
Simon also finds himself regretting a liaison from his past when it turns out that this very episode of his life just won’t stay in the past and now threatens all he has worked for.
It’s not until Simon’s brother joins the holiday that Simon begins to realise that these so called “friends”are the very people who could derail his family life and the career by which he defines himself through their sheer cunning and manipulation.
Most of the friends could be considered (by some in our world) to be “successful” yet they are the most moral degenerate people you could ever meet.
Simon has a fork in the road before him. Will he have the guts to choose or will he continue to drift along without taking responsibility?

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a classic New Zealand style, i.e. slightly ironic and seemingly light, this is a very enjoyable book about a wealthy obstetrician and his family and their relationship with the prime minister and his family.
A privileged life is rocked by a threat and events soon spiral out of control for the obstetrician as he lies to the police about his role in the events.
It reminded me of the feeling of childhood untruths where lies pile on lies and the threat of exposure is imminent - really uncomfortable and well conveyed in the book.
This book is also a dig at our current National Party government and our increasingly unequal society.

[Scott Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find this book was a sequel to The Night Book. Great characters, picking up a 4-5 years later. I like the intrigue of each character, what goes unsaid is fantastic. The descriptions of place are beautiful. I did struggle with the tale Roza shares with her son and didn't draw many parallels with the fictional world we inhabited that I probably should have. I did enjoy it, though preferred its predecessor more.

[Vonne Learmonth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it quite hard to get into but got caught up in the plot. It was a great book. I found the characters quite unlikable but fascinatingly repulsive. I am sure there are some people who live their lives like this. I didn't enjoy the fantasy story told to Johnnie, too complicated and boring.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Left disappointed upon finishing this book. A lot of twists and turns to follow that simply didn't lead anywhere. I also struggled to engage with the 'Soon' stories, the novel included so many characters as it was this added an unnecessary layer in my opinion.

[All Tomorrow’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very slow and confusing at the start, but as I continued to read I found that I was really enjoying it. Overall it’s an enjoyable beach read with a dark undertone. Not entirely convinced by the whole ‘Soon’ storyline, probably could have done without that.

[Katie Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while to engage me. Set in Auckland and holiday North New Zealand where the NZ PM had his family and entourage round him. A doctor who has found himself in the inner circle, complex relationships and undercurrents. The first half dragged, it picked up pace and momentum in the second half

[Ann Single · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to go somewhere clever and was a bit let down. But I loved the setting, New Zealand, and the messy, complexity of the relationships.

[Jazzmyn Jory · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a slow burn compared to what I’m used to although it was good once I was able to get into it!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I have read by Grimshaw, looking forward to reading more!

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave up half way through but the plot managed to snag my interest. Great descriptions of New Zealand scenery.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review written for Booksellers NZ:
Soon picks up the story of politician David Hallwright of Grimshaw’s The Night Book a couple of years down the track. Hallwright is now prime minister and is on summer holiday at his beachside compound north of Auckland with his posse of friends, family, and colleagues. The days are long and hot and you can almost smell the money oozing from the pages. This is how the wealthy and powerful holiday at the beach, from the personal trainers, tennis courts, and luxury yachts, to the cocktails served by the ever-hovering staff.

As in The Night Book, the focus of the story is on prominent obstetrician Simon Lampton and his friendship with the magnetic Hallwright family. The beautiful, but rather vacuous, Elke who was adopted by Simon and his wife Karen years earlier is the biological daughter of the prime minister’s wife; forever bonding the families in a fragile and silently competitive friendship. However, an encounter between Simon and a documentary filmmaker, Arthur Weeks, threatens to damage both the families’ friendship and the National Party’s public image.

When I reviewed The Night Book two years ago, I mentioned that the characters were “so intensely human and strangely familiar that, despite their many flaws, they remain surprisingly likeable”. Roza, Simon, Karen and David remain intensely human and very very flawed but the intervening years have hardened each of them. Although Grimshaw has done another superb job of breathing life into her characters, I confess I struggled to find any of them at all likeable. These people are shallow, greedy, self-absorbed and bitter. Yet they are oddly compelling. It’s like watching the build-up to a car crash – you know things are headed to a collision yet you can’t look away. As a reader, I usually find that if I don’t like the characters, I can’t like the story. Soon has proved to be the exception to my “rule”: despite really not liking the characters, I still cared very much about discovering what happened to each of them.

One part of the book that I enjoyed less was the twisted fantasy story about Soon the warrior dwarf which was interspersed throughout the book as a game between Roza and her young son. Roza interrupts the book at semi-regular intervals to “make Soon talk” and weaves a weird allegorical tale about the bloodthirsty dwarf and his loyal court. Although clever, it was disruptive and strange.

There is no denying Grimshaw’s cleverness. She’s a fabulous writer and conjures up characters and scenes so vivid you can almost see the heat haze hovering over the deck and smell the sunscreen. Soon is a great summer read – even if summer is, unfortunately, over.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

So after skimming a couple of reviews, I take comfort in the fact that I'm not alone here: I'm not entirely sure what, if anything, I feel about this book.

It's a well written book, although the narrative at times was a tad too jumpy for my taste. It basically follows the close friend (simon) of the Prime Minister of New Zealand during a summer vacay to the PM's home. Simon and his wife Karen adopted a daughter who, as it turns out, was given up for adoption by the PM's wife Roza, when Roza became unexpectedly pregnant at the age of 16. Now grown and obviously established, Roza set out to find her daughter, which is how the two families became friends.

While I haven't extensively read contemporary English literature, I've noticed a tendency in books across the pond to be almost prohibitively slow paced as compared to their American counterparts. Soon follows more in the English trend, as it is nothing if not a character study, so if you're someone who needs to be gripped by every page, this probably isn't the book for you. And even for me, as someone who enjoys character studies, I didn't really feel like I knew or understood the characters. I kind of understood what was happening between them on a surface level, but with little action to distract me, I was hoping for a lot more depth.

I was about halfway through when I realized why I wasn't able to engage more with the book: I fucking HATED these people. De-damn-spised! Now to be fair to the book, the author did a very good job of staying out of the way, leaving the reader to reach her own conclusions about the characters, and that's probably one of the strongest strengths of the book, as Grimshaw does this expertly. But once I realized I hated them, it made it that much harder to continue.

Yet, I respect what Grimshaw has done here and how. And for that I give it a 3. I can't deny that it was well done, or even that the relationships were very interesting, but at the end of the day, I wish I'd never met these people. But that too is the thrill of the book - reading about people you can smugly feel better than provides the sort of perverse impulse to continue judging them (ie reading) even as you hope for their downfall.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review .

[kathyrn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a netgalley. I was attracted to the book because of the cover and title neither of which I think quite match the story since reading the book.

Most of the book takes place in New Zealand at the prime minister's summer residence at the beach. Simon Lampton an ob-gyn and his wife Karen and the prime minister Dave Hallwright and his wife Roza and their children are the main characters. The story is built around the fact that Roza had a child Elke when she was younger and gave her up for adoption and she was adopted at the age of eight by Simon and Karen and now Roza seems to want her back. But so far she seems happy with only seeing her more. The underlying background is this the only reason for the friendship between the 2 couples. Simon and Karen do enjoy their proximity to the power couple.

There are a lot of background characters from both of the men's work that while adding to the setting of the book to me also added a lot of clutter. Roza also tells her younger son fairy tales that sort of parallel what is going on between the characters that I wasn't really interested in. I had a hard time getting into the book until Simon has an incident where he thinks he might be in serious trouble then the book for me became a page turner.

The ending of the book is realistic but I the same time I would have liked to have known who knew what and who was calling their bluff. I think the book stands alone but I read on goodreads that there is a book preceding it and it also ends like the story could continue.

I would have rather watched this story on tv on either BBCA or a cable network that would still keep the setting in New Zealand because I would want to watch what happens next but I don't want to read the next book. I have to say the story was well written but not what I expected.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I think that this book may appeal to some readers, it was a little too political for me to really enjoy. The characters were well drawn in that I could imagine them easily, the dialogue believable (for the most part), but I just couldn't relate to the characters. I can't really explain why I couldn't relate to them - I think it had something to do with the difference between countries as well as just the huge difference between the lives of the opulently rich, as in the book, and me.

I don't believe that this book is suited for younger adults (as in, 18-22ish, new adult I guess - not YA). It would more suit those who have dealt more with politics, who have been in the working world for awhile, and who can relate, perhaps, to the more sordid details of adult lives. Or, perhaps, this book would be good for those who don't mind reading about affairs and messy relationships, messy beyond the norm.

Many thanks to Random House UK, Vintage Publishing, through NetGalley, for an opportunity to read and review this book.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel very so- so about this book, it definitely wasn't a light read by any means. I was drawn into the plot at the very beginning with a tale of adoption and of adoptive and birth mother becoming friends. This felt like a good set up to an interesting book but I felt kind of lost after it got more in depth.

The characters weren't all that likable to me, especially Simon who seems to be an anti hero. I didn't feel much warmer towards Roza either. I felt like there were bigger societal and political implications and connections trying to be drawn by the author but I couldn't quite get there. Simon's insecurities and his desire to rise higher in his life in particular seemed to be an overarching theme to the book.

Overall the book was well written but I wasn't drawn in.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first two thirds of this book. It is so refreshing to find a New Zealand author attempting to write in an entertaining way with a story set in a recognizable present and populated by interesting non-PC characters. The streets, the beaches, the summer Christmas heat, Auckland shines from the pages....then there is a great twist then....the book peters out a bit with its condemnation of the shallowness of the central characters. Really? I thought they were a pretty entertaining bunch, all that clever snappy dialogue made me warm to them, while not necessarily liking them. Nevertheless I'm a fan of the authors as she is obviously very clever and literate but doesn't seek to show off in tiresome ostentatiously literary way, she just wants to tell a good story and keep all the craft under the hood where it belongs.

[P.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange book. First and foremost it is superbly written. The author has a capacity for dropping in the most exquisite descriptive details so that the reader is constantly aware of the setting: its temperature, the light and shadows, the sounds sights and smells of this glorious-sounding location. The same applies to the characters. If they blink, we see it in a snapshot of mood and colour.
But it makes for uneasy reading, because it probes behind the characters into their secrets, their complexities and their darker sides. I could not put it down, but at times it seemed to drag a little - hence knocking off one star. I was uncertain about the resolution too, and feel that both more and less could be said.
Would I read it again? Yes, I might.

[Mara Elwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not going to speak to everyone's interest, as was evident in our family when my husband rejected it 1/3 in. I is a story of relationships and entanglements of lives through things that happen in the past and present. It is a book about politics without politics. The ending leaves one wondering what will happen next, what entanglement this new knowledge of the past will create. I mainly read it for the fact that it was by a New Zealand author, but there was nothing particularly NZ about it.

[Waterlily · Rating 4 out of 5]

So refreshing to read a book set in NZ about NZ characters. Very easy read, the plot was gripping with a chilling ending. I oscillated been admiring and loathing the lead character,which I guess was the whole point. Bid hard on John Key. And I was disapointed to google Rotokauri, the books setting, and find it was a lake and not a beach-minor detail, I was going to visit and see the Rosellas and the Gannets!Going to read the Night Book now,its the prequel.