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Chiff Chaff
‘This is all about the Orkney Islands. Sodden and Gomorrah. Beauty and evil. Orkney noir.’
Alexander A. Alexander doesn't have a watch, doesn't have a faether. Ephraim doesn't need a faether but needs that watch. Mister Flett has something they both want. Poor Mister Flett?
‘There is nowhere as uncomplicated and crystal clear and as pure as Orkney.
There is nowhere as mysterious, as dark and as filled with menace as Orkney.’
In this original book, David takes stock of life through the eyes of 16-year-old narrator Alexander A. Alexander in part one, ‘Chiff’, and then as a 27 year old in part two, ‘Chaff’. The book takes readers on a comedic and childlike journey with twists and turns and teases like the West Mainland coast road. The breathtaking Orkney landscape is the main character in this novel. With the richness of its wildlife, mythology, Neolithic past and centennial First World War commemorations, Orkney is no ordinary set of islands.
Inspired by Flann O’Brien’s The Third Policeman published 50 years ago, Chiff Chaff is a murder thriller and a reflection on personal morality. But beneath the surface it explores themes of entitlement and greed and self regard and need for recognition and above all for hope of a brighter tomorrow.
Alexander A. Alexander doesn't have a watch, doesn't have a faether. Ephraim doesn't need a faether but needs that watch. Mister Flett has something they both want. Poor Mister Flett?
‘There is nowhere as uncomplicated and crystal clear and as pure as Orkney.
There is nowhere as mysterious, as dark and as filled with menace as Orkney.’
In this original book, David takes stock of life through the eyes of 16-year-old narrator Alexander A. Alexander in part one, ‘Chiff’, and then as a 27 year old in part two, ‘Chaff’. The book takes readers on a comedic and childlike journey with twists and turns and teases like the West Mainland coast road. The breathtaking Orkney landscape is the main character in this novel. With the richness of its wildlife, mythology, Neolithic past and centennial First World War commemorations, Orkney is no ordinary set of islands.
Inspired by Flann O’Brien’s The Third Policeman published 50 years ago, Chiff Chaff is a murder thriller and a reflection on personal morality. But beneath the surface it explores themes of entitlement and greed and self regard and need for recognition and above all for hope of a brighter tomorrow.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 4, 2018
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 1, 2018
You will either love it or hate it!
Despite my strapline, I am taking the middle view re this book. I really enjoyed the first half, the ‘Chiff’. We are introduced to Alexander, a young teenage boy living with his mother on Orkney. His father is no longer around and, apart from his frail mother, the only person to help out on the farm is Ephraim who after a short while moves in and takes over the running of the farm. Alexander is a strange boy. We are never told if he is autistic or simple-minded but we see the world through his eyes and the writing is quite unlike anything I have read before. Strange, repetitive and haunting in its simplicity.
The overriding impression that I got from this book is the beauty of the Hebrides. The description of the landscape and the weather is quite amazing and beautifully written. The way Alexander is taken advantage of and manoeuvred out of his inheritance and livelihood is tragic as Alexander himself is unable to work out why or how this is happening.
We are introduced to Mr Flett, the father of the local minister, who has a most beautiful watch, so beautiful that Alexander covets it with every fibre of his being. The first half of the book ends with Alexander and Ephraim luring Mr Flett to the local lighthouse to murder him and take possession of the watch.
The second half, ‘Chaff’ I did not enjoy as much. Alexander has been away and is now back on Orkney but I found it quite difficult to understand quite what has happened. I also did not enjoy the way we were in the 1960s one minute and then in the 1940s and found the whole plotline confusing.
This is why I have given the book 3 stars, I think I would have marked it much higher based on the Chiff part as I really enjoyed that but halfway through the Chaff part I was getting slightly annoyed by not only the plotline as well as the writing.
I would have preferred this book to have only been half as long but I must congratulate the author on a totally original way of writing and would be interested to read more from him.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Despite my strapline, I am taking the middle view re this book. I really enjoyed the first half, the ‘Chiff’. We are introduced to Alexander, a young teenage boy living with his mother on Orkney. His father is no longer around and, apart from his frail mother, the only person to help out on the farm is Ephraim who after a short while moves in and takes over the running of the farm. Alexander is a strange boy. We are never told if he is autistic or simple-minded but we see the world through his eyes and the writing is quite unlike anything I have read before. Strange, repetitive and haunting in its simplicity.
The overriding impression that I got from this book is the beauty of the Hebrides. The description of the landscape and the weather is quite amazing and beautifully written. The way Alexander is taken advantage of and manoeuvred out of his inheritance and livelihood is tragic as Alexander himself is unable to work out why or how this is happening.
We are introduced to Mr Flett, the father of the local minister, who has a most beautiful watch, so beautiful that Alexander covets it with every fibre of his being. The first half of the book ends with Alexander and Ephraim luring Mr Flett to the local lighthouse to murder him and take possession of the watch.
The second half, ‘Chaff’ I did not enjoy as much. Alexander has been away and is now back on Orkney but I found it quite difficult to understand quite what has happened. I also did not enjoy the way we were in the 1960s one minute and then in the 1940s and found the whole plotline confusing.
This is why I have given the book 3 stars, I think I would have marked it much higher based on the Chiff part as I really enjoyed that but halfway through the Chaff part I was getting slightly annoyed by not only the plotline as well as the writing.
I would have preferred this book to have only been half as long but I must congratulate the author on a totally original way of writing and would be interested to read more from him.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
March 20, 2018
This imaginative novel has all the makings of a cult classic: an unreliable narrator, a fair dose of magic realism, and plenty of humour to relieve the growing tension. The deceptively simple style at first reflects the supposed naivety of the young narrator, but there are complex characters with hidden agendas, shifting time and - being Orkney- powerful weather. Several unexpected strange but true events in Orkney history (e.g. the visit by the hypnotist, the Golden Slipper Club, Gracie Fields) are woven with skill into the plot. Chiff Chaff was a joy to read and left me with a lot to think about at the end, and plenty of questions: what exactly happens in the crime at the end of Part 1 (Chiff)?
We think we know, but do we really?
In part 2, Chaff, the tale takes a turn to the even more surreal, very much inspired by Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman, with unpredictable policemen and somewhat sentient furniture. Time is fluid, as is reality, and where are we anyway- is this hell? Or merely a dream. Where has Alexander A Alexander been in the intervening years, and is he actually alive? All will be revealed ... or possibly not.
If you like a straight forward story, this isn't for you, but I found it fascinating.
We think we know, but do we really?
In part 2, Chaff, the tale takes a turn to the even more surreal, very much inspired by Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman, with unpredictable policemen and somewhat sentient furniture. Time is fluid, as is reality, and where are we anyway- is this hell? Or merely a dream. Where has Alexander A Alexander been in the intervening years, and is he actually alive? All will be revealed ... or possibly not.
If you like a straight forward story, this isn't for you, but I found it fascinating.
April 16, 2018
Alexander A. Alexander is searching for meaning, and a gold watch. He may have committed a murder, but he's not sure. Some times he even forgets his own name. Confused? Enjoy it, and enter the Flan O'Brianesque world of Chiff Chaff.
February 6, 2018
Did Not Finished, gave at 20%. Sorry it was not my cup of tea. Many thanks to Troubador Publishing Ltd and Netgalley
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June 18, 2018Really intriguing but couldn't get into it - not for me! DNF.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews