What do you think?
Rate this book
White Male Heart: A Novel
A powerful and shocking novel that delves deep into the male psyche.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 22, 2017
We have two things going on here. The first is what this book is trying to do. A psychological thriller, set apart from worldly things in deepest, darkest, most menacing Scotland, slathered in all manner of pathetic fallacy en route to a climax which sets the magnificent, hard, unforgiving landscape in positive contrast to the grubby vindictiveness of men.
But there's also what the book actually does, which is a no-more-than-average wet-and-windy potboiler. There's really no psychological insight or trajectory (Aaron remains unfathomably grotesque, and Hugh's relationship with him unfathomably unrewarding - for Hugh). There's a lot of leaden, overwrought prose. And there's some clumsy structuring (Becky creates something; the lads kill things. Very good) which sees a final showdown in the same location as an earlier one - the moment marked by an odd attempt to cover tracks (Hugh notes the fact "incidentally") as if by doing so makes the cogs less glaringly obvious. Worse still, there's a sign off which is only a hop and a skip away from 'and then he woke up'.
This isn't devoid of its moments. The relationship between Hugh and Becky is believable, and their dialogue is snappy without being unfeasibly sassy. There's a nice scene towards the end where the laboured dragging of a deer carcass is used to good effect to wind up tension. And there's clearly a lot of research gone into the descriptions of rural Scotland, it's oddities and it's hardships. But he's thrown the kitchen sink at it - is a leaden description of driving along single track roads really needed? I don't think so. Overall, this is like the shark's tooth which appears recurrently: an image without resonance which wants to say more than it does.
But there's also what the book actually does, which is a no-more-than-average wet-and-windy potboiler. There's really no psychological insight or trajectory (Aaron remains unfathomably grotesque, and Hugh's relationship with him unfathomably unrewarding - for Hugh). There's a lot of leaden, overwrought prose. And there's some clumsy structuring (Becky creates something; the lads kill things. Very good) which sees a final showdown in the same location as an earlier one - the moment marked by an odd attempt to cover tracks (Hugh notes the fact "incidentally") as if by doing so makes the cogs less glaringly obvious. Worse still, there's a sign off which is only a hop and a skip away from 'and then he woke up'.
This isn't devoid of its moments. The relationship between Hugh and Becky is believable, and their dialogue is snappy without being unfeasibly sassy. There's a nice scene towards the end where the laboured dragging of a deer carcass is used to good effect to wind up tension. And there's clearly a lot of research gone into the descriptions of rural Scotland, it's oddities and it's hardships. But he's thrown the kitchen sink at it - is a leaden description of driving along single track roads really needed? I don't think so. Overall, this is like the shark's tooth which appears recurrently: an image without resonance which wants to say more than it does.
January 9, 2025
Hemingway would do this in 12 pages. Here's the whole book, see if you could make it more than 12 pages.....
Two men hunt. And try to impress black man who also hunts, better than them.
Woman arrives, woman hunts. Captures man. Poor fool "loves" her.
Lifelong male friendship split by the woman.
Woman loses interest in her Airbnb love story, but leaves poison dart in male heart, as she cannot stand being insignificant.
Men re-establish their friendship by killing a tourist, then the broken-hearted man kills the other one as he blames him for scaring off the love of his life, thinks that maybe now she will want him back.
[My last page - not in the original] Loser, life isn't like that. She married the "nice" guy.
Two men hunt. And try to impress black man who also hunts, better than them.
Woman arrives, woman hunts. Captures man. Poor fool "loves" her.
Lifelong male friendship split by the woman.
Woman loses interest in her Airbnb love story, but leaves poison dart in male heart, as she cannot stand being insignificant.
Men re-establish their friendship by killing a tourist, then the broken-hearted man kills the other one as he blames him for scaring off the love of his life, thinks that maybe now she will want him back.
[My last page - not in the original] Loser, life isn't like that. She married the "nice" guy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2022
3.5
I felt the author did well portraying the remoteness and bleak beauty of the Scottish landscape. And the feelings of alienation well described. The petty jealousies and insecurities between the boys played out well. But the scenes designed to shock were for me sadly lacking in intensity I had expected and wanted more of a shock factor but it all fell a bit flat. The lulls in action didn’t intensify the more shocking parts of the book. But on the whole a good effort with plenty of potential.
I felt the author did well portraying the remoteness and bleak beauty of the Scottish landscape. And the feelings of alienation well described. The petty jealousies and insecurities between the boys played out well. But the scenes designed to shock were for me sadly lacking in intensity I had expected and wanted more of a shock factor but it all fell a bit flat. The lulls in action didn’t intensify the more shocking parts of the book. But on the whole a good effort with plenty of potential.
December 7, 2014
This has sat, yellowing on my book shelf for quite a considerable amount of time. Having cleared down all of my library books it is time to have a go.
Overall a success and a great first book.
Set in the remote scottish highlands, it tells the story of the relationship between two young adults - childhood friends who have only each other. Until that is, an out of towner woman (Rebecca) moves into the community and starts a relationship with the more level headed of the two (Hugh - sending Aarron spiralling).
The author avoids the use of local dialect, which strikes me as a bit strange and unusual from a scottish writer, and as a result limits the atmosphere a little. Where he does work well with atmospherics is the cruel relationship between man and beast and beast and beast. There is a constant felling of unease - as hunting and fishing trips, local events and the boys habits are discussed along with the growing relationship between the two lovers.
Aarron is the son of the local land owner and some interesting local characters are introduced including the most scottish of the lot, Peter the Dane, who is constantly chiding everyone for losing their roots. Other characters include the fire and brimstone preacher and the landlord.
As Hugh becomes increasing involved with Becky, Aarron feels that he is losing his friend and his behaviour becomes increasingly violent and unpredicable - getting to the point where he starts planting home made land mines against the tourist hillwalkers.
Unfortunately, this is where teh book loses its touch and credibility - culminating in the pair of them murdering Peter, Aarron sexually assualting and attacking his own girlfriend and Hugh taking Aarron out in teh water and knocking him off. All very unlikely.
For a debut, very promising. A literary thriller with a great sense of place and strong characterisation. Liked it a lot and the pulp fiction ending was perhaps a tad unnecessary.
Overall a success and a great first book.
Set in the remote scottish highlands, it tells the story of the relationship between two young adults - childhood friends who have only each other. Until that is, an out of towner woman (Rebecca) moves into the community and starts a relationship with the more level headed of the two (Hugh - sending Aarron spiralling).
The author avoids the use of local dialect, which strikes me as a bit strange and unusual from a scottish writer, and as a result limits the atmosphere a little. Where he does work well with atmospherics is the cruel relationship between man and beast and beast and beast. There is a constant felling of unease - as hunting and fishing trips, local events and the boys habits are discussed along with the growing relationship between the two lovers.
Aarron is the son of the local land owner and some interesting local characters are introduced including the most scottish of the lot, Peter the Dane, who is constantly chiding everyone for losing their roots. Other characters include the fire and brimstone preacher and the landlord.
As Hugh becomes increasing involved with Becky, Aarron feels that he is losing his friend and his behaviour becomes increasingly violent and unpredicable - getting to the point where he starts planting home made land mines against the tourist hillwalkers.
Unfortunately, this is where teh book loses its touch and credibility - culminating in the pair of them murdering Peter, Aarron sexually assualting and attacking his own girlfriend and Hugh taking Aarron out in teh water and knocking him off. All very unlikely.
For a debut, very promising. A literary thriller with a great sense of place and strong characterisation. Liked it a lot and the pulp fiction ending was perhaps a tad unnecessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2022
The brilliant Ruaridh Nicoll. And I was his muse. Or one of them anyway.
March 30, 2024
Great last 50 pages. Too much time spent wandering over mountains shooting animals, not enough time spent developing characters. Planting explosives to maim tourists, ridiculous.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews