Thursday 1 November 2012

#107. RIDDLEY WALKER By Russell Hoban

Published : 1974
Pages : 215
Overall Mark : 7/10

“Walker is my name and I am the same. Riddley Walker. Walking my riddels where ever they’ve took me and walking them now on this paper the same. There aint that many sir prizes in life if you take noatis of every thing. Every time will have its happenings out and every place the same.”

Riddley Walker – orphaned, outcast and alone – journeys through a post-apocalyptic England, telling his tale in language which reflects the decayed world around him.

RUSSELL HOBAN (1925-2011)
Russell Hoban was born in America but found his true home in London, where he lived for 42 years of his life. Author of highly acclaimed literary fiction, children’s books, genre fiction and non-fiction, he defied all categorisation.

VERDICT
This book is incredibly hard to get a grasp on, especially for anyone whose first language isn't English. The various nuances that pepper this tale make it difficult to follow and even more difficult to enjoy, but if you are able to see passed the initial difficulty of this book it is actually a pretty interesting tale.