'It was no work of literary genius, it was true, but the writing had a certain brutal energy that made it more than worthy of . . . attention.' (p 12)*
And who lives in a house like this?
Somewhere in Cambridge there is a domicile that will one day need a blue plaque. (Although hopefully not for a long time yet.) Maybe even a gold plated one. That's because it is the home of not one but two of contemporary children's literature's finest author/illustrators. To be a successful children's author is a wonderful thing. Ditto illustrator. But both at the same time? And then two of them? Well. There's a turn up for the bookcase.
Pam Smy is the creator of Thornhill, a sensitive and telling interleaving of graphic and verbal narration that was one of the very best new children's publications of 2017. It will, I'm sure, come to be considered as the one of the classics of the decade/century/millennium . . . (See my post from August '17; also my Books of the Year.)
Those who read my reviews regularly**, will be aware that I rate A Boy and Bear in a Boat, by her husband, Dave Shelton, as one of my favourite (children's) books ever. His more recent publications have included the gothic story collection, Thirteen Chairs, and further graphic novels in his Good Dog, Bad Dog series, originally published in the excellent Phoenix Comic. Each are strong examples of their genre. Comic book stories of this quality are particularly welcome as graphic novels can sometimes be too easily dismissed as inferior reading material by guiding adults.
However, whilst for me not quite knocking the boy-bear-boaty book off its lofty pedestal, it is his latest offering, The Book Case, that comes closest to doing so. It is also a splendid thing in its own right. In it is to be found much of the same deliciously dry humour and joyfully absurd comedy as in the earlier book, albeit in a very different context.
Not remotely boring
'The door opened and a boring-looking man in a boring looking raincoat came out of the boring-looking door.
"It looks a bit . . . boring, doesn't it?" said George.'
On one level, this is a gloriously funny send-up of the currently popular boarding-school-girl-detective novels (à la wonderful Robin Stevens). However these books themselves also have elements of parody (of both older girls' school stories and 'cosy' detective fiction), so this is essentially a spoof of a spoof, which itself adds wonderful layers to its effulgent humour. The sending-up is, however, affectionate, not in any way malicious, and is all the more hilarious for it. In fact this whole midnight feast of a book is a counterpane replete with humour: wit so dry it is as desiccated as the coconut on a macaroon, one-liners as sparkling as ginger pop (or as corny as tinned beef), absurdity by the brimming bowl full*** and enough slapstick and farce to have you wobbling like a jelly. There are ludicrously grotesque characters, too, and some improbable heroes, a nonexistent librarian - and (as of course is required these days) a token boy.
And, remarkably, in and amongst all this, there is still an engrossing mystery that litters red herrings, leads down blind alleys, and surprises at every turn. It will keep young readers enthralled and guessing to the last.
Oh, and the clever author manages somehow to get in a few good plugs for libraries and books too - even reading.
All in all, this is as joyous and entertaining a romp as you could hope to read on a wet Wednesday in Withernsea (or indeed anywhere else).
Cover story
The book is greatly enhanced by Dave Shelton's own profuse illustrations. Highly entertaining in themselves, they have the same sense of self-conscious send-up, mixed with rumbustious delight, as if, perhaps, Ronald Searle had illustrated Mallory Towers instead of St Trinian's. They complement the text brilliantly and add yet another layer to its delights.
This may not be a work of 'literary genius' (as the man said), but it is one of considerable flair and comic (if not 'brutal') energy. In time, I am sure Pam Smy's (self-deprecating) husband will also be fully appreciated and deemed worthy of that plaque (or at least a bit of it). Meanwhile his book should be sought out by eager hoards, whether they look on the mystery shelves, in the children's school story section or indeed amongst the comedy greats, where I think it most aptly belongs.
I know you should not judge a book by its cover, but in this case (sorry!) if you find the title and jacket illustration amusing and intriguing, then I think there is a very good chance you will revel in the contents too.
Notes:
*There's nothing to beat an author writing his own review.
**That's both my wife and my daughter (although I wouldn't swear to my daughter).
*** Viz: In order to facilitate the pilfering of food from the school larder, the pupils have excavated a tunnel beneath the ground floor, and even wallpapered it - although they haven't yet got around to hanging the pictures. Brilliant.