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ED2011 Book Reviews
Ned Beauman & Zoe Strachan – Boxing Clever In Two Masterful Novels
By Tracey S Rosenberg | Published on Thursday 18 August 2011
Scary sex and Nazi memorabilia: two novelists tackle strong themes. Zoe Strachan’s ‘Ever Fallen In Love’ examines a seventeen-year-old on his way to university. He’s terrified both of his own sexuality and of being labelled ‘Boak boy’ by his peers. Ned Beauman’s ‘Boxer, Beetle’ includes a host of unpleasant characters, including anti-Semites and a man proud of refraining from sex with his own sister. Much of the ensuing discussion explored whether literary characters need to be likeable and sympathetic, or if the authors are successfully doing their job by writing characters who are repulsive but ultimately engaging.
Spiegeltent, 14 Aug, 10.15am (11.15am), £8.00 – £10.00, bfpp9.
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