Stuart: A Life backwards
By Alexander Masters


ISBN 0007200374, Price £7.99 01/02/2006, Perennial / HarperCollins


A collective review, facilitated by Chris
with the help of (so far) James, Lisa, Saleem, Sean, & Shaun.

I could see why some of Oxford’s ‘Homeless’ might find this book irritating, perhaps even angry making. All the more reason I’d say, why it should be read by those whom it claims to describe. The book’s subject, lives, or should I say lived in Cambridge before his suicide in ??

It’s wednesday night and my regular session with the Gatehouse laptop ‘café’. The computers are busy but no one needs my assistance at that moment. James, one of Oxford’s ‘homeless' poets, plops himself down beside me for a chat (I’m not sure how he feels about the label ‘homeless poet’, hence the inverted commas.)

James knew all about Masters’ book. Initially he’d been a fan but after the serialisation on BBC Radio Four, he was beginning to find it a bit of a wind up.

‘It’s written for a particular, intellectual market ‘ was his opening gambit. I wonder who he has in mind – me perhaps or even the other ‘helpers’ at the Gatehouse? ‘Far too negative.’ he says. ‘Nihilistic?’ I interject. ‘Yes that too but mostly just negative’. He went on to tell me how many ‘homeless’ people are quite positive about what they are doing. Maybe it’s time to get rid of the word, ‘homeless’ it’s a bit of a trap, a stereotype. The ‘homeless’ are trapped by the word and trapped by the ‘homeless industry’. I’d heard similar views expressed by John Bird in the pages of the Big Issue, in his book and indeed at last year’s special lecture at the literary festival. Homeless industry – there’s some truth in that – work on this gatehouse literary project has definitely become part of my livelihood - there’s no way around it. But then again so what? And what’s the alternative? And indeed, the whole of this very issue is exposed, warts and all, in Masters’ book. But there again, that’s what you’d expect from a ‘smart alec’ journalist?

Maybe we need another word, maybe we need to start thinking of it more the way they do in Ireland – they have transients, travellers or something like that, but somehow it’s not such a fixation, just like being in transit from one state to another – and therefore in need of some temporary assistance.

I see James’s point but it’s a tricky one. On reflection I wondered whether this new word needed something of vibe ‘self-employed’ which does, as they say, cover a multitude of ‘sins.’ Personally I think the rot really set in after the 1980s, when proper jobs began to disappear, and a whole bunch of us became ‘self-employed’ or if you are very middle class, ‘freelance’. In the world of the ‘self-employed, there are winners, losers and those getting by OK. Afterall, we all do need to live simpler less wasteful lives – sooner or later. The writing is surely on the wall for the age of endless consuming?

Sunday night - back at the Gatehouse, this time armed with copies of the paperback and the enticement of a free copy for anyone who will read it and share their opinions. Déjà vu, walking round the tables with an earnest expression and piles of worthy books – don’t go there. I end up giving my own copy away to one of the computer club regulars. He reads the back cover blurb and likes what he sees. He tells me how a writer takes a risk when he tells such a story. Jimmie Boyle did that back in the 1970s and suffered for his ‘sins’. So respect for anyone who has the bottle to tell it like it is. And that really is respect from someone who undoubtedly has their own, equally interesting tale to tell and indeed the desire to do so, so watch this space.

Later:
It's a week or two since we got our first few copies of the book. Today another dozen arrived courtesy of the publisher. The author is speaking at the Oxford Sunday Times Literary festival in March, and will lead a reader's group before his lecture. So we will be well briefed! Opinions about the books are still quite mixed, but everyone is still reading, which tells you something I suppose. It's becoming a common refrain now, that all the reader feel that Stuart, who seems so articulate, should have been 'allowed' to tell his own story rather than being the subject for someone else's writing. Perhaps it is a tribute to Masters talents as writer that he is able to bring Stuart to life so convincingly that you want him to speak for himself. Only of course he can't - I don't think I'm giving away too much if I say the book ends with Stuart's suicide.

Well these minor faults aside, there is still something quite compelling about this book. Maybe it's those little touches - like now I know what those little brass studs are you see outside many london buildings. The bureaucrats equivalent of the 'line in the sand.' - Step over that and you're nicked! Or the secret life of multistorey carparks (maybe that should be the multistories) - places I tend to avoid if I can - especially the one in Oxford's Westgate centre - ever since a friend went off to fetch his car and came back with horror stories of shopping trollies hurled from the top floor! That these concrete monstrosities should have a secret life was a revelation to me - that 'rough-sleepers' might actually live there - or find some sort of sanctuary there when the weather is bad. Most of Oxford 'rough-sleepers' seem to camp out on the various meadows that encircle the town. It's what i'd do - I much rather camp in a wood than take my chances in the carpark or shop doorway.











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THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Work in progress by Shaun

The night is dark inky black, suddenly bright searchlights pierce the blackness. About 300 Heinkels and Messerschmitts fly in formation. Bombs fall, shrapnel shells burst into the formation of aircraft. Some of the planes are hit by gunfire and burst into flames and crash upon the houses of London below. The year is 1940 this is the Blitz.World War two is one year old. A boy stairs out of a window as bombs fall and explode in the street. A woman runs gathering her four children and rushes out to the Anderson Shelter in the Garden. This is the opening scene from the film The Chronicles of NARNIA, {The Lion, theWitch and the Wardrobe}.

Ever since I became a Christian 13 years ago the one name I have always here is C.S.LEWIS. I have read the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But this year 2005 the story came to life on the big screen.

The next scene is the train station where thousands of children our being evacuated into the countryside because of the war in the cities. Then we see a beautiful old steam train ploughing threw the English countryside. The children are dropped at a rural station and are picked up by Mrs Macready in an old horse and cart. Then the journey begins to the big old mansion. The children then settle in to big house. One day while playing a game of hide and seek the big adventure begins. Lucy cannot find a place to hide so she runs into the room where the wardrobe is.

The wardrobe stands against the wall of a long room and covered over by a canvas sheet. Lucy pulls off the sheet and enters the wardrobe to hide. Moving further and further backwards Lucy brushes up against fur coats and then begins to feel something that is shaper, bristly like trees. Lucy turns around and she has entered the wintry land of Narnia. Here she meets a faun called Mr Tumnus they have a nice tea together and Lucy goes back to the Wardrobe.

On her return her brothers Peter and Edmund and her sister Susan do not believe her story. Lucy goes back to Narnia later on this time Edmund goes after her and he meets the Witch and he comes under her power. She tricks Edmund into believing it would be a good idea to bring the other children to her palace. The witch then leaves and he meets up with Lucy. They go back together through the wardrobe and Edmund does not tell the truth, at this Lucy cries.

Later on all four of the Pevensie enter Narnia by hiding in the wardrobe after an accident. Mr Tumnus is taken prisoner by secret police, and then the children meet a pair of talking beavers who take them for some shelter. The beavers then tell them that when two sons of Adam and daughters of Eve accept the four thrones of Narnia this will overthrow the witch’s power.

The story moves fast, the beavers then say that Aslan the Lion and founder of Narnia are on the move. Edmund under witches spell and rushes of to meet her. Meanwhile Peter, Susan and Lucy find Edmund is missing from the beavers home. They then set out to find Aslan and they do after meeting Father Christmas on the way. Edmond finds the witches castle but is taken prisoner, but rescued before he dew to be killed. Then the witch calls for a truce and demands Edmunds return because he is a traitor. The witch is right to demand this because of ancient law. Aslan permits it because witch does not know everything. Aslan takes Edmunds place and is killed. But Aslan comes back to life, and he rushes to the big battle with some reinforcements that he has set free. He then kills the witch and the Pevensie children are made Kings and Queens of Narnia. They live long time they reach adulthood before going back through wardrobe and they are children again in there owe time. This then is the end of first adventure in Narnia will not be the last but that another story.

As a Christian I have read the Bible and I could see the parallels between scripture and film. You could see the Gospel themes of betrayal, death, resurrection and redemption. The way that Aslan gave himself for Edmund and way the stone spilt in two. Then Aslan came back to life on the third day. This is good film and I thoroughly recommend in to anyone as a family film.