Ginger, You're Barmy by David Lodge

[kev67]

This book is mainly about two lads who have to do their two years national service during 1950's Britain. They know each other from university, and they both deeply resent having been conscripted. The book describes the hell of basic training followed by the boredom of two years trying to skive off work and sentry duty, because for the vast majority of conscripts there was nothing to do. Personally, I have often thought I would not have minded doing national service after leaving school. It was better than what I did do, which was drop out of college, get sacked three times, and spend 18 months on the dole. However, I was an Air Training Corps cadet in my youth. We all longed to go to RAF camp for a week of being shouted at, being woken up at 5:30 to clean the barracks, and to spend the night polishing our boots and pressing our trousers. We had to do lots of maintenance sessions or turn out for the marching band to be allowed to go. However, not everyone is cut out for the army, as this book illustrates very clearly. A very realistic tragedy is described which sets things off. What surprised me most was the personality of the narrator. The book was clearly based on David Lodge's own experiences, so you naturally identify the narrator with the author. Well, the narrator is not a very likeable person; he is a bit shallow and selfish, a bit of a weasel. But then you wonder: is he, or does he just feel what anyone else would feel in his position. The other main character is the narrator's friend from university. He is more of a rebel. He is a more noble character, but then you start to wonder whether he has some worrying tendencies. The book came out in 1962. Times have changed but some things surprised me. For example, it seems most of the conscripts, including the university graduates, were still virgins. This was before the contraceptive pill of course. However, television sets were also referred to, which I still think of as a modern invention. In addition, the story presages Irish terrorism, which kicked off again in earnest in the late 60s.

[mal4mac]

I read this recently and was quite impressed with it, it's quite amusing and gives (I think!) a good picture of what National Service might have been like. But unlike you, Kev, also having spent 18 months on the dole in my early twenties, I would not have preferred National Service. Too much enforced boredom! And you can't spend all your time in the library on National Service :) I'd recommend reading more by David Lodge, he gets funnier & deeper in later works, I particularly liked "Nice Work!"

[kev67]

I read this recently and was quite impressed with it, it's quite amusing and gives (I think!) a good picture of what National Service might have been like. But unlike you, Kev, also having spent 18 months on the dole in my early twenties, I would not have preferred National Service. Too much enforced boredom! And you can't spend all your time in the library on National Service :) I'd recommend reading more by David Lodge, he gets funnier & deeper in later works, I particularly liked "Nice Work!"

I have read quite a few of David Lodge's books. I particularly liked Nice Work. Personally, I thought his work took a dip after that, although I thought Author Author was very good. His book about H.G. Wells, A Man of Parts looks interesting too.

[mal4mac]

I particularly liked Nice Work. Personally, I thought his work took a dip after that, although I thought Author Author was very good. His book about H.G. Wells, A Man of Parts looks interesting too.

Looking at that the list of his works in Wikipedia I've only read "Therapy" since "Nice Work" and I certainly thought "Nice Work" was superior. I have "Author, Author" sitting on my shelf. Lodge on Wells does sound interesting, thanks for bringing that to my attention.