The Restraint of Beasts
Magnus Mills
A prize-winning first novel, written by a bus driver. Excellent
dialogue and characterisation. The story is about three men, the
foreman and two crew, who travel from Scotland to England to
build agricultural fences. Repetition of sentences and whole
paragraphs is perhaps a way of symbolizing the repetitive nature
of fencing work. A very deadpan book: three murders are dealt
with in a very matter of fact way. Apart from the ending - the
book just stops "almost as though some pages are missing" -
Andrew enjoyed this book. Recommended.
Andrew 21/1/01
Bought after hearing an interview with the author on Radio 4's
'Front Row'. Doreen enjoyed this, finding it simultaneously funny
and strange and written in a completely deadpan style.
Doreen 6/11/05
About a fencing gang starting in Scotland (literally building
fences). Very descriptive of personal habits and often filled
with black humour. An entertaining read and recommended.
Seán 15/1/06
Bob laughed all the way through this book which concerns an
Englishman supervising a Scottish fence-building team and the
extraordinary things that happen to them including the
unspeakable caravan that they live in, the pubs they visit and
the unsavoury goings on involving rival fence-builders. The style
is completely deadpan, no jokes, but very funny. Highly
recommended.
Bob 7/5/06
Tammy said that she'd finished the book but would still like to know how it ends. She found it very funny and easy to get a mental picture of the dramatic moments. Highly recommended.
Tammy 20/8/06
The Restraint Of Beasts by Magnus Mills
Very strange, very funny.
Gill 24/9/06
By the same author
The frames have
gone all funny - click to make it good.