After forging an uncharacteristically meaningful connection with a stranger on the North Sea ferry to Holland, Futh experiences an odd reception (and even stranger departure) at the hotel he has booked for the first and last night of his trip in the town of Hellhaus (which I can’t help thinking was chosen for the way it sounds – although, as explained, it does literally mean ‘light’ and ‘house’, it’s not a translation of the title, which would be Der Leuchtturm, if you really want to know). It is not a good time for him and the mood of the narrative reflects this in painful, claustrophobic intensity. Don’t come to this for a sense of place though, because it’s not that kind of journey. The book tells the story of a middle aged man named Futh, recently separated from his wife, who sets out on a week’s walking holiday in Germany. Last year’s winner of the Booker, Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending was also short, yet widely praised for being complete unto itself, and I think The Lighthouse is that too. But just as length is no guarantee of quality, brevity is no hindrance to it in the right hands.
The novella is an underused form, often dismissed as lacking the substance of a full-length novel, and yet many notable examples have come to assume the status of a novel over time – Heart of Darkness, Of Mice and Men, The Shawshank Redemption. You’ve probably already guessed that this is a very short book – 180 pages and I estimate around 50,000 words – which puts it at the upper end of novella territory. Call it coincidence, but these are also the three titles that most appeal to me and that I want to read regardless of whether they make the shortlist. I think this, along with the fact that a quarter of the titles are debuts, is tremendously exciting. The Lighthouse, from indie publisher Salt, is one of three titles (of 12) on the Man Booker Prize 2012 longlist from small publishers – the others are Swimming Home by Deborah Levy (And Other Stories) and The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (Myrmidon Books). I’m itching to discuss this book with someone and unfortunately that will have to wait, because it’s not out until 15 August.
Writing a review wasn’t on my list of things to do today, but I’m going to do it anyway. Less than 24 hours ago, an advance copy of The Lighthouse by Alison Moore dropped onto my doormat.
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