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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask is William Boyd a good writer?

30 replies

KikiShack · 07/11/2015 13:14

I really like his books. Lent one to a friend. She gave up after 50 pages as she 'is a real book snob and only likes well written books'. I'd say WB counts as good proper writing - am I wrong?!

She's a lovely woman, good friend and didn't mean anything by it- English not first language so meant she genuinely didn't think it was written well rather than trying to put me down so that's not the issue.

Just wondering if others agree with me or her?

OP posts:
Original poster
KikiShack · 07/11/2015 13:15

Book is Waiting For Sunrise btw. I've also read and enjoyed Any Human Heart and Restless.

OP posts:
mudandmayhem01 · 07/11/2015 13:21

Do you enjoy them, then they are good books, I have got a degree in eng lit and i enjoy classic Victorian literature, lots of detective fiction and Jilly Cooper! Writing really good popular fiction is a real talent.

IndridCold · 07/11/2015 13:22

She may not have enjoyed the book, but she must be the biggest snob on the planet if she thinks William Boyd's books are not well-written Confused.

I would love to know what she considers an acceptable standard of writing.

Jeezimacasalinga · 07/11/2015 13:46

I read Any Human Heart, and would say it is a wonderful, well-written book. An esteemed journalist friend recommended it to me - we would probably reluctantly fess up to being 'book snobs'! Books can be hard to enjoy and really 'get' when they are not written in your first language (no matter how fluent you are).

comingintomyown · 07/11/2015 13:58

He's one of my favourite authors

sohelpmegoad · 07/11/2015 14:01

I love William Boyd and have been reading him since he won the Whitbread Prize in the 80s. I did have a couple of issues with his last book and the sexuality of the main character in her 50's, but I assumed that it was maybe a mans view of how he would like a woman in her 50s to behave. The writing however is always great, I really look forward to his next novel

Original poster
KikiShack · 07/11/2015 14:02

Phew! I'll resist the temptation to show her this thread to prove I'm right Grin

I have had a couple of years off reading since having DD and discovering MN and really glad to see I can recognise good writing.

Which other Boyds must I read?

OP posts:
Ricardian · 07/11/2015 14:12

He's a fabulous reader, too. A while ago the Guardian had a serious of podcasts of "author you've heard of reads short story you're supposed to be impressed they've heard of", and Boyd read Ballard's "My dream of flying to Wake Island." Which is one of Ballard's best, but he absolutely nails it.

TheHouseOnTheLane · 07/11/2015 14:16

It's probably the genre. Some people think that mysteries are tacky.

anotherbloodycyclist · 07/11/2015 14:21

I love him, try his early stuff like a A Good Man in Africa (satire, quite different to his recent stuff), Brazzaville Beach and the New Confessions. I think he is a great writer and he's won the Whitbread, the Somerset Maughan, James Tait Black etc. Always look forward to a new novel from him.

MildVirago · 07/11/2015 14:24

I don't care for his work much - he falls into my category of 'Competent and prolific but don't find his choices of subject or the way he deals with them at all interesting' - but he's certainly been generally regarded as a significant literary novelist since he was included in the Granta Young British Novelists in the early 1980s.

juneau · 07/11/2015 14:34

I've always liked his books, although 'Waiting for Sunrise' is not one of my favourites. Are they literary? They're certainly not badly written and I would argue that they're decent fiction (and I'm a bit of a book snob myself). Maybe your friend just didn't enjoy that book? I think she was a bit harsh to say it was badly written, although we are all entitled to our own opinions. I've certainly hated or been utterly indifferent to books that other people rave about.

hackmum · 07/11/2015 16:25

Haven't read any in years, but I used to really enjoy them. One of those writers who really absorbs you in the story.

SarahSavesTheDay · 07/11/2015 16:28

I like William Boyd but find him indistinguishable from Sebastian Faulks.

cheapskatemum · 09/11/2015 18:54

I loved A Good Man in Africa - ha that is both a true fact and true of the book title iykwim! I think he also wrote The Singapore Sling. The fact that I still remember them 3 decades after reading them makes him a good writer imp.

cheapskatemum · 09/11/2015 18:55

Imo - blimmin' auto correct!

annandale · 09/11/2015 18:57

I think he is a good writer. I thought Ordinary Thunderstorms was both a rattling good read and a state of the nation novel which isn't a bad combo. I also think he may well be read in 100 years which is more than you can say for most literary novelists.

Hamishandthefoxes · 09/11/2015 18:59

I much prefer him to Ian McEwan - maybe they're both bad tho!

XiCi · 09/11/2015 19:05

I really enjoy William Boyds books. Your friend is being a dick. Fair enough she may not enjoy his writing but that doesn't mean his books aren't well written. Any human heart is a beautifully written book, one of the few that stays with you. Loved Restless as well
Out of interest what does she normally read?

Northernpowerhouse · 09/11/2015 19:17

Ordinary thunderstorms - loved it - well written (i think!) and a brilliant read. I read lots of different authors, some considered "good, literary whatever!" and others " popular". If you like it, read it and don't worry what anyone else thinks.
In the bookclub i attend we will all be having a great discussion about the book we've read and this one guy always always criticises the writing style. I want to shout " Get back to your creative writing class and stop putting everyone down! But of course i don't :)

ThingWithFeathers · 09/11/2015 19:22

I think he is a very good writer , but he doesn't set my heart on fire. I think the same about Ian McEwan .

Hygge · 09/11/2015 20:14

Brazzaville Beach is one of my favourite books.

Your friend is daft. She might not like him, or maybe just not like that particular book, but his writing is wonderful and she's missing a treat.

HopeClearwater · 09/11/2015 21:08

Brazzaville Beach is also one of my favourite books, Hygge - see my username Smile

It's a fantastic read. The Blue Afternoon and An Ice-Cream War are also very good, and very interesting.

Seriouslyffs · 09/11/2015 21:25

Any Human Heart is one of my favourite books.
Massive hubris to criticise a book as 'not well written' by a well regarded author in a language you're not fluent in. I consider myself very well read and certainly take against authors but I wouldn't criticise a writer as not 'well written' in those circumstances.

flightywoman · 09/11/2015 21:36

I loved Any Human Heart and Restless, though I thought Restless was too short!

Any Human Heart was so convincing, it references a family friend in it and I found myself thinking "oh, Logan knew David, what a pity I never got to ask about him." It was heartbreaking, captivating and wonderful.

But I HATED Ordinary Thunderstorms...I thought it completely unconvincing and tedious.

He's a wonderful writer when he's on form though.

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