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Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway (view source)
Revision as of 10:02, 3 February 2012
, 10:02, 3 February 2012no edit summary
Joshua Joseph Spork (Joe to his mates) is a clock maker and clockwork mender in London’s East End. He’s spent his life emulating his craftsman grandfather, Daniel, and avoiding the shadow of his late father and crook, Mathew. However, one day all that changes with a visit from heavies, Messrs Cummerbund and Titwhistle and the even more sinister black-veiled Ruskinite monk. They want something that Joe only has a fragment of: The Hakote Book (''Angelmaker'' of the title). He discovers that the mysterious metal punch cards in his granddad’s box are just the beginning. Can he find the rest and literally put the world to rights before all his friends are murdered? Assisted by a 91 year old special agent, an aged, ugly pug and Polly the insatiable (but rather useful) lawyer, he’ll have a jolly good try.
Nick Harkaway is the fourth son of John Le Carre, a fact he mentions on his website to get it out the way. This, his second novel, proves that the storytelling gift is in his genes and flows through to his keyboard in abundance. Yet Nick has a writing style that’s nothing like the old man’s (and I write this as a Cornwell Le Carre fan). ''Angelmaker'' is a tense, funny, surreal thriller and cracking adventure that is so much more. This is very much a ‘you had to be there’ book. It’s excellent but difficult to explain.
The form it takes is straightforward. It’s written in alternating point of view chapters, swopping between Joe and Edie (the elderly special agent forced from retirement); up till their viewpoints fuse once they combine forces. In this way we learn of Edie’s adventurous past as we live Joe’s present, his history being revealed in flashback. Edie’s tales of daring mix with Joe’s unusual and often touching childhood. It’s a hard heart that won’t be touched by the story of Mathew’s last prison breakout.