Advanced everyday english: Advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions - Collins Steven 2011

Listen to the CD track 5
Chapter Four in Use

Review of David Jones’s book “A summertoo late"

It is true that of late David Jones’s work has been considered passe. For some, the prose is too stilted and he tends to dwell on out-of-date issues. For this reason I did not particularly relish the prospect of new pompous material. However, his present book “A Summer Too Late”, and his last book “Alone”, about a man stranded on a Scottish island, are like chalk and cheese.

“A Summer Too Late” is about a distraught teenager whose life goes astray after his parents’ divorce. Sometimes it’s difficult to get one’s head round the plot, and I did occasionally lose track of the story, but in the main, it is compelling reading. It seems, at times, that Jones is trying to get something out of his system. He quite clearly wants to tell us what he thinks of traditional family roles, and there is no doubt that this book will create unrest in the conventional literary world.

If you have not particularly enjoyed Jones’s work in the past, and feel he has got away with some poor literature, it is time to give him the benefit of the doubt. I can only skim the surface of his novel in these few lines, but I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

Finally, whatever anyone feels about “A Summer Too Late”, it is quite clear that, amidst all the controversy the book will undoubtedly create, the writer will soon be raking it in.

A conversation between two policemen

STEVE: You know, I’m so glad we got to the bottom of the Smith murder enquiry; mind you, it was obvious that the culprit was going to get his comeuppance.

GAVIN: Yes, the Superintendent was getting quite flustered towards the end, as we only had a handful of clues.

STEVE: To tell you the truth, I think he’s past it. What’s really amazing is that we did all the work, but he will reap the rewards. I was truly gobsmacked when he took all the credit for what we had done.

GAVIN: I was too... and have you noticed that he seems to get a kick out of presiding over all the nasty murders? I’m too squeamish myself. I would have passed out if I had found that body. Anyway, let’s stop talking about work. Fancy a beer?