Ronan Bennett

Set in 1959, in the Congo at the time of its bloody and violent plunge into independence, this book is part hitorical thriller, part love story. It's the story of Irish journalist James Gillespie and his increasing involvment in the turbulent and chaotic moves of the Belgian Congo towards self-determination, and his doomed love for fiery Italian journalist Inès. Bennett, like Gillespie is a detatched observer, and because of thsi the sceness of brutality and mayhem for me do not really ring true. I had little sympathy for Gillespie, and though this novel is triumphant in decribing the bloody chaos which Gillespie both witnesses and is a victim of, I found it only partly satisfactory. But if you like Conrad, and Graham Greene, this may well be the book for you.… (more)

This was disappointing. Historical fiction can be a heavy lift, especially when it is set in a time of such twisted and unfamiliar mindset as Puritanism. This succumbed to caricature, and did not really grapple with the Puritan outlook, other than blame-and-shame. It basically took a modern-minded protagonist, thrust him into the uncongenial setting, and he didn't much like it. We likely wouldn't either, but if you are expecting insight or understanding as to the trends of those times, you will not find it here.… (more)

The underlying theme of this political thriller is the mistiming of love. One is already more ready than the other to give into the insecurities of love...until they are not. Compared over and over to Graham Greene, Bennett's Catastrophist is character driven and full of political intrigue. Irish novelist James Gillespie tells the story of his journey to the Belgian Congo to follow his Italian girlfriend, Ines. As an ambitious journalist, she is covering the Congolese struggle for independence. Once the passion of her life, now she has little time or patience for James. Meanwhile, his romantic pendulum has swung in the other direction, clinging to a newfound adoration obsession for Ines. I found their relationship to be shallow and self-serving. But, no matter. James gets caught up in the politics and befriends all the wrong people, pushing Ines further away. When she takes up with another man, it appears all hope is lost for reconciliation with James...and yet, James is blindly willing to go to unbelievably remarkable lengths to show his devotion.… (more)