Looking for something a bit gritty, a little bit grimy to read next? Well, poet Kate Tempest’s debut novel is dark enough to embroil you in London's underbelly. But with all the hype around her impressive career, does The Bricks that Built the Houses pass muster? Does it fortify her position as one of the UK’s best young writers or is this novel an unfortunate case of the dabbler’s pen?
Kate Tempest’s debut novel, The Bricks that Built the Houses, caused quite a stir on its release in 2016. The famous ‘next generation poet’ is known for her ‘on-the-fly’ lyrical form and her live spoken word performances. The style councils have deemed her something of a force to be reckoned with in the poetry world – trailblazing the way for even more artists that like to blend abstract prose with the rawness of everyday dialogue. But does she have the stamina to wrap her considerable talent with words around the novel format? Well, that’s a yes and no from me. Read on to find out why The Bricks that Built the Houses dazzles and frustrates in equal measure.
Book title: The Bricks that Built the Houses
Author: Kate Tempest
About the author: Kate Tempest was born in 1985. She has published two plays: Wasted and Hopelessly Devoted. Her first album, Everybody Down, was released in 2014 to industry acclaim with a second, Let Them Eat Chaos, following in 2016. Her poem Brand New Ancients garnered her the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry in 2012. In addition to this, three published volumes of poetry are available: Hold Your Own, Running Upon the Wires and Everything Speaks in its Own Way. In 2019, she released another album, The Book of Traps and Lessons.
SYNOPSIS
This story follows the day-to-day lives of several hustlers as they strive to get ahead in modern day London. Two girls, Becky and Harry are on the run from a bad relationship and a drug deal gone bad. Becky is an aspiring dancer who supplements her income as a risqué masseuse. Harry is a coke dealer who supplies exclusively to wealthy users. Their paths cross with the everyday people who make up the fabric of our lives. They muse on the past, who they might become and the so-called friends and losers they want to leave behind.
JUDGING THE BOOK BY ITS COVER
The author’s name looms larger than life on the cover of her novel. If you are a fan of Kate Tempest or simply know her name, then your curiosity will draw you in. The title is also intriguing, so at a trim 300+ pages, this isn’t too much of a gamble if you are looking to try out something a bit different.
THE BOOK ITSELF
The characters were familiar, yet they didn’t bring the story to life vividly enough despite the great level of detail and thought that had gone into building their world. I tried very hard not to feel jaded while reading their predictable tale, but at no point did the tired characters surprise me or coax any warmth. I wouldn’t be surprised if a filmmaker tries to adapt this in the future. The story's two leading roles would suit some up-and-coming actresses or pop stars that want to leap into acting: Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) or Kristin Stewart (Twilight) would make a good Harry and Tessa Thompson (Thor Ragnarok / Men in Black: International) for Becky. Harry is portrayed as a shy girl thrown into the criminal underworld through bad circumstances and an unstable but loving family. She becomes romantically linked to Becky, who is in a difficult relationship with Harry’s unemployed brother. A drug deal goes bad when a new face shows up at a drop, complicating the fortunes of all the characters in turn. I think Kate Tempest was aiming for Trainspotting and instead she’s concocted a slightly trendier/swearier version of EastEnders by mistake.
Metaphors and bold symbolism clash badly here, the writer caught outside of the short and nifty confines of a 4-minute song or a two-page poem. The words Tempest usually composes and wrangles so expertly don’t quite work in the realms of a novel. At times, the dialogue and sentence structure feel out of place and at worst tin-eared. I like a level of experimentation, but for me, The Bricks that Built the Houses felt like old hat. Ever heard that song by Ariana Grande ‘Thank U, Next?’ I won’t paraphrase from it but if you know the chorus, you’ll know what I’m getting at.
I’m not saying that actors shouldn’t sing, I’m not saying photographers shouldn’t paint, what I am saying is that on this occasion, Kate Tempest has met her match and spread her admirable talents too thin.
DID IT CHANGE MY LIFE?
No.
BOOK RATING
5/10 📚
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s not for everybody and I don’t think it’s a bad book. I think that it would appeal to her ardent fans that really love her tough, lyrical stance. Short poems and songs are for repeated enjoyment yet in most cases you’ll read a novel just once - so I think her fans would welcome the chance to spend a lot of time in the company of her work. The Bricks that Built the Houses garnered a lot of praise from literary critics, so this proves that Kate Tempest landed firmly on her feet when the book first came out. I can appreciate that, had I read this book when I was younger, I would have thought it was brilliant as I think it is written for people finding their own way through life; first relationships, early adult conflicts, and navigating a troubled city life. As time goes on, the more books you read, the more your tastes develop – in this case, The Bricks that Built the Houses was too basic for me.
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