Jerusalem by Patrick Neale

I read many books. Most I forget quickly even though I enjoy them at the time of reading. This year I will blog a short review of each title - for the record.

Jerusalem is about British identity overlaid with notions of post-colonial integrity or lack of. Told through related stories spanning more than a century, the main characters are flawed, funny and sometimes pathetic. They range from a British officer returned from the Anglo-boer war to a modern-day spinner of cool - with witchdoctors, tinpot dictators and a minister of the crown thrown into the mix.

I laughed aloud in parts, especially at the dilemmas endured by the minister in 'real Africa'. I also thought the auther did well to describe contemporary culture. I thought the narrative structure worked well exemplifying the fracturing of both society and psyche.