Our Man in Havana: Graham Greene
My parents had three girls in five years, so there was A LOT of bickering at dinner times. The way my Mum used to get us to shut up was put on an audio book. A particular favourite was one called ‘The Most Incredible Thing’ though I can’t for the life of me remember what the most incredible thing was. And that was pretty much the last audio book I ever listened to. But since we had some serious driving to do and our tastes in music do not really coincide (Husband likes shouty angst, I like sing-a-long pop) we decided we’d give an audio book a go.
This in itself was pretty traumatic: first, because I didn’t realise how bloody expensive they are, second, because most of them were chick-lit and this would go down about as well as saying, ‘hey Husband, I forgot to bring any music except Cheryl Cole’ (he likes her face, not her voice) and third, because most of the classics were abridged and what would be the point in that?
Anyway, so I settled on Graham Greene. I have always been interested in the idea of Graham Greene, though the only book I’ve previously tried was ‘The End of the Affair’ and I got bored and wished the End of the Story would come sooner.
This is much more like it. I’ve always thought that comic novels are probably the hardest to write; and date the fastest, since comedy depends so much on timing. And they are a pretty under-rated genre: people don’t think about how much talent is involved in being genuinely funny. I did not only giggle out loud at this book, I positively snorted. Good thing that only the Husband and the sheep in Derbyshire could hear me: this would not go down well on the tube.
We’re in Cuba in the 1950′s. The British Secret Service need a spy in Havana, and alight on Jim Wormald, whose business selling vacuum cleaners is struggling and needs money so that his devout daughter can ride her horse. Instead of recruiting agents, he makes them up in order to claim their expenses, and invents suspicious happenings based on the local paper. He never expects to be believed…
‘Our Man in Havana’ is a little bit like the oddly shaped love child of ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Love in a Cold Climate’. Poor old Mr Wormald reminded me a lot of Fanny in ‘Cold Climate,’ the hapless observer trapped in a descending spiral of increasing madness, with all the lunatics around him believing that their point of view is entirely rational. And it’s a bit like Animal Farm in its clever satire: though this is about the Cold War, rather than the Soviet Union. Part of the point, I thought, was that while everything that was happening to Wormald was absurd, it was no more absurd than the global situation. This book is delicious, delicious irony.
The audio book thing was cool. Very good narrator who did hilarious accents (posh British secretary, devilish Cuban policeman, elderly head of MI5…or is it 6? I get them mixed up). Though now Mr Wormald is Mr Verm-hold in my head, as that’s the way narrator-doing-devilish-Cuban-policeman said it. But how do I get them cheaper? Is there a swap site? Poor selection at the library.
Mr Wormald is amused, bemused and confused: this blog personified. Except, you know, a lot better.
Posted on September 8, 2010, in Uncategorized and tagged book review, book reviews, books, classics, comedy, cuba, culture, graham greene, literature, our man in havana, reading, reviews, spying, the cold war. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.
Oh I so love Graham Greene – I’ve recently read The End of the Affair only I loved it! I can’t wait to read some of his comedic books as the ones I have read so far have been his Catholic novels.
This one is recommended to me quite often but I don’t think I have it. I have The Comedians which is also set in Cuba I think and many more. After my book ban, I’ll have to collect up more Greene, he’s written a boatload of books.
I personally can’t really get into audio books – I’ve tried but maybe not enough. I always forget to listen!
I watched the Julianne Moore film of the End of the Affair and thought I would love the book – I was so disappointed. I am very glad I gave Greene another try!
Helen and I both got audiobooks to take to Brazil, and like you, the last time I probably listened to an audio book was when it was on cassette!! Helen chose a James Patterson book and I got the new Andrew Marr one. I think you’ll find them cheaper on iTunes if you have a way of playing them off your iPod in the car.
The Graeme Greene book sounds interesting, think I may read it when I have got through my pile of unread ones!
I think you would like this one. I have got the Damned United to read, are you proud of me?
Very proud of you, it’s an awesome book, way better than the film!
I love this book and most of the greene books I ve read ,his humor is something that you don’t expect from him ,love the sillyness of how theyjust accept his word on what info he provides never getting there vacum cleaner diagrams ,you might also try hounary consul it is set in latin america ,but is also funny ,all the best stu
I really loved the fact that they just took everything at face value and wouldn’t let the experts look at the diagrams because it was ‘secret information!’ I bet that sort of thing really happens.
I’m with Fiona, I always forget to listen to audio books. I like this Greene and really liked his Travels With My Aunt. But neither of them are “serious” Greene.
It’s funny how *one* audiobook from childhood can be so well-remembered. Mine was “A King for Brass Cobweb” (a horribly preachy Christian children’s book). I think maybe it has to do with kids’ tendency to listen to things repeatedly? Or maybe our parents didn’t want to shell out the money for multiple audiobooks, lol.
If you have an iPod and have it set up so you can listen to it in the car, there’s an app called Audiobooks that has a lot of unabridged classics for free. I use it all the time when I’m doing housework.
Thanks, that’s great to know. I did try downloading some off itunes, but the narrator sounded like one of those hideous voice recognition technology. I’ll definitely give it a go.
I’ve read two Graham Greene books and enjoyed them both: END OF THE AFFAIR and MINISTRY OF FEAR.(Though I liked the MINISTRY OF FEAR film better. It’s an old one from the 40′s starring Ray Milland.) I think I will try OUR MAN IN HAVANA. On audio, as you have. Sounds a treat.
I love audio books and listen to them all the time while I work. http://www.audiobooks.com is a terrific website for audio-philes. I always read/listen to unabridged. I’m surprised you had so much trouble finding them. As back-up, my local library has many audio books available as well.
Brilliant, thanks so much for that link! I was surprised too about so many being abridged.
Your nieces may have inherited the audio tapes so if you feel the need to reawaken happy childhood memories of mealtimes you’ll have to ask them if they’ll lend them to you – if you still have a cassette player of course!
love Mum xx
Erm, no. Haven’t had cassette player in ten years – don’t know if you can even buy them any more!
Audio books, you say? First, sorry I’m so late in responding. Second, I too have been making a recent foray into audiobooks but only to make my 60 min +/30 mile daily commute more bearable. One can only listen to so much public radio and hip hop. Anyway, I started the White Tiger by Arvind Adinga. It’s a bit slow going (perhaps its’ the audiobook aspect of it?), but if you have read that book or have any other recommendations, I’d love them as always. CDs are expensive, but Grammy’s car (which I’m borrowing) is so far proving to be ill-equipped for an iPod/iPhone hookup. The device that I bought to play them in the car through the cigarette lighter is so far proving to be ineffective.