Home » Books, Poetry & Writing » Books

How Late It Was, How Late: A Really Good Book for Adults

Ranked #4,692 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #173,748 overall

How Late It Was, How Late, by James Kelman

I love James Kelman. To me, he can do no wrong. And this winner of the Booker Prize was the first novel of his I came across.

I also love a strong narrative voice and few voices are stronger than this one, with its often challenging Glaswegian accent. Here is the long first sentence:

Ye wake in a corner and stay there hoping yer body will disappear, the thoughts smothering ye; these thoughts; but ye want to remember and face up to things, just something keeps ye from doing it, why can ye no do it; the words filling your head: then the other words; there's something wrong; there's something far far wrong; ye're no a good man, ye're just no a good man.

Be forewarned, our antihero, Sammy, uses profanity casually and constantly—and hilariously—throughout his long ordeal. Someone once counted 4,000 instances of the "F" word. One of the Booker judges that year, Rabbi Julia Neuberger, reportedly threatened to resign from the committee if the book won the prize, calling it “not publicly accessible” and “crap.” (See Footnote 1)

Which all goes to say that if you read this book and agree with Rabbi Neuberger, then let me say goodbye right now. If you don’t agree with her, then you have found a series of recommendations which I hope will win your heart. Please feel free to leave a comment in Reader Responses at the bottom of this page.

Footnote 1: Booker club: How Late It Was, How Late, by James Kelman, by Sam Jordison, from The Guardian, 14 September 2011.

For more Really Good Books, follow me on Twitter.

Photo Credit: How Late It Was, How Late: A Novel
Available on Amazon

“Ye wake in a corner and stay there hoping yer body will disappear...”

About the Author: James Kelman

University of Glasgow, circa 1890I could not find a picture of Kelman which I could legally copy to this page, so I have uploaded an old photo of the University of Glasgow instead.

However, if you do a Google search for “james kelman images,” you will be treated to a face that could easily be that of Kelman’s hero, Sammy: Lean, craggy, wary.

Kelman was born in 1946 in Glasgow, and he has never strayed far from there, in his life or his writings. (One wonderful novel, You Have to Be Careful in the Land of the Free, does take place in the U.S.) He has won many awards besides the Booker, including Scotland’s most prestigious literary award, the Saltire Society’s Book of the Year Award for his latest novel, Kieron Smith, Boy.

Kelman is a political activist and essayist as well as a brilliant writer of fiction.

Photo Credit: The University of Glasgow
on Flickr, Creative Commons

Don't Take My Word For It ...

Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DCRabbi Neuberger aside, many others have praised this book, which has inspired a generation of gritty, naturalistic writers. The cover quotation on the paperback is from the British newspaper, The Guardian:

A passionate, scintillating, brilliant song of a book.

And the New York Times, on the back:

A work of marvelous vibrance and richness of character. . . . Mr. Kelman’s novel succeeds in every important way: it convinces, it charms, it entertains, it informs and it has life. . . . How Late It Was, How Late deserves every accolade it gets.

Of the 29 Reader Reviews I found on Amazon today, 13 gave it five stars and five gave it one star (Rabbi Neuberger at work?).

GoodReads gives it 3.7stars (out of 5) based on 660 ratings, and you can read another 88 reviews there. But if I were you, I would spend my time reading the book. When I read it, in June 2008, I gave it a very rare 5 stars myself. I am a tough grader. Only one other book earned five stars that year. I will be creating a page for that one soon. Stay tuned on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC
on Flickr, Creative Commons, courtesy Cornell University Library

More Really Good Books

Here is a listing of other pages I have produced so far in this series. I hope to add many more books in the coming weeks, so stay tuned (on Twitter), and Happy Reading!
Introduction to a Really Good Book
This is my introduction to the series. It tells you a little about myself so you can figure out whether or not you want to trust my recommendations! It also includes links to purchase a Kindle and Kindle accessories, as well as a collection of great posters on the theme of Reading.
The Betrayal, by Helen Dunmore
Leningrad after World War II. Love and life under a monster regime.
Don't Move, by Margaret Mazzantini
A man and the women in his life. Do you love him or hate him?
Duchess of Nothing, by Heather McGowan
"Look at your brother, I tell the boy. . ."
Room, by Emma Donoghue
A boy's best friend
Pereira Declares, by Antonio Tabucchi
Lemonade, a photograph, and an uncivil war
Desolation, by Yasmina Reza
Sons and fathers, wives and husbands, old friends
Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn
Are you ready to save the world?

A Really Good Shopping Mall

Scotland is our Shopping Mall's theme for this title, as our Really Good Book takes place there. As always, The Book Shelf comes first, then treat yourself to some posters, apparel, toys, etc., all with a Scottish theme.

Please note: On all Shopping Mall items, prices may vary when you get to the shop in question. When I (or the shop) have posted prices, they are merely our Best Guess at the time of posting.

Hoot, Mon!

The Book Shelf

Here are links to the Kelman books mentioned on this page. Surprisingly enough, there is no eBook version of How Late It Was, How Late, at least as of February 2012 (I will check again periodically, since it is my strong belief that before another year or two goes by, just about any book you could want will be available as an eBook).
Loading

Posters on a Scottish Theme

Please note, prices are subject to change without notice (or at least without my noticing). You will be able to check the current price when you go to the Poster site, before committing to a purchase.

Highland Cattle, Head Close-Up, Scotland
Highland Cattle, Head Close-Up, Scotland
Niall Benvie
Buy This at Allposters.com

I mean, who can resist? That tongue kills me. From $19.99.



Eilean Donan Castle, Western Highlands, Scotland
Eilean Donan CAstle, Western Highlands, Scotland
Gavin Hellier
Buy This at Allposters.com

This may seem like the romantic view of Scotland, but when I went there, I saw exactly this castle in almost exactly the same light. From $19.99.



Scots Pine Tree Reflected in Lake at Dawn, Loch an Eilean, Scotland, UK
Scots Pine Tree Reflected in Lake at Dawn, Loch an Eilean, Scotland, UK
Pete Cairns
Buy This at Allposters.com

Just a really lovely, peaceful image. From $19.99.



Scottish Bagpiper in Full Uniform
Scottish Bagpiper in Full Uniform
Buy This at Allposters.com

The quintessential Scottish image. From $14.99.



Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddin
Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddin
Sir Henry Raeburn
Buy This at Allposters.com

For heaven's sake, don't have any fun, Reverend! From $24.99.



Portrait of Great Grey Owl (Strix Nebulosa) Behind Scots Pine Tree, Scotland, UK
Portrait of Great Grey Owl (Strix Nebulosa) Behind Scots Pine Tree, Scotland, UK
Pete Cairns
Buy This at Allposters.com

Is there any stranger a bird, or a more beautiful one, than the owl? From $19.99.

Scottish Toys

Loading

Scottish Costumes

Loading

Scotch!

We'll raise a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne..
Loading

Today's Debate: Police Accountability

Our hero in How Late It Was, How Late undergoes a horrific experience at the hands of the Scottish police. This put me in mind of Today's Debate topic. Police forces in the U.S. are often accused of overstepping their authority and of using greater degrees of force than are necessary in certain situations. Sometimes they are exonerated for actions which seem to cross a line. Other times, members of police forces have been prosecuted and punished. So, considering your situation:

Are the police forces in your community and surrounding communities adequately accountable to civilian and legal oversight?

Loading

Yes.

No.

 

What Did You Think?

So, did I steer you right? Or was it a bummer? Of course, I think this is a great book. However, as a wise fellow once said, "One man's Mede is another man's Persian."

So here is your chance to thank me profusely for a Really Good Book or toss a virtual cream pie in my face.

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Reader Response: Post Your Comments

  • Mar 18, 2012 @ 2:17 am | delete
    Its raw vernacular and comfortless story put me off, but this is a brilliant novel.
  • dcopps Mar 18, 2012 @ 7:24 am | delete
    Well put, on all fronts. I confess to a fondness for the gritty in books and movies, and few stories are grittier than Sammy's.
  • mamabush Mar 7, 2012 @ 12:08 pm | delete
    I'm always looking for great new books to read. This looks like another great recommendation from you! :)
  • MonikaWeise Feb 28, 2012 @ 1:43 pm | delete
    Sounds like a good read, I'll have to check it out!
  • OhMe Feb 14, 2012 @ 7:01 am | delete
    I like the way you include a quote from the book in the intro to grab the reader's interest. I was not at all familiar with James Kelman so enjoyed learning about him and his books. Thank you.
Show All

Table of Contents

  2. About the Author: James Kelman
  3. Don't Take My Word For It ...
  4. More Really Good Books
  5. A Really Good Shopping Mall
  6. The Book Shelf
  7. Today's Debate: Police Accountability
  8. What Did You Think?
  9. Reader Response: Post Your Comments

by

dcopps

I am a Library Manager, blogger, ex-teacher, and tireless searcher-after and reader of Really Good Books.

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags