Book Review: So Many Ways to Begin

Book #70

“Lives were changed and moved by much smaller cues, chance meetings, overheard conversations, the trips and stumbles which constantly alter and readjust the course of things, history made by a million fractional moments too numerous to calibrate or observe or record.” — Jon McGregor, So Many Ways to Begin

Jon McGregor is one of those authors I want to introduce the world to. He really isn’t recognised enough for his enormous talent. He’s young (34) and has written three novels, so I can only hope that has much more in him and that each will be just as amazing as the last. I wonder if he could possibly write something more amazing. When I met him at Hay this year, I was astonished at how modest he was. His writing does read a little like that, a little reserved, snatches of brilliance instead of overreaching, which makes it all the more rewarding to read. But I was still in awe of how he couldn’t know how incredibly, incredibly talented he is. 

This is his second novel. It’s the story of David’s life, told through mementos in his life’s museum. David himself is infatuated with history, and goes to work in a museum, as his dream is to be a curator. McGregor explores how such small things can affect the entire outcome of our lives — how we could miss out on meeting our life partner, on gaining our dream jobs, on understanding where we came from. I don’t want to outline the story, but suffice to say we are taken through the years with authenticity and tenderness.

McGregor writes in a very poetic way, sometimes using metaphors and such but mostly describing landscapes and expressions with a clarity unavailable to most of us, with everyday language made exquisite. Go buy any of his books and introduce yourself to this wonderful man if you haven’t already.