History the backdrop for well- paced tale

Contemporary language transforms Ancient Greece into a familiar landscape

The Vancouver Sun’s book club is discussing Annabel Lyon’s new novel The Sweet Girl, a follow up to The Golden Mean. We will be chatting online with Lyon at noon on Friday, Dec. 14. Plan to join the conversation at www. vancouversun. com/ books.

Monique Trottier: It is absolutely wonderful to read a book that is so well written. Annabel Lyon is just a step above; no wonder The Golden Mean was on so many short and long lists. I hope the same for The Sweet Girl.

I’m not sure if anyone else read The Golden Mean ( it’s on my shelf) but I love the idea that these two books are companions: we have Aristotle the man ( the public life) and Aristotle the dad ( private life from Pythias’ point of view).

The writing is incredibly accessible. We’re talking about Aristotle! Admittedly not his philosophy or teachings, but there’s so many little details of life at this time to enjoy as a reader. I know Annabel has mentioned in interviews that she went to Athens and did a bunch of research. The household items like the brambles they use as ancient bubble wrap for packing are apparently true. I love that kind of detail ( almost like really good product placement in movies — you don’t realize it’s there, the scene just unfolds).

As for the life of a girl during these times, I’m happy to find myself in 2012, but I do appreciate that the setting is Ancient Greece and the language is 21st century. Unlike ( Hilary) Mantel and her Cromwell’s days, which seem to be in our collective memory ( perhaps because of all the plays, movies, books and adaptations), I can’t say that it’s as easy to channel the language of Ancient Greece, the tone or inflections of dialogue.

But the idea that you would have sullen teenagers, young love, poor judgments, admiration for parents — Annabel’s use of contemporary language really helped me think about this very faraway time and place in a way I probably wouldn’t have if the language was reflective of the times.

Great pick, I really enjoyed this one.

Julia Denholm: I’m about halfway through my second reading of this wonderful book, but have to confess my tired brain seems not to be up to the necessary speed. I still find myself flipping back and forth: “What happened there?” “How did I miss that?”

I just think the writing is too subtle for the ( not very careful) attention I’ve been able to pay to this book. I can tell it deserves more from me, but it’s going to have to wait until I get some downtime over the holidays, I think. I do, very much, want to read The Golden Mean, so I’ll have both with me in December,

Ian Weir: I agree wholeheartedly that the level of subtlety is wonderful. Hell, so’s the entire novel.

Before publication, Annabel wrote a newspaper piece in which she stated her dislike for the selfconscious archaism of a certain school of historical fiction, and referred to The Sweet Girl as a “mash- up” of her own life as a contemporary woman and her imaginary life as a 16- year- old girl in ancient Greece. That really resonated for me, and I think it goes right to the heart of the novel’s artistic success.

For my money, the absolute highlight of the book is the relationship between Pythias and Aristotle — a remarkable and timeless treatment of the love between a gifted daughter and an extraordinary father.

Trevor Battye: What I really liked about this book was that having not read the Golden Mean ( which I will be doing very shortly) I found this book very accessible, as compared to some of the other sequels we’ve read.

I also found the skilful use of dialogue really created a great moving pace to the book, making it a very easy and accessible read, which was great! I tend to be a very impatient reader, and so it’s great to have a title that kept moving from point to point along the plot.

Also, I agree with what Ian suggests; there’s a great balance of the historical here with the modern. When I read it, I’m not drowning in the historical elements of the book which often contributes to lag.

Is it wrong to suggest we read the Golden Mean next?

Our book club panel includes Ian Weir, author of the novel Daniel O’Thunder; Vancouver young- adult author Melanie Jackson; Daphne Wood, the Vancouver Public Library’s director, planning and development; Julia Denholm, division chair, humanities at Langara College; Monique Sherrett, principal at Boxcar Marketing and founder of somisguided.com; Trevor Battye, a partner in Clevers Media; Vancouver Sun books editor Tracy Sherlock; and city editor Bev Wake.