Comments on: The Emperor of Ice-cream http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/the-emperor-of-ice-cream/ The moreish novels of Brian Moore Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:56:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: lizzysiddal http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/the-emperor-of-ice-cream/#comment-151 lizzysiddal Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:22:24 +0000 http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-151 It is now two months since I read the book and the reason why this review is so delayed is that I’m disappointed that it’s not joining the list of my 5-star reads. On the back of the your review, Colette, I came to <em>The Emperor of Ice-Cream </em> with the highest of expectations, completely and utterly expecting myself to be blown away. It didn’t happen, which is not to say that it isn’t an excellent read. I think I was expecting something to grab me in the same way as <em>The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne </em>. I don’t currently have much empathy with adolescent male leads - and the stupidity of this one made my blood boil in places. (Interesting that this novel is the most autobiographical of Moore’s output - suggesting that while I admire the author, I wouldn’t have got on with the man?) But while I was alienated from the personal drama, I was fascinated by the historical, completely amazed at the mindset that couldn’t wait for the second world war to hit Belfast. And didn’t it just, when the Luftwaffe got its sights in! I realise the foregoing sounds rather ambivalent but let me stress that <em>The Emperor of Ice-Cream </em> is still a 4-star read and far superior to much contemporary fiction. I agree with John Self that it is a travesty that it is out of print. Here’s hoping that Faber will find it and republish .. It is now two months since I read the book and the reason why this review is so delayed is that I’m disappointed that it’s not joining the list of my 5-star reads. On the back of the your review, Colette, I came to The Emperor of Ice-Cream with the highest of expectations, completely and utterly expecting myself to be blown away. It didn’t happen, which is not to say that it isn’t an excellent read. I think I was expecting something to grab me in the same way as The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne . I don’t currently have much empathy with adolescent male leads – and the stupidity of this one made my blood boil in places. (Interesting that this novel is the most autobiographical of Moore’s output – suggesting that while I admire the author, I wouldn’t have got on with the man?) But while I was alienated from the personal drama, I was fascinated by the historical, completely amazed at the mindset that couldn’t wait for the second world war to hit Belfast. And didn’t it just, when the Luftwaffe got its sights in! I realise the foregoing sounds rather ambivalent but let me stress that The Emperor of Ice-Cream is still a 4-star read and far superior to much contemporary fiction. I agree with John Self that it is a travesty that it is out of print. Here’s hoping that Faber will find it and republish ..

]]> By: colettejones http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/the-emperor-of-ice-cream/#comment-102 colettejones Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:43:01 +0000 http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-102 Yikes. I would have to agree that decimalisation was necessary! Yikes. I would have to agree that decimalisation was necessary!

]]> By: John Self http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/the-emperor-of-ice-cream/#comment-101 John Self Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:06:59 +0000 http://themoorethemerrier.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-101 Great stuff Colette. I'm glad I'm not alone in finding this up at the top of Moore's achievements. 5/- means 5 shillings. Before money in the UK was decimalised (in 1971?), prices were expressed in pounds, shillings and pence. There were 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a pound (so 240 pence in a pound). So yes, 5 shillings would be the equivalent of 25p, ie a quarter of a pound. I am guessing the cover had the price expressed in both formats as decimalisation was imminent in 1970 when your copy was published. Great stuff Colette. I’m glad I’m not alone in finding this up at the top of Moore’s achievements.

5/- means 5 shillings. Before money in the UK was decimalised (in 1971?), prices were expressed in pounds, shillings and pence. There were 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a pound (so 240 pence in a pound). So yes, 5 shillings would be the equivalent of 25p, ie a quarter of a pound. I am guessing the cover had the price expressed in both formats as decimalisation was imminent in 1970 when your copy was published.

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