Junk
Posted by Fliss | Posted in Book Reviews | Posted on 15-04-2010
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Junk, by Melvin Burgess, is the story of Gemma and Tar; Tar runs away to Bristol to escape his physically abusive father and his emotionally abusive mother. Before long, however, Gemma has decided that she wants to run away too, as her parents have started keeping her in against her will (which I can’t help thinking is reasonable, considering she’s fourteen at the time), and she joins Tar in Bristol. It’s from this point on that their story really becomes harrowing.
Before long they have become involved in stealing, heroin, drug-dealing. The girls become prostitutes, there are teen pregnancies, overdoses, deaths. If you think I am needlessly spoilering, you’re wrong; the whole story becomes heart-breakingly inevitable from the moment Gemma and Tar get their first hit. I will say, though; at least one of the two seems to escape their addiction, by the end of the book.
I found the book, sometimes, almost too harrowing to bear. What was most difficult, for me personally, was the willingness with which the two central characters seemed to embrace their downfalls, and their blindness to their own addiction. However, the whole book is written in the first person, and so what Gemma and Tar don’t tell you about their lives is revealed in the portions of the text where other, minor, characters take over the narrative.
I won’t deny, either, that Burgess is a gifted writer; his ability to create a distinct, recognisable voice for even the smallest character is exemplary, and, even while I was completely appalled by some of the characters and their actions, I was still compelled to read on until I reached the end. Nevertheless, it’s not a book that was really written to be enjoyable, and I certainly didn’t enjoy the experience of reading Junk; I don’t even know if I would have made it to the end of the book if I hadn’t had to read the book for a course. All I do know is that I am relieved to have reached the end of it, and, now that it is finished, I am glad that I read it.
On my own, the subject would not have appealed to me, I probably wouldn’t have even picked the book up, and I think I would have been missing out. Junk is compelling, masterfully written, and well worth a read. It’s just not for the faint-hearted.
Hey, I read that as a teenager! It’s actually really good; it’s one of the books that I’ve always remembered very well from when I was young, which I think shows how much it grabs you when reading it. Definitely will stick with you, I think.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yeah, it was good, but it was one of the hardest reads this year for me. Still, I definitely think you are right; it is going to stay with me for a long time.
I remember hearing about this when it first came out – the library I visited as a teenager had put it out on a display where it had been picked up by a young teen and there was a complaint. The furore in the local paper was enormous, which maybe isn’t surprising given the content. It’s one of those books I don’t think I can bring myself to read. Have you ever seen the film ‘Reqieum for a Dream’? In that a group of friends becomes involved with heroin, and then prostitution, and it is just awful and traumatic. It sounds too much like that to me.
I’ve generally enjoyed Burgesses books as… I don’t know what to call them. Technical reads? They are great to get into but I’ve frequently had trouble enjoying the plot and characters. (Although I still maintain that Billy Elliot has almost nothing of merit at all in it)
Mind you, I haven’t read any for four-five years, so maybe it’s all changed.
If it’s the same format I’m not sure I could really get through a whole book again.
Victoria – I’ve never watched ‘Requiem for a dream’ all the way through, but I have caught bits of it, and you’re right; it is very much the same kind of subject matter. I can also see why there was such a furore over a younger teen picking it up in the library, based purely on the themes it deals with, but it is not a particularly graphic book. Still, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up myself if it wasn’t part of a course that I am doing at the moment, as I certainly found parts of the book very difficult to deal with, and, if you think you wouldn’t get on with it, I would definitely recommend giving it a miss.
Innokenti – Yes, this one is pretty much the same, although it is an older one of his, from the nineties, and I agree with you about them being sort of technical reads; it is very easy to be captivated, but without actually liking anything that you are reading. I don’t think I’ll be rushing out to read any more of Burgess’s books any time soon, though.
I’ve had this on my wish list for a while. I think manly because its set in Bristol where I was born to be honest. But I’ve never actually brought it as I think you really have to be in the mood surely?
NB: There are a couple of spoilers in the comment ahead. Don’t read if you don’t want ‘em!
In reply to everybody(!) – I think I seemed to like this more than everybody else. Which is interesting, because I read it when I was 12-13! Not long after it came out, actually.
I haven’t read it since, but I still have such a clear image of the characters. And while obviously the drugs and that whole world is quite dark and can be difficult, I really think that it wasn’t nearly as heavy as it could have been. And I think it was quite good at showing the ‘allure’ of that sphere (initially) and what can happen to the people involved.
I don’t know how anybody else who has read it felt about the characters? I found there were some genuinely sympathetic characters in there, and some good character-arcs. I haven’t read any of his other books, Kenti, but I think the characters are pretty powerful in this one.
Vonny – who is one of the people who initially takes in Tar and Gemma – is actually very likeable (despite the book’s themes!). And not particularly ‘off the rails’ either, actually. She’s one of the most sorted characters of the lot, and helps get Gemma sorted and back home to her family, too. As well as being quite cool, and I liked the way the antagonism between her and Gemma started (believably!) and ended up playing out.
I think Tar (Gemma’s boyfriend) was an amazing character, too. He started out as this young, shy, slightly awkward boy who’s dragged into things unwillingly, but after becoming so involved in drugs he changes so much, quite gradually, so that at the end of the book he’s barely recognisable.
The almost role reversal, which goes on little-by-little throughout the book, between Gemma and Tar was fascinating. For me, it had an indication of how much strength of mind and resolve as well as real family support matter. Gemma is able, after a long nasty ride, to get herself back on her feet. Partly because she genuinely wants to, and she really means to succeed, and partly because her parents give her the supportive infrastructure needed to help her. Tar has none of that. He was the most ‘lost’ of all the characters, because he never had anything to ground him.
For a young adult book, I suppose it’s startlingly complex. The amount I can remember of it is an indicator to me of how struck I was by it at the time! If you feel able to pick it up, I think it would be an interesting read. I don’t recall that I was impressed by the idea of any of his other books, but Junk, for me, was a bit special.
(Wow, comment essay! Sorry…)
You, know, Jen, I hardly remembered Vonny once I had put down the book, but you are right, she is very cool, and comes across as a good person.
I think, though, from what you have said, that maybe the book is best read when you are young, perhaps, just from what you got out of it compared to me. So many of the characters who narrate the book are teens, and so obviously think as teens (which is, of course, a great plus for Burgess’s writing), that it was hard for me to shift into their mindset- I’ve obviously looked after too many children to view things so completely from the other side!:0)
Jessica – Yes, it is set in Bristol, but I felt that it could have been any kind of medium-sized city, really, but that could just be me. Still, I wasn’t really aware of the city playing a big part. Nevertheless, you might see more of Bristol in it if you read it. But I would definitely say, for me personally, you do kind of have to be in the mood to read it, although others might disagree.
hiya – I have an award for you on my blog.