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Baber's Apple
by Michael Marr

Baber Mittough's life takes an unexpected turn as he is catapulted from leafy suburbia to the murky alphabet soup of Kazakhstan's underworld.

This compelling tale unfolds as engineer Baber is sold by his employer to a questionable Kazakh businessman. When the irresistible Irena befriends Baber, he begins to suspect his new job isn't quite all it seems. As things start to go wrong Baber is left with no option other than to make a hasty escape in a rusty old VW van with the unlikely companion Katerina, two stowaways and a cell phone that has only ever said NO NETWORK. For all concerned it's as well Baber is committed the Haynes Manual to memory. . .

Set against a backdrop of suburban England and a politically turbulent Kazakhstan, Baber's Apple is both funny and tragic, a thought-provoking novel about family and friendships, old age and new beginnings.

Publication Details:

Paperback / 326pp
ISBN: 0-9551094-1-8
ISBN: 978-0-9551094-1-6
Publisher: Paperbooks Ltd.
Pub. Date: 27-06-06


 

Reviews

The Independent on Sunday 

‘…Marr's wit, crazy intelligence and daring suggest a career ripe with promise' 

 

'It's astute, fun and energetic'

Fay Weldon

 

'Rich, lyrical, inventive, witty, a superb first novel that buzzes with energy!'

Gerard Woodward

 

This book is great. The plot is unusual and hard to envisage from the beginning, making the story immediately intriguing. Characters are well depicted and carefully drawn, creating empathy with the reader and embellishing the action with their own idiosyncrasies. I really enjoyed the whole experience and have to applaud the author for a stupendous first novel. It reminds me a little of White Teeth (Zadie Smith) and Perfume (Patrick Suskind) with its descriptive observations. Highly recommended.

Lovereading.co.uk

 

Baber's Apple can fairly be labelled a romp, but with one significant difference. Beneath the somewhat startling storyline Michael Marr gives us humour (lots) pathos (a little)and some very shrewd observations of differing relationships.

Baber Mittough is an eccentric but skilled mechanic who is sent by his employer to Kazakhstan to assemble machinery which he has sold to Mr. Daniel Baratozhian. "Dan the Man" turns out to be a different kettle of fish at home and thereby hangs the tale.

There are laugh-out-loud moments (I read the description of Baber's first attempt at negotiating a ski slope three times - it is best read out loud!) and descriptions which make one blink "(Mr Reason hiding behind his eyebrows and emerging briefly on occasion......a security man with shoulders like a kingsize mattress)"

His book is as juicy as the best of them. I recommend it!

Amazon Review

 

Written from the point of view of Beulah, Baber's imaginary brother (or sometimes sister) Baber's Apple is an enjoyable read of Baber's escapades both in England and Kazakhstan, where he goes to work for Dan Baratozhian.

Baber's honesty is refreshing and allows for many humorous moments. He also appears somewhat naive in Kazakhstan and his experiences with Kalashnikovs and the Namangan Revivalists not only provides an insight into the Kazakhstan underworld but it also takes the reader on an interesting journey with Baber and the people around him; people who love him, lust for him and use him to achieve freedom. Writers' Forum

The writing is so fluent and engaging, you're half way through Baber's remarkable journeying before you realise it.

Amazon Review

 

 

 

 



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