The Guardian called this first novel by Stuart David, founding member of the rock group Belle and Sebastian, “a stunning insight into reclusion,” and The Times wrote, “delicately written and achingly sad.”
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
... attracting great acclaim not because it's a book by the bass-player of Belle&Sebastian, but because it's a fabulous novel. -- The Guardian
... haunting fairy tale ... -- WWD: Women's Wear Daily
At once reveting and sad, "Nalda Said" turns out to be uncomfortably true to life. -- New York Times, Book Review, By Dana Kennedy
Delicately written ... if David ever gives up the day job, pop music's loss could well be literature's gain. -- The Times of London
Nalda Said is, at heart, a cautionary tale about the terrifying malleability of a young intellect. -- The Village Voice
... haunting fairy tale ... -- WWD: Women's Wear Daily
At once reveting and sad, "Nalda Said" turns out to be uncomfortably true to life. -- New York Times, Book Review, By Dana Kennedy
Delicately written ... if David ever gives up the day job, pop music's loss could well be literature's gain. -- The Times of London
Nalda Said is, at heart, a cautionary tale about the terrifying malleability of a young intellect. -- The Village Voice
About the Author
Stuart David is a founding member and the former bass player for the Glaswegian band Belle and Sebastian, which was voted Best British Newcomer in 1999 and dubbed "the new Smiths" by Select magazine. David's cutting-edge and hugely successful spoken word project, Looper, has spawned two stylistically unique albums. According to a "case study" on Looper's Web site, David has supposedly disappeared--though there has been some suggestion that he has merely morphed into the alter ego of one Peacock Johnson.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eat These Words,
This review is from: Nalda Said (Paperback)
If you're like me, you steer clear of (even minor) celebrity vanity projects. If David Bowie wants to star in a film, if Bono wants to write a novel, if Billy Bob Thornton wants to release an album of country standards, be my guest, just keep the vanity products away from me.The fact that Stuart David, formerly of Belle and Sebastian and lately of Looper, decided to write a novel did not fill me with joy. But I have to say, this is the kind of book that makes you eat your words. "Nalda Said" is a beautiful dark gem. The unnamed narrator (kin of Dostoefski's Myshkin and the narrator of John Kennedy Toole's "Neon Bible") believes there is a jewel in him that the world wants to steal. His Aunt Nalda told him when he was a kid. He makes his way through the world (in much the same way that the characters within Magnus Mills' novels do, unchanging, the world happening to them, the world misunderstood by them) believing that there really IS a jewel in him, believing that people want to steal the jewel from him. There are elements of all sorts of things in here (aside of what I have mentioned, I kept being reminded of Beckett's "Murphy"), but that is more or less besides the point. What is apparent, almost straight away, is the quality of the writing, the sense of enchantment and sadness that pervades the genuine talent at work here. I always hate reviews that say "If you only read one book this year etc etc etc . . ." I will say this, though: you should make sure you read this, you should make sure that this is ONE of the books you read this year because you will be bowled over.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
we only have to do this til we reach the dry sand...,
By D. Ryder (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nalda Said (Paperback)
it helped me get through one of the worst nights of my life. i couldnt sleep. and so i sat there reading til the sun came through the crack in the blinds. you want to know what it's about? it's about a confused boy. but anyone who has ever felt lost can relate to him. it's written in a matter much like Stuarts Looper songs. warm, thought out, and fuzzy feeling. it's my favorite book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
definitely worth reading,
By Joe Buck (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nalda Said (Paperback)
Belle and Sebastian fans stumbling over here, no this book is not a companion to their music, don't read it expecting that. Read it because it is simply just a great book. I read it in one sitting, cover to cover, and I am really unhappy that I didn't put it down and savor it a bit more.Excellent tone throughout this entire book, seriously playful. Just when you think you might have figured out this character, something new comes along to dispel what you have thought. And when the reality of what has happened surfaces, the emotional bond between the reader and the character just becomes even more intense. Simple and complex. It's tough to write books like this with such subtlty and restraint. It would have been so easy for Stuart David to just lay everything out for us to see clearly, but the way he does here makes for a much more intriguing read. And that it never ceases, the style and tone is carried all the way through to the very breathtaking end in such a way that is almost expected yet still surprising. Fantastic.
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