Magnus Mills writes characters who communicate within very tightly defined limits. In [b:The Restraint of Beasts|323208|The Restraint of Beasts|Magnus Mills|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348299275l/323208._SY75_.jpg|1310862], these limits were implied through the long familiarity of two labourers; here they are the explicit rules of a club. The effect is the same: as a reader you have to really occupy the world in order to understand what's going on. This means that subtle shifts become legible and surprises are real surprises. ( )

This is an odd little book. Two friends set up a society at their local pub for "forensic" listening to records. Essentially this means listening only, with no criticisms or comments, rules that are strictly enforced by founder James, sometimes to others' discomfort.

As the little society takes off, suddenly a competitor emerges: the Confessional Record Society. The latter seeks to overwhelm the Forensic Records Society with mass appeal, but the forensic men stick to their principles.

This is all a pretty obvious allegory for religion and schisms within churches, including charismatics, low church, etc. Mills also plays around a bit with time, in that Forensic meetings seem to run longer than anyone thought, but I'm not clear what he was trying to do there.

The ending has attracted some adverse comment, and I didn't really like it. I took it to indicate that the narrator had moved beyond his obsession about listening and learned to experience music as a part of life, but I'm not sure that's what was meant. ( )

I love records! My record collection will be one of the last things they pry from my cold, dead hands.

I love the idea of going to a private room with drinks and sandwiches to listen to records with other record enthusiasts. I love that my friends in Germany have gone to record listening night at a club or some other venue.

When I stumbled upon this book that LOOKS like a record and is about two blokes who start their own record listening society (i.e. club) I had to have it. I was very happy that the writing lived up to the great packaging. Now having read this book and All Quiet on the Orient Express, I can say that Magnus Mills is my current favorite author.

The Forensic Records Society is run by James who is a stickler for rules. Everyone is to bring three records to listen to and there is to be no comment or criticism. Just sit and listen to the records and drink your beer and go home. And make sure you're on time or you won't be let in.

Obviously, people being people, there will be those who for whatever reason can't follow the rules. There are consequences. People get upset or offended and form their own Records Societies.

Brilliant writing. Brilliant packaging. I'm off to go grab myself the rest of Magnus Mills' books.

Thank you Alan Parkinson for creating a Playlist! https://livinggeography.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-forensic-records-society.html ( )

Very humorous, warmhearted, and insightful, a group of men create a society for the forensic appreciation of 7" vinyl records in the back room of their local pub, each taking turns to share their chosen song in silence. That is, until a newcomer has different ideas as to how the society should work. A great irreverent short read book coming in at 182 pages.

Sitting down to read another Magnus Mills novel is for me a real treat. The Forensic Records Society has some of the elements I expect in his novels, we have seemingly eccentric male characters taking life just a little bit too seriously, this time with vinyl records. The action happens in the Half Moon, the favourite pub of the novel's unnamed narrator and his friend James. The two of them both have large record collections and like to listen to records together without comment and in silence. They decide others might want to join them and The Forensic Records Society is born, meeting on a Monday night in the back room. Records (singles no LPs) are played from each person in rotation, they are listened to in silence and no comments are allowed. These strict rules are too much for some members and soon splinter groups have emerged. The Confessional Records Society is a different beast altogether and what of the Perceptive Records Society. Magnus Mills has lots of fun with records, quotes lots of titles, some of which I have never heard, some lyrics and has an ethereal demo that is stunning. I couldn't make any sense of the ending but that is part of its charm. ( )