“Take note, I don’t think I’ll read a better book for pure enjoyment than this in 2014
The story of Barrington, a seventy-four-year-old Caribbean man who moved to Hackney in the fifties, is preparing to come out of the closet to his wife and adult children.
So funny I laughed out loud many many times.
Score 9/10
Date read January 2014
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“When our protagonist’s husband takes a break from their marriage for a younger and prettier woman it sends her into a mental breakdown.
The story bounces around and becomes both interesting and absorbing.
So why only 5/10? I guess it should be higher, perhaps 6.5/10 OK I’ve changed my mind and given it a 6.5!
Score 6.5/10
Date read January 2014
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“Set in the late fifties and begins in London’s poorer part of Camden. We are introduced to the siblings and what Ackroyd does well is describing people and places.
Sadly this short novel is let down by a loose storyline, a shame. Perhaps I’ll go back to his earlier novels such as Hawksmoor.
Score 6/10
Date read December 2013
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“The main character and his voice annoyed me, I just couldn’t like him, perhaps this is how it is intended. I expected better, this was shortlisted and tipped to win the Booker (it didn’t).
Within a few days a communal village set around the middle ages falls apart. Also read as our book club and the group scored it 5.75/10
Score 4/10
Date read December 2013
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