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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Loved it, an affectionate yet clear sighted look back at the last 75 years through the eyes of one family
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
One of these books where you know the author is hitting all the historical beats in a given time frame, from the second world war to covid, via Windrush, the coronation, Capel Celyn, the 1966 world Cup, , thatcherism and everything in between. I think it's mainly unpicking the roots of Brexit, focusing on our complicated relationship with our neighbours, especially the Germans. He takes car manufacturing and chocolate making as two emblematic industries through which to see the effects of EU regulation on the lives of ordinary people. I almost feel like the covid material might have been tacked on at the end, partly because it was Boris Johnson who was at the wheel, the chief salesman of Brexit and chief imitator of Churchill.
It's very insightful and pleasingly fair to both sides: he isn't just doing attacking Brexit or boosting it, he's showing some of the tensions that run through our national character.
The sort of metronomic passage of time through the narrative made it feel a bit forced, but it's also probably inevitable if you're trying to pull off this sort of retrospective view of our recent history, so I can't really moan.
Oh and one of the characters lives a stones throw from my house and runs in the same place I run, so that's a bonus.
It's very insightful and pleasingly fair to both sides: he isn't just doing attacking Brexit or boosting it, he's showing some of the tensions that run through our national character.
The sort of metronomic passage of time through the narrative made it feel a bit forced, but it's also probably inevitable if you're trying to pull off this sort of retrospective view of our recent history, so I can't really moan.
Oh and one of the characters lives a stones throw from my house and runs in the same place I run, so that's a bonus.
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Family/state-of-the-nation saga set in Bournville, Birmingham across 75 years or so to backdrop of key events: VE Day, Princess Di's wedding then funeral, Brexit and Covid etc. Nice touch in 1966 section when author compares quiet Bournville with London, 'One hundred miles away London, apparently, is swinging. Bournville? Not so much.'
There's a super ending with the sound of the kids back at school after covid lockdown – very moving – but just wish rest of novel had more of these descriptive passages that really place the reader into the story.
One minute I found myself enjoying the novel and wanting to turn the pages; the next minute I found it too long and just wanted to get to the end. I think it could be shorter, tighter, less repetitive. In two or three places I found myself scribbling, 'Where is this story going?' in the margin. It's slow to come alive and parts 1 and 2 (VE-day and Queen's coronation) were a bit turgid. It starts to get going in part 3 (World Cup final 1966) with the introduction of main character Mary's three children – all very different from each other and all well observed. Eldest son Jack is very nationalistic and argues with his German cousin on the outcome of the World Cup – some very funny, cringe-inducing moments. I never felt that I really connected with or cared about any of the characters in the story, or was given the chance to connect with them, because the story keeps hopping around from one decade to the next.
There's a place in the book (Princess Di's wedding) where Coe presents each character's thoughts. I found this clunky. I wanted to be in each character's head but I wasn't. Instead the opposite had happened and I became too removed from the story.
Three-quarters of the way in, I scribbled, 'Finally, a connection!' Mary and youngest son Peter are walking along a cliff path and Coe sets and builds the scene nicely with fishing boats bobbing on the sea and the tinkle of the rigging. Peter comes-out to her and reveals that he is gay. He recalls a moment from his distant past when his mother had described gays as the 'lowest of the low.' She apologises. It's a touching moment.
There's a powerful scene near the end where Bridget (Mary's son Martin's wife) speaks of the deep-seated racism that she experienced across 30+ years at the hands of her father-in-law Geoffrey and how the rest of the family closed ranks and never spoke up against him – all for a quiet life.
I liked it more than I disliked it and there were lots of laugh-out-loud moments.
There's a super ending with the sound of the kids back at school after covid lockdown – very moving – but just wish rest of novel had more of these descriptive passages that really place the reader into the story.
One minute I found myself enjoying the novel and wanting to turn the pages; the next minute I found it too long and just wanted to get to the end. I think it could be shorter, tighter, less repetitive. In two or three places I found myself scribbling, 'Where is this story going?' in the margin. It's slow to come alive and parts 1 and 2 (VE-day and Queen's coronation) were a bit turgid. It starts to get going in part 3 (World Cup final 1966) with the introduction of main character Mary's three children – all very different from each other and all well observed. Eldest son Jack is very nationalistic and argues with his German cousin on the outcome of the World Cup – some very funny, cringe-inducing moments. I never felt that I really connected with or cared about any of the characters in the story, or was given the chance to connect with them, because the story keeps hopping around from one decade to the next.
There's a place in the book (Princess Di's wedding) where Coe presents each character's thoughts. I found this clunky. I wanted to be in each character's head but I wasn't. Instead the opposite had happened and I became too removed from the story.
Three-quarters of the way in, I scribbled, 'Finally, a connection!' Mary and youngest son Peter are walking along a cliff path and Coe sets and builds the scene nicely with fishing boats bobbing on the sea and the tinkle of the rigging. Peter comes-out to her and reveals that he is gay. He recalls a moment from his distant past when his mother had described gays as the 'lowest of the low.' She apologises. It's a touching moment.
There's a powerful scene near the end where Bridget (Mary's son Martin's wife) speaks of the deep-seated racism that she experienced across 30+ years at the hands of her father-in-law Geoffrey and how the rest of the family closed ranks and never spoke up against him – all for a quiet life.
I liked it more than I disliked it and there were lots of laugh-out-loud moments.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Van Jonathan Coe las ik al een aantal boeken met veel plezier: Expo 58, Klein Engeland, Mr Wilder & me. Toen zijn nieuwste boek Bournville uitkwam, wilde ik dit uiteraard ook graag lezen.
Zoals te verwachten combineert Coe ook in Bournville familierelaties met maatschappelijke gebeurtenissen. Een aantal belangrijke historische momenten vormen de kapstok om het verhaal van een Engelse familie te beschrijven over een periode van 75 jaar.
De manier waarop de auteur personages en hun onderlinge relaties beschrijft, maakt het verhaal heel herkenbaar. Hij schuwt hierbij de kleine kantjes niet. Subtiel vertelt hij over gezinsgeluk maar ook over “wat stinkend onder de oppervlakte blijft”. Hij gebruikt hierbij veel flashbacks en maakt soms grote sprongen in de tijd. De historische gebeurtenissen die hierbij aan bod komen, zijn oa. de industrialisering , de positie van de vrouw in de samenleving, racisme, de intrede van de Europese Unie. De auteur weet de historische feiten en de persoonlijke verhalen mooi te combineren. In zijn schrijfstijl weet hij ook een fijne laag humor te verwerken.
Hoe je het ook draait of keert, wat er ook gebeurt: de cirkel van het leven blijft. Alles verandert en alles blijft hetzelfde.
Een aanrader voor wie van de Engelse sfeer houdt. Of van chocolade.
Zoals te verwachten combineert Coe ook in Bournville familierelaties met maatschappelijke gebeurtenissen. Een aantal belangrijke historische momenten vormen de kapstok om het verhaal van een Engelse familie te beschrijven over een periode van 75 jaar.
De manier waarop de auteur personages en hun onderlinge relaties beschrijft, maakt het verhaal heel herkenbaar. Hij schuwt hierbij de kleine kantjes niet. Subtiel vertelt hij over gezinsgeluk maar ook over “wat stinkend onder de oppervlakte blijft”. Hij gebruikt hierbij veel flashbacks en maakt soms grote sprongen in de tijd. De historische gebeurtenissen die hierbij aan bod komen, zijn oa. de industrialisering , de positie van de vrouw in de samenleving, racisme, de intrede van de Europese Unie. De auteur weet de historische feiten en de persoonlijke verhalen mooi te combineren. In zijn schrijfstijl weet hij ook een fijne laag humor te verwerken.
Hoe je het ook draait of keert, wat er ook gebeurt: de cirkel van het leven blijft. Alles verandert en alles blijft hetzelfde.
Een aanrader voor wie van de Engelse sfeer houdt. Of van chocolade.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This novel set in Bournville within the vicinity of the famous Cadbury’s factory in Birmingham provides the location of Coe’s wonderful new novel. He starts this family tale of Mary in 1945 aged 11 and introduces us to her parents and as it moves through the decades, her children Martin, Jack and Peter. Through this family, Coe describes their interactions that happen to coincide with national events including the Queen’s Coronation, VE Day and Charles and Diana’s wedding among others. His meticulous attention to detail adds to the tension as family members air their opinions on the event in question. His ability to differentiate between describing the historical day with characters comments is well crafted and he has not allowed his bias nor hindsight to clutter the narrative. A wonderful story that describes the routine and mundanity of life through a unique insight at highlighting life’s contradictions and absurdities. His commentary on the Austin Metro car ad and comments about a certain blonde prime minister are two such examples. His talent for unravelling the daily routine into a compelling tale and Bournville delivers like a sweet chocolate treat that leaves you wanting more. His afterword is particularly poignant. A must read.
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated