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barry_x's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's the first of January, and my first book review of the year, and also my first five-star review of the year. It’s one thing to say, ‘book of the year contender’, it’s another to say it on the very first day of the year but I am going to come out and say it – I loved ‘Who’s Aldo?’. I’ve enjoyed lots of books, many have made me reflect, sometimes they have chilled me to the bone, but make me laugh? It’s so rare that I genuinely laugh reading, but this book had me giggling and smiling and laughing throughout.
‘Who’s Aldo?’ is the sequel to Colin Burnett’s, [b:A Working Class State of Mind|58247142|A Working Class State of Mind|Colin Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634636532l/58247142._SY75_.jpg|91296666]. I thought the first book was brilliant (my review is here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5007864229), and yet one of the points in which I disagreed with most reviewers was that Aldo wasn’t one of my favourite characters (in short, because many of Aldo’s behaviours I have seen in people I have known and it can become exhausting knowing people like that). So, my curiosity was definitely piqued when I knew there was a sequel but I wasn’t overly enamoured with Aldo being the focus.
So who is Aldo? Aldo is a South Asian drug dealing gangster in his mid-thirties who in this book is clearly top of the food chain in the Edinburgh underworld. The love of his life is his Staffordshire bull terrier Bruce, and his close mates from his teens and school, Craig and Dougie are never far away. The book, like the first one is written in East Scots, whilst every chapter has its own theme in the sense that the book can work as a short story collection, although there is an overarching narrative to the book. Most chapters are written from the perspective of Aldo in his voice, although occasional chapters are handed over to other people in his life, so we can see how those close to him can see him.
The first book had a clear focus in my view on the contemporary lives, concerns and attitudes of working-class men in Scotland, which was often funny, at times tender, and sometimes dark and I suppose it would be lazy to say the same applies here, but when I think about the book, I think it is a little harder to define. The book can quite easily sit on a comedy shelf because I don’t think I have laughed so much in years reading a book – the comedy largely comes from both the wit and turns of phrase from the mouths and thoughts of Burnett’s characters. The writing is sharp, and whether speaking or an internal dialogue the language reminds me of those nights in the pub, where everyone is on form, the wit is caustic and quick as everyone takes the piss out of each other and everyone around them. There is also much situational comedy or cringeworthy scenarios where you kind of know where the story is going but you put your hands over your eyes and peek through. Aldo will often say something grossly offensive for a joke, or portray himself as a saint and the next minute he’s deeply insensitive.
Does the book work as a contemporary critique of working-class life in Edinburgh? I’m not quite so sure. The first book was firmly rooted in working-class experiences, whereas in this book, mostly for the point of having a good laugh or setting up a scenario for something to happen the book can come across as less gritty, or less grounded (one chapter where Aldo utilises a connection to get something to happen felt a little unrealistic, even for Aldo).
Virtually every chapter has a criminal enterprise as a plot point, whether that be drug dealing, scams, extortion or gangland warfare but it would feel wrong to consider this a ‘crime’ book. Indeed, the criminal activity is typically a backdrop for Burnett to show us something of Aldo’s personality, and his propensity for quick thinking, opportunism and violence.
I am left, having read the book, with the question of, ‘is Aldo a complex character’? Burnett shows us many sides of his personality but in many respects Aldo isn’t complex. I think he is an opportunist, with a moral code of sorts that works for him. Yes, he will latch on to any opportunity to make money for himself, and there is a running joke over the two books about his selfishness (particularly around getting a round in the pub!). He sees the world as his for the taking, and perhaps if others don’t get their share, well maybe they haven’t been quick enough. He does and would stitch his mates up to get an advantage in some way, but only as long as they are inconvenienced, rather than harmed significantly in the process. In order to get what he wants, he’s quite comfortable with their being a swath of wreckage behind him and of course his propensity for extreme violence is never far away (in a book which is often light-hearted and will have you laughing, there are some strong scenes of implied torture and strong violence which feel uncomfortable in tone, even if one can justify the action in the context of the book).
And all that said, in this book Aldo shows his human side and his tender side. He isn’t really a product of a broken Britain – both books point out he comes from a stable home with a relatively comfortable background. Whilst he does take liberties with his friends, he does look out for them, and he does take people under his wing who he takes a shine to. When people come into his life who matter, he becomes a strong father figure to people who he unconditionally supports. He may be a pain in the arse, but to those he cares about there isn’t a stronger ally. Maybe he shouldn’t, but you know he would run through walls for those he cares about.
Which brings us to Bruce. In ‘A Working Class State of Mind’ it is Bruce who shows Aldo he has a heart, and in this book it is Bruce who is often the voice of Aldo’s conscious, or a conduit for what this tough man is really thinking or he really wants to do. Throughout the book, thoughts and feelings and views are projected onto Bruce, interpreted by the way he may look at a character or how he behaves, like walking out of a room. Aldo gives us a consistent narrative on what Bruce is thinking or what he wants. It’s a source of constant laughs (in this review I am really trying hard to avoid spoilers and to avoid giving away the laughs but as an example, Aldo makes it clear he’s only watching daytime marathons of a certain TV programme because ‘Bruce likes it’). We’re consistently told what Bruce is thinking, what he wants, and all along Aldo is giving it loads to anyone who will listen that, ‘Bruce wouldn’t want that’, or, ‘I haven’t told Bruce yet but I know it’ll devastate him’. Really, Bruce is the heart of the book, and also the vehicle for showing us Aldo’s heart. The interplay between Aldo and Bruce is superb and beautifully funny – anyone who has had a dog look at you ‘disappointed’ will know exactly what I mean!
Bruce stole the first book, and in this one he asserts himself more, putting his muddy paws all over every chapter.
The supporting cast are great – Dougie reminds me of myself and having mates who are a pain in the arse getting you into things you’d rather not (Aldo having a benefits appointment brought back memories of similar scenarios in my past!). The rest of the characters are his messed-up mates, criminal associates or people who become important to him. There are a couple of characters who he becomes a father figure to and I just love the chapter written from the perspective of a teenage girl. It’s a wicked example of Aldo’s opportunistic weather vane character, where he transitions from a bloke using sexist language and attitudes as a matter of course to becoming a cheerleader for the rights of women and girls – of course he has an angle of his own to push, but again when given the chance he’s one of the good guys.
In preparation for this review, I started pulling together quotes to share, and then I realised – I would need a review half the size of the book. Pretty much every page there is a quotable sentence or phrase that had me laughing. I also don’t want to give surprises away but I’ll just say that Aldo’s reaction to having a bit of tummy trouble, his appearance and actions at a funeral and him calling the police over a concern are some of the funniest things I have read in such a long time.
I hope to read much more in the coming years of Colin Burnett’s work, and if you read this Colin a short story from the point of view of Bruce would be fantastic!
The book is available from https://tippermuirbooks.co.uk/ and the usual places and I can’t give it a high enough recommendation. Excellent stuff – a book which exceeded my already high expectations.
‘Who’s Aldo?’ is the sequel to Colin Burnett’s, [b:A Working Class State of Mind|58247142|A Working Class State of Mind|Colin Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634636532l/58247142._SY75_.jpg|91296666]. I thought the first book was brilliant (my review is here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5007864229), and yet one of the points in which I disagreed with most reviewers was that Aldo wasn’t one of my favourite characters (in short, because many of Aldo’s behaviours I have seen in people I have known and it can become exhausting knowing people like that). So, my curiosity was definitely piqued when I knew there was a sequel but I wasn’t overly enamoured with Aldo being the focus.
So who is Aldo? Aldo is a South Asian drug dealing gangster in his mid-thirties who in this book is clearly top of the food chain in the Edinburgh underworld. The love of his life is his Staffordshire bull terrier Bruce, and his close mates from his teens and school, Craig and Dougie are never far away. The book, like the first one is written in East Scots, whilst every chapter has its own theme in the sense that the book can work as a short story collection, although there is an overarching narrative to the book. Most chapters are written from the perspective of Aldo in his voice, although occasional chapters are handed over to other people in his life, so we can see how those close to him can see him.
The first book had a clear focus in my view on the contemporary lives, concerns and attitudes of working-class men in Scotland, which was often funny, at times tender, and sometimes dark and I suppose it would be lazy to say the same applies here, but when I think about the book, I think it is a little harder to define. The book can quite easily sit on a comedy shelf because I don’t think I have laughed so much in years reading a book – the comedy largely comes from both the wit and turns of phrase from the mouths and thoughts of Burnett’s characters. The writing is sharp, and whether speaking or an internal dialogue the language reminds me of those nights in the pub, where everyone is on form, the wit is caustic and quick as everyone takes the piss out of each other and everyone around them. There is also much situational comedy or cringeworthy scenarios where you kind of know where the story is going but you put your hands over your eyes and peek through. Aldo will often say something grossly offensive for a joke, or portray himself as a saint and the next minute he’s deeply insensitive.
Does the book work as a contemporary critique of working-class life in Edinburgh? I’m not quite so sure. The first book was firmly rooted in working-class experiences, whereas in this book, mostly for the point of having a good laugh or setting up a scenario for something to happen the book can come across as less gritty, or less grounded (one chapter where Aldo utilises a connection to get something to happen felt a little unrealistic, even for Aldo).
Virtually every chapter has a criminal enterprise as a plot point, whether that be drug dealing, scams, extortion or gangland warfare but it would feel wrong to consider this a ‘crime’ book. Indeed, the criminal activity is typically a backdrop for Burnett to show us something of Aldo’s personality, and his propensity for quick thinking, opportunism and violence.
I am left, having read the book, with the question of, ‘is Aldo a complex character’? Burnett shows us many sides of his personality but in many respects Aldo isn’t complex. I think he is an opportunist, with a moral code of sorts that works for him. Yes, he will latch on to any opportunity to make money for himself, and there is a running joke over the two books about his selfishness (particularly around getting a round in the pub!). He sees the world as his for the taking, and perhaps if others don’t get their share, well maybe they haven’t been quick enough. He does and would stitch his mates up to get an advantage in some way, but only as long as they are inconvenienced, rather than harmed significantly in the process. In order to get what he wants, he’s quite comfortable with their being a swath of wreckage behind him and of course his propensity for extreme violence is never far away (in a book which is often light-hearted and will have you laughing, there are some strong scenes of implied torture and strong violence which feel uncomfortable in tone, even if one can justify the action in the context of the book).
And all that said, in this book Aldo shows his human side and his tender side. He isn’t really a product of a broken Britain – both books point out he comes from a stable home with a relatively comfortable background. Whilst he does take liberties with his friends, he does look out for them, and he does take people under his wing who he takes a shine to. When people come into his life who matter, he becomes a strong father figure to people who he unconditionally supports. He may be a pain in the arse, but to those he cares about there isn’t a stronger ally. Maybe he shouldn’t, but you know he would run through walls for those he cares about.
Which brings us to Bruce. In ‘A Working Class State of Mind’ it is Bruce who shows Aldo he has a heart, and in this book it is Bruce who is often the voice of Aldo’s conscious, or a conduit for what this tough man is really thinking or he really wants to do. Throughout the book, thoughts and feelings and views are projected onto Bruce, interpreted by the way he may look at a character or how he behaves, like walking out of a room. Aldo gives us a consistent narrative on what Bruce is thinking or what he wants. It’s a source of constant laughs (in this review I am really trying hard to avoid spoilers and to avoid giving away the laughs but as an example, Aldo makes it clear he’s only watching daytime marathons of a certain TV programme because ‘Bruce likes it’). We’re consistently told what Bruce is thinking, what he wants, and all along Aldo is giving it loads to anyone who will listen that, ‘Bruce wouldn’t want that’, or, ‘I haven’t told Bruce yet but I know it’ll devastate him’. Really, Bruce is the heart of the book, and also the vehicle for showing us Aldo’s heart. The interplay between Aldo and Bruce is superb and beautifully funny – anyone who has had a dog look at you ‘disappointed’ will know exactly what I mean!
Bruce stole the first book, and in this one he asserts himself more, putting his muddy paws all over every chapter.
The supporting cast are great – Dougie reminds me of myself and having mates who are a pain in the arse getting you into things you’d rather not (Aldo having a benefits appointment brought back memories of similar scenarios in my past!). The rest of the characters are his messed-up mates, criminal associates or people who become important to him. There are a couple of characters who he becomes a father figure to and I just love the chapter written from the perspective of a teenage girl. It’s a wicked example of Aldo’s opportunistic weather vane character, where he transitions from a bloke using sexist language and attitudes as a matter of course to becoming a cheerleader for the rights of women and girls – of course he has an angle of his own to push, but again when given the chance he’s one of the good guys.
In preparation for this review, I started pulling together quotes to share, and then I realised – I would need a review half the size of the book. Pretty much every page there is a quotable sentence or phrase that had me laughing. I also don’t want to give surprises away but I’ll just say that Aldo’s reaction to having a bit of tummy trouble, his appearance and actions at a funeral and him calling the police over a concern are some of the funniest things I have read in such a long time.
I hope to read much more in the coming years of Colin Burnett’s work, and if you read this Colin a short story from the point of view of Bruce would be fantastic!
The book is available from https://tippermuirbooks.co.uk/ and the usual places and I can’t give it a high enough recommendation. Excellent stuff – a book which exceeded my already high expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Violence and Drug use
Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, Murder, and Racial slurs
More...