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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
My friend pulled the title of this book from her TBR jar for our monthly book club pick and although I do trust the jar, I was a little nervous diving into this one (I’ve never read any of Jonathan Coe’s novels and its quite a thick book).
It was only when I read the author’s note at the end that I discovered this was the third novel he’s written with this particular set of characters. You can easily read this book as a stand-alone piece and I would implore you to do so if you have an interest in the 2010-18 UK political era.
Despite this book being somewhat depressing as it explores the painfully divisive state of the UK leading up to the Brexit referendum and the immediate aftermath, this book felt like a warm hug for me at times. I recently moved from Birmingham (where this book is set) to Leeds and all the descriptions of Kings Heath and Moseley honestly did make me feel like I was back at home.
Although Middle England doesn’t really add anything new to the debate, I did feel that it offered a realistic perspective on the wide ranging views between families, friends, colleagues and couples around the referendum; which was mostly uncomfortable. However, I’m very conscious of my own bias on this moment in history and so I think anyone who voted leave may want to approach this book with caution.
I will absolutely be reading more of Coe’s books!
It was only when I read the author’s note at the end that I discovered this was the third novel he’s written with this particular set of characters. You can easily read this book as a stand-alone piece and I would implore you to do so if you have an interest in the 2010-18 UK political era.
Despite this book being somewhat depressing as it explores the painfully divisive state of the UK leading up to the Brexit referendum and the immediate aftermath, this book felt like a warm hug for me at times. I recently moved from Birmingham (where this book is set) to Leeds and all the descriptions of Kings Heath and Moseley honestly did make me feel like I was back at home.
Although Middle England doesn’t really add anything new to the debate, I did feel that it offered a realistic perspective on the wide ranging views between families, friends, colleagues and couples around the referendum; which was mostly uncomfortable. However, I’m very conscious of my own bias on this moment in history and so I think anyone who voted leave may want to approach this book with caution.
I will absolutely be reading more of Coe’s books!
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It seems an appropriate time to read this, which, I seem to remember, was tagged as the first 'Brexit' novel when it appeared. I found it engaging, beautifully written and a joy to read. What it didn't do, of course, was provide any answers for the mess we are now in, flapping around in a stagnant pond of polarisation, dispute and hatred. I would have liked to see characters on both sides of the debate fleshed out as rounded characters. Sadly, the remainer characters are well developed, and all seem to be well-educated, thoughtful and broad in their view of the world, whereas the Brexiteers are cliched cardboard cutouts, bigoted, narrow-minded and living in the past. What a missed opportunity. Since we are in two camps, we all need to understand and empathise with the feelings of those who feel differently. Without this, there is no way forward. There is no right view or wrong view. Groups of intelligent people, when presented with the same situation, can come to different conclusions.
I'm sure Jonathan Coe didn't consider, while writing the novel, that we would still be stuck in a bog as we near the end of 2019.
(Speaking as an embarrassed remainer)
I'm sure Jonathan Coe didn't consider, while writing the novel, that we would still be stuck in a bog as we near the end of 2019.
(Speaking as an embarrassed remainer)
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe I should have given this book 5 stars. I do think everyone should read it because it so accurately portrays the political atmosphere of our times. It also explained to me things that I hadn’t understood, like for example the Olympics opening ceremony, which I never watched. However, the characters, although rounded enough to be believable, so evidently represented different demographics, and so many of them,that it gave me a kind of spooky feeling, as if reading an essay not a novel.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The only 'Brexit novel' I've read so far is Ali Smith's seasonal quartet and as I have found the Brexit debacle depressing in real life, I wasn't sure I was quite ready for this. But I watched an adaption of a Jonathan Coe novel in some of the online theatre over lockdown and enjoyed the sharp dialogue and sly look at classism in this country, so decided I would try this one.
The action covers the last decade or so, taking in the London riots, the Olympics, the lead up to and the fallout of Brexit, as lived through the lives of a family and their circle of close friends. The tone of those times is captured really well and I winced, sighed, laughed at a lot of the interactions and discussions between characters. They are very recognisable and reflect the confusions and divisions in British society today. There are generational differences, class differences, intellectual differences, ideological differences - all are exposed in their horrendous, farcical, petty, ridiculous glory.
The chapter that explores how the various characters react in real time to the opening ceremony of the London Olympics is spot-on. I remember that event so clearly; the whole nation coming together and probably not expecting much, only to be completely drawn in and delighted by the spectacle. It certainly inspired some patriotism in me that I haven't felt in years, and reliving that memory through this book was both lovely and sad. How things have changed in such a short few years.
It's fine satire. A mirror is truly held up. I would lend this to friends from other countries to help them understand the fractured British psyche. It's a grand state of the nation book about what it means to be British at this moment in time, which is grounded by relatable characters and the banal realities and impacts of the forces of politics. And it's a skill and a half to make me raise a wry smile about bloody Brexit.
The action covers the last decade or so, taking in the London riots, the Olympics, the lead up to and the fallout of Brexit, as lived through the lives of a family and their circle of close friends. The tone of those times is captured really well and I winced, sighed, laughed at a lot of the interactions and discussions between characters. They are very recognisable and reflect the confusions and divisions in British society today. There are generational differences, class differences, intellectual differences, ideological differences - all are exposed in their horrendous, farcical, petty, ridiculous glory.
The chapter that explores how the various characters react in real time to the opening ceremony of the London Olympics is spot-on. I remember that event so clearly; the whole nation coming together and probably not expecting much, only to be completely drawn in and delighted by the spectacle. It certainly inspired some patriotism in me that I haven't felt in years, and reliving that memory through this book was both lovely and sad. How things have changed in such a short few years.
It's fine satire. A mirror is truly held up. I would lend this to friends from other countries to help them understand the fractured British psyche. It's a grand state of the nation book about what it means to be British at this moment in time, which is grounded by relatable characters and the banal realities and impacts of the forces of politics. And it's a skill and a half to make me raise a wry smile about bloody Brexit.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quite an interesting reading. And though I can understand while the book did not appeal to the English reader, for me it was not a boring one. I liked the characters and their stories and although I felt at one point that they were there only to express different points of view, I enjoyed it none the less.