Reviews

My Sand Life, My Pebble Life: A Memoir of a Childhood and the Sea by Ian McMillan

millie_blue's review

adventurous reflective fast-paced

4.5

A charming memoir and inviting read - the perfect choice for anyone who wants something easy and uncomplicated yet thoughtful and enjoyable.

annarella's review

5.0

It was a fascinating, nostalgic, poignant and often funny book that made me smile and think about my holidays when i was a child.
Different places but something in common and the author did an excellent job is telling about time pasts, emotions, and experiences.
As he's an excellent storytelling this read was a treat.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

_jpmh_'s review

4.0

As Ian McMillan explained at a reading for this which I attended, he was asked to write a book about the coast, but after a previous bad experience writing something book-length, asked if instead of 1 set of 50,000 words, he could write 50 sets of 1,000 words. And so that's what we have – a collection of short pieces, love letters to the British coast, based around McMillan's memories (some more embellished than others, as he told us) of seaside trips throughout his life.

Unless you have a complete heart of pebble, it will make you chuckle and feel quite moved in the appropriate places. Even if you're not a fan of some of his other work, it cannot be denied that he is very, very good at this style of writing– the warm, humorous, touching, short riffs on life. Highly recommended to while away a few lazy summer hours. Preferably by the sea.

tonyfrobisher's review

5.0

Nostalgia in waves, brought in on a fresh breeze redolent with the tang of salt and vinegar and sizzling with memories like freshly cooked fish n chips.
I am someone who grew up with many a summer holiday wrapped against the British weather on a chilly beach, taking home pebbles souvenirs and ice cream stained t-shirts. I am now firmly ensconced in the coast-less West Midlands. This book was a joy. Ian McMillan beautifully casts the sea, the coastline and his memories to a nostalgic narrative.
A plethora of evocative short chapters, full of meanderings and roamings, poetic musings and well described events, taking us on an all coastlines beach express reminiscence of holidays gone by in wonderful Britain-by-the-Sea. From Cleethorpes to Alnmouth, Llandudno to Skye and beach destinations beyond.
I'm packing my suitcase now. And a large knitted cardigan, woolly hat, flask of tea and my shorts and sun cream. Just in case.
Wonderful.

gfairs's review

emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.5

This book brought back fond memories of my own childhood growing up by the sea and was the perfect book to read during the summer.  McMillan's writing is beautiful and lyrical, and really immersive.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for sending me this arc.