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itsredandread's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
e11en's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
Minor: Excrement and Dementia
pkc's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was an achingly sad book in how it ends and the inevitability of the ending but a really sweet story of a nontoxic male relationship growing up in Thatcher ravaged Britain. I love the protagonists, though I found their dialogue reminiscent of Renton and Sick Boy (though the plots of Trainspotting and Mayflies couldn’t be less comparable) and it annoyed me slightly in places. Tully’s wife Anna really bothered me in places too, but with the subject matter, O’Hagan does a really good job of the light and dark of such a complicated debate. I will also say it was gorgeously written despite my occasional gripes with the dialogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Medical content, Alcohol, Cancer, Cursing, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Death, Medical trauma, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
xcharlotteliz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, and Alcoholism
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Medical content, Suicide, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Addiction, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
alisonannk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Grief, Cancer, Alcohol, Death, and Drug use
Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexism, and Dementia
Minor: Xenophobia
james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was very good, a solid 4 star read and one I would recommend. When I picked it up in a charity shop I thought it might be queer which intrigued me but it’s not. And to be honest I think I preferred this because O’Hagan really places male friendship and all that comes with it in high regard - it’s a heart warming tribute to this kind of platonic love between men that I don’t feel is really expressed much in books and shows, ‘banter’ is but the real love, affection and comfort one feels for a friend is rarely given the emphasis it deserves. Really beautiful. It’s also a love letter to music.
This is a book of two parts: the first taking place over the summer of 1986 where out MC James and his childhood friend Tully have not long finished school and trying to figure out what to do with their lives. They decide to go to a concert in Manchester with fellow friends Tibbs, Dr Clogs, Hogg and Limbo (nicknames) where they revel in the music they hold so dearly. It’s a time of youthful excesses and having fun, here they agree to go at life differently. The music, show and film references of the 80s was really great - I love this decade - and it’s written so well, like you’re there. We then go to autumn 2017 and Tully rings to let James know of some bad news, he’s dying of cancer and has a last request for his best friend - one James feels obligated to do but it’s not without reservations. There is more to the story but I don’t want to spoil anything.
The characters are written very well, especially James and Tully, they’re developed and mostly loveable. There is obviously things and aspects I didn’t particularly like but overall this is done well. The general writing is also quite good, lyrical and well-penned at times, I underlined quite a few quotes and passages as well. The pacing is okay but a little disjointed like it’s quite slow in 1986 with a lot more detail then fast moving in 2017, also missing out some sections - Yhh not too sure on this but it did come together. I would say there is quite a bit of repetition of certain things and conversations which could’ve been omitted. Now whilst I loved the 80s references, I really don’t like reading about present day things like Netflix or vaping for example (unless the book is a contemporary but Maylifes I would classify in the literary genre) and Yhh I just don’t like it for some reason. The descriptions of drug taking Is also something I don’t like reading and it’s a added a bit too much for my liking.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this and would definitely it. There are points I didn’t like but more good then bad and it’s refreshing how O’Hagan focuses on the platonic friendship love between two men. And the 80s setting I love - wish I could travel back to experience the music and vibe in real life. I’m gonna watch the BBC adaptation and make a review/comparison video for my YouTube channel so chalk that out if you’re interested.
This is a book of two parts: the first taking place over the summer of 1986 where out MC James and his childhood friend Tully have not long finished school and trying to figure out what to do with their lives. They decide to go to a concert in Manchester with fellow friends Tibbs, Dr Clogs, Hogg and Limbo (nicknames) where they revel in the music they hold so dearly. It’s a time of youthful excesses and having fun, here they agree to go at life differently. The music, show and film references of the 80s was really great - I love this decade - and it’s written so well, like you’re there. We then go to autumn 2017 and Tully rings to let James know of some bad news, he’s dying of cancer and has a last request for his best friend - one James feels obligated to do but it’s not without reservations. There is more to the story but I don’t want to spoil anything.
The characters are written very well, especially James and Tully, they’re developed and mostly loveable. There is obviously things and aspects I didn’t particularly like but overall this is done well. The general writing is also quite good, lyrical and well-penned at times, I underlined quite a few quotes and passages as well. The pacing is okay but a little disjointed like it’s quite slow in 1986 with a lot more detail then fast moving in 2017, also missing out some sections - Yhh not too sure on this but it did come together. I would say there is quite a bit of repetition of certain things and conversations which could’ve been omitted. Now whilst I loved the 80s references, I really don’t like reading about present day things like Netflix or vaping for example (unless the book is a contemporary but Maylifes I would classify in the literary genre) and Yhh I just don’t like it for some reason. The descriptions of drug taking Is also something I don’t like reading and it’s a added a bit too much for my liking.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this and would definitely it. There are points I didn’t like but more good then bad and it’s refreshing how O’Hagan focuses on the platonic friendship love between two men. And the 80s setting I love - wish I could travel back to experience the music and vibe in real life. I’m gonna watch the BBC adaptation and make a review/comparison video for my YouTube channel so chalk that out if you’re interested.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Drug use, Cursing, Alcohol, Racism, and Domestic abuse
canavanprice's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Suicide, and Drug use
lwgreen1's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The good: really liked the first half when the group was in Manchester. I was there. I was in the sweaty, beer-soaked, dimly-light clubs with the lads. I loved seeing them have the best weekend of their lives. Despite the constant banter, you can tell they all cared for one another and that was lovely. In the later half, there was a chapter where Tully and James visit Tully’s mom and that was such a tender and heartfelt chapter. 5 stars for that chapter. I annotated quite a few times throughout the book which is always a great thing.
The bad: even though the banter between characters is part of what I liked about the book, it also contained a lot of movie, music, and political references that I, being born in the US in ‘99, did not understand. So much so that sometimes it took me out of the story dampening the reading experience. I also understand that my lack of knowledge is not the fault of the author and if you grew up in the UK you’d probably get alot more out of those scenes than I did. And the biggest thing that bumped it from a 4.5 to a 3.5 is I feel like the second half dragged on. I think there are several events in the second half that could have been cut out without sacrificing nuance or plot. I feel like the characters had more or less the same conversation about 8 times.
One memorable quote: “He was a friend to friendship itself and never expected people to be better than they were.”
The bad: even though the banter between characters is part of what I liked about the book, it also contained a lot of movie, music, and political references that I, being born in the US in ‘99, did not understand. So much so that sometimes it took me out of the story dampening the reading experience. I also understand that my lack of knowledge is not the fault of the author and if you grew up in the UK you’d probably get alot more out of those scenes than I did. And the biggest thing that bumped it from a 4.5 to a 3.5 is I feel like the second half dragged on. I think there are several events in the second half that could have been cut out without sacrificing nuance or plot. I feel like the characters had more or less the same conversation about 8 times.
One memorable quote: “He was a friend to friendship itself and never expected people to be better than they were.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Cancer
mlaurie93's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide