bagpuss_janet 's review for:

Bournville by Jonathan Coe

4.0

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This book follows four generations of a family from Bournville model village near Birmingham through seven historic events from VE day in 1945 to the first year of the Covid pandemic in 2020. I enjoyed the historical element of this book very much. I love social history but usually from the 19th century or earlier, and obviously the events of this were much more recent. This felt much more character than plot-driven but it does all tie together. I liked the ending as it came full circle, although the part of it that was loosely based on Coe's own experience of the effects of Lockdown made me sad for the people who lost loved ones during that strange moment in history. 3.5 stars rounded up.