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A review by chapterchatswithcaroline
It Was a Riot by Daniel Hall
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There was no better way for me to celebrate Pride month than by reading this emotional rollercoaster of a novel by debut author Daniel Hall.
Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, Eddy is seen recounting his life journey in front of a courtroom. He takes us on an emotional journey from his childhood, where he grew up on the violent and poverty-stricken streets of East London, bullied by his schoolmates and his domineering football hooligan father, to medical college, where he almost became a father. He then describes his experiences on the brutal front lines of the Falklands War, living his dream life as a gay man amid the struggle of keeping his job as a doctor, and battling the rejection of family and society. Finally, succumbing to the ravaging disease of AIDS in prison, where he was accused of killing a policeman during a protest against the poll tax.
Before I get on with my review, I want to take a moment and urge every father to read this book at least once. Stop living your dreams through the eyes of your son and start respecting him as an individual with his own dreams and aspirations. Give your son the approval, support, and love he deserves. And to all the lovely gay men out there, remember that rejection has been a part of society, so live your dream life openly but not recklessly.
It Was a Riot is such a beautifully written book that I felt there wasn’t a single dull moment. From the opening chapter to the last, I found myself totally absorbed by Eddy’s journey. The themes and important historical events that the author touches upon are so well-researched, and the transition from one event to another moves with such fluidity that it was impossible for me to put the book down. Even though the book focuses on the flaws of its characters, it serves as a good example of strong character development. This book showcases an intricate balance between personal, historical, and societal issues.
I have read other novels based on the LGBTQA+ community that highlight only the fun side of their lives. However, none of them show the true struggles and challenges that the members of this community really face. Therefore, I would like to applaud the author for his choice of topic for his debut novel. The story is so profoundly tragic that it made me want to feel and cry my heart out for the main character.
I have found my new favourite and I can’t stop recommending it enough. I am grateful to Daniel Hall for giving me the opportunity for being an early reader of his excellent debut novel.
Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, Eddy is seen recounting his life journey in front of a courtroom. He takes us on an emotional journey from his childhood, where he grew up on the violent and poverty-stricken streets of East London, bullied by his schoolmates and his domineering football hooligan father, to medical college, where he almost became a father. He then describes his experiences on the brutal front lines of the Falklands War, living his dream life as a gay man amid the struggle of keeping his job as a doctor, and battling the rejection of family and society. Finally, succumbing to the ravaging disease of AIDS in prison, where he was accused of killing a policeman during a protest against the poll tax.
Before I get on with my review, I want to take a moment and urge every father to read this book at least once. Stop living your dreams through the eyes of your son and start respecting him as an individual with his own dreams and aspirations. Give your son the approval, support, and love he deserves. And to all the lovely gay men out there, remember that rejection has been a part of society, so live your dream life openly but not recklessly.
It Was a Riot is such a beautifully written book that I felt there wasn’t a single dull moment. From the opening chapter to the last, I found myself totally absorbed by Eddy’s journey. The themes and important historical events that the author touches upon are so well-researched, and the transition from one event to another moves with such fluidity that it was impossible for me to put the book down. Even though the book focuses on the flaws of its characters, it serves as a good example of strong character development. This book showcases an intricate balance between personal, historical, and societal issues.
I have read other novels based on the LGBTQA+ community that highlight only the fun side of their lives. However, none of them show the true struggles and challenges that the members of this community really face. Therefore, I would like to applaud the author for his choice of topic for his debut novel. The story is so profoundly tragic that it made me want to feel and cry my heart out for the main character.
I have found my new favourite and I can’t stop recommending it enough. I am grateful to Daniel Hall for giving me the opportunity for being an early reader of his excellent debut novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Violence