Matt McAvoy Book Review

Very amiably written, the old-style charm of this book brings to mind some of the bawdy public-school classics of the 40s and 50s; you expect the characters to all be speaking eloquent queen’s English or caricature Cockney.  Roth writes exceptionally well, and the narrative is not one which is particularly profound in any way.  This is rather more a romanticized, slice-of-life, mildly amusing sitcom, which might have you hearkening back to “a better time”.  It is a frivolous look at what might otherwise be something of a grim subject: life in a children’s residential school in the 1960s – but of course the latter is not what this book wants to be; you might rather associate this witty excursion with Joan Sims and Leslie Phillips.  Rather than focusing on the kids and their respective hardships, this one is more about the adults who work there, and their misadventures.

Featuring an ensemble cast, and not any particularly action-packed story arcs, this is one for the cosy-reading crowd, I think.  If you like summer meadow books, cricket greens and calm, easy-going, one-eye reads, this is the sort of thing I think you’ll like.  I found it pleasant to read, and a nice, healthy break from darker subject matter, but in all honesty I couldn’t really tell you what happened and where it all led to – though I can say that, in the vein of all the best 60s Ealing productions, it does end with a wedding.  It felt a touch scattered to me, and nothing delved deeply enough beyond the surface to really draw me in, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy reading it.  Personally I would have liked to see more storylines involving the kids, and more outright comedy; one word I would use to describe this book would be subtle, the kind that brings a tepid buzz rather than any true warmth or notable chill.

I do like the author, and I like the language used throughout; he is decent quality.  I wonder if perhaps there was room for a gripping, arterial story arc, but also respect the fact that this book is intentionally understated, rather than overstated.  Cosy Sunday garden reading for those who want to get away from the grit, this one, and I would recommend it for those looking for just that kind of thing.