SOURCE: The fourth of six books won celebrating the blogoversary of Lindsay over at THE LITTLE READER LIBRARY
THE BOOK {According to the back cover}: It’s 1963. Billy Driscoll and his best mate, Peter ‘Rooksy’ Rooker, have the run of their street. Whether it’s ogling sexy mum, Madge, as she pegs out her washing, or avoiding local bully Griggsy, the estates and bombsites of Pimlico have plenty to fire their fertile imaginations.
After years of being the puny one, Billy is finally filling out. He is also taking more than a passing interest in Sarah Richards, his pretty neighbour. But he isn’t her only admirer – local heartthrob and rotten cheat, Kenneth ‘Kirk’ Douglas, likes her too – and something drastic must be done if Billy is to get his girl.
When Rooksy suggests a day out with Sarah and her shy friend, Josie, it seems like the perfect summer outing. Little do they know that it will be a day of declarations and revelations; of secrets and terrifying encounters – and that it will change them all forever.....
FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue - October 1975}: Taunton 20 miles.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 85}: She walks away, pushing a hand through her hair and revealing the back of her neck. I wonder again, if it's normal to find this so exciting.
MY THOUGHTS: An evocative story of adolescence and a 'puppy love' that is threatened by parental disapproval and, of course, the attentions of another boy. Though a work of fiction I suspect that The Pimlico Kid is largely autobiographical.
A refreshing read in that though I got more of an insight into a pubescent boys thoughts on breasts than was perhaps necessary (the author tending to dwell on this but then maybe this is realistic of all boys the age of Billy and Rooksy) it was good to find such a nostalgic and heartfelt novel written by a man so obviously capable of recreating his early teenage years without being overly introspective.
And its not just teenage lives the author does so well. Whilst the asthmatic (a condition which by the way is portrayed here so realistically), book devouring Billy is the obvious hero of the story Barry Walsh is also more than proficient at drawing the reader into the lives of his adult characters.
Definitely an author to look out for as I'd love to see what else he is capable of.
14 comments:
Sounds like an endearing read and lol about the teenage boys thoughts.
Great review! Interesting point about the author venturing out a bit, I don't like when my fav authors pigeonhole themselves either.
Lovely review Tracy. I'll come back and read it again when I've finished as I'm only just near the beginning reading this one now. Glad it was a good read for you.
It's an interesting review, but I'm a little ambivalent about the storyline. Probably not one I'd pick up on my own.
This sounds pretty great. I like what you say about there being little introspection, and it does sound as though he's remembered those years well. I like the extract, too, it shows well what the tone of the book is.
Sounds like a good read. The thoughts seem realistic for a juvenile boy- from what I have heard. Glad the characters are so well done. Definitely one on my list now and I will look for other books by this author. Great review! Nice to know you enjoyed it so much. :)
Sounds like a decent coming-of-age book for adolescent boys.
Might have to suggest this one to my cousin when his boys are older. I'm also glad his condition is realistic. Always bugs me when it is not!
Very nice review, Tracy! A book with believable characters is terrific, and a protagonist who reads is a real treat!
Hi Tracy,
I probably wouldn't pick this one up for myself, as it sounds rather too autobiographical for my taste.
I am also intrigued by the first line which you quote 'Taunton 20 miles'. We live about this distance away from Taunton and that only takes you as far East, as the Somerset / Wiltshire border, so I am intrigued as to how, whichever character is talking, has come this far West in the intervening 12 years, since 1963 and the start of the story.
Intrigued enough to give in and add the book to my TBR list --- who knows?
A great review, unbiased and full of information.
Yvonne
Awesome review Tracy,I always enjoy reading your reviews :)
Great commentary on this one Tracy. These stories of young people can be very good. There are a lot of them so I would tend to look for something distinctive in the book. This one indeed sounds realistic.
I find the title familiar. Must have read about this book somewhere. After your review, I think I'll give it a go and put it on my to-read shelf!
It might be interesting to read about life from a teenage BOY's perspective. I'm always reading books that are from the female perspective. I have a feeling his focus on breasts is probably accurate to how a teenage boy thinks but, yeah, it wouldn't make for very interesting reading!
Such a shame those rotten cheats have to pop up all over the place, life would be so much nicer without them! This does sound like an interesting read though, and I’m going to be looking out for it. Congratulations on your win.
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