A novel mainly about two families who live across the street from each other in Sheffield from 1970s to 1990s. I don't think I got to know any of the protagonists properly and some strands of the story just seemed to disappear (for example, what happened to Nick after Katherine gave evidence?). I think I was also expecting to see more of characters changing rather than a jump in time to see them fully-formed in their later lives. And I think I expected to have a clearer feel of the times in the story - there were a few things but less than I expected. As I was reading this for the book group, I'm very interested in hearing what the others in the group think of it. ( )

After wading through 700 + pages of this drivel, all I can say is that I will think very carefully before reading anything else that is nominated for the MB prize. Did nothing for me. ( )

This book has excellent character development but is overly long and rambling given the storyline. I kept going to the end, but often felt frustrated. It does have some wonderful use of language but at other times I had to reread sentences to get their meaning. The book was generally good, but I'm surprised it was shortlisted for the Booker. ( )

Audiobook. Read because it was shortlisted for the Booker. A story about English suburb in northern England from 70s through 80s or so (Thatcher through Major). Follows mostly two families who live across the street in the housing development. Kids more or less the same age. I ended up liking this book a lot. One of those books that ended--and I was sure there was another section. Just left me there. But the more I thought about it I was more or less okay with the ending (though I mostly admire endings that either go for it, not wishy washy, is this happy or sad, death and disaster or what???) The language is often surprising and arresting. I came to care about these characters. And become frustrated when I didn't learn more. A very good book.

The early chapters when the focus was on the younger members of the Sheffield suburban households were for me the more successful sections of this overlong novel.

Although not usually nerdy I got quite aggravated by some sloppy style and punctuation: some sentences I had to re-read to get some sense out of (but not in the way of re-reading Henry James).

If it hadn't been for the fact that I live not far from Sheffield and also lived through the eras described I don't think I would have persevered. It was all quite mundane. Perhaps, to give the author his due, this was part of his aim. ( )