Never Never

I've yet to read a bad book from the Tindal Street Press, and this book continued that trend. Like all their books it has a 'regional' flavour, set in Cumbria. It's not all lakes and sheep - though they do feature - it's more a world where people have crippling debts, where even money-lenders need the services of a debt counsellor, and even debt counsellors are being pursued by the bailiffs.

I liked the humour most of all - the author has a great way of translating the nuances of body language into text form - and the willingness to bring the ridiculous to life. Somehow he managed to create a scenario where a character is pursued to a council meeting by a giant Jif lemon, and make it utterly believable.

A series of scenes depicting show more slightly cartoonish violence are interspersed with the main story, and the reader is unsure of the identities of those involved, until the end of the book - this added an interesting dimension, as it is not clear whether we are supposed to be rooting for the perpetrators or the victim. Very clever.

I was less convinced by the ending. Given that the book had reached such highs along the way I was expecting something less conventional, less guessable. I'd say just enjoy the journey! show less

This seems like a book for our times. The main character is Eric McFarlane, a debt counsellor in Whitehaven. His job is to help people to manage their debts. However, his secret is that he himself in heavily indebted. The story describes his attempts to keep up with his debts, to avoid paying them where possible, to keep his lenders at bay. At the same time he wants to keep his partner Charlotte and also to renew his relationship with an old flame, Julie, who suddenly appears from his past. Can his schemes and juggling outwit the multiple threats that he faces?
Gaffney captures the weaknesses and self-deception of Eric in this unusual tale.