Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
London : Doubleday, 2000
Description
The extraordinary first novel from the internationally acclaimed playwright. Raymond Marks is a normal boy, from a normal family, in a normal northern town. His Dad left home after falling in love with a five-string banjo; his fun-hating Gran believes she should have married Jean-Paul Sartre: 'I could never read his books, but y'could tell from his picture, there was nothing frivolous about Jean-Paul Sartre.' Felonious Uncle Jason and Appalling Aunty Paula are lusting after the satellite dish; frogs are flattened on Failsworth Boulevard; and Sickening Sonia's being sick in the majestic cathedral of words. Raymond Marks is a normal boy, from a normal family, in a normal northern town. Until, on the banks of the Rochdale Canal, the flytrapping craze begins and, for Raymond and his Mam, nothing is ever quite so normal again.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member atia
This one came recommended to me by two colleagues. I have to admit, after the first two hundred pages or so I was so upset I found it hard to see why they liked it so much. It's told from the perspective of a 19-year-old boy named Raymond who's on his way to Grimsby, where he's supposed to start a
I found it horribly depressing to a point where I almost couldn't read on, but in the end I'm glad I did. It does have a lot of comic moments, and it's really well written, and the resolution is quite good. It's a - not quite celebration of the outsider status, a book about how it's okay to be different. And it's definitely one of the better of its kind, if only because it has the Smiths ;)
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proper job. On his way, he's writing a diary/ letters to Morrissey describing his journey so far, i.e. the story of his life. And for much of that life, nothing good ever seems to happen.I found it horribly depressing to a point where I almost couldn't read on, but in the end I'm glad I did. It does have a lot of comic moments, and it's really well written, and the resolution is quite good. It's a - not quite celebration of the outsider status, a book about how it's okay to be different. And it's definitely one of the better of its kind, if only because it has the Smiths ;)
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LibraryThing member veronicay
I only mooched this to make up a 3-book mooch with another book that I really wanted. What a surprise! I know Russell as a playwright; I saw the original productions of Breezeblock Park, Educating rita, and Shirley Valentine back in the 70s and 80s. Russell's ear for dialogue and storytelling is
Raymond is the "wrong boy", always in the wrong place at the wrong time, turned from hero to zero by adult misinterpretation of a silly game. From then on he is betrayed or misunderstood by almost everyone he encounters (especially the adults) and what starts as comedy ends in tragedy when he is committed to a mental institution.
Russell has always been brilliant at mingling comedy and pathos and he doesn't fail here, although I felt the happy ending was rather weak. Of course the actual events in the story are not particularly realistic, but they way they are twisted by adults to make the odd and imaginative Raymond something he is not is horribly convincing. I really enjoyed reading this.
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well to the fore here; many of the chapters could stand alone as dramatic monologues, especially the hilarious accounts of the country singers and the coachload of Rotarians.Raymond is the "wrong boy", always in the wrong place at the wrong time, turned from hero to zero by adult misinterpretation of a silly game. From then on he is betrayed or misunderstood by almost everyone he encounters (especially the adults) and what starts as comedy ends in tragedy when he is committed to a mental institution.
Russell has always been brilliant at mingling comedy and pathos and he doesn't fail here, although I felt the happy ending was rather weak. Of course the actual events in the story are not particularly realistic, but they way they are twisted by adults to make the odd and imaginative Raymond something he is not is horribly convincing. I really enjoyed reading this.
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LibraryThing member coolmama
Sweet heartfelt (although sometimes rather depressing and horrifying) story told in letters to Morrissey from Raymond James, erstwhile 19 year old raised by a single mum and grew up on a housing estate with his Gran and his uncle.
LibraryThing member callington
I really enjoyed the book. All of the characters were very tangible. The relationship between Raymond and his Mum was particularly interesting in that it seemed to me that the well-being of one was dependant on the state of mind/well-being of the other. It was difficult to see how a stoic character
Gran, Twinky & Norman - what's not to love!
I thought at times the story lost its way a little and rambled on somewhat - particularly when the Country & Western band arrived on the scene.
The last two paragraphs in the book completely fulfilled the "feel good" factor for me :0)
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like Gran had raised a daughter as feeble as Mary….Gran, Twinky & Norman - what's not to love!
I thought at times the story lost its way a little and rambled on somewhat - particularly when the Country & Western band arrived on the scene.
The last two paragraphs in the book completely fulfilled the "feel good" factor for me :0)
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LibraryThing member presto
Hilarious, moving and enthralling, a story told by young Raymond, a “not normal” boy, in his letters written to Morrissey. His troubles start with some innocent boys’ games by the canal, misunderstood as a perversion by teachers and parents, and escalate from there. He describes his
Even at its most moving, the humour still shines through. An intriguing and gripping plot, it is tempting to rush ahead to discover what happens next, but to do so means sacrificing the sheer joy of reading Raymond’s ramblings. Beautifully written, very entertaining and truly involving, this is to be highly recommended.
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relationships with his family: confused mother, loving ally of a grandmother, horrendous uncle, and he enjoys the friendship of some slightly odd peers and other interesting characters as he progresses. Even at its most moving, the humour still shines through. An intriguing and gripping plot, it is tempting to rush ahead to discover what happens next, but to do so means sacrificing the sheer joy of reading Raymond’s ramblings. Beautifully written, very entertaining and truly involving, this is to be highly recommended.
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Language
Physical description
411 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
0385406967 / 9780385406963