Review: Entertaining stories set in south London
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 22, 2013
A lovely collection of stories about the people we pass on the streets every day.Each piece is a witty exploration of the hearts and minds of men and women who lead less than spectacular lives. Mistakes and misunderstandings underpin many of the relationships portrayed in these stories, exposing both the frailties and the resilience of the characters. There are elements of the surreal that are laugh-out-loud funny and moments of farce that balance deliciously on the fine line between making you cringe and making you giggle your head off.The stories vary in length, and I think the longer, more developed pieces, are more successful than the shorter ones. The first story is my stand-out favorite. I'd love to read more about its hapless 'hero', Tom, whose 'achievements existed mainly in his head, in project form' and who can kid himself that he resembles 'Alain Delon crossed with a young Sean Connery and just a hint of James Dean'. From the first page I felt I knew this man in his slightly grubby flat in south London. He's a bit of a loser, but he had me rooting for him, none the less.Peter Davey's writing style is extremely enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.