1983

Thanks to Unbound and Netgalley for this digital ARC of Tom Cox's '1983.'

This is a wonderful and magical book and a little hard to encapsulate without spoiling the story.

Set mainly in 1983 (hence the title!) in the depths of the Thatcherite era in Britain, the action centers around Benji, a precocious and boisterous eight-year-old boy, his progressive, left-leaning family, friends, school, and neighbors. They live in a small, and thanks to Thatcher, soon to be ex-mining village in Nottinghamshire in the middle of England and deal with the realities of life in a country where Thatcher's policies are crushing their way of life.

Benji has imagination to spare but not all of his imaginings are so far wide of the mark.

This is so well written, from capturing the mind and wonderings of a child, to his descriptions of the times, his loving description of his parents' relationship, and the other adults that come into his universe. If I was a note taker I'd have spent twice as long reading this book since I'd have been recording superb language and ideas on just about every page.

Although its subject matter is quite different, reading this book reminded me of the feelings and emotions engendered when reading Max Porter's 'Lanny' - just a beautiful written and evocative book.

I'm away off now to find Tom Cox's 'Villager.'