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About this listen

Christopher Fowler's memoir captures life in suburban London as it has rarely been seen: through the eyes of a lonely boy who spends his days between the library and the cinema, devouring novels, comics, cereal packets - anything that might reveal a story.
Caught between an ever-sensible but exhausted mother and a DIY-obsessed father fighting his own demons, Christopher takes refuge in words. His parents try to understand their son's peculiar obsessions, but fast lose patience with him - and each other. The war of nerves escalates to include every member of the Fowler family, and something has to give, but does it mean that a boy must always give up his dreams for the tough lessons of real life?
Beautifully written, this rich and astute evocation of a time and a place recalls a childhood at once entertainingly eccentric and endearingly ordinary.

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Critic reviews

One of the funniest books I've read in a long time. In fact, these pages are packed with so many good lines, even the footnotes are a joy to read. ...Witty and wise, moving but never mawkish, this is the kind of memoir that puts most others to shame
Entrancing, funny, deeply moving and wonderfully written. Please read it (ELIZABETH BUCHAN)
Funny and charming...here a voracious young reader makes his great mental escape from the suburban Stalag of south London via the literature that, once he masters its craft, will lead him back to recreate this lovingly detailed past (Boyd Tonkin)
Beautiful, magical and moving
Absolutely charming...beautifully written, with a sort of English Thunderbolt Kid (Bill Bryson) feel. Highly recommended (Sarah Broadhurst)
The book is fabulous, and I hope it sells forever. (JOANNE HARRIS)
Delightfully written, this funny and engrossing memoir is a wonderful evocation of a Fifties and Sixties childhood
Upbeat and forgiving...Fowler's South London childhood was deeply weird...but the tone is sunny, and anyone who remembers Mivvis, jamboree bags, streets with no cars, Sid James and vast old Odeons will love this Sixties retro-fest
A wonderfully vigorous read, confident in its total recall and acute in its deft definitions of characters. (SAGA MAGAZINE)
Humorously recounted, Fowler's passion for reading is framed by an affectionate description of his London childhood, adding colour to a memoir packed with anecdotes
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this insight into a young boy growing up in London in the 60s and 70s and grappling with adolescence and a burgeoning creativity.

Moving portrayal

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Any additional comments?

having listened to most of Christopher fowler's Bryant and may series I was looking forward to listening to this book about his early life. I wasn't disappointed.
his love of books and later films, his family all came together to make the author he has become.
Gordon griffin did his usual good job of performing this book.

enjoyd this biography

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