This book starts its journey with BookCrossing from Delphi, Greece
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" London, Summer, 1964. The Beatles have just released A Hard Days Night and the swinging sixties are fast approaching. Ralph, twelve years old, waves his mother goodbye as she disappears to the U.S. to work for a year, leaving him in the care of Doreen, an Irish housekeeper, and her husband Tom, a laborer. It is never easy being stuck inside the pill-box of the skull and looking out, particularly when the world is in flux, when it is peopled by chancers and crooks, swingers and adulterers, unreliable friends and - very occasionally - even good people, and when the grown-ups around you play strange games that involve fighting as much as loving each other. Yet Ralph is nothing if not curious, as well as cunning if necessary: he hangs on and gradually, slowly, begins to understand the world as it really is, an experience that frightens, enlightens and surprises him.
A masterful novel by one of Ireland's finest writers. "


~~~~~~To the person who found this book:~~~~~~

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This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, although I would love you to read and then share it. You can pass it on someone you know or release it once again in the wild, leaving it on a park bench, a phone booth, a hostel lobby...wherever you think it's suitable for the book to continue it's journey. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it.

I hope you enjoy the book!

Well, this book takes place from August 1964 till August 1965 in London -and a bit of Wales- and while it's told by a third person's point of view, mainly the narration comes from the perspective of a 12 years' old boy.

Occasionally I thought that Ralph, the main character, was a bit too well-behaved and too "sensitive" in his innocence to be real, while something felt a bit off sometimes, but otherwise this proved to be a flowing book that kept my mild interest. The language was decent, although sometimes the author suddenly relies on the elliptical, lyrical way that is popular with Irish authors, I guess in order to colour some scenes. I felt that this trick didn't blend very much with the writing style of the rest of the book. The end was kind of abrupt too.

I'm not Brit or Irish living in London, I'm not 12 or a boy, I wasn't even born at the time the book takes place, I don't think I connected much with any of the characters, while I don't think there is much going on to call this book a story with a tight plot. But all that said, I still found it captivating on its own way. Not unputdownable, but engaging after the first few pages. I guess sort of a growing-up/coming of age story.

Not amazing, but a decent read.

This book got itchy feet and wants to explore the whole wild wide world. So for a start it will now travel to France as part of my 6th Bookiversary celebration parcel! And then.. Who knows?

Good Luck dear book and Don't forget to write your news from time to time!

Whaou ! you spoilt me with a great parcel ! Can't wait to read this book !