Jonathan Coe's new novel is set in the 1970s against a distant backdrop of strikes, terrorist attacks and growing racial tension. A group of young friends inherit the editorship of their school magazine and begin to put their own distinctive spin on to events in the wider world. A zestful comedy of personal and social upheaval, The Rotters' Club captures a fateful moment in British politics - the collapse of 'Old Labour' - and imagines its impact on the topsy-turvy world of the bemused teenager: a world in which a lost pair of swimming trunks can be just as devastating as an IRA bomb.

This was good! I really enjoyed the setting of 1970s Birmingham, and a lot of the historical stuff has been on the news more recently, so that was nice synchronicity. (Government change and riots/Blair Peach, both made the news in the past week or so...) I liked the characters and, now I know there's a sequel (The Closed Circle) I'll be trying to get a copy as soon as poss. A recommended read.

Taking along to the meet at Salcey Forest on Saturday 5th June 2010. Meet starts at 12.30 and everyone is welcome. Come and join us :-)

Picked up from the table of books at the Salcey meet. Will add to Mt TBR & hope to read soon.