(A Five of Five star read.)
*****

This, I believe, was the first of several 1970s themed books written by author Phil Andrews. While the others related directly to factual events and memories of that time, ‘The Best Year of Our Lives’ takes the form of a fictional tale. – though I do get the impression it is at least in part, autobiographical.

It’s obvious then, that Phil, like me, has a deep love for anything that reminds him of that decade – a time when the book’s main character, Paul, was graduating from childhood to adolescence.

The book follows Paul as he seeks to make his name, if not in the world exactly, but within the fictional Middlesex suburban town of Aitston and its various housing estates.

The story centres around his quest to cultivate a local ‘gang,’ giving them a purpose for existence as he binds them together by mediating between various factions that surface from within.

Throughout, there are so many points of reference that readers of a certain age will relate to, not least those to do with the music of the time, the simmering football hooliganism and of course the fashion.

The story-line is set in 1976, during which I myself turned eighteen. The character Paul is fourteen going on fifteen, so there’s not too much of a difference. I mention this because either Paul was very mature for his young years – or I was desperately immature. He does seem rather grown up in some of his conversations and deeper thoughts.

There’s probably a deal of truth in both scenarios.

Despite it being a fairly chunky looking book at just short of four hundred pages, this is a lovely, ‘easy’ read. Perhaps I felt that way because I could identify with much of what was going on. However, I also think the book would appeal to younger readers (younger to me, that is 😉 ) because of the way it’s written and places the reader within the gang itself.

Yeah – a very enjoyable, and nostalgic read.

__________

(I have downloaded a couple of Phil’s other books and will pop up brief ‘reviews’ in due course.)