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| Where Did It All Go Right?: Growing Up Normal In the 70s | 
 enlarge | Author: Andrew Collins
Publisher: Ebury Press
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £7.98 (100%)
New (23) from £2.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  54 reviews
Sales Rank: 13769
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0091894360
Dewey Decimal Number: 941.0857092
EAN: 9780091894368
ASIN: 0091894360
Publication Date: March 4, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Will dispatch by 1st class post within 24 hours.
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| Customer Reviews:
 OK...But An Overdose of Nostalgic Self-Indulgence August 23, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Not a book I would have purchased myself, but I received it as an unexpected Christmas present. Yes, I grew up in the 60s and 70s, though three years Andrew's elder. So, I expected to make at least some connection with his experiences.
And, to some extent, I did. This is why the book gets three stars. It's great to be reminded of many of the things from my childhood and, as he intends, recognise that not all books about this time of life have to be tragic tales of abuse and neglect. On the flip side, I found the book somewhat self-indulgent and, eventually, more than a little tedious. There is only so much of a fairly ordinary schoolboy's diary I can take, and I think use of the diary was taken too far - becoming more and more like padding than any great insight into Andrew's life, loves and opinions.
I took it for holiday reading, but regret trying to read the whole thing in one go. It's more a book for dipping into from time to time and reminding yourself of more innocent times and half-forgotten memories of that era. Bear in mind, however, that this is the childhood of an admittedly upper working or lower middle class boy living in Northampton. I can see that for many it would be tedious and banal from the outset.
I did enjoy the book, particularly the early years, but I'm afraid he lost me at the stage he discovered Punk! I probably won't be purchasing the sequel but am left reflecting on what I remember of my own childhood (and also what I have forgotten). Yes, I have to admit, the book did make me think...which is good.
A bit of a curate's egg! August 7, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The subject matter here is comic gold dust for anyone of Collins' generation. However the book is a mix of the nostalgic and the tedious.
The risk of a book like this is that it'll become smug, generally he avoids this but just occasionally you long for him to get a slap down.
Collins regurgitates each year's diary and apart from the odd flash of recognition (anyone remember Monster Fun comic?) it seems a bit pointless.
Where the book fails is that it doesn't link his story with me, it doesn't rise above the particular and become universal.
The writing is generally competent, although it suffers in comparisons with other autobiographies like Clive James' Unreliable Memoirs which is wittier and better written.
Overall pleasant but not outstanding.
 A bit smug for me July 26, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I couldn't finish this. I bought it last year as a light holiday read as I'm ages with the author and because I'm opposed to buying car crash memoirs in the vein of the "my father used to whip me for breakfast".
A suburban childhood with nice, sensible parents who had experienced war time or post war austerity this book is set in a time before consumerism went mad and no one laughed at footballers with kitsch haircuts. I wondered what was his point in writing it. I found nothing here that anyone from a like background wouldn't have experienced but, though well written, it's not told with any particular charm.
Childhood in the 70s is really scant cause for celebration, we didn't overcome deprivation and we missed out on all the play things which became available for kids from the 80s onwards. It was all a bit dull and this book reminds me of that fact.
 Thumbs up December 11, 2006
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm not a native of Northampton, but this did not take away my enjoyment of Andrew Collins' illuminative writing. I enjoyed this book because for its honesty and it's humour. It is well put together, witty and charming. It's refreshing to read about positive family upbringings, considering the trend for sob stories about broken homes. For anyone who grew up in the 70's or even early 80's and remembers the music, tv and culture of the period, this is a compelling book which I found myself drawn into, and the diary entries make this an ideal book for dipping in and out of, and good for short journeys. My one small criticism is of Collin's rather liberal PC moral high ground over the attitudes of his 70's peers, but don't let this put you off, it's a great read and I now feel like I know the bloke personally.
 A trip down memory lane? November 9, 2006
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book was lent to me by my brother-in-law and I have just finished reading it this week. I hail from Northampton and now live in West Wales, so it brought a touch of nostalgia and memories of a bygone era to the present day where I can also relate to the country and the West. Definitely a book that will mean more to the local Northamptonian, but still a poignant read for those who want to relive a childhood in the 70s. Thanks Andrew if you are reading this blurb for a bit of local history. I am sure I recognise some of those names...
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