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| The Rotters' Club | 
 enlarge | Author: Jonathan Coe
Publisher: Penguin
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £1.90
You Save: £6.09 (76%)
New (24) from £2.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 24055
Media: Paperback
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1.1
ISBN: 0141033266
EAN: 9780141033266
ASIN: 0141033266
Publication Date: May 19, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 a tale of growing up in the 1970's Midlands September 21, 2008
The first part of this book read like the Golden Years, a description of childhood through rose-tinted spectacles that all of us could wear about growing up decades ago. But this part is brought to a close with cataclysmic events that bring to the story closer to current life. The book then develops depths that I hadn't expected initially, combining a dark humour with the tragedy that made this a more stimulating read. Some of the deep divisions in 1970's society and the collapsing hierarchy are seen through an adolescent's eyes, that tarnish the initial golden years.
This is a mixture of observation of family life combined with commentary on a particular period of British history. The book builds some surprises and tells the story well. The only serious flaw is the third part of the book, which is a stream-of-consciousness download of thoughts around the plot. This fails to add any relevant detail, and merely reflects on events form the fictional main character. This creates a painfully slow means to finish the book.
The first part of this book read like the Golden Years, a description of childhood through rose-tinted spectacles that all of us could wear about growing up decades ago. But this part is brought to a close with cataclysmic events that bring to the story closer to current life. The book then develops depths that I hadn't expected initially, combining a dark humour with the tragedy that made this a more stimulating read. Some of the deep divisions in 1970's society and the collapsing hierarchy are seen through an adolescent's eyes, that tarnish the initial golden years.
This is a mixture of observation of family life combined with commentary on a particular period of British history. The book builds some surprises and tells the story well. The only serious flaw is the third part of the book, which is a stream-of-consciousness download of thoughts around the plot. This fails to add any relevant detail, and merely reflects on events form the fictional main character. This creates a painfully slow means to finish the book.
Worthwhile even if you weren't around in the 70s August 17, 2008
As someone who wasn't even born in the 70's, I'd avoided this book initially thinking I'd find little to relate to in it. Luckily I changed my mind as I'd been denying myself an enjoyable read. Although it would probably be particularly enjoyed by someone who has first hand memories of 1970s Britain, younger readers should not be put off.
It's a story mostly - though not exclusively, about adolescents, but it's most definitely aimed at an adult readership. Mostly well written and easy to read, Coe does a great job at combining humour with tragedy, never letting the former cheapen the latter. This novel had far more depth than I'd expected and does a splendid job of capturing the essence of both a decade and of the universal experience of adolescence.
The only real disappointment came in the final section, which is devoted to a single sentence stream of consciousness style monologue by one of the central characters. No matter how good the author, this is a technique I really dislike, always feeling like being beaten over the head with text. There was a good reason why the full stop was invented! It didn't even have interesting subject matter, focussing rather too much on the sexual conquest of the teenage narrator. It was a real shame as it let down a strong book.
However, I'd strongly recommend the book on the strength of the first two sections - which make up most of the novel. I'll also be planning to read the sequel which the inconclusive ending demands.
 Serious, endearing and funny, but without the sentimentalist claptrap July 21, 2008
A thoroughly captivating read that successfully marries 1970s real events - political and social - with a fictional coming of age story. It appals and delights with regular turns in plot, but crucially, always leaves you wishing you had more time to read the next chapter straight away.
As my first experience of Jonathan Coe I was enthralled by his wit and attention to detail. I am particularly pleased that none of the characters are overtly likeable, but the reader is left to enjoy the flow of watching events unfold. Often the reader is moved from third to first person narrative and at times it reads like a diary (indeed sometimes it is just that) or the thoughts in someone's head, whilst for the main part the story is told through narration.
A book of this nature is, inherently, a subjective story from the mind of the author so it is only a personal niggle that some loose ends are left untidy. I made my wife jump when I thumped the book down after the last page out of frustration; but I guess that just makes a great read. It's not often that I'm left with so many lasting impressions from a story set in the 1970s.
To say more would give away too much of the plot, but this has a worthy place on my recommendations list.
Refreshing May 1, 2008
A very pleasant change to the normal '70s' format of grim up north poor kids struggling to survive on a run down council estate. The author has made a massive effort to intertwine fact and fiction making the rotters' club a believable and endearing read. looking forwards to reading more from Jonathan coe
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