Paperboy

Description

The award-winning novelist's gloriously funny and moving memoir of a suburban childhood in the 60s. Christopher Fowler's memoir captures life in suburban London as it has rarely been seen- through the eyes of a lonely boy who spends his days between the library and the cinema, devouring novels, comics, cereal packets - anything that might reveal a story. Caught between an ever-sensible but exhausted mother and a DIY-obsessed father fighting his own demons, Christopher takes refuge in words. His parents try to understand their son's peculiar obsessions, but fast lose patience with him - and each other. The war of nerves escalates to include every member of the Fowler family, and something has to give, but does it mean that a boy must always give up his dreams for the tough lessons of real life? Beautifully written, this rich and astute evocation of a time and a place recalls a childhood at once entertainingly eccentric and endearingly ordinary.

Christopher Fowler is the multiple award-winning author of almost fifty novels and short story collections, including the Bryant & May mysteries. His other novels include Roofworld, Spanky, The Sand Men and Hot Water. He has also written two acclaimed memoirs, Paperboy (winner of the Green Carnation Prize) and Film Freak, plus The Book of Forgotten Authors. In 2015 he won the CWA 'Dagger in the Library' for his body of work. He lives in London and Barcelona, and blogs at www.christopherfowler.co.uk. Twitter- @Peculiar

One of the funniest books I've read in a long time. In fact, these pages are packed with so many good lines, even the footnotes are a joy to read. ...Witty and wise, moving but never mawkish, this is the kind of memoir that puts most others to shame * TIME OUT * Entrancing, funny, deeply moving and wonderfully written. Please read it -- ELIZABETH BUCHAN Funny and charming...here a voracious young reader makes his great mental escape from the suburban Stalag of south London via the literature that, once he masters its craft, will lead him back to recreate this lovingly detailed past -- Boyd Tonkin * INDEPENDENT 'Books of the Year' * Beautiful, magical and moving * DAILY MAIL * Absolutely charming...beautifully written, with a sort of English Thunderbolt Kid (Bill Bryson) feel. Highly recommended -- Sarah Broadhurst * BOOKSELLER *