Our Fathers – Andrew O’Hagan

I’m sorry to say that I’ve given up on this novel. I fear it suffered by being tackled at a time when work was busy and stressful – when only easy reading is desired – and Phil and I were watching Our Friends in the North on DVD, which covers somewhat similar territory: the loving yet difficult relationship between a successful middle-class son and a strong, successful working-class (grand)father and the disappointment-filled relationship between successful son and alcoholic father(figure). The 1960s boom in high density public housing and development of New Towns of high rise flats provide another common strand.

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