Black Swan Green - David Mitchell
Would I be too emphatic in saying that this is one of the best books I have read all year? No, because quite simply it is.
| 13 Oct 2006
The book is set during the tumultuous reign of 'Monster Thatcher', the Falklands War and stalemate with Russia, a perfect backdrop to the tempestuous years of puberty. In contrast the location for events is sleepy Black Swan Green in deepest Worcestershire, a village with no namesake swans and one pub. This is a novel of contrasts, as we are confronted with a seemingly typical, middle class, nuclear family rocked by revelations of twelve year affairs and mountains of debt, and bullies truly receiving their comeuppance in spectacular fashion.
'Black Swan Green' is a fast paced, fluid work which cannot be put down. The action skips over time, paragraphs often being set months after the last one, but it works. Would I be too emphatic in saying that this is one of the best books I have read all year? No, because quite simply it is. [Claire Mapletoft]
David Mitchell was the best selling author of 'The Cloud Atlas'. 'Black Swan Green' is his fourth novel. He was once turned down for a job at McDonalds. Sceptre 2006, 16.99 HB
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth03A30M451712634910