Thursday, July 22, 2010

London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins

The boarding house on 10 Dulcimer Street in Kennington shelters some very interesting characters. 

Set in the late thirties, Collins was writing about the London of his day.  Unbeknownst to many, war was looming between countries but there were also conflicts brewing on a smaller scale under this roof.  And in the charming way of the author he would say 'Step this way and have a look...'

Mrs Vizzard is a lonely widow who rents out rooms in her house.  The lodgers tend to be long-term residents and have become as good as family with each other.  Mr and Mrs Josser live there with their twenty-year old daughter, Doris.  The book opens with Mr Josser retiring from his job and carrying the contents of his desk along with his retirement gift, a huge mantle clock, home on the tram...which he proceeds to drop.

Connie lives with her bird, Duke, and never having much she struggles to make ends meet.  Trouble has a way of finding Connie and sometimes she goes looking for it.  A quirky characteristic of hers is that if there's a vehicle leaving Dulcimer Street then Connie makes sure she's in the passenger seat whether she has been invited or not.

Mr Puddy is a lazy night watchmen with a perpetually stuffed nose and his dialogue is written as such.  His daily grind is pretty much going to work and thinking about his next meal with tinned goods being about as good as it gets.  He has a serendipitous moment of glory when he's awarded a George Cross for saving a fireman's life during a drop of incendiary bombs.  The thing is...he was crawling his way out of a fire and the fireman just so happened to have grabbed onto him as he went past!

Mrs Boon and her delusional son, Percy...now there's a creepy fellow.  A mechanic, he turns to the theft of cars in order to make more money.  With an eye for the Josser's daughter he figures the extra cash will go a long way to securing a future with her but things go bad....real bad.  There are court proceedings and bad press which bring shame to the boarding house and despair to Mrs Vizzard, who runs an upstanding establishment!  Poor Mrs Boon will never see the bad in her son and most of the time a quiet word with the Lord (and a hanky) sees her through.

Doris could care less about Percy in that way.  Being a modern girl and wanting independence she rents a flat with her less than pure friend, Doreen.  I burst out laughing when Doreen convinces Doris that the extra cash for a phone would be well rewarded by loads of phone calls to do exciting things but the phone never rings because nobody they know has a phone!

A sham of a mystic (is there any other kind?) appears one day in the form of Mr Squales.  Now there's a slippery character.  He knows all the right things to say and do and in short order has Mrs Vizzard falling in love.  She can barely look at the portrait of her dearly departed husband because of the thoughts she has in her head.  But 'Qualito' is always on the look out for other lonely widows whose bank accounts are more bountiful.  Such a cad!

In the latter bit of the book war breaks out and you experience shelters, rationing, bombings, fighter planes, child evacuation and telegrams.  There is also parliamentary talk and some discussion of the Fuhrer so not all kitchen drama in case you're wondering.

Norman Collins is an amazing writer who brought these characters to life for me.  There was no nuance too small for him to mention which explains some of the reason for its length at over 700 pages but in no way did this bog things down.  If this era, or London, interests you then you must read this book and if you love both...well then, you're in for a treat.

16 comments:

  1. You've reminded me that I never got this from the library after you teased us with it. I'm even more keen to read it now...

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  2. This has been on my TBR list for ever. I feel in love with the last review of it and promised myself I would get it. Yet here I am, a year later and still I don't have it. Thank you for reminding me ofthis book.

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  3. I have seen this all over the blogosphere but I must admit this is the first review of it I have actually read. It sounds fascinating. And I like your comment about sham mystics. :)

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  4. I had never heard of this before you mentioned it and I have been eagerly awaiting your review...you have well and truly whetted my appetite for it, I must say! London and the 1930s? What could possibly be more perfect?! Fantastic review, and thank you for bringing this to my attention!

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  5. This sounds like an enormous undertaking... but well worth it!!

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  6. verity, It felt to me very much like a Persephone type of read so I think you would enjoy it.

    Vivienne, We're spoiled for choice when it comes to good books aren't we. If you spy a copy of this...don't hesitate!

    Thomas, Oh I think you would absolutely LOVE this book! Here's hoping you find a copy in your travels.

    booksnob, It was out of print for awhile so perhaps that explains why you hadn't heard of it. If you spy this one on the second-hand shelves, don't hesitate!

    JoAnn, I seem to be really drawn to the chunksters lately! My next read was going to be The Meaning of Night but it's over 500 pgs so I chose something shorter for a slight intermission. London Belongs to Me was definitely worth the reading time!

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  7. I saw this mentioned elsewhere and didn't think I fancied it, but after reading your review, I'm going to have to get it! Don't know whether to thank you or not... :)

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  8. Penny, Just like tuning in to an old soap opera but it is a long one. Your husband may like this as well!

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  9. I absolutely do love that era AND London, so I'm absolutely captivated by the idea of this book. Sounds so insightful and compelling - a treat indeed!

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  10. Jane, Keep it in mind for when your study load isn't quite so heavy. There's a character named Bill who is studying to become a doctor now that I think of it!

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  11. I think I need to go grab this from my shelves now! I'm very much in the mood for a book with a setting like this and this sounds perfect!

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  12. I've been delaying this for a time when I'm less busy, but you have me wanting to pull out my copy. Now! Would it make a good holiday read I wonder? Only six weeks to go!

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  13. And I should add, do read The Meaning of Night. It's one of those big books that you can do nothing but race through!

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  14. Danielle, This would make the perfect 'bus book' for your tote bag!

    fleurfisher, I really enjoyed reading this one whilst on the patio with tea and scones in the afternoon but it would also be a terrific autumnal read as well. Oh the aroma of wood smoke! Thank you soooo much for your comment about The Meaning of Night...I've only talked to one other person whose read it!!!

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  15. It has arrived and I'm LOVING it! I know DH will love it too and I've already read him several bits from it! Thank you so much for the recommendation! :o)

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  16. Penny, I'm so glad! Happy reading!

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