Common Ground

Author: Naomi Ishiguro

Stock information

General Fields

  • : $32.99 AUD
  • : 9781472273321
  • : Headline Publishing Group
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  • : 0.3
  • : October 2020
  • : 3.2 Centimeters X 15.7 Centimeters X 23.4 Centimeters
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  • : 32.99
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  • : books

Special Fields

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  • : Naomi Ishiguro
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  • : Paperback
  • : 2104
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  • : 432
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Barcode 9781472273321
9781472273321

Description


A classic coming of age story in the tradition of TIN MAN or BLACK SWAN GREEN, from the acclaimed author of ESCAPE ROUTES


'A wonderful book, both tender and wise' Okechukwu Nzelu



'Immersive and timely... you will root for Charlie and Stan from the first page' Deepa Anappara

From the acclaimed author of ESCAPE ROUTES, a bittersweet story of coming-of-age in a divided world, in the tradition of TIN MAN or BLACK SWAN GREEN.


It's a lonely life for Stan, at a new school that feels more ordeal than fresh start, and at home where he and his mother struggle to break the silence after his father's death.


When he encounters fearless, clever Charlie on the local common, all of that begins to change. Charlie's curiosity is infectious, and it is Charlie who teaches Stan, for the first time, to stand on his own two feet. But will their unit of two be strong enough to endure in a world that offers these boys such different prospects?


The pair part ways, until their paths cross once again, as adults in London. Now Stan is revelling in all that the city has to offer, while Charlie seems to have hit a brick wall. He needs Stan's help, and above all his friendship, but is Stan really there for the man who once showed him the meaning of loyalty?


Reviews

This is a story about an unlikely friendship between Stan Gower and Charlie Wells. The novel is divided into three parts. It begins in 2003 when Stan is thirteen-years-old and living a sheltered and dreary life with his grieving, widowed mother. He has recently moved to a private school where he is bullied mercilessly. Outside of school, he spends his time alone, riding his bike across the local Common. There he meets sixteen-year-old Charlie, a Romani (gypsy) boy. Charlie and his people travel widely and are disliked by locals and routinely moved on by councils. Charlie introduces Stan to his extended family and the young, lonely boy is envious of the strong sense of community and closeness of its members. Charlie and Stan spend more and more time together, with Charlie emboldening Stan, until an event forces them to part ways.


Part two begins nine years later, in 2012, when Charlie and Stan bump into each other in London and rekindle their friendship. Stan is now doing well and enjoying life but Charlie is struggling with all aspects of his life. As they get to know each other again, the differences in their class and education become increasingly apparent.


Part three nicely ties all the threads of the book together, including the themes of racism, facism, prejudice and, ultimately, friendship.


The story of two people from vastly different backgrounds becoming close friends is not a new idea, but the focus on the Romani people, their history within the UK, and the injustices they face despite their long history in the country, adds a new dimension and was, for me, the most interesting aspect.


Overall, the book is quite well written, but at over 400 pages, I felt the novel was too long, the characters a little too archetypal, and the moral message a little too heavy-handed.


It was difficult to figure out the target audience for this book, as part one felt like a YA novel, targeted at adolescents but part two veered into more grim content seemingly aimed at an older audience.