An acutely observed story of a young man's journey of self-discovery and how the path of life can take one on many diverse routes. No one knew why Robin abandoned a brilliant university career to start a new life at an eccentric island monastery, but it was thought to have something to do with the surprise engagement of Candida, Robin's childhood playmate, and Jake, their mutual friend. Eight years later, Robin's return to the less spiritual world of London in the late eighties has far-reaching effects. Much has changed: his father has left the City to run a progressive kindergarten in Clapham; Candida is now a household name as a presenter on breakfast television; and Jake is a successful advertising executive. When Robin falls in love at the christening of Candida's baby, he has little idea how extraordinary the consequences will be.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
When British TV show hostess Candida Thackeray asks Robin Maitland, her childhood pal and her husband Jake's former best friend, to godparent her baby, she rattles a chain of improbable but entertaining events. Robin, having suffered a breakdown, has subsequently spent nearly eight years with an oddball religious community off the English coast; he emerges for the christening to find his parents, Peter and Andrea, running a kindergarten. Subsequently, Peter visits Marcus, a man hospitalized with an unnamed terminal disease, and Andrea visits Faber, a painter and the father, by adoption, of Iras, a girl born without eyes. Faber turns out to have once been an intimate of the dying Marcus, Robin to be in love with Faber, and Jake to have caused Robin's psychosis. Although the interconnections are sometimes pat and all females, even the saintly Iras, are shown as hidden saboteurs, this newest black comedy by the author of The Aerodynamics of Pork tries for seriousness but remains essentially lightweight and zany.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Love, death, the decay of friendship, the triumph of love -- all the big themes are here in small doses, cunningly plotted and skilfully interwoven by Patrick Gale, who writes like Iris Murdoch on pep pills. Savage, satirical, often very funny, this highly readable comedy of middle-class manners is written by a young author of boundless talent. One to watch.' Daily Mail 'Gale describes strong emotions with conviction. He shows the diversity of passionate behaviour, sometimes hilarious, sometimes threatening, but always skilfully contained within a comedy of contemporary manners.' The Times 'A richly comic novel about the equilibrium of urban lives and loves upset by an outsider. Affectionate and perceptive.' Mail on Sunday 'His discreet exploration of love between the generations and the sexes is by turn poignant and humourous.' Vogue 'Sharp insights into a thoroughly modern marriage.' Sunday Times 'This is a witty book with more than a touch of satire, but which deals with love, pain, death and laughter with an extraordinary depth of understanding.' She 'A wonderful, modern comedy of manners.' Company 'Savagely gleeful. Gale adroitly keeps the many elements of this barbed farce aloft: his satire is deft, his plot entertainingly stuffed with surprises, and his characters are generally drawn with a laser like attention to their foibles and passion. A blithe, original, engaging satire of the hustling spirit of contemporary Britain.' New York Times 'Comic, touching, astringent and immensely accomplished. Little Bits of Baby is a real treat.' Gay Times
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
