Untorn Tickets B Format [Paperback]

Paul Burke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2003

Dave and Andy are two classmates from a strict Catholic School in 70s London. Dave is desperate to escape his stifling Irish home life and Andy the cultural trappings of his traditional Polish family. Both dream of opportunities afforded to the strangers on the silver screen. And by chance, they end up working part-time in their local cinema in Notting Hill. They soon discover that being heroes of their own lives and impressing the stars on the ground is a challenge. They embark on a voyage of discovery far more exciting than anything they've seen on film. But when the cinema is threatened with closure, they realise that more than their new found freedom is at risk!

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Wonderful. Paul Burke is a natural storyteller and genuinely funny' Dominic Holland on UNTORN TICKETS PRAISE FOR FATHER FRANK: 'FATHER FRANK is a warm, funny, blisteringly good read that has the angels on its side' - Tony Parsons 'A dazzling first novel - funny, thoughtful and original' - Stephen Fry 'Original and comedic!very cool, very pithy' - Express 'The only novel I've ever read that tackles the fundamental issues of God, Irishness, advertising, love and cab driving all at once. Fast-moving, witty and highly digestible, it slips down like a fresh Eucharist wafer' - Tim Lott on FATHER FRANK 'Intriguing!irresistible' - Adele Parks 'The feel-good factor of an Ealing comedy and some beautifully executed one-liners' Scotland on Sunday

About the Author

Paul Burke's advertising work has won him almost every award in the industry - including campaigns for Barclaycard, VW, PG Tips, British Gas and Budweiser. At the same time he pursued a parallel career as a DJ on radio, in clubs, and has worked for LBC, GLR and Heart 106.2. He has also written for the Guardian, Tatler and The Sunday Times. He is the author of one previous novel, the highly acclaimed FATHER FRANK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Flame (February 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340826150
• ISBN-13: 978-0340826157
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,428,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories come flooding back!, July 24, 2006

By 

Brian (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Untorn Tickets B Format (Paperback)

This is an excellent read, as is Paul Burke's earlier book Father Frank.

I suppose I would enjoy it even more than the average person having had a very similar upbringing to Dave Kelly in the same part of London. Only real difference was that the boys in the book are around 8 or 9 years older than me.

There is so much of everything mentioned that I can relate to, epecially the 'fictional' St Bede's School the two attended. Rest assured that St Bede's is anything but fictional. The name and location of the school and names of teachers have been changed, but the school and characters portrayed are very real. I know because I attended the school concerned and spent two terrified years in room 26 - 'doc's' maths class...

Despite my own familiarity with much of what the boys go through, it is Burke's storytelling abilities that make his books such an enjoyable read. His ability to put the experiences of growing up into words set him apart. I sure wish I had his ability.

I'm very much looking forward to Paul Burke's next book, whenever that may be. In the meantime, if you have not yet read Father Frank and Untorn Tickets, then I suggest strongly that you do.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, highly enjoyable, February 12, 2006

By 

Janna Jansen (Waiheke Island, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Untorn Tickets B Format (Paperback)

I tracked this book down after reading Father Frank, Paul Burkes first book which was a gem.

This is even better. Two teenagers who become friends by working in the same cinema (even though they have gone to the same school for five years previously), soon become adept at lining their pockets with a few perks of the job.

Both are from strict Catholic families, although with a difference -one is Irish Catholic and the other Polish Catholic. Their Catholicism shapes their childhood lives but they are both on the brink of adulthood -both very keen to break away and form their own lives and opinions.

This book is beautifully written, the author really sets everything up well, with great detail regarding the boys, their backgrounds, their tyrannical teachers at school, where they live and the girls they fall in love with.

I found this to be a really good book and am on the hunt for more by Paul Burke.

4.0 out of 5 stars Coming-of-Age Antics in 70s England, November 12, 2004

By 

GW Fisher "@agaveweb on twitter" (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Untorn Tickets B Format (Paperback)

A nice little book about two friends from a dodgy part of London who bond at their grammar school, go on to work in a cinema where they soon start conning the corporate owners out of cash to fuel their extracurricular activities.

This book won't change the world, but has some nice observational humour about relationships, 6th form college and the 70s music scene. A nice light read for Anglophiles in their mid thirties.