Scan barcode
amyvl93's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This Lovely City takes place in London in the 1950s, in the years after the Second World War and the arrival of the Windrush. Our protagonists are Lawrie, a young man from Jamaica who is convinced to come to the UK by his late brother's friend, a postman-turned-jazz musician and Evie, the (literal) girl next door, who is mixed race and being raised by her single white mother.
When Lawrie discovers the body of a mixed-race baby apparently drowned on his way home from work, the police and wider community suspicion lands on the growing Black community in South London.
The immediate post-war years don't always get covered in fiction, the bleakness does not lend itself to fiction, and I found that Hare vividly bought to life the sense of just...grey that seemed to haunt the London of this story, especially through Lawrie's eyes. This makes the scenes of snatched joy - warm summer flashbacks, successful jazz concerts - bounce off the page much more.
Hare's focus on the experience of the Windrush arrivals was also interesting, I had next to no awareness of the process they went through on arrival, of having to sleep in shelters and, despite the request for labour, struggle they had finding work due to the blatant racism of war-torn England.
Another strength of Hare's, for the most part, was her portrayal of the 'chosen family' of fellow musicians that Lawrie has within his community - I really liked their interactions and different responses to the increasing police pressure on them and their peers. Similarly, I liked Evie's relationship with her friend Delia.
There were times, however, when it felt like This Lovely City couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be - a historical portrait of the Windrush experience with a side of romance or a crime thriller. I found the latter to be increasingly uninteresting, and the reveal that we get felt a bit unbelievable, even for all that character's flaws. This meant that at times I wasn't compelled to pick it up, just because I wasn't sure what narrative I was really reading.
All in all, this is a good read - it ends neatly and I think shines a light on a generation that did an awful lot for this country with very little thanks.
When Lawrie discovers the body of a mixed-race baby apparently drowned on his way home from work, the police and wider community suspicion lands on the growing Black community in South London.
The immediate post-war years don't always get covered in fiction, the bleakness does not lend itself to fiction, and I found that Hare vividly bought to life the sense of just...grey that seemed to haunt the London of this story, especially through Lawrie's eyes. This makes the scenes of snatched joy - warm summer flashbacks, successful jazz concerts - bounce off the page much more.
Hare's focus on the experience of the Windrush arrivals was also interesting, I had next to no awareness of the process they went through on arrival, of having to sleep in shelters and, despite the request for labour, struggle they had finding work due to the blatant racism of war-torn England.
Another strength of Hare's, for the most part, was her portrayal of the 'chosen family' of fellow musicians that Lawrie has within his community - I really liked their interactions and different responses to the increasing police pressure on them and their peers. Similarly, I liked Evie's relationship with her friend Delia.
There were times, however, when it felt like This Lovely City couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be - a historical portrait of the Windrush experience with a side of romance or a crime thriller. I found the latter to be increasingly uninteresting, and the reveal that we get felt a bit unbelievable, even for all that character's flaws. This meant that at times I wasn't compelled to pick it up, just because I wasn't sure what narrative I was really reading.
All in all, this is a good read - it ends neatly and I think shines a light on a generation that did an awful lot for this country with very little thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Murder
sheryl_macca's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
The Lovely City is based in 1940s-50s London. It's a story of the changing picture of England in the time of Windrush; Racism, women's liberation and the secularisation of society.
Murder mystery and a romance entwine to form the plot but for me the weight is most definitely on the romance when I'd have preferred more examination of the murder mystery.
The cast of characters is small and diverse but the book is plot driven. Character development is a little lacking. I wanted deeper emotion.
The duality of the windrush generation is explored well. From the welcome they receive from the 'mother land', 'a good strong pair of hands' to rebuild England after the war, entertaining musicians who bring their new music to the dance clubs to the racial slurs, the scary otherness reported in the newspapers, the rumours at church of how the newcomers are 'different from us' and the crimes that are being automatically pinned on them for a fast solve all over the city.
There's also a melancholic mood, a sense of judgement throughout the book. It's subtle enough to give just a wary feeling that Lawrie and Evie, our protagonists, no doubt feel every day since they are both people of colour.
It's a good story, it's well written. It's not a powerful or in depth read. It's a much lighter book than I anticipated.
Murder mystery and a romance entwine to form the plot but for me the weight is most definitely on the romance when I'd have preferred more examination of the murder mystery.
The cast of characters is small and diverse but the book is plot driven. Character development is a little lacking. I wanted deeper emotion.
The duality of the windrush generation is explored well. From the welcome they receive from the 'mother land', 'a good strong pair of hands' to rebuild England after the war, entertaining musicians who bring their new music to the dance clubs to the racial slurs, the scary otherness reported in the newspapers, the rumours at church of how the newcomers are 'different from us' and the crimes that are being automatically pinned on them for a fast solve all over the city.
There's also a melancholic mood, a sense of judgement throughout the book. It's subtle enough to give just a wary feeling that Lawrie and Evie, our protagonists, no doubt feel every day since they are both people of colour.
It's a good story, it's well written. It's not a powerful or in depth read. It's a much lighter book than I anticipated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion
hannahrhian's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Grief, and Pregnancy
ellarend's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I filmed a book review on my Youtube channel @ellarend: https://youtu.be/BeKg07NB5wg
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Murder
More...