Scan barcode
roisin_prendergast's review against another edition
5.0
I've never read a character's thoughts that have been as honest as 21 year old Vic Brown's. I feel I've really journeyed along with him through these two pivotal years of his story.
I started out with a strange sort of envy of him; his youth, his cosy home life of tea on the table - firm but unwavering mother - and that stable sort of confidence that afforded him to ponder his sense of self and his interests - a phase of self exploration that I feel seems to sometimes come a little bit easier to young men than young women and JUST vaguely teeters on the border between a smug sort of contentment and egotism. (But as if Stan Barstow doesn't know that)
And then it all comes crashing down. And its a mess of misery and cynicism. Yes Vic was selfish, immature, unfair. But I was rooting for him. GOD it's all just so bitterly honest.
As with all "post-war industrial north" narratives, there's that grain of humour that I really enjoy - and the scene where Vic vomits on Ma Rothwell's carpet is really quite wild. I couldn't believe it haha.
I really really admire the humanness of this story. It's a story I don't think could be written these days. Probably why I like it so much.
I started out with a strange sort of envy of him; his youth, his cosy home life of tea on the table - firm but unwavering mother - and that stable sort of confidence that afforded him to ponder his sense of self and his interests - a phase of self exploration that I feel seems to sometimes come a little bit easier to young men than young women and JUST vaguely teeters on the border between a smug sort of contentment and egotism. (But as if Stan Barstow doesn't know that)
And then it all comes crashing down. And its a mess of misery and cynicism. Yes Vic was selfish, immature, unfair. But I was rooting for him. GOD it's all just so bitterly honest.
As with all "post-war industrial north" narratives, there's that grain of humour that I really enjoy - and the scene where Vic vomits on Ma Rothwell's carpet is really quite wild. I couldn't believe it haha.
I really really admire the humanness of this story. It's a story I don't think could be written these days. Probably why I like it so much.
thisisstephenbetts's review against another edition
4.0
Written in 1960, A Kind Of Loving fits into the kitchen sink tradition, prominent in Britain at the time. Deeply rooted in its Yorkshire setting, it is very much concerned with the real people, with their everyday problems, hopes and experiences.
The protagonist, Victor, is a young, bright working class son-of-a-miner, just discovering females, and focussing on one young woman in particular.
The first half is essentially about Victor falling in love, and while the evocation of these feelings is very well done, this section does wear a little eventually. But it is necessary to set up the later sections where things get more complicated for Vic, and the book regained my interest.
It's a very good book - compellingly realistic, with real-world, relatable concerns and well depicted characters. Possibly the most distinctive thing about the book, though, is Barstow's wonderful use of the Yorkshire dialect. In his hands the language is so rich and expressive, it really elevates A Kind Of Loving from an interesting story to a compelling and immersive novel.
The protagonist, Victor, is a young, bright working class son-of-a-miner, just discovering females, and focussing on one young woman in particular.
The first half is essentially about Victor falling in love, and while the evocation of these feelings is very well done, this section does wear a little eventually. But it is necessary to set up the later sections where things get more complicated for Vic, and the book regained my interest.
It's a very good book - compellingly realistic, with real-world, relatable concerns and well depicted characters. Possibly the most distinctive thing about the book, though, is Barstow's wonderful use of the Yorkshire dialect. In his hands the language is so rich and expressive, it really elevates A Kind Of Loving from an interesting story to a compelling and immersive novel.
ianl1963's review against another edition
4.0
I can empathise about having no home! A slice of gritty northern life, well not really, but enjoyable all the same.
jenn756's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favourite novels - it has a directness about it which is very evocative of the time it was written (early Sixties) and Vic Brown is such an appealing character. The predicament he finds himself in was more serious then of course, but then again unplanned pregnancy is still pretty devastating if it happens to you.
I love the period detail of working-class Northern England, his descriptions of the Boxing Day wedding and the draughtsman's office, the factory and pubs, I enjoy social history anyway and there aren't many writers that can look at the society they come from and view it as an outsider as Stan Barstow does. It's almost as if he knew it was a disappearing world, the very early sixties was just on the brink of huge social change, and those old-fashioned close communities that supported people through the depression and the war were about to collapse.
I bought the 1962 film which is also marvellous, loads of shots of grimy cobbled streets and smoky factories and Alan Bates does a very good Vic Brown. You appreciate in the film that without his voice and thoughts, which are present right through the book, his side of the story is not so obvious. Ingrid was just like most other girls at the time, she wanted all the ordinary things in life, and didn't ask for more than that - hardly her fault Vic couldn't oblige.
I love the period detail of working-class Northern England, his descriptions of the Boxing Day wedding and the draughtsman's office, the factory and pubs, I enjoy social history anyway and there aren't many writers that can look at the society they come from and view it as an outsider as Stan Barstow does. It's almost as if he knew it was a disappearing world, the very early sixties was just on the brink of huge social change, and those old-fashioned close communities that supported people through the depression and the war were about to collapse.
I bought the 1962 film which is also marvellous, loads of shots of grimy cobbled streets and smoky factories and Alan Bates does a very good Vic Brown. You appreciate in the film that without his voice and thoughts, which are present right through the book, his side of the story is not so obvious. Ingrid was just like most other girls at the time, she wanted all the ordinary things in life, and didn't ask for more than that - hardly her fault Vic couldn't oblige.
rosiefrog's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mcsangel2's review against another edition
5.0
Closer to 5 stars than 4. I really, really liked this book. Part of my reading of the mid century British kitchen sink classics. I haven't enjoyed all of them as much as I'd hoped, but this one was very worthy of the read. It's a glimpse of (now nearly unrecognizable) society when getting a girl pregnant automatically meant getting married, whether you like her or not (much less love her).
rorycn365's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
paulataua's review against another edition
4.0
Published in 1960 and focusing on the those coming of age in the post war north of England, ‘A Kind of Loving’ follows the budding romance of Vic and Ingrid. Despite my coming of age being six or seven years later, this bought all the memories of how relationships developed, and especially the lack of opportunities to young school leavers. For most, there was a certain inevitability to where life could take you, and Vic was one of many that found himself following the same path.
bjork5ever's review against another edition
4.0
This book was mesmerizing. I felt sucked into it's world from the first chapter and had trouble resurfacing until it was done. It was bit sickening, funny sometimes, but overwhelming bleak. I cried. Lol tho, i couldn't even spoil this book if I tried, the entire plot was in the back cover blurb.
A few random thoughts I had while reading:
-I now understand the term "lad lit" in all it's mates and beer glory and must say, perhaps not my cup of tea
-Ingrid is the real main character, even if Barstow refuses to give her character, I saw someone through the lines that deserved more attention.
-As I read I liked Vic less and less, but still I was rooting for him till the end?? The internal justifications of domestic violence were sickening, but made him feel like a real person with sickening things inside, like everyone else.
A few random thoughts I had while reading:
-I now understand the term "lad lit" in all it's mates and beer glory and must say, perhaps not my cup of tea
-Ingrid is the real main character, even if Barstow refuses to give her character, I saw someone through the lines that deserved more attention.
-As I read I liked Vic less and less, but still I was rooting for him till the end?? The internal justifications of domestic violence were sickening, but made him feel like a real person with sickening things inside, like everyone else.
chloedlew's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5