Jonathan Tulloch

This has a similar old geezer-troubled youngster dynamic to "Goodnight Mr Tom". From the very first chapter, where the Bonny Lad of the book's title is brought to live with his Grandfather, it's clear how the story will play out, but it's no less enjoyable for that. Sonny Gee is about six years old, but a neglectful upbringing at the hands of his drug-addicted mother and her hard-case boyfriend who uses the child as a mule, have left him foul mouthed and streetwise beyond his years. The Grandfather, who didn't previously know of his existence, is infirm, an ex-miner suffering from what I took to be vibration white finger. His only wish is to see the out-of-control youngster out of his house as quickly as possible.

The dialogue is all rendered in the form of dialogue, so it's all "Divven't do that, gadgie mister", and "Howay" etc etc. I liked that - it made it easier to hear the voices of the characters. What I didn't notice until a little way in was that the story is told in the third person without ever allowing the reader access to the character's private thoughts. Everything has to be gauged from the dialogue, the facial expressions described, the characters' actions. It made me think about how much different it would have been if written otherwise (how much less effective?) when Sonny Gee was pushing the boundaries, constantly threatening to run away (because 'it's shite here') whilst meaning something else.

I knew how the book would end - there are certain rules in literature that this one seemed in no way minded to defy - but it was a good journey, featuring some moments of pure tragedy, entertaining support characters (Audrey in particular, with her different coloured towels - genius), and a dramatic finale. Another great slice of North-Eastern life from this talented author.… (mere)

Apparently this book has been made into a film, and I'm not surprised because all the way through I was thinking it would probably be twice as funny done visually. It was amusing to read, but not laugh-out-loud. Several amusing scenarios were created - not least the two Newcastle fans finding themselves in the home end at the Stadium of Light.

I was generally more impressed by the story's more serious side, and the depressing but bleak vision of Gateshead through the four seasons, a land of overcrowded hospitals, schools full of delinquents, and housing estates full of lager-swilling mums and tab-smoking primary school children. Amazing, really, that it managed to be funny, but it did.

Liked the North-East dialect throughout ("Ha'way man, divven't piss aboot"), and the book introduced new verb 'to twoc' (well it was new to me, anyway). Dated somewhat by its reference, at one point, to 'The Toon' being at the top of the league - when has that happened recently, unless you're talking about the Championship? - but otherwise a very readable and thought-provoking statement on modern life at the wrong end of the economic scale.… (mere)