England's Lane [Kindle Edition]

A gentle, yet often searching take on the dark underside of outwardly normal and respectable lives in a Britain still finding its feet after the Second World War.

Connolly tells the stories of a number of occupants of the same street in late 1950s London, as they look for a purpose in a society on the cusp of radical change.

The strength of the book lies in Connolly's ability to give each different character a credible voice, however incredible their particular circumstances and behaviour may be. A hotbed of lust, deceit, sadness, melancholy, indifference, despair, not to mention murder, this street, for all its apparent normality, provides a backdrop to drama in both major and minor keys.

It's Winter, 1959 and three married couples: each living in England's Lane, each with an only child, and each attending to family, and their livelihoods - the ironmonger, the sweetshop and the butcher. And each of them hiding their lies, coping in the only way they know how and so we meet Jim and Milly, Stan and Jane and Jonathan and Fiona.

Connolly slowly builds up each character, pulling you into their lives and just like real life, invites you to make judgements and assumptions about them. So is Milly being a genuine neighbour when she offers to sit with Jane and as she does, you begin to feel nervous for her. His writing style moves effortlessly between the characters much in the same way as you'd walk along any 1950's suburb street in England and there are wonderful depictions of behaviour so that you can easily visualise Jim sitting at his kitchen table moaning or understanding Fiona's thoughts as she lives with her husband's infidelities.

This is novel set, at a time when Connolly was growing up, is based on a real North London street that still has the pub and the chemist however now without the butcher nor the sweetshop but the obligatory Starbucks in many ways this street could be in any English town. Connolly stresses it is in no way autobiographical but for any reader who lives through the late 50's/early 60's this will be a brilliant reminder for them what life was like

What a great story, well written really enjoyed it. I wanted the story to go on. Will look out for more books by Joseph Connolly.

Well written in parts but a little boring and tedious in others.

Sometimes difficult to follow especially if you don't read it in one go.

Though the switching of a kind of direct speech/though mode between characters is at first intriguing, the length of each peroration does pall after a while, and the indulgent way each character rambles on doesn't maintain much of a sense of suspense. My first Connolly, and something of a disappointment.
Perhaps I had just hoped for a more positive view of one of London's 'villages'.

A beautifully written book, capturing London in the 50's perfectly. The language used was exquisite. I had many reminders of what it was like as a child growing up due to the author's excellent description of not only products of the time but how people lived. Of course, there were also several plots which, as they unfolded, kept me engrossed until the very end. An unusual, yet charming, book and one which I am pleased I took the time to read.

Connolly does it again! This story of the residents of a relatively short road that runs off Haverstock Hill in NW London, focuses on the relationships between the adult shopkeeper-residents of the road those of their children. A tale both poignant and amusing.

A most unusual book, very well written and showing great insight into human nature which is cleverly reflected in the narrative.