Anthony Abbot

I like the film and have fond memories of the TV series of the 70's, though I doubt if I watched it now I'd feel it has much to do with the tone of the book, which I read for the first time recently. 'Billy Liar' the book stands up well in my opinion. The tale of a single Saturday in the life of a dreamer who also happens to be an idle, pathological liar is occasionally very funny but mostly touching as one recognises the characters in the book from our own lives. Sure the book is set fairly and squarely in a moderate sized Yorkshire town in the 50's and works well as an insight into the lives of ordinary people at that time but still touches on the contemporary. Billy himself is a complex character and not wholly unsympathetic. He's 19 and thinks he knows best. He thinks he's funny and dreams of being someone. Many of us will relate to that. He seems oblivious to the fact that most of his family and townsfolk he meets have worked him out and are either exasperated with him or laughing at him. One of his three girlfriends, Liz, too sees right through Billy but sees enough good in him to persevere and their connection is one of the book's highlights. There are moments when Billy senses he needs guidance like when he meets and converses with Councillor Duxbury on a walk. Another touching moment is when Billy wants to feel something when his gran passes away but struggles to feel anything. Despite his flaws one is still left rooting for Billy at the end, though in truth one wonders just what he has learnt from the countless problems he has been dealing with throughout the day. Thoroughly enjoyable and stays with you in an odd way.