Heidi A

Readable, but deeply unconvincing. A hospital ward where nurses will allow wine to be drunk openly from bottles and will even join in with you? Where one patient can violently attack another but no action is taken and nobody seems that worried? Confusing sometimes too, when it isn't entirely clear what's happening. A long book that doesn't really reward your investment.

A little bit dull. I didn't connect to the characters particularly.

I loved the beginning of this book, which was so charming and quirky and very much in Bob Mortimer's voice. I liked the ordinariness and charm of Gary, our protagonist. Although I finished this book, I felt rather unmoved by the story and indifferent at the end. I greatly preferred Mortimer's autobiography.

The writing is so good that this book is difficult to put down. Anne documents the daily petty squabbles amongst eight people living together in cramped and stressful conditions. There is the backdrop of the war going on around her. It is a stunning piece of writing. Anne is cheerful, smart, honest and really likeable company.