A portrait of a vanished 1950s northern English world - well written, too.
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I just re-read this book after about 40 years - my original paperback copy. I was surprised how well written it was - vivid, funny, and (at times) painful. I now live in California, but I grew up in Yorkshire in the 1950s, which is just as well, as much of the dialog is deep Yorkshire. It was a right treat - for me, at least. A portrait of a world that is now (I suppose) vanished forever.
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in his head
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The 1st book is excellent as you (the reader) are in Vic Brown's head. He is telling you how he feels honestly, and does bring back all the insecurities and worries all people have when starting to be interested in the opposite sex. The dialogue is candid and real, and you feel you are there. The second and third books are good but not as honest and in his head as much, but do finalise the whole trilogy. The film was ok but the finest dramatisation is the 1982 Granada 10 part series that covers all three books (and stars a young Joanna Whalley and Susan Penhaligon, and Clive Wood) although it has never been released on video (there is a petition to ask Granada to release it). I would recommend anyone to read the 1st book, and reminisce about your first love and the awkwardness and feelings.
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One of the greatest novels of the 20th century
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I first read this book (& its two follow-ups " the watchers on the shore" & " the right true end”) when we did " a kind of loving" in drama at high school, in which for some reason I was given the lead part of Vic Brown (I think it was the fact that I could actually read in my native Yorkshire accent, rather than my acting abilities, which no-one else seemed able to do!!).As our adaptation progressed I became more & more impressed by the depth of Stan Barstow’s writing and this lead me to my local library, where I found the follow-ups and several other novels by the same author. I quickly ordered the second & third novels of the "Vic Brown trilogy then all Mr Barstow’s other novels which also impressed me, but after over 20 years I am still drawn back repeatedly to the kind of loving trilogy. Simply, in my humble opinion it is one of, if not the, greatest novel of the 20th century.
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Is it just me??
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I think that 'A Kind of Loving' by Stan Barstow is one of the most boring books ever written (sorry to those of you that think its good). I think that it is far too descriptive and in some cases give you far more information than you really need.
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THE ORIGINAL LADS' NOVEL
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Stan Barstow's landmark 'Brit-Lit' novel of the sixties immortalized Vic Brown, the amiable working class lad from the North and led the way for author's like Nick Hornby writing similar slice-of-life drama. Still as fresh and alive today, it spawned two sequels which are equally as good: The Watchers on the Shore and The Right True End. All three novels are collected in A Kind of Loving: The Vic Brown Trilogy. And the cult 1962 film adaptation starring Alan Bates is out now on video. Essential reading and highly recommended. A timeless classic.
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