London Books

One in an occasional series

Absolute Beginners, Colin MacInnes

One of my favourite books. (Avoid the film, a wasted opportunity). Colin MacInnes used to write kind of dry, sociological studies on teenagers and pop culture, amazing that this turned into great fiction. He was into his thirties when he wrote it but you believe in Jimmy, he has that teenage energy and passion. It's so touching, his relationship with both parents, so sad, his unrequited love for Suze, the increasing racism, such an alive book about London in a specific time and place. Heartbreaking. (And he was Edward Burne Jones'grandson,strange but true).

Tip for tourists - he writes about going to the top floor cafe in Peter Jones with all the blue- rinsed old biddies, just for the spectacular view across London. They've changed the cafe since then but it still has a beautiful view.

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