Leonard and Hungry Paul both lead lives that
for their thirty-odd years have had little impact on the wider world. For Leonard that is accidental whereas for
Hungry Paul it is more of a policy decision.
Both, if not self-sufficient, are happy just interacting with their own
immediate family and each other.
But their steady state universe is
changing. Leonard’s ménage a deux with
his long-widowed mother, which is all he has known, has ended with her sudden
death. Paul also lives at home with his
parents but his sister, Grace, is about to get married and she worries about
the family she will leave behind; particularly her brother who she sees as both
adrift personally and a drag on their parents.
Leonard has a job writing content for
children’s encyclopaedias; Paul does casual work as a relief postman. Both enjoy a relaxing evening with a board
game, over which matters of the day are discussed.
Stuff happens; small stuff in global terms
but big for the boys. A girl shows
interest; a competition is entered; voluntary work is undertaken; Grace’s
wedding looms.
It is gentle fare. Situations are well-observed and characters and
relationships well-portrayed. There is a
bit of humour and plenty of quirky ideas in the protagonist’s easy
conversations; but the closest to peril is the possibility of mild embarrassment.
So what is learned by the end of the
book? The quiet life has merit,
particularly in this helter-skelter world; and nice inoffensive characters can
still be interesting enough to carry a novel.
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