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The Adventures of Goodnight & Loving
When George Goodnight, a lawyer on the staff of a London newspaper, finds his marriage has gone sour, his family holiday is cancelled and his car, broken down on the motorway, has been stolen, he walks through a gate in a fence on a summer's day in the middle of England. What he doesn't know, as he takes his first light steps across the sunlit meadows near the tiny village of Somerbourne Magna, is that he is embarking on a course that will take him far away from the country, the surroundings and the way of life he has always known. He is embarking on a journey that will eventually take him to the other side of the world.
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Leslie Thomas
80 books41 followersBorn in Newport, Monmouthshire, 1931, Leslie Thomas is the son of a sailor who was lost at sea in 1943. His boyhood in an orphanage is evoked in This Time Next Week, published in 1964. At sixteen, he became a reporter, before going on to do his national service. He won worldwide acclaim with his bestselling novel The Virgin Soldiers, which has achieved international sales of over four million copies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 14, 2024
I put this book on my to-read list on May 8th, 2014. I'm not sure what I was thinking, perhaps I was feeling nostalgic. Leslie Thomas is famous in England for having written the book, The Virgin Soldiers. I suspect I wanted to try his work, but not a book about soldiers. Well, it's now almost 10 years later, we'll see how it goes.
Updated upon completion on 2/26/24: This was a true pleasure read. George Goodnight, a forty-three-year-old lawyer and stamp collector, sets out from his home in Shillington, England on a journey of discovery. He sews seeds of kindness wherever he goes, such as revealing the true value of a stamp album to a barmaid, buying a jersey from a down on his luck youth on a train and taking a blind boy on a road trip through the Australian Outback. Sometimes, his kindness inspires others to also be kind such as when a lady brought him chicken soup when he was deathly ill in New York City.
George travels by various means as the opportunity arises and was even shipwrecked and crashed a vehicle during his travels and endures a very turbulent flight in a small dodgy plane. George states that “in my middle age I have been seeking adventure.”
At a motorway cafe along the way, George marvels when the waitress tells him that she can’t stand cars. She believes they are “more trouble than they’re worth.” He wonders how she gets to work, surely, she must have to travel to work by the motorway? “Not me,” she replies, “I comes on across the fields. There’s a hole in the hedge.”
The story is filled with all kinds of characters and George gets into and out of many scrapes. I experienced some nostalgia at times and was always deeply invested. It is a gentle book and I loved the references to cups of tea. Here is my favorite that took place in Australia:
“She stood up and, handing the picture album back to him, went towards the kitchen. ‘Beer or tea?’ she called back. ‘Tea if you don’t mind,’ he said. ‘You’re breaking me of the habits of a lifetime,’ she said with studied cheerfulness. ‘Right, tea for two it is.’”
George uses his stamp collection to finance his travels and experiences many adventures in places such as France, Arabian Peninsula, India – where he is robbed by men using “the lizard trick,” Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines and the U.S.A. before returning to a rather damp welcome in England, where the driver of the bus recognizes him and greets him “with West Country cheeriness as George pays for his ticket. “Aven’t seen you around for a couple of weeks,” he adds, which might be the understatement of the year.
Finally, George arrives back in Shillington where he discovers that not much has changed, in fact “he was not altogether surprised to see the deckchair in which he had rested that far Sunday afternoon had not shifted its place. It had probably never been moved. The previous autumn’s dead leaves were held in its lap.”
I was wondering how the author would end the story and hoping it wouldn’t be a letdown after reading about all his interesting adventures and it wasn’t I am pleased to record.
Updated upon completion on 2/26/24: This was a true pleasure read. George Goodnight, a forty-three-year-old lawyer and stamp collector, sets out from his home in Shillington, England on a journey of discovery. He sews seeds of kindness wherever he goes, such as revealing the true value of a stamp album to a barmaid, buying a jersey from a down on his luck youth on a train and taking a blind boy on a road trip through the Australian Outback. Sometimes, his kindness inspires others to also be kind such as when a lady brought him chicken soup when he was deathly ill in New York City.
George travels by various means as the opportunity arises and was even shipwrecked and crashed a vehicle during his travels and endures a very turbulent flight in a small dodgy plane. George states that “in my middle age I have been seeking adventure.”
At a motorway cafe along the way, George marvels when the waitress tells him that she can’t stand cars. She believes they are “more trouble than they’re worth.” He wonders how she gets to work, surely, she must have to travel to work by the motorway? “Not me,” she replies, “I comes on across the fields. There’s a hole in the hedge.”
The story is filled with all kinds of characters and George gets into and out of many scrapes. I experienced some nostalgia at times and was always deeply invested. It is a gentle book and I loved the references to cups of tea. Here is my favorite that took place in Australia:
“She stood up and, handing the picture album back to him, went towards the kitchen. ‘Beer or tea?’ she called back. ‘Tea if you don’t mind,’ he said. ‘You’re breaking me of the habits of a lifetime,’ she said with studied cheerfulness. ‘Right, tea for two it is.’”
George uses his stamp collection to finance his travels and experiences many adventures in places such as France, Arabian Peninsula, India – where he is robbed by men using “the lizard trick,” Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines and the U.S.A. before returning to a rather damp welcome in England, where the driver of the bus recognizes him and greets him “with West Country cheeriness as George pays for his ticket. “Aven’t seen you around for a couple of weeks,” he adds, which might be the understatement of the year.
Finally, George arrives back in Shillington where he discovers that not much has changed, in fact “he was not altogether surprised to see the deckchair in which he had rested that far Sunday afternoon had not shifted its place. It had probably never been moved. The previous autumn’s dead leaves were held in its lap.”
I was wondering how the author would end the story and hoping it wouldn’t be a letdown after reading about all his interesting adventures and it wasn’t I am pleased to record.
May 10, 2017
One of my all-time favourite books & the one that got me into travelling. It's a very easy read but a very satisfying story of a person who needed to live his life, not just exist. I re-read this book at least once every 2 years to remind myself that there's a big world out there & many experiences to enjoy (or dislike).
September 20, 2011
This is one of my all time favourites. You've got to read this! Mr George Goodnight experiences the most bizarre and random but somehow logically connected and perfectly plausible events following a bit of a bust up with his wife. FANTASTIC reading.
December 21, 2013
Without a doubt one of my favourite books of all time, a great adventure and very funny at times
March 11, 2020
I read some books more than once, not often, but this book I've lost count how often I've read it, I just love the story so much! Mr Thomas amazes me with ability to achieve so many weird and wonderful situations that George finds himself in, he is truly one of the best story tellers around. Brilliant.
April 20, 2010
It took me a little while to get into, but I ended up really enjoying this oddly humorous book.
George Goodnight, a Fleet Street lawyer is bored. He's bored with his humdrum monotonous life, he's bored with his wife, and he's bored with his upcoming annual Cornish vacation. This unhappiness plays out in his getting annoyingly drunk at a sedate dinner party and reciting obscene limericks to all the flabberghasted guests. The next day his humiliated wife serves him with divorce papers, he takes off on his vacation alone, has a blow-out, leaves his car on the side of the road, and then finds it stolen. This is just the beginning!
It's kind of a Odyssean male fantasy/world road trip, but wild and crazy in a very wry, quietly British way. George's understated quips were my favorite part.
I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting to do, and think it would make a great movie, if it could be done in a vintage-y BBC way!
(3.5 stars for me)
George Goodnight, a Fleet Street lawyer is bored. He's bored with his humdrum monotonous life, he's bored with his wife, and he's bored with his upcoming annual Cornish vacation. This unhappiness plays out in his getting annoyingly drunk at a sedate dinner party and reciting obscene limericks to all the flabberghasted guests. The next day his humiliated wife serves him with divorce papers, he takes off on his vacation alone, has a blow-out, leaves his car on the side of the road, and then finds it stolen. This is just the beginning!
It's kind of a Odyssean male fantasy/world road trip, but wild and crazy in a very wry, quietly British way. George's understated quips were my favorite part.
I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting to do, and think it would make a great movie, if it could be done in a vintage-y BBC way!
(3.5 stars for me)
January 1, 2015
I first read this book sometime in the 90s.
At that time I was at least 10 years younger than the protagonist, George Goodnight, but the story stuck with me for many years, more than any book I have ever read.
I bought it again now in eBook form and started reading it last week.
I now find myself on the other side of 43, which is George's age.
Suddenly the book seems to resonate more with me than it ever did.
In the words of George Goodnight to his wife in the first chapter,
"I WANT AN ADVENTURE!".
At that time I was at least 10 years younger than the protagonist, George Goodnight, but the story stuck with me for many years, more than any book I have ever read.
I bought it again now in eBook form and started reading it last week.
I now find myself on the other side of 43, which is George's age.
Suddenly the book seems to resonate more with me than it ever did.
In the words of George Goodnight to his wife in the first chapter,
"I WANT AN ADVENTURE!".
April 13, 2017
It would probably be a silly thing to say that this is my favourite Thomas book as there are so many good ones but, it could well be.
Mr Thomas enjoyed writing about running away, usually not through choice and I think that's why I like them so much. His main characters are usually gentle folks beaten one way or another, into submission. I identify?
Of course not!
This is a masterpiece of gentle literature, a diversion from the day. Good, honest fun.
Mr Thomas enjoyed writing about running away, usually not through choice and I think that's why I like them so much. His main characters are usually gentle folks beaten one way or another, into submission. I identify?
Of course not!
This is a masterpiece of gentle literature, a diversion from the day. Good, honest fun.
March 28, 2018
An excellent top quality book
Many years ago I read the Virgin Soldiers by the same author and stumbled across this novel by accident whilst browsing through my kindle.It was a tremendous read with a few interesting sub plots and rattled along at a great pace with plenty of humour along the way..
Many years ago I read the Virgin Soldiers by the same author and stumbled across this novel by accident whilst browsing through my kindle.It was a tremendous read with a few interesting sub plots and rattled along at a great pace with plenty of humour along the way..
May 25, 2018
Read this many years ago and reread recently, love Leslie Thomas. I had not looked at prior reviews until after writing the above and was startled to see so many readers who loved re reading this story. Everyone I lend it to comes back with a knowing smile.
March 25, 2009
This guy gets into such crazy adventures. It's a rolling snowball sort of tale.
March 1, 2011
totally enjoying it
July 7, 2017
A really enjoyable read, a book that makes you smile as the main character, George Goodnight, travels around the world with a series of amazing adventures. Loved it.
May 27, 2019
I really quite enjoyed this, although it only really livened up once his travels left the country. Maybe a little dated now, but still a cut above a routine tale.
February 4, 2021
When I read this book I had never heard of the internet, Goodreads was probably not even thought of and book critiques were the domain of professional journalists. Or from personal recommendations, as in my case. I was, at the time, desperate for some reading material to fill many hours of looming inactivity so, even though the title was one of the most uninspiring I 'd ever heard of, I took the word of a friend and borrowed it. Subsequently I looked forward to every spare minute so as to immerse myself in this compelling account of the protagonist's unplanned journey and adventures, with plenty of laughs along the way. If I have influenced any prospective buyers then that would purge my guilty conscience of having read it for free. Meanwhile I suppose it's about time, after about thirty years, to browse the author's other offerings (I'm a bit of a slow thinker).
Dan Hicks
Dan Hicks
October 27, 2020
Fantastic tale, well worth reading.
A really ripping yarn. George, 40 something and bored of the routine and the uncaring wife, has a midlife crisis which leads to him travelling across the world. Thankfully, every new part of his journey is well told and interesting enough to have become a book in itself. I shan’t five too much away, just that this is a long, enjoyable book, well worth reading.
A really ripping yarn. George, 40 something and bored of the routine and the uncaring wife, has a midlife crisis which leads to him travelling across the world. Thankfully, every new part of his journey is well told and interesting enough to have become a book in itself. I shan’t five too much away, just that this is a long, enjoyable book, well worth reading.
May 23, 2020
Both Goodnight and !loving live up to their name.
Am epic tale of a man's desire to lose himself, find part of himself then lose it again.
Possibly the most enjoyable if Thomas 's books, but the last one I read usually is.
Their misadventures are entirely credible,but only Thomas could achieve that!
Am epic tale of a man's desire to lose himself, find part of himself then lose it again.
Possibly the most enjoyable if Thomas 's books, but the last one I read usually is.
Their misadventures are entirely credible,but only Thomas could achieve that!
August 6, 2020
This is a great summer read - I don’t normally read a book more than once however lockdown and running out of reading material I had to search for something with substance- humour and a relatable hero
I have read this for the third time a thoroughly enjoyed it again
George sets off on an adventure that is absorbing and entertaining
Just as good this time as when I first read it
I have read this for the third time a thoroughly enjoyed it again
George sets off on an adventure that is absorbing and entertaining
Just as good this time as when I first read it
January 30, 2021
About a man and his adventures and the goodwill and people he found along the way. What surprised me was what the author didn't tell us but after setting the scene, left us to live and understand. The main relationship in the book with Janine is a great example. I thoroughly recommend it.
April 2, 2023
Second reading
I first read this book in 1989 and loved it then. Loved it even more this time. George is a hero - the story is imaginative and sensitive and there is so much in it that it never gets boring.
I first read this book in 1989 and loved it then. Loved it even more this time. George is a hero - the story is imaginative and sensitive and there is so much in it that it never gets boring.
January 13, 2020
Run away
George is bored!
He needs a new life...a new adventure...and he accidentally gets one....
Go with George on his journey....it’s fun!
George is bored!
He needs a new life...a new adventure...and he accidentally gets one....
Go with George on his journey....it’s fun!
October 14, 2020
A great sense of adventure and fun, just enjoy the journey.
April 11, 2021
Goodnight had by all
George has the adventures we'd all want in our memories.
Who knows,maybe one day ,we will too
I hope so!
George has the adventures we'd all want in our memories.
Who knows,maybe one day ,we will too
I hope so!
December 7, 2023
Wonderful
Exceptionally well written and timeless as always with Leslie Thomas. A middle aged man’s adventure around the world. A must read!
Exceptionally well written and timeless as always with Leslie Thomas. A middle aged man’s adventure around the world. A must read!
March 10, 2025
The accidental traveller
Wow, what a read! Kept my attention all the way. Would make an amazing, though very expensive to produce, tv series.
Wow, what a read! Kept my attention all the way. Would make an amazing, though very expensive to produce, tv series.
February 19, 2026
Great,the best Leslie Thomas book. Laughed out loud, and cried .
Super tale .
Super tale .
March 26, 2026
Brilliant book, very funny in parts too.
May 22, 2026
Read it twice …
The first time when it came out and now again, probably 30 years apart, and I loved it both times.
The first time when it came out and now again, probably 30 years apart, and I loved it both times.
November 16, 2020
My Wife is making me read this, cos I made her read The Thursday Murder Club.
So far so good (after one chapter).
A good read. About 150 pages too long for my liking, I was pretty fed up by the end and that's a shame because the story rattles along quite well really. It's basically the story of a chap who runs away from an unsatisfying life (and marriage) and becomes involved in a series of adventures which take him right around the globe. In that respect it's a nice plot device as it allows the author to throw in espionage, romance, comedy, action, adventure and a degree of tragedy. Almost every other chapter is a new story, just with the same central character.
Not a keeper (for me) but I enjoyed it.
So far so good (after one chapter).
A good read. About 150 pages too long for my liking, I was pretty fed up by the end and that's a shame because the story rattles along quite well really. It's basically the story of a chap who runs away from an unsatisfying life (and marriage) and becomes involved in a series of adventures which take him right around the globe. In that respect it's a nice plot device as it allows the author to throw in espionage, romance, comedy, action, adventure and a degree of tragedy. Almost every other chapter is a new story, just with the same central character.
Not a keeper (for me) but I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews