Mr Starlight

by Laurie Graham

The new novel from the bestselling author of The Future Homemakers of America and The Unfortunates. The Boff brothers live at home with their Mam. They have a lav down the yard and a jerry under the bed and they play bookings at the Birmingham Welsh and the Rover Sports and Social. Cled tinkles on the piano and Sel is the crooner. 'Sel's the one who can lift people out of themselves and send them home feeling grand and you can't argue against that' says Cled. When Sel decides he must try his chances with the brights lights of New York City, he packs up his sequinned suits and enlists his brother as travel companion and accompanist. Things begin to roll and what follows is a tale of high jinx; of mirrored ceilings and heart-shaped tubs; of screaming girls, romancing and No Business Like Show Business. As jealousy starts encroaching on the brothers' relationship, Cled finds that there are more secrets in his family than he had bargained for. With her characteristic wit and wisdom, Laurie Graham brings us a touching celebration of the sparkle and the dust in family life.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Relationships, Humor

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Laurie Graham was first published at the advanced age of 40. Gentle comedy is her style. She is the author of seventeen novels, including the best-selling The Future Homemakers of America and its sequel, The Early Birds

Mother of four, grandmother of many, Laurie is married to a New Yorker and lives in County Dublin, Ireland.

You can visit her website, read what she's up to and say hello at http://lauriegraham.com

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this rather tragic story. I always like Laurie Graham books.
The sad undertones in this one were handled in a bright and brittle way. Our narrator, Cled, starts as a credible witness to events but gradually you realise he is deluded about his own talents and fame whilst accusing his.brother, who is genuinely successful, of the same. The family are strong and solid though. Mam is horrible but does hold them together. Her attitude to their father and her blatant favouritism for Sel are never sympathetic but become true crimes when the truth is revealed at the end.
Hazel and Dilys are pragmatic and practical. Sel’s illness is the final sorrow. A lot of what happens is dramatic but written with a gritty realism that stops it becoming melodrama.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read with a twist at the end.

[Cayla Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it is because I am a oerformer that I loved this book. I laughed. I got frustrated. I cried. I enjoyed the ride.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb. Laurie Graham at her best. She's so east to read and I love her diverse ideas around which to write a story.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and cleverly done but found it hard to give more than 3 stars because I didn't like Sel - he was so selfish - and his Mam's favourite. Felt so sorry for Cled who was not appreciated by most his Mam or Sel or Hazel. Easy read.

[Sophie Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Laurie Graham and her unreliable narrators. This is a strange, delightful and sad story, and there's never a duff note. Just perfect.

[Judi Mckay · Rating 2 out of 5]

None of the characters were that well drawn and the story felt superficial. OK to read by a pool but I wouldn't seek her stuff out.

[Michele Wyckoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good humours escapist read.

[Magpie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Rajashri Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are we to part like this, dear?
Are we to part this way?

[Lottie Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, a book club choice, more than I thought I would. It tells the story of two brothers leaving home in search of fame and fortune as entertainers in America. Older brother Cled is a talented musician playing both trumpet and piano, and he is also the story's imperfect narrator - a man whose own foibles are quite transparent but who fails to grasp the underlying tensions In his own family. What Cled particularly lacks is charisma and this Selwyn, his younger, less musically talented brother has in vast quantities, along with drive and a flair for connecting with people. Sel is the sole focus of their dreadful Mam's ambitions - no one else interests her. As the brothers work hard to get their lucky break, Sel's life trajectory parallels that of Liberace, 'Mr Showmanship', who was known for his outfits, houses, television shows, advertising ,,, and reluctance to leave the closet. It is difficult to say much more without giving some of the final plot twists away. Ultimately this is quite a sad and poignant tale

[Alistair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a pacy first person narrative by the droll Cledwyn Boff, Mr Starlight will appeal to readers who enjoyed Angela Carter's Wise Children or Beryl Bainbridge's An Awfully Big Adventure. Ranging in time from the late 1930s to mid 80s, and geographically from provincial Wales to Las Vegas, this novel follows the rise, and occasional fall, of Selwyn (Mr Starlight) and his older brother Cledwyn. Along the way we get a fascinating glimpse of the early days of television and the last days of vaudeville. With a nicely individualized cast of mams, disappearing dads, relations, managers and hangers-on, Mr Starlight is a gently comic novel with heart.

[Qiez · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first flip through the pages, I assumed this one fell into chick-lit category. Apparently its not! I was surprise (in a good way, of course)with the very good values as well as precious lessons to note that came with this heartbreaking story. I must confess ; I cried when Sel died!
(sorry for the spoiler!haha)

[Cheryl Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite Laurie Graham novel, but I enjoyed it all the same. This is the showbiz story of a Liberace type character, as told by the brother who has lived in his shadow for most of this life. Looks at both showbusiness and the complications of family relationships.

[Windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first by this author. I liked the naivety of the narrator of the story which meant the reader could read between the lines about what was really going ton. Plenty of comedy although the overall story is quite sad. Enjoyable.

[Kris Kennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Showbiz story taken straight from Liberace written from the point of view of the less talented brother. Entertaining but a bit lightweight

[Nicky Williams]

Given this as something funny to read, given 2 books by this author's books for Christmas by my mum!??!

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really ill over Christmas so this was just the right level and subject matter not too heavy until the very end and quite amusing in parts.

[Rach Arkless · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my usual kind of book but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Simon newson · Rating 3 out of 5]

the Liberace character was really well done-instantly recognised from TV footage I have seen over the year

[Jan Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book mixing the glamour of showbiz with the down to earth Midlands persona of our "hero", Cled. His naivity was amusing but rather unlikely as he had been in the forces and travelled.

[Sally Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not such a jolly /fun reads as others I have read by this author, maybe just my mood but I found it very tragic.