Talk of the Toun

by Helen MacKinven

‘She was greetin’ again. But there’s no need for Lorraine to be feart, since the first day of primary school, Angela has always been there to mop up her tears and snotters.’

An uplifting black comedy of love, family life and friendship, Talk of the Toun is a bittersweet coming-of-age tale set in the summer of 1985, in working class, central belt Scotland.

Lifelong friends Angela and Lorraine are two very different girls, with a growing divide in their aspirations and ambitions putting their friendship under increasing strain.

Artistically gifted Angela has her sights set on art school, but lassies like Angela, from a small town council scheme, are expected to settle for a nice wee secretarial job at the local factory. Her only ally is her gallus gran, Senga, the pet psychic, who firmly believes that her granddaughter can be whatever she wants.

Though Lorraine’s ambitions are focused closer to home Angela has plans for her too, and a caravan holiday to Filey with Angela’s family tests the dynamics of their relationship and has lifelong consequences for them both.

Effortlessly capturing the religious and social intricacies of 1980s Scotland, Talk of the Toun is the perfect mix of pathos and humour as the two girls wrestle with the complications of growing up and exploring who they really are.


‘Fresh, fierce and funny...a sharp and poignant study of growing up in 1980s Scotland. You'll laugh, you'll cry...you'll cringe.’ KAREN CAMPBELL

Genres: Scotland

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2015

Reviews

[Lainy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 3 days on and off

Pages - 288

Publisher - Thunderpoint

Blurb from Goodreads

‘She was greetin’ again. But there’s no need for Lorraine to be feart, since the first day of primary school, Angela has always been there to mop up her tears and snotters.’

An uplifting black comedy of love, family life and friendship, Talk of the Toun is a bittersweet coming-of-age tale set in the summer of 1985, in working class, central belt Scotland.

Lifelong friends Angela and Lorraine are two very different girls, with a growing divide in their aspirations and ambitions putting their friendship under increasing strain.

Artistically gifted Angela has her sights set on art school, but lassies like Angela, from a small town council scheme, are expected to settle for a nice wee secretarial job at the local factory. Her only ally is her gallus gran, Senga, the pet psychic, who firmly believes that her granddaughter can be whatever she wants.

Though Lorraine’s ambitions are focused closer to home Angela has plans for her too, and a caravan holiday to Filey with Angela’s family tests the dynamics of their relationship and has lifelong consequences for them both.

Effortlessly capturing the religious and social intricacies of 1980s Scotland, Talk of the Toun is the perfect mix of pathos and humour as the two girls wrestle with the complications of growing up and exploring who they really are.



My Review

The first thing I would say to anyone going to pick up this book is, it isn't for the easily offended. It isn't that it is out and out offensive however, it is set in Scotland, the mid 1980s and captures the people from the scheme and the language of the times perfectly. It is black humour, unpc and you find yourself laughing, sometimes out loud, at some of the antics and language which nowadays would be frowned upon and all kinds of labels flung about. The story centers around Angela, whose viewpoint the story is told from, and her best friend Lorraine. Angela has always looked out for Lorraine and lately their friendship is starting to get strained, Angela isn't about to let go and is sure when she gets Lorraine to Filey for the caravan holiday with her family all will slot back into place. However things don't go as Angela planned and events come to play that will impact their friendship and lives forever.

This book took me down memory lane, just some of the things discussed or some of the terms, I haven't heard geggie in absolutely years, just evoked a plethora of long forgotten memories. I think anyone who was born or lived during that time period will take a stroll back in time, not sure if that was the authors intent but it was a lovely wee addition and gift from just "reading a book". The main characters are teenage girls, seventeen and some of the things are a bit teen angst because well thats what they are. Angela, for me was a really dislikable character at times and as the story goes on you see a switch in the roles Lorraine and Angela initially played in each others lives.

One character I have to talk about, because in all honesty, despite not being a main character I think she stole the show. Senga, Angela's "gallus" granny was a typical figure from that time period, fabulous, straight talking, supportive but put you in your place when need be. I will be hitting the author up about any plans for a book on Senga herself and if not I really think she should. If you love books that delve into people from a scheme, with Scottish banter that captures the struggles of that time period, sectarianism, social divide and just trying to follow their dreams rather than the path carved out for a council scheme girl, then you will love this book. If I gave half stars this would be 4.5 for me so it is a 4/5 for me this time, I wasn't sure if the author was going to be able to round it up at the end but she pulled it off and it made me look at the character a little better than I had whilst reading. I think MacKinven is worth a watch and may well become a familiar name amongst authors who portray the Scottish people and times of old with affection and praise. Thanks to the author & ThunderPoint publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can buy this book from 29th October 2015, Kindle price & paperback from all good retailers.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun is a fairly humorous read which brought back lots of memories for me. Anyone that lives in Scotland or like me used to will easily remember or know of square sausage's and Mother Pride bread. It's something I still buy when ever I am up there. Even though I was born in England it didn't take long before I picked up the slang words and was asking my mum for a piece and jam of which I had to explain what a piece was. Was certainly like taking a walk down memory lane reading this novel.

The whole story line is set around Angela and her friendship with her life long friend, Lorraine. I have to admit as characters go I wasn't really taken with any of them, the only character I really liked was Angela's gran. She is a wonderful character and you know if you ever had a problem she would be the one you would turn to. Even though she is a lot older than the rest of the people in Angela's life she is a lot wiser and there is a lovely bond between both of them.

The age that Angela and Lorraine are in the story is an age where a lot of us can probably relate to it being not the easiest of ages. For me, Angela and Lorraine came across as both being a bit selfish, but hey who wasn't in their teens? Angela did remind me slightly of myself at that age. It was always my friends that were the popular ones with boys as is the case with Lorraine being the popular one. You could easily relate to the frustration that Angela felt at being suddenly left out in the cold as her friend is all loved up and through Lorraine's new relationship she starts to hang around with other girls and pretty much ignores Angela.

It is sad when friendships drift apart, especially as in the case of Angela and Lorraine who have been best friends all through their school life. It makes you remember your childhood friendships and makes you ponder over that time in your life. As much as this novel is quite funny it is also very thought provoking.

Talk of the Toun was a very enjoyable read and very much look forward to reading more by the author.

Many thanks to ThunderPoint for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Margot McCuaig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I passed the flight time on the way back from American reading Helen MacKinven's debut novel Talk of the Toun. It's funny, raw & stark, with unfolding grief that floats above and beyond the narrative arc beautifully. I fell right in. Lovely. Read it, you won't be disappointed. A fine Scottish voice. The narrator, a small-town Scottish teenager of the 1980s, will make you despair but you'll stick with her because, well... you'll need to read her antics to find out.

[Gillian Crichton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book about growing up in central Scotland in the 1980's. It had me laughing lots, cringing on occasion and even made me shed a tear. Fabulous debut novel from Helen MacKinven. Can't wait to read her next book due out in July 2016.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was born in the same area as the author and I am the same age but I have a number of issues with her use of words. For example, I have NEVER heard anyone around here say "mammie". Also I know of Bandeath SSPCA centre but the phrase "Bandeath dugs"? The language is really rough and I don't remember the constant talk of sex at that age. She says she bought her school uniform at McAteers. I'm pretty sure that shop opened after I left school. Everyone bought their school, brownie, scout uniforms at Dillons in Falkirk High Street (it was an amazing shop). I really didn't see the sectarianism she describes but she went to a Catholic school and I didn't. And I don't understand why she changed some of the names. If you are anywhere near local you know what school she went to and the nightclub etc. There were some childhood memories we shared. Grandma giving you a poke of sugar and a stick of rhubard, blankets and not duvets, the smell of pears soap, dragging the phone cable under the door to get privacy in another room, ice inside the window and Chelsea girl

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very evocative of the time and problems that sadly still exist. The teenage characters are portrayed well.

[John Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun, by Helen MacKinven, is a raw, dark, hilarious coming-of-age tale set in 1980s Falkirk.

Disclosure: I know Helen through our publisher Cranachan. This hasn’t affected the review in any way – if I hadn’t liked the book, I’d wouldn’t have reviewed it! If you’ve been reading my reviews over the past years, you’ll see that liking a book is my main criterion for reviewing it – if I don’t like a book, I can’t be bothered spending any more time on it than it took to get to the last page. I bought my own copy, Helen didn’t ask for a review, and doesn’t even know it’s coming. So, with that said, on with the review…

Sometimes it feels like the entire publishing world has got Ferrante Fever – an obsession with the Neapolitan novels of reclusive and enigmatic author Elena Ferrante. Earlier this year, to see what the fuss was about, I read My Brilliant Friend, the first book in the series of four featuring Lenu and Lila, two girls growing into women in a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples, beginning in the 1950s. I doubt I’m the target audience – my tastes run to historical fiction (the older the better), science fiction, fantasy, and children’s books of all sorts. But I was gripped by the ebb and flow of the relationship between the two girls, their fight against a harsh and uncaring environment, and their desperate need to carve out an existence for themselves in a changing world. I can see what the fuss was about.

While I was reading Talk of the Toun, my thoughts kept drifting from 1980s Falkirk to 1950s Naples. The relationship between Angela and Lorraine – at once incredibly simple and ridiculously complicated – echoes the infinitely malleable friendship between Lenu and Lila, as they drift apart, then gravitate closer again, then set off down different paths. The stratified environments they live in, too, along with the horrendous sexism of the times, draw parallels between Italy and Scotland. 1980s Scotland had the extra layers of casual racism and sectarianism, of course.

But Talk of the Toun is very much its own book, and much of its character comes from the humour. Angela is a funny and engaging narrator, and there’s more than one character who considers themselves a bit of a comedian. Let’s face it, in 1980s Scotland, at least half the population thought they were Billy Connolly.

It’s frank in its discussion of sex (Gran’s advice about vinegar made me laugh out loud) and almost unrelenting in its references to shit, both human and canine. Bimbo the poodle (star of the cover) provides a lot of the scatological humour, most of which is hilarious – only once did I feel a wee bit sick! (You’ll know the bit when you read it – poor Rab!)

Angela, our narrator, wants to go to Art College. It’s a way out. A way of avoiding the horrid fate of an office job at the OKI factory in Cumbernauld. She fantasises about getting a flat with Lorraine in the West End of Glasgow and partying every weekend… but she’s not doing much about achieving that life. And her parents don’t take her seriously, either.

Her relationship with Lorraine is the most important thing in her life. So when they start to drift apart, she’ll do anything to repair their relationship – with unforeseen consequences.

Angela’s not the most sympathetic of characters, and it’s a testament to the author that you really do empathise with her, for all her lies, selfishness, daydreaming, and self-delusion. She’s a 17-year-old, after all! How many of us had a grasp on who we were and what we wanted out of life at 17? Or worse, had any idea how to make it happen? (I wanted to be a writer at 17 – it took me nearly 30 years to do something serious about it.)

Gran’s clearly the best character, and so vivid I almost felt like I knew her. What am I talking about? Of course I knew her. She’s the archetypal Scottish Grannie! When I collared my partner to quote some bits about Angela’s Gran to her, I set her off on a nostalgia trip about her own Gran. It’s an endlessly quotable book. You may find yourself annoying more than one acquaintance by saying “OK, just one more bit…”

For those of us who grew up in Scotland in the 1980s, there’s a lot of nostalgia in Talk of the Toun. Even casual mentions of Mother’s Pride bread and Askit powders will raise a smile of recognition, but most of all the textures of the 1980s come right through in MacKinven’s evocative prose.

So forget Ferrante Fever. Maybe it’s time for a bit of MacKinven Mania.

[Jackie Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun, by Helen MacKinven, offers a mordant look at 1980’s working class Scottish life for a seventeen year old Catholic girl whose aspirations go beyond what is regarded as possible within her insular family and community. Written using the local dialect and language of the time, the tale is raw and uncompromising. It is hard now to believe that many of the goings on were then deemed unavoidable. One can only hope that attitudes have progressed.

When the story opens the protagonist, Angela, is looking forward to the end of the school term and the beginning of the long summer holidays. Her best friend, Lorraine, is to join Angela’s family on their annual trip to a northern English caravan site. Lorraine and Angela have been friends since they were four years old. They tell each other everything, and Angela dreams of them leaving home together to live in Glasgow where she hopes to go to Art School. Her parents have other ideas for her future closer to home.

The reader is shown life through Angela’s eyes. When Lorraine cries there are tears but also snotters to be wiped away; father snores and farts emanating pungent smells; bathroom odours and stains are described in unpleasant detail; rooms reek of sweat, carpets squelch, clothes are marked by spilled food and skids. The lack of cleanliness and hygiene is regarded with distaste but accepted.

When Lorraine befriends another girl from school Angela feels betrayed. She remembers how she once saved Lorraine’s life during a play incident in a quarry and wonders at her ingratitude. Angela sees everything as it affects her with little empathy for the lives others around her lead.

When the girls meet the handsome Stevie, just released from borstal, he is immediately attracted to the slim and pretty Lorraine. Angela, large and overweight, is used to such a reaction but wishes to have her share in Stevie’s attentions. She contrives to meet up with him alone where he brushes her aside. When Lorraine then starts to spend time with him Angela feels she must act, for Lorraine’s own good, and sets in motion a series of events which will have devastating consequences for her friend.

Family life is explored. Angela derides her talented and determined little sister, who also aspires to a life beyond her upbringing. She despises her parents with their soap operas and nail pictures, not noticing that they are doing the best they can for her. Angela is close to her grandmother but too preoccupied to take action when potential health issues are revealed.

The writing evoked a life that I found hard to stomach: the casual acceptance of priests ‘fiddling’ with alter boys; the culpability of young girls who went alone with a boy and were then raped; the coarse and cruel language of sexism, racism and bigotry that was prevalent and merely shrugged away.

The reader is given an insight into the poverty of attitude and aspiration that a lack of money can engender in some. However, I questioned if my desire for Angela to change was simply a wish that she should become more like those I am comfortable with, and acknowledged the conceit and intolerance this lays bare.

A strongly written, discomfiting, coming of age tale in a setting close to home yet unfamiliar. I am glad to have read it, and now need to work my way through the thoughts engendered.

My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Thunderpoint Publishing.

[Gordon Mcghie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun is a fantastic coming of age story following Angela and her best friend Lorraine as they cope with their teenage years as they reach the end of their time at school. This is a story which will make you laugh then cry, characters can be very ‘un-pc’ and Helen MacKinven does not shy away from addressing awkward and sensitive issues.

For two teen girls there are a wealth of daily challenges to overcome, in a predominantly Protestant town attending the Catholic school means even walking down the street can bring trouble. Now factor in their quest to lose their virginity, Angela wanting to escape her life to follow her dream of attending Art School and Lorraine having to help look after her handicapped sister and you find two young women with a story you want to read.

A highlight of Talk of the Toun is the supporting cast: Angela’s parents, her Gran (a sometime pet psychic) and cover star Bimbo the dog all bring the extra dimension you want which will bring the depth to the story and add the realism that lets the reader buy into the tale. These are people you want to read about – once you start to learn about their lives you want to know more and see how they overcome the challenges which the author has placed in their way.

I would highlight that the book is written with plenty of local flavour. Language and phrases which are all very recognisable to me (as this is the world I grew up in) MAY cause some readers not accustomed to the Central Scotland dialect some mild confusion – this should not be something that puts you off reading Talk of the Toun. It is authentic, believable and lots of the humour relies upon the language being natural.

Talk of the Toun is a strong debut novel which deserves to be read. For those of us who experienced life in the 80’s it will strike many chords and bring back so many memories.

[Aiveen Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun is the debut novel by Scottish author Helen MacKinven, that invites us into the world of teenage pals Angela and Lorraine in 1980s Scotland. I was surprised to learn that this was a debut novel, as it did not read that way to me. Once I got into the swing of the dialect and slang (I did live in Scotland for a while so this probably helped), I was happily reading in a Scottish accent in my head. The girls are life-long friends and seemingly inseparable, but we meet them in a turbulent time on the brink of adulthood, where the differences in their personalities become more pronounced and challenging to their friendship. Angela is from a very 'normal' working class home, with parents who cannot understand why she would want to go to art college instead of getting a real job. Her pal Lorraine is from a much wealthier background, but she has a severely disabled sister and religious fanatic for a mother. Both of the main characters are hard to like, as most selfish teenagers probably are, but despite their flaws I couldn't help empathise with them both. I was a similar age in the 1980s so I was going through similar trials to the girls. Angela is really awful - loud, greedy, bullying and selfish - but she is also hilarious and really she is a good person. The tender moments she shares with her Gran (a pet-psychic) and the kindness she shows to Lorraine's disabled sister redeem her. This was an excellent read, full of wonderful characters. I cannot remember the last time I read a book under the covers at night, but I enjoyed this so much I couldn't wait to get to the end. It is quite vulgar and shocking in parts, but this just made it more gritty and real for me. There was much laughter and a couple of tears too. I hope that MacKinven doesn't wait too long to follow up this wonderful debut.

[Leah Moyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful evocative story of time and place. A flashback to growing up in 80's Scotland, jam packed with references and nostalgia, I loved every word.

Although not a teenager myself in the 80's, the references were not lost on me. I used to play Ker Plunk and also wear Rimmel Lipstick in the shade of Heather Shimmer. This book is full of humour and at times I was simply roaring with laughter. I love the wit and sometimes the irony with which this author writes. The humour is there for all to see.

I initially thought I would struggle with the use of the Scottish Dialect, but I didn't. I think it is the only way this story could and should have been told. The characters came alive in my head, I could hear their voices, their accents and feel their awkwardness of their formative years.

Although not all funny, this book contains a level of grit and a sense of some of the struggles of that time, coming from a working class area and trying to do better for yourself. I cringed when reading this at some of the terminology that nowadays would be culturally unacceptable. However it was the 80's then, and that was how things were.

This book was brilliant and I loved every single word and every single page. I was sad to leave the characters at the end. I felt like I had truly gone back in time and could imagine myself right there at the centre of it all.

This book is going to be on the list of my favourites this year.

[Kirsty McNeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun Having grown up in Scotland in the 80s I was keen to read this book and I was not disappointed. It is a brilliant read and not just for the sake of nostalgia even though the details from then are hilarious e.g. askit powders and Mothers pride! However its the characters who make this story. Written in Angela's voice Helen MacKinven really captures the trials of being a teenager. The dramas of growing up, finding your way in the world and teenage friendships are absorbing. What I also loved about the book was that I didn't always find myself agreeing with Angela's actions and sometimes I just wanted to have a wee talk with her. The other characters in the book are not just bystanders and you get to know Angela's Gran, her parents, her best friend Lorraine and her family. I would highly recommend this book and not just to people who grew up in the 80s or Scotland! :-)

[Christina Banach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember the 1980s? Love a bit of black comedy? Yes? Then Talk of the Toun is the book for you. Born after this, but past childhood and enjoy a fantastically told coming-of-age tale? No problem, snuggle up with this amazing debut novel and experience teenaged life 1985-style. Sharply observed, non-PC and often irreverent, Helen MacKinven’s novel is not for the easily offended and is all the better for it. Although at times bittersweet, this story of working class family life in the central belt of Scotland, filtered through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Angela, is often laugh-out-loud hilarious. Packed with cultural references of the time, and seamlessly told with wonderfully drawn characters (I defy anyone not to fall in love with Senga, Angela’s pet psychic gran!) this is an enthralling read. Don’t let the use of the Scottish vernacular put non-Scots readers off: the author skillfully weaves this into the narrative in an easily accessible way. To sum up, I loved this book and hope there will be a sequel. Very highly recommended.

[Avalina Kreska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a joy to read, transporting me back to the 80's (and I so wanted to leave that era firmly behind!) sharing similar 'cringeworthy' memories alongside the two main teenage characters. Deceit and disappointment is artfully woven by Helen, the characters utterly believable and the struggles of growing up in an estate is betrayed with such a frankness it's painful - delightfully painful. Helen writes with a wit it will have you snorting from both nostrils (so don't read it when drinking coffee). The accurate 'Catholic' memories brings a dark but utterly entertaining side to the tale - you won't want to put it down - she's one hell of a talented writer!

[Liz Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. The characters I enjoyed the most were Angela and the Grannie. I loved all the relationships in the book, good and bad relationships. They were very interesting. I enjoyed the timing of the book set in the 80's, having grown up then. I can relate very well to the religious bigotry of the time also. I was sad when I finished the book as I was enjoying it so much. It was a bittersweet black comedy, very true to life from that time. Can't wait for the author's next book.

[M.P. Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk of the Toun is a brilliant, bitter-sweet evocation of the highs and lows of life as a teenage girl in 1980s Scotland. Although the background of the novel is poles apart from my own, the heroine, Angela, poignantly transcends class, time and nationality to become a type of Everywoman figure with whom I could readily identify. This is also the first novel I can remember reading in which a liberal use of regional dialect enhances the language rather than grating on my nerves. I loved it.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Reminds me of being a teenager in the 80s. Fashion faux pass, broken friendships, you name it this book has got it. Senga (Angela's gran) is a great characther in this book. I would urge anyone that grew up in the 80s to read this. Thunder Point publishing have a great line of books. I am currently working my way through their books.

[Sarah Faichney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and could relate to many of the themes within it. The mid-80s setting also brought back many memories of a Scottish childhood. Really great read and can't wait for more from this writer.

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A no spoilers review (and a guest post) here http://lindasbookbag.com/2015/11/01/t...

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reviewed this novel for Lothian Life magazine. You can read my review here: http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2015/10/...

[Ceri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely hilarious, laugh out loud but with some wee sad moments... Brilliant Scottish dark humour. An excellent read!