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Little Gold
The heat is oppressive and storms are brewing in Brighton in the summer of 1982. Little Gold, a boyish girl on the brink of adolescence, is struggling with the reality of her broken family and a home descending into chaos. Her only refuge is the tree at the end of her garden.
Into her fractured life steps elderly neighbour, Peggy Baxter. The connection between the two is instant, but just when it seems that Little Gold has found solace, outsiders appear who seek to take advantage of her frail family in the worst way possible. In an era when so much is hard to speak aloud, can Little Gold share enough of her life to avert disaster? And can Peggy Baxter, a woman running out of time and with her own secrets to bear, recognise the danger before it’s too late?
Into her fractured life steps elderly neighbour, Peggy Baxter. The connection between the two is instant, but just when it seems that Little Gold has found solace, outsiders appear who seek to take advantage of her frail family in the worst way possible. In an era when so much is hard to speak aloud, can Little Gold share enough of her life to avert disaster? And can Peggy Baxter, a woman running out of time and with her own secrets to bear, recognise the danger before it’s too late?
- GenresFictionLGBTContemporary
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 22, 2017
After her father leaves them to be with another women and her children, Little Gold's family struggles to get back their footing. Her mother has to get a job but spends a lot of time at home in bed medicated and passed out. Her two siblings Ali and Malcy have their own problems that Little Gold can't help but worry about as well. When the neighbor next door Peggy Baxter befriends Little Gold the two find solace in one another that helps them deal with the things going on in their lives. I enjoyed this one a lot, more so the writing than the plot line itself. The characters were likable and I really felt for all three kids. Reading about people going through puberty makes me feel icked out for some reason because I've been there and like why are you punishing me I already did my time. The uncertainty and change in oneself is captured really well in the book though. Not sure how I feel about the ending though, it's realistic if anything because things in life don't tend to work out perfectly, you just adjust and do the best you can. Anyways the book is pretty good, the plot line isn't as tight as I usually like but the characters are well developed and if you like heart touching books about struggle and finding solace through friendship then you'll most likely enjoy this.
May 23, 2017
I'm frequently drawn to stories that feature the perspective of young children who many times are wiser and more in tune with what is happening around them than the adults. Most of these stories depict the coming of age of the young person as they face some stark realities, some times too soon in their young lives . Eleven year Little Gold is from a family in crisis. Her father leaves for another woman and her children and her mother can't cope seeking relief in pills and alcohol. This leaves LG and her older siblings Ali and Malcy to manage on their own and so they take care of each other as best they know how. It's endearing how Little Gold watches out for her older asthmatic brother, always trying to find his inhaler when he needs it . It will tighten your gut as LG discovers the danger that Malcy in as he gets closer to the parents of his friend. At times this is hard to read and it's quite disturbing towards the end and you'll be afraid that LG is being drawn into this dangerous situation too.
However, amid the sadness and some awful things befalling this family, there is love and caring and there are bright spots of hope. Among the bright spots is Peggy Baxter a character who makes this is more than a coming of age story. It's also what I'd call a coming to terms story manifested in Peggy, a neighbor who is terminally ill and befriends LG when she is in desperate need of a friend. Peggy connects with LG , sees that she is hungry and alone, as she is evaluating the the decisions she had made earlier in her life, and the relationship with her partner Vi that ended years before. Sad, haunting, scary yet hopeful as Peggy Baxter saves this broken family. I was taken by the writing from the first page and by Little Gold and Peggy, characters not soon forgotten . Definitely recommended.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Legend Press through NetGalley.
However, amid the sadness and some awful things befalling this family, there is love and caring and there are bright spots of hope. Among the bright spots is Peggy Baxter a character who makes this is more than a coming of age story. It's also what I'd call a coming to terms story manifested in Peggy, a neighbor who is terminally ill and befriends LG when she is in desperate need of a friend. Peggy connects with LG , sees that she is hungry and alone, as she is evaluating the the decisions she had made earlier in her life, and the relationship with her partner Vi that ended years before. Sad, haunting, scary yet hopeful as Peggy Baxter saves this broken family. I was taken by the writing from the first page and by Little Gold and Peggy, characters not soon forgotten . Definitely recommended.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Legend Press through NetGalley.
August 2, 2017
3.5★
”She was something other than herself when herself was simply too hard to be.”
An oddly uncomfortable read, for many reasons. There are a few threads to the story about Little Gold, a young girl in England who prefers overalls and sitting up high in the tree in the backyard to being girly. She wishes she’d been named Alex or something that could also be a boy’s name, and to escape the misery of her life, she either sits literally up in her tree or she shifts mentally to a high spot in a room full of people and removes herself from the conversation.
She’s learned how to tune out, and no wonder. Dad’s left home and taken up with a new family. Mum’s lost her job and drinks to disgusting oblivion like a smelly sloth in her bed. Older sister Ali is finishing high school, trying to work part-time to get a bit of food for the other kids – she’s anorexic, it seems, and a wreck. Again, no wonder.
Middle child is Malcom, Malcy, which I found a dreadful nickname because it reads like a soft C, like Malsie, but I assume it’s pronounced Mal-key. Anyhow, he’s as grubby as any young teen boy, plays football, fills his room with filthy clothes, etc.
Everything is filthy, and they’re run out of soap. All of Little Gold's clothes stink.
“Little Gold’s eyes flick around the room. The dirty pans have overwhelmed the hob and are stacked on the floor next to the back door. The floor itself is tacky with every step and littered with screwed-up tissues, the papery peel of onions and a dense scurf of crumbs around the edge. The doors of the lower cupboards are streaked with long drips of dark liquid, the weeping of tea bags on their way from mug to bin. And it stinks wildly today.”
To escape an ominous pronouncement to the family from her mother, LG (as she is often called) has “flown” upwards to a high perch until her mother leaves the room.
“Little Gold, still a bird, blinking from the top of the kitchen cupboard, watches her go. Then she plummets, folds her wings and becomes human again, human and determined, suddenly, to do something.”
An older lady, Peggy Baxter, lives down the road and strikes up a conversation with Little Gold as the girl is hop-scotching her way home one day. They become friends, as Peggy sees herself in this young girl struggling with things beyond her control. Peggy doesn’t know LG’s situation at home, and LG (as she is often called) always says that Mum is in bed with a headache.
Peggy has had her share of heartache and is now often in severe physical pain. She, too, escapes by moving outside of herself. During one severe episode, she remembers another time in her youth:
“Each moment is stitched to the next – day becoming night becoming day again and still she is lying here, her body transforming into something hollow, a broken dog-whelk shell, perhaps, exposed on the peak of a pebble bank. The wind whistles through the shiny, calcified structures of her. . . that perception of herself as a broken shell, that was real, that happened. And somehow it was that, turning herself into a metaphor, that had enabled survival. She was something other than herself when herself was simply too hard to be.”
She can see something of this in LG, so she invites her over to help with yard work and dusting, and she makes sure to have plenty of biscuits and snacks for her. Then she invites her to help pack up some of her belongings. LG discovers many photos of pairs of women, obviously close friends, and we gradually see another side of Peggy.
Meanwhile, Malcy is being bullied by some boys he plays football with in the park across the road (he pretty much lives in the park). One of his mates has a father who often comes and picks them up and takes them in his big car to their fancy home. He always says hello “young lady” to LG, which she loathes, and keep offering to take her with them. She senses something false, distrusts the parents and tries to convince Malcy not to visit them.
And as the father gets more persistent, Malcy begins behaving more strangely and spending more time with that family. She finally goes along for a pool party one day, and let’s just say it’s not a pretty picture.
There are some pleasant scenes when Peggy is visited by her old friend Vi and they go on picnics, but all in all, this is a pretty grim picture of a family living in squalor, as plenty of families do. I often wonder how many children are pretty much raising themselves. Teachers can tell you the horror stories they’re aware of but can’t do anything about.
There was a bit too much focus on budding, or latent, or former sexuality for me, some of which was appropriate but some of which seemed unnecessary. There’s nothing particularly graphic, but some of it seemed gratuitous, and I'm not sure exactly what the point was.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted.
”She was something other than herself when herself was simply too hard to be.”
An oddly uncomfortable read, for many reasons. There are a few threads to the story about Little Gold, a young girl in England who prefers overalls and sitting up high in the tree in the backyard to being girly. She wishes she’d been named Alex or something that could also be a boy’s name, and to escape the misery of her life, she either sits literally up in her tree or she shifts mentally to a high spot in a room full of people and removes herself from the conversation.
She’s learned how to tune out, and no wonder. Dad’s left home and taken up with a new family. Mum’s lost her job and drinks to disgusting oblivion like a smelly sloth in her bed. Older sister Ali is finishing high school, trying to work part-time to get a bit of food for the other kids – she’s anorexic, it seems, and a wreck. Again, no wonder.
Middle child is Malcom, Malcy, which I found a dreadful nickname because it reads like a soft C, like Malsie, but I assume it’s pronounced Mal-key. Anyhow, he’s as grubby as any young teen boy, plays football, fills his room with filthy clothes, etc.
Everything is filthy, and they’re run out of soap. All of Little Gold's clothes stink.
“Little Gold’s eyes flick around the room. The dirty pans have overwhelmed the hob and are stacked on the floor next to the back door. The floor itself is tacky with every step and littered with screwed-up tissues, the papery peel of onions and a dense scurf of crumbs around the edge. The doors of the lower cupboards are streaked with long drips of dark liquid, the weeping of tea bags on their way from mug to bin. And it stinks wildly today.”
To escape an ominous pronouncement to the family from her mother, LG (as she is often called) has “flown” upwards to a high perch until her mother leaves the room.
“Little Gold, still a bird, blinking from the top of the kitchen cupboard, watches her go. Then she plummets, folds her wings and becomes human again, human and determined, suddenly, to do something.”
An older lady, Peggy Baxter, lives down the road and strikes up a conversation with Little Gold as the girl is hop-scotching her way home one day. They become friends, as Peggy sees herself in this young girl struggling with things beyond her control. Peggy doesn’t know LG’s situation at home, and LG (as she is often called) always says that Mum is in bed with a headache.
Peggy has had her share of heartache and is now often in severe physical pain. She, too, escapes by moving outside of herself. During one severe episode, she remembers another time in her youth:
“Each moment is stitched to the next – day becoming night becoming day again and still she is lying here, her body transforming into something hollow, a broken dog-whelk shell, perhaps, exposed on the peak of a pebble bank. The wind whistles through the shiny, calcified structures of her. . . that perception of herself as a broken shell, that was real, that happened. And somehow it was that, turning herself into a metaphor, that had enabled survival. She was something other than herself when herself was simply too hard to be.”
She can see something of this in LG, so she invites her over to help with yard work and dusting, and she makes sure to have plenty of biscuits and snacks for her. Then she invites her to help pack up some of her belongings. LG discovers many photos of pairs of women, obviously close friends, and we gradually see another side of Peggy.
Meanwhile, Malcy is being bullied by some boys he plays football with in the park across the road (he pretty much lives in the park). One of his mates has a father who often comes and picks them up and takes them in his big car to their fancy home. He always says hello “young lady” to LG, which she loathes, and keep offering to take her with them. She senses something false, distrusts the parents and tries to convince Malcy not to visit them.
And as the father gets more persistent, Malcy begins behaving more strangely and spending more time with that family. She finally goes along for a pool party one day, and let’s just say it’s not a pretty picture.
There are some pleasant scenes when Peggy is visited by her old friend Vi and they go on picnics, but all in all, this is a pretty grim picture of a family living in squalor, as plenty of families do. I often wonder how many children are pretty much raising themselves. Teachers can tell you the horror stories they’re aware of but can’t do anything about.
There was a bit too much focus on budding, or latent, or former sexuality for me, some of which was appropriate but some of which seemed unnecessary. There’s nothing particularly graphic, but some of it seemed gratuitous, and I'm not sure exactly what the point was.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted.
May 7, 2017
I took refuge from the world to indulge in the intense and emotive time travel of Little Gold. Its ups and downs chiselled into my soul, as the fallout from the car crash adolescence and its passengers’ ongoing recovery is unquestionably raw.
It encompasses the affecting, nostalgic awkwardness of 80s life when ‘twelve’ should allow you a free ticket to a carefree happy place, even though you feel your life is being scrutinised under an invisible microscope and the whole world is passing judgement. As clarity becomes clouded by self-consciousness, the subtle signs of neglect creep into a family bubble which is already close to bursting.
Between the life wrestling there is also time for reflection, as this story shows becoming acquainted with unfamiliar and trying situations has no age barrier. It revolves around an unlikely partnership formed between the dungaree clad, tree climbing ‘Golden One’ from number 167 and a retired, nicotine loving neighbour, Peggy Baxter, who has her own thoughts to put in order and a journey to share, which stray across the erratic path of Little Gold to give her direction when all seems lost.
The manner in which Little Gold looks out for her asthmatic brother, and her elder sister involuntarily adopts the role of parent to her two younger siblings, is just astoundingly written; nothing is obvious, just the gradual hint of an everyday routine taking the wrong turn down a road where money is directed away from the essentials, like food and washing powder.
Little Gold captures the spirit of an era where Wagon Wheels and Woolworths will be familiar to many. Where a cruel person nowadays has the benefit of social media to chuck anonymous insults at another, previously any offensiveness was shouted across the public spaces for all to hear – different platform, same effect, and all because of differences or ignorance.
There are times this book almost broke me. From the rippling apathy towards affecting circumstances, to the surge of something wicked that preys on innocence, growing up and growing older has never been more heartrending.
(My thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this title. It is my pleasure to provide an unbiased review.)
It encompasses the affecting, nostalgic awkwardness of 80s life when ‘twelve’ should allow you a free ticket to a carefree happy place, even though you feel your life is being scrutinised under an invisible microscope and the whole world is passing judgement. As clarity becomes clouded by self-consciousness, the subtle signs of neglect creep into a family bubble which is already close to bursting.
Between the life wrestling there is also time for reflection, as this story shows becoming acquainted with unfamiliar and trying situations has no age barrier. It revolves around an unlikely partnership formed between the dungaree clad, tree climbing ‘Golden One’ from number 167 and a retired, nicotine loving neighbour, Peggy Baxter, who has her own thoughts to put in order and a journey to share, which stray across the erratic path of Little Gold to give her direction when all seems lost.
The manner in which Little Gold looks out for her asthmatic brother, and her elder sister involuntarily adopts the role of parent to her two younger siblings, is just astoundingly written; nothing is obvious, just the gradual hint of an everyday routine taking the wrong turn down a road where money is directed away from the essentials, like food and washing powder.
Little Gold captures the spirit of an era where Wagon Wheels and Woolworths will be familiar to many. Where a cruel person nowadays has the benefit of social media to chuck anonymous insults at another, previously any offensiveness was shouted across the public spaces for all to hear – different platform, same effect, and all because of differences or ignorance.
There are times this book almost broke me. From the rippling apathy towards affecting circumstances, to the surge of something wicked that preys on innocence, growing up and growing older has never been more heartrending.
(My thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this title. It is my pleasure to provide an unbiased review.)
April 13, 2021
Coming of age novel with a family in crisis and a terrifying danger hiding in plain sight. Great characters, vivid descriptions and a fine conclusion. Gold indeed.
May 10, 2017
How far back should fiction take us for it to be labelled "historical"? Allie Rogers' assured début novel "Little Gold" is set in Brighton in the early 1980's. It's a fairly recent past, but it already feels like a foreign country, a place where they do things differently. Pop culture references, news about the Falklands War, Ian Rush on TV - these details convincingly take us back thirty-five years and straight into the atmosphere of this book.
According to the author, the novel is based on her childhood memories of Brighton. But don't run away with the idea that this is some sort of glowing, nostalgic tale. On the contrary, "Little Gold" is a gritty, realist novel which brings us face to face with the social problems of Brighton's local community, those left to clear the debris after the holidayers leave. And the protagonists certainly have some personal debris to get rid of...
The main characters of the novel are two strong female figures. There's Margaret "Peggy" Baxter - a 63-year old lesbian, whose long-time partner has left her and moved away. Peggy Baxter is a fiercely independent character but, faced with illness and pain , and prone to uncomfortable recollections, she feels increasingly in need of companionship. Unlikely as it seems at first sight, she also appears to crave a child-figure in her life, somebody she can care for and protect. And then there's one of her neighbours, the girl known as "Little Gold". At the cusp of adolescence, she's awkward and tomboyish and has long been marked as an outsider. To make matters worse, besides having to come to terms with her changing body and emotional upheavals, she must somehow survive the breakup of her parents' marriage. Her father - the breadwinner of the family - has just left home and her mother is not coping, leaving Little Gold and her older siblings Ali and Malcy to their own devices, living on a miserly allowance. Little Gold must also somehow save Malcy and herself from the clutches of a sleazy couple with dubious intentions in their regard. Unsurprisingly, Peggy Baxter and Little Gold team up and their warm friendship is the basis of this book.
As in a Ken Loach movie, the novel proclaims its message in unsubtle terms. The collapse of Little Gold's family is evoked through insistent descriptions of filth, foul smells and constant hunger which are certainly effective but somewhat offputting. Ali has an eating disorder, Malcy and Little Gold are bullied practically on a daily basis. The "bad guys" are almost cartoonish in their nefariousness and Little Gold's father - in a way the catalyst for all this mess - is absent and (implicitly) cowardly.
As if to compensate for this, both Little Gold and Peggy Baxter are lovingly drawn and Baxter, in particular, is given a detailed and involving backstory. Also, the novel is undeniably gripping and very moving, the dialogue convincing and the setting effectively portrayed.
"Little Gold" will appeal to readers who enjoy LGBTQIA themes; they will certainly find in Rogers an intriguing new voice. But, being an enthralling novel with a big heart, it also deservers a wider readership.
An electronic copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
According to the author, the novel is based on her childhood memories of Brighton. But don't run away with the idea that this is some sort of glowing, nostalgic tale. On the contrary, "Little Gold" is a gritty, realist novel which brings us face to face with the social problems of Brighton's local community, those left to clear the debris after the holidayers leave. And the protagonists certainly have some personal debris to get rid of...
The main characters of the novel are two strong female figures. There's Margaret "Peggy" Baxter - a 63-year old lesbian, whose long-time partner has left her and moved away. Peggy Baxter is a fiercely independent character but, faced with illness and pain , and prone to uncomfortable recollections, she feels increasingly in need of companionship. Unlikely as it seems at first sight, she also appears to crave a child-figure in her life, somebody she can care for and protect. And then there's one of her neighbours, the girl known as "Little Gold". At the cusp of adolescence, she's awkward and tomboyish and has long been marked as an outsider. To make matters worse, besides having to come to terms with her changing body and emotional upheavals, she must somehow survive the breakup of her parents' marriage. Her father - the breadwinner of the family - has just left home and her mother is not coping, leaving Little Gold and her older siblings Ali and Malcy to their own devices, living on a miserly allowance. Little Gold must also somehow save Malcy and herself from the clutches of a sleazy couple with dubious intentions in their regard. Unsurprisingly, Peggy Baxter and Little Gold team up and their warm friendship is the basis of this book.
As in a Ken Loach movie, the novel proclaims its message in unsubtle terms. The collapse of Little Gold's family is evoked through insistent descriptions of filth, foul smells and constant hunger which are certainly effective but somewhat offputting. Ali has an eating disorder, Malcy and Little Gold are bullied practically on a daily basis. The "bad guys" are almost cartoonish in their nefariousness and Little Gold's father - in a way the catalyst for all this mess - is absent and (implicitly) cowardly.
As if to compensate for this, both Little Gold and Peggy Baxter are lovingly drawn and Baxter, in particular, is given a detailed and involving backstory. Also, the novel is undeniably gripping and very moving, the dialogue convincing and the setting effectively portrayed.
"Little Gold" will appeal to readers who enjoy LGBTQIA themes; they will certainly find in Rogers an intriguing new voice. But, being an enthralling novel with a big heart, it also deservers a wider readership.
An electronic copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 18, 2017
2017 is turning out to be a very very good book year! I christened it the 'year of the second novel' as so many seconds are being published from authors whose debuts that I loved. Let us not forget the debut novelist though, I do love a good debut and was delighted to accept a pre-publication of Little Gold by Allie Rogers.
I was left quite speechless by this little gem of a book. It really did take me by surprise. From the opening paragraph, right through to the very last line, I was just totally consumed by Little Gold, her friends, her family and the events that were unfolding in front of my eyes.
Little Gold is an eleven-year-old girl, she's a bit tomboyish, the youngest child of three and living in Brighton. It's the hot summer of 1982 and most girls of her age are enjoying the heat, making the most of living by the sea and are generally carefree and oblivious to the wider world. Little Gold is not like most young girls. Her family is falling apart, her Dad has gone, her Mum spends most of her time in bed, with a whiskey bottle. Her older sister Ali tries to keep them fed, but she struggles with her own demons, and middle-child Malcy, although her older brother, needs to be protected. His wheezy chest, his scruffy shoes and his general vulnerability makes him the target of bullies, but also makes him very easy to manipulate.
Peggy Baxter is an old lady who lives on the same street. Lonely, chain-smoking, reflecting on her past and aware of the length of her future, she befriends Little Gold. Peggy's clean and comfortable house becomes something of an oasis for Little Gold, along with the Wagon Wheel biscuits, the rooms full of books and the stories of Peggy's past.
Not everything is sunny and shiny though, and beneath the tourist glitter and the hidden away behind the cloak of respectability is a dark threat that promises to wreck even more havoc on Little Gold's family. Whilst she can sense that something is wrong, she's unsure of just what it is. Her instincts tell her what to do and how to try to protect herself, and Malcy, but nobody will listen.
This is a beautifully written story that deals with coming-of-age alongside end-of-life. Little Gold's hopes and discoveries up alongside Peggy Baxter's regrets and memories is a triumph, and the overlapping thoughts and emotions of these two female characters is a wonder. Little Gold's character has a touch of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird, and the overall feel of the structure of the story reminded me of the brilliant The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon.
I cannot recommend Little Gold highly enough. It really is a stunning first novel, full of love and beauty that masks darkness and pain. Incredibly accomplished. A truly fabulous story.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
I was left quite speechless by this little gem of a book. It really did take me by surprise. From the opening paragraph, right through to the very last line, I was just totally consumed by Little Gold, her friends, her family and the events that were unfolding in front of my eyes.
Little Gold is an eleven-year-old girl, she's a bit tomboyish, the youngest child of three and living in Brighton. It's the hot summer of 1982 and most girls of her age are enjoying the heat, making the most of living by the sea and are generally carefree and oblivious to the wider world. Little Gold is not like most young girls. Her family is falling apart, her Dad has gone, her Mum spends most of her time in bed, with a whiskey bottle. Her older sister Ali tries to keep them fed, but she struggles with her own demons, and middle-child Malcy, although her older brother, needs to be protected. His wheezy chest, his scruffy shoes and his general vulnerability makes him the target of bullies, but also makes him very easy to manipulate.
Peggy Baxter is an old lady who lives on the same street. Lonely, chain-smoking, reflecting on her past and aware of the length of her future, she befriends Little Gold. Peggy's clean and comfortable house becomes something of an oasis for Little Gold, along with the Wagon Wheel biscuits, the rooms full of books and the stories of Peggy's past.
Not everything is sunny and shiny though, and beneath the tourist glitter and the hidden away behind the cloak of respectability is a dark threat that promises to wreck even more havoc on Little Gold's family. Whilst she can sense that something is wrong, she's unsure of just what it is. Her instincts tell her what to do and how to try to protect herself, and Malcy, but nobody will listen.
This is a beautifully written story that deals with coming-of-age alongside end-of-life. Little Gold's hopes and discoveries up alongside Peggy Baxter's regrets and memories is a triumph, and the overlapping thoughts and emotions of these two female characters is a wonder. Little Gold's character has a touch of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird, and the overall feel of the structure of the story reminded me of the brilliant The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon.
I cannot recommend Little Gold highly enough. It really is a stunning first novel, full of love and beauty that masks darkness and pain. Incredibly accomplished. A truly fabulous story.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
May 20, 2017
Little Gold is an astonishing debut from Brighton-based author Allie Rogers. It is intensely evocative of a childhood in 1980s Brighton - nice sparks of memory from mentions of Wagon Wheels, football stickers, perfectly-pitched period turns of phrase etc. - and draws the characters of Little Gold, her sister, brother and neighbour Peggy Baxter, with huge care and skill.
But what makes this book so reLittle Goldmarkable is that it traces the friendship between a little girl on the cusp of adulthood - with all the bodily squeamishness and anxiety about who and what she is meant to be that that can entail - with an older gay woman who is ordering and making sense of a life lived well but which has had its heartbreaks. There is something very beautiful and believable in the way this relationship is drawn; Peggy Baxter possesses all the calm, wisdom and humanity that Little Gold needs from the adults around her - especially as a child who is growing up queer in a world where gender roles are so defined and unbending - but cannot find from her utterly absent father and her broken, alcoholic mother.
The secondary narrative - that of Peggy and her lover Vi - is plaited into Little Gold's tale, contrasting Little Gold's beginnings with their endings. They are vivacious, loving, full of wit and fondness, but they are not perfect or without folly. There's nothing dramatic or sensational about their relationship: they just are who they are. There is such heart in them, such truth. They deserve to go down as one of the great queer couples in literature.
But Allie Rogers writes all her characters, not just the loveable ones, with compassion and nuance. The largely absent mother, devastated by her husband's departure, is no monster, although she is capable of monstrous lack of care in her failure to notice what is going on with each of her three variously damaged children or in the rapid deterioration of her home. She is not damned or irredeemable, she is simply human. Her children love her even when they are furious or distressed.
Ultimately, Little Gold, despite the darkness of the family's break-up, the chaos and grime of their surroundings and the wickedness of some of those that circle them, is about love. The importance and honour of being loved and loving other the human beings in one's life. Not just romantic love - Vi and Peggy's immense fondness for each other is well beyond romance - or familial love, but the care and kindness of one human being to another. Nothing more precious than that.
But what makes this book so reLittle Goldmarkable is that it traces the friendship between a little girl on the cusp of adulthood - with all the bodily squeamishness and anxiety about who and what she is meant to be that that can entail - with an older gay woman who is ordering and making sense of a life lived well but which has had its heartbreaks. There is something very beautiful and believable in the way this relationship is drawn; Peggy Baxter possesses all the calm, wisdom and humanity that Little Gold needs from the adults around her - especially as a child who is growing up queer in a world where gender roles are so defined and unbending - but cannot find from her utterly absent father and her broken, alcoholic mother.
The secondary narrative - that of Peggy and her lover Vi - is plaited into Little Gold's tale, contrasting Little Gold's beginnings with their endings. They are vivacious, loving, full of wit and fondness, but they are not perfect or without folly. There's nothing dramatic or sensational about their relationship: they just are who they are. There is such heart in them, such truth. They deserve to go down as one of the great queer couples in literature.
But Allie Rogers writes all her characters, not just the loveable ones, with compassion and nuance. The largely absent mother, devastated by her husband's departure, is no monster, although she is capable of monstrous lack of care in her failure to notice what is going on with each of her three variously damaged children or in the rapid deterioration of her home. She is not damned or irredeemable, she is simply human. Her children love her even when they are furious or distressed.
Ultimately, Little Gold, despite the darkness of the family's break-up, the chaos and grime of their surroundings and the wickedness of some of those that circle them, is about love. The importance and honour of being loved and loving other the human beings in one's life. Not just romantic love - Vi and Peggy's immense fondness for each other is well beyond romance - or familial love, but the care and kindness of one human being to another. Nothing more precious than that.
May 4, 2017
This debut book is a total gem. It is moving and evocative with a wonderful lyrical language that has you caught in its flow from the first page. The characters quickly become real and you feel them living in head and I think they may take up residence in mine for quite a while.
On personal level this book resonated so much because in 1982, I was 15 and lived at Fiveways, shopped in the Co Op there and still used the park in the story. The author described it perfectly. Even without the trip down memory lane the story held my attention, I thought about the characters even when I wasn't reading it and the subject matters covered are done so in a thought provoking way and in a couple of places I was so moved I had to stop reading as I was on my lunch break and didn't want to blub at work.
I can't wait to read more from this author and am recommending this book to all my book loving friends as a must read of 2017.
On personal level this book resonated so much because in 1982, I was 15 and lived at Fiveways, shopped in the Co Op there and still used the park in the story. The author described it perfectly. Even without the trip down memory lane the story held my attention, I thought about the characters even when I wasn't reading it and the subject matters covered are done so in a thought provoking way and in a couple of places I was so moved I had to stop reading as I was on my lunch break and didn't want to blub at work.
I can't wait to read more from this author and am recommending this book to all my book loving friends as a must read of 2017.
July 10, 2017
4.5/5
This book's beautiful prose painted a picture of a broken family and a broken child in the nostalgic setting of life in the 80's. The 12-year old character and narrator (Little Gold) has a fresh, new, and wonderful narrative voice, creating a story from the perspective of young child who seems to be wiser than the adults around her.
Then we have Peggy Baxter, an old, lonely, gay nicotine-addict who lives down the street. She and Little Gold (LG) alternate points of view, odd chapters belonging to LG and even to Peggy.
The juxtaposition of wise Peggy Baxter and this jumbling mess of adolescence and figuring out identity that is LG creates an unexpected yet beautiful picture. Their relationship is odd, crooked, uneven, but Peggy is the rock LG needs in her life when her family is falling apart (her father left) and who she thought she was is, too.
Honestly, this debut was one of the best I've ever read. Don't be fooled by my 4 stars; I only save my 5 stars for books that swept me off my feet and opened my eyes to parallel universes. And while Little Gold is certainly fresh, evocative, nostalgic, unique, gritty, and real, the book still has hints of debut-book clumsiness: some characters seem cliched or far-fetched (the "bullies") and some not quite as fleshed out (the father who was the catalyst for the entire plot). However, the characters that do matter, LG and Peggy, are real and human, and Rogers makes sure you don't forget that. Their problems and hardships, while on completely different scales, are problems nonetheless, and you will find yourself rooting and cheering for them in the darkest of times. LG looking out for her asthmatic brother despite being younger than him, trying to figure out her father; who he is and what she thinks of him. Peggy and Vi's relationship; their reminiscing about old, carefree days, filled with youth and scandal and fun. And Peggy's life now, riddled with illnesses and problems. Their stories and the intertwining of them was absolutely breathtaking, and I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
This book's beautiful prose painted a picture of a broken family and a broken child in the nostalgic setting of life in the 80's. The 12-year old character and narrator (Little Gold) has a fresh, new, and wonderful narrative voice, creating a story from the perspective of young child who seems to be wiser than the adults around her.
Then we have Peggy Baxter, an old, lonely, gay nicotine-addict who lives down the street. She and Little Gold (LG) alternate points of view, odd chapters belonging to LG and even to Peggy.
The juxtaposition of wise Peggy Baxter and this jumbling mess of adolescence and figuring out identity that is LG creates an unexpected yet beautiful picture. Their relationship is odd, crooked, uneven, but Peggy is the rock LG needs in her life when her family is falling apart (her father left) and who she thought she was is, too.
Honestly, this debut was one of the best I've ever read. Don't be fooled by my 4 stars; I only save my 5 stars for books that swept me off my feet and opened my eyes to parallel universes. And while Little Gold is certainly fresh, evocative, nostalgic, unique, gritty, and real, the book still has hints of debut-book clumsiness: some characters seem cliched or far-fetched (the "bullies") and some not quite as fleshed out (the father who was the catalyst for the entire plot). However, the characters that do matter, LG and Peggy, are real and human, and Rogers makes sure you don't forget that. Their problems and hardships, while on completely different scales, are problems nonetheless, and you will find yourself rooting and cheering for them in the darkest of times. LG looking out for her asthmatic brother despite being younger than him, trying to figure out her father; who he is and what she thinks of him. Peggy and Vi's relationship; their reminiscing about old, carefree days, filled with youth and scandal and fun. And Peggy's life now, riddled with illnesses and problems. Their stories and the intertwining of them was absolutely breathtaking, and I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
May 8, 2017
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! This coming-of-age debut novel didn't grab me right away, but it turned out to be one of the strongest novels I've read this year, and will undoubtedly be in my top 10. Little Gold is one of those books that burrows into your mind and soul and stays there for a good long time. It's the early 80's in Brighton, England and 12 year old Little Gold (LG) lives with her older sister Aly, her older brother Malcy, and a mother they can't rely on. LG is closet to Malcy, who is the only source of friendship she seems to have. One day LG meets an elderly neighbor, Peggy Baxter, and the two begin an unlikely friendship. They share stories, comfort one another, and ultimately rely on each other during a very difficult crisis. A coming-of-age story unlike any other, there are important issues addressed in this novel, which set it apart from many others in my mind. The author is not afraid to be real, and while often times very sad and depressing, the novel is also sweet and hopeful. I can't wait to see what else this debut author shows us in the future.
February 9, 2021
flat out 5 stars. as a book, little gold kept me gripped and excited, and allowed me to connect with and deeply and invest in each character in a way I haven't with other fictional characters. it's extremely readable.
on a personal note, I feel very lucky to have read this. in a way it's given me space to feel seen in a number of experiences touched on in LG's life, which I hadn't yet had the chance to grapple with through fiction. I envy LG and Peggy's friendship wholly, but it's not a sour envy by any means. definitely a new favourite novel. absolutely brilliant.
on a personal note, I feel very lucky to have read this. in a way it's given me space to feel seen in a number of experiences touched on in LG's life, which I hadn't yet had the chance to grapple with through fiction. I envy LG and Peggy's friendship wholly, but it's not a sour envy by any means. definitely a new favourite novel. absolutely brilliant.
June 24, 2017
This is an absolutely beautifully written book, the characters are so tenderly drawn, the amazing insightful gentle, naive and courageous Little Gold and the earthy, loving, wise and sensitive Peggy Baxter. I will miss them both as I move away from this unforgettably beautiful book. It is hard but completely captivating reading and will go into my recommended books. Do, do read it, you will be profoundly moved and will leave enriched and knowing something more about all colours of love.
July 16, 2018
Superb! Left me breathless. Buy it!
May 21, 2017
What a surprising read. I'm always thrilled to find a book that contains a story that I've never read before. I felt connected to every character; they were very well developed. It's a hard story to read yet has moments of intense beauty. I found myself rooting for Little Gold and her siblings from the beginning. There are a number of turns and twists; most are not huge surprises yet somehow that doesn't make the story any less compelling. At one point I thought perhaps the author incorporated too much but it all comes together and makes perfect sense by the end. I definitely recommend this book.
Thanks you to netgalley for providing me an early release.
Thanks you to netgalley for providing me an early release.
May 30, 2017
I loved this book. It is written with such a smooth flow and perfect pace and balance it's hard to believe it is Allie Roger's first novel. Little Gold is 12 years old and living in Brighton in 1982. I was also a 12 year old in Brighton in 1982, but fortunately for me, our paths would never have crossed except perhaps at the Booth Museum. The book begins with someone visiting a new grave in the graveyard, and then follows Little Gold as her family suffers lots of difficulties and she makes a lovely friendship with a neighbour. And as the book goes on you realise it could be the grave of any of these people. It's not a fluffy book, it's poignant and tough and a bit haunting. Sometimes people say they don't read fiction because they only like things that are true. Sometimes we can learn a lot of truth about people from stories.
April 30, 2017
I've never read a book that started so slow and finished so strong. I'm not someone who abandons books typically, and I needed to read this one before it is released this week, but in the beginning, it was dense with description, depressing and heavily British, and I found it a heavy slog. But I kept going until suddenly I found myself in the midst of a real story, with engaging characters and dramatic tension, and I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. It's poignant and sweet, and while it doesn't completely stop being depressing, it does offer hope. Little Gold is a special character who will stick with me for a while.
I received this advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2024
Stunning, heart-warming and deeply upsetting.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a fairly polarising book - it’s uncomfortable. It’s often very uncomfortable. It doesn’t shy away from the smells of a neglected household, or the shame that overtakes a young girl when an adult comments on her developing body. Yes, *that* sort of uncomfortable.
But I think for anyone who has experienced anything like Little Gold’s adolescence, it’s hugely relatable. The author manages to perfectly encapsulate the feeling of going through traumatic events while still a child, to the point that I could feel myself emotionally flashing back to LG’s age at times. In particular, the book really hones in on a horrible (and horribly British) thing we do: the family’s falling apart, but no one’s talking about it. No one’s there to explain what’s happening to the kids, or to guide them as everything they know changes. No one’s there to provide comfort or hugs. They’re expected to just suck it up and act as though nothing’s changed. The kids learn from example and so they don’t talk about it either, not to anyone outside the home, instead bottling up their despair until it comes out as an eating disorder, a mental disorder or until they are taken advantage of. It’s also a depressingly realistic portrayal of how trauma changes the family dynamics, with the children having to become parents to their own mother and other siblings.
I relate so hard that this probably makes me super biased in favour of this book. But I’ve never come across any media that’s so close to my own experience before. I think it’s the essential British-ness of the family and the setting; the fact that Little Gold is an introverted tomboy who likes reading and climbing trees; her being only 11-12 when the shit hits the fan… She’s so similar to my younger self that this book felt very cathartic, too.
Also I loved the character of Peggy Baxter. I wish I’d had a Peggy Baxter to feed me biscuits. She’s an older lady who lives on the same street as Little Gold and notices the neglected state that the girl is in. She’s also a heartbroken lesbian with a rich backstory of her own, who acts as the (massively underrated and yet so important) queer role model for LG. They never talk about sexuality explicitly (naturally, since LG is still just a kid), but Peggy’s mere presence as an older lesbian serves to let LG know that it’s possible. That things will be ok eventually.
I wasn’t expecting the plot to lean quite so far in the Roy & Kay direction, but I can understand the decision to put their vile behaviour under a spotlight rather than just keeping it as an implicit background plot, as I’d initially expected it to be.
But yeah, in general I loved this book. Won’t be reading it again any time soon because ngl it’s kind of triggering, but it’s also fantastic and made me cry both from sadness and joy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a fairly polarising book - it’s uncomfortable. It’s often very uncomfortable. It doesn’t shy away from the smells of a neglected household, or the shame that overtakes a young girl when an adult comments on her developing body. Yes, *that* sort of uncomfortable.
But I think for anyone who has experienced anything like Little Gold’s adolescence, it’s hugely relatable. The author manages to perfectly encapsulate the feeling of going through traumatic events while still a child, to the point that I could feel myself emotionally flashing back to LG’s age at times. In particular, the book really hones in on a horrible (and horribly British) thing we do: the family’s falling apart, but no one’s talking about it. No one’s there to explain what’s happening to the kids, or to guide them as everything they know changes. No one’s there to provide comfort or hugs. They’re expected to just suck it up and act as though nothing’s changed. The kids learn from example and so they don’t talk about it either, not to anyone outside the home, instead bottling up their despair until it comes out as an eating disorder, a mental disorder or until they are taken advantage of. It’s also a depressingly realistic portrayal of how trauma changes the family dynamics, with the children having to become parents to their own mother and other siblings.
I relate so hard that this probably makes me super biased in favour of this book. But I’ve never come across any media that’s so close to my own experience before. I think it’s the essential British-ness of the family and the setting; the fact that Little Gold is an introverted tomboy who likes reading and climbing trees; her being only 11-12 when the shit hits the fan… She’s so similar to my younger self that this book felt very cathartic, too.
Also I loved the character of Peggy Baxter. I wish I’d had a Peggy Baxter to feed me biscuits. She’s an older lady who lives on the same street as Little Gold and notices the neglected state that the girl is in. She’s also a heartbroken lesbian with a rich backstory of her own, who acts as the (massively underrated and yet so important) queer role model for LG. They never talk about sexuality explicitly (naturally, since LG is still just a kid), but Peggy’s mere presence as an older lesbian serves to let LG know that it’s possible. That things will be ok eventually.
I wasn’t expecting the plot to lean quite so far in the Roy & Kay direction, but I can understand the decision to put their vile behaviour under a spotlight rather than just keeping it as an implicit background plot, as I’d initially expected it to be.
But yeah, in general I loved this book. Won’t be reading it again any time soon because ngl it’s kind of triggering, but it’s also fantastic and made me cry both from sadness and joy.
February 4, 2020
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. To say I enjoyed it feels wrong because the subject matter was very sad.
I should also say that this book covers alcoholism, child neglect, child sexual abuse, eating disorders, bullying and attempted suicide. So yeah, it's dark.
It felt a little bit like a Jacqueline Wilson novel, but pitched slightly higher, a bit more adult, a bit darker. The best part about this book was the relationship between Little Gold and her neighbour Peggy, who's a lesbian. I loved their relationship and I wanted even more time exploring that, I wanted Little Gold to really open up to her. I wanted to know more about Peggy and Viv's relationship too. I think from the blurb I was expecting it to be more about Little Gold's queerness, instead it was more about her family and in particular her brother.
I didn't feel like the ending was particularly satisfying. I thought it was awful that the one person Little Gold had found solace in died and there was no justice for what happened to her brother (which at least is realistic I suppose, but it would have been good if it was at least acknowledged what happened to him, maybe to their mother or someone else they could trust). Also, the only person of colour mentioned in the book, a young boy, it is hinted that he's being sexually abused but then we never hear anything about him again???
I thought the passing of Peggy and her giving them money felt a bit too convenient for the story, an attempt at a happy ending but I would have felt better about the ending had Peggy not died. This girl went through so much, and then you pile the one person she trusts dying on top, it's too much, veers into tragedy porn.
I think this book tried to do too much, it tried to be about too many different issues, and didn't have enough space to explore them all adequately.
I should also say that this book covers alcoholism, child neglect, child sexual abuse, eating disorders, bullying and attempted suicide. So yeah, it's dark.
It felt a little bit like a Jacqueline Wilson novel, but pitched slightly higher, a bit more adult, a bit darker. The best part about this book was the relationship between Little Gold and her neighbour Peggy, who's a lesbian. I loved their relationship and I wanted even more time exploring that, I wanted Little Gold to really open up to her. I wanted to know more about Peggy and Viv's relationship too. I think from the blurb I was expecting it to be more about Little Gold's queerness, instead it was more about her family and in particular her brother.
I didn't feel like the ending was particularly satisfying. I thought it was awful that the one person Little Gold had found solace in died and there was no justice for what happened to her brother (which at least is realistic I suppose, but it would have been good if it was at least acknowledged what happened to him, maybe to their mother or someone else they could trust). Also, the only person of colour mentioned in the book, a young boy, it is hinted that he's being sexually abused but then we never hear anything about him again???
I thought the passing of Peggy and her giving them money felt a bit too convenient for the story, an attempt at a happy ending but I would have felt better about the ending had Peggy not died. This girl went through so much, and then you pile the one person she trusts dying on top, it's too much, veers into tragedy porn.
I think this book tried to do too much, it tried to be about too many different issues, and didn't have enough space to explore them all adequately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2017
This is the kind of book I am forever searching for. It ticked every single box for me. Beautiful narrative, gorgeous yet simple descriptions of the everyday ordinary lives of its characters, an engrossing storyline that gathered in pace towards the end and left me unable to put the book down, and most important of all, fantastic characters. Real characters. People I truly think of as real! This is the awkward coming of age tale of a young girl nicknamed Little Gold by her family. She is on the cusp of puberty and questioning her own sexuality and identity. This would be enough to deal with, but tragically her family are falling apart around her and she does not know where to turn to for help. Her older sister Alli seems to have issues with food, and her older brother Malcy, is also in danger as he becomes increasingly drawn into the adult parties thrown by his friend Kev's strange and domineering parents. Little Gold feels uneasy about Kev's parents from the start, and this particular storyline was handled with incredible skill. The tension was simmering throughout each chapter, tiny clues dropped here and there and an uneasiness spreading for the reader as the story progressed. Little Gold's father has left them and her mother has taken to drink and bed. In the midst of all this chaos and heartache, Little Gold finds friendship in an unlikely place. One of her elderly neighbours, Peggy Baxter, has been watching from afar and takes Little Gold under her wing. Theirs is a hesitant and beautiful friendship, with wonderful Peggy Baxter becoming the heroine of the story in more ways than one. This is a heartwarming and positive book about love, friendship and growing up. I simply cannot recommend it enough.
May 15, 2017
Visit the Brighton locations in the novel: Little Gold
As a child of the 80s myself, this was like strolling down memory lane. What a joy of a book to read and a lovely heartwarming story to boot. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a cute book however -there is heartbreak, despair and more and some serious issues dealt with. Taking place against a backdrop of the Falklands war and other world events, this is a changeable and challenging time.
The book more than captures the spirit of those times but also the underlying current of growing up and not seeing the dangers we’re perhaps overly cautious about today. Or maybe were more hidden then…
Little Gold has a heart of gold that’s for sure – she has a life of hardship and I wanted to hug her on more than one occasion. It’s hard enough growing up without having the issues and the parents Little gold has but warm glow you get when reading this, despite a few tears and a visit to Brighton when the sunshine fades and the tourists leave the trash and the social problems behind, is well worth the read.
I loved the relationship between Little Gold and Peggy. I just know that with her tree climbing ways, she and I would have been firm friends. And we would have had tea with Peggy I just know it.
Best enjoyed with a supply of wagon wheels and endless bottles of pop.
April 14, 2019
It is the hot summer of 1982 and in Little Gold’s family home in Brighton all is not well. With their newly acquired vulnerability of a ‘broken home’, domestic life descends into raw chaos.
Little Gold, a clever, incongruous tom-boy on the brink of adolescence, is in need of a good friend. Into her life, just when she most needs it, comes Peggy Baxter, a lesbian neighbour in her 60s - and paid up Kenric member! Peggy has her own compelling backstory and breathes security, care and 1980s chocolate biscuit snacks into Little Gold’s world at all the right moments, whilst herself also finding in Little Gold something she didn’t know she needed.
This is a coming of age novel but it is so much more than that. It is a heart-warming tale, with an intrinsically uplifting tone, despite some very dark and dangerous issues and events, all largely astutely handled by the author. Here are just some of the things that feature in the novel: childhood loss of innocence, a man walking out on his family, debt, hunger, mental health, alcohol dependency, bulimia, bullying, grooming, and lesbian awareness as a child in the 1930s and the 1980s.
There is also a great supporting cast of well-crafted tangible characters, from Peggy’s last lover Vi and her gay friend ‘H.M.S’ Vern, to Little Gold’s struggling older siblings, Ali and Malcy, as well as the children’s neglectful mother and the truly abhorrent “baddies” of the piece too.
Little Gold was a unanimous success at our Kenric Book Group in January, and we don't usually all agree!
Little Gold, a clever, incongruous tom-boy on the brink of adolescence, is in need of a good friend. Into her life, just when she most needs it, comes Peggy Baxter, a lesbian neighbour in her 60s - and paid up Kenric member! Peggy has her own compelling backstory and breathes security, care and 1980s chocolate biscuit snacks into Little Gold’s world at all the right moments, whilst herself also finding in Little Gold something she didn’t know she needed.
This is a coming of age novel but it is so much more than that. It is a heart-warming tale, with an intrinsically uplifting tone, despite some very dark and dangerous issues and events, all largely astutely handled by the author. Here are just some of the things that feature in the novel: childhood loss of innocence, a man walking out on his family, debt, hunger, mental health, alcohol dependency, bulimia, bullying, grooming, and lesbian awareness as a child in the 1930s and the 1980s.
There is also a great supporting cast of well-crafted tangible characters, from Peggy’s last lover Vi and her gay friend ‘H.M.S’ Vern, to Little Gold’s struggling older siblings, Ali and Malcy, as well as the children’s neglectful mother and the truly abhorrent “baddies” of the piece too.
Little Gold was a unanimous success at our Kenric Book Group in January, and we don't usually all agree!
September 7, 2017
Trigger Warnings:
Little Gold is a touching, heartfelt story about a little girl called Little Gold who is struggling to navigate a family falling apart and a world which is not accepting of who she is: a tomboy and a lesbian. Her neighbor, Peggy, an older woman, with grandmother like qualities, befriends Little Gold in part to bestow upon her acceptance and information Little Gold would otherwise not have received.
This book was challenging to get into at first. It is heavily British and there are many words which I was not familiar with, though they made sense in context. It is a slow start and it was not entirely clear where the book is going. In fact, I expected the book to go into more depth about the girls who bully Little Gold for dressing like a boy, but that storyline faded away quickly. This is not exactly a coming of age story, particularly around Little Gold’s identity and sexuality. Instead, it is a coming of age story during a family crisis and a significant shift in living standards. It is a story of navigating through the dark.
It is hard for me to describe this book as it is an emotion that carries one through to the end. Somehow, Little Gold grew on me and I felt for her as she watched her family fall apart, helpless to do much of anything. Yet somehow, this is not a book which made me cry; there is always this sense that things will work out.
This book tends to be a bit vague, though the major plot points are resolved. I was a bit disappointed with how well things wrapped up in the end as it was a bit too convenient. But it was so heartwarming, the end didn’t much affect the rating.
I recommend this book to the serious reader; the kind of reader willing to push past a slow beginning to get to an amazing story. This book is not for everyone, but it is an excellent book for the right type of reader.
I received this ebook free from Netgalley and publisher Legend Times Group in exchange for an honest review.
This review originally posted on my blog. Please consider checking it out!
Little Gold is a touching, heartfelt story about a little girl called Little Gold who is struggling to navigate a family falling apart and a world which is not accepting of who she is: a tomboy and a lesbian. Her neighbor, Peggy, an older woman, with grandmother like qualities, befriends Little Gold in part to bestow upon her acceptance and information Little Gold would otherwise not have received.
This book was challenging to get into at first. It is heavily British and there are many words which I was not familiar with, though they made sense in context. It is a slow start and it was not entirely clear where the book is going. In fact, I expected the book to go into more depth about the girls who bully Little Gold for dressing like a boy, but that storyline faded away quickly. This is not exactly a coming of age story, particularly around Little Gold’s identity and sexuality. Instead, it is a coming of age story during a family crisis and a significant shift in living standards. It is a story of navigating through the dark.
It is hard for me to describe this book as it is an emotion that carries one through to the end. Somehow, Little Gold grew on me and I felt for her as she watched her family fall apart, helpless to do much of anything. Yet somehow, this is not a book which made me cry; there is always this sense that things will work out.
This book tends to be a bit vague, though the major plot points are resolved. I was a bit disappointed with how well things wrapped up in the end as it was a bit too convenient. But it was so heartwarming, the end didn’t much affect the rating.
I recommend this book to the serious reader; the kind of reader willing to push past a slow beginning to get to an amazing story. This book is not for everyone, but it is an excellent book for the right type of reader.
I received this ebook free from Netgalley and publisher Legend Times Group in exchange for an honest review.
This review originally posted on my blog. Please consider checking it out!
September 13, 2019
TW- Assault, Homophobia, Paedophilia, Bullying, Attempted suicide.
Little gold is a young girl who is having a hard time, since her father left the house is a mess her mum has turned to drink and never any food or soap or wash powder,
Peggy is the old lady who lives next door, she takes little gold under her wing, when little gold is unsure of her sexuality, she thinks its wrong to look at women and like what she sees she thinks its dirty, till peggy helps her, peggys one true love is vi, who left as she wanted a child but peggy and vi are still the best of friends.
little gold and her brother malc are often bullied and try to stick up for each other, malcs friend kev has a nice house and plenty of money but theres secrets there, his did is running a paedophile ring, and is trying to groom malc and little gold,
Peggy has secrets of her own, and with little golds help the memories start flooding back,
This book was very slow burn, at 1st the writing seemed detached in some way, but from about 40% of the way through i started to understand what was happening and why,
there were lots of twists in his book, and its a book that caused me o gasp at some hings you could see what was happening and wanted to stop those things.
A great book about coming out, finding your way when you dont really understand, and it is very thought provoking.
Little gold is a young girl who is having a hard time, since her father left the house is a mess her mum has turned to drink and never any food or soap or wash powder,
Peggy is the old lady who lives next door, she takes little gold under her wing, when little gold is unsure of her sexuality, she thinks its wrong to look at women and like what she sees she thinks its dirty, till peggy helps her, peggys one true love is vi, who left as she wanted a child but peggy and vi are still the best of friends.
little gold and her brother malc are often bullied and try to stick up for each other, malcs friend kev has a nice house and plenty of money but theres secrets there, his did is running a paedophile ring, and is trying to groom malc and little gold,
Peggy has secrets of her own, and with little golds help the memories start flooding back,
This book was very slow burn, at 1st the writing seemed detached in some way, but from about 40% of the way through i started to understand what was happening and why,
there were lots of twists in his book, and its a book that caused me o gasp at some hings you could see what was happening and wanted to stop those things.
A great book about coming out, finding your way when you dont really understand, and it is very thought provoking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2017
It's a poignant but ultimately uplifting tale of surviving whatever the world can throw at you. I could empathise with all of the characters, despite their flaws (except for the ones that you were supposed to despise, and that worked very well too), but my favourites were LG and Peggy - two very different female characters who both share the same kindness and inner strength, despite their apparent vulnerability. This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.
full review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
full review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
May 7, 2017
Little Gold’s world is collapsing around her. Her father has left and her mother is descending into an alcoholic haze. Her brother and sister are becoming increasingly disturbed and the house is in chaos. Solace and support appears for Little Gold in the form of an elderly neighbour Peggy Baxter and as the lives of all of them begin to spiral out of control, the novel builds towards an unexpected climax. It’s an intelligent and thoughtful book about love and family, resilience and courage and deals with some difficult themes sensitively and insightfully. Well-plotted and well-paced, it’s a moving and absorbing coming-of-age tale that I enjoyed very much.
August 17, 2020
I was going to write how it was a nice little book to whirl away the hours but tbh it is dark and somewhat depressing. The cover draw me in as something I would like and it was easy to read and harrowing in parts. I did like the fact it was set in the 80's as an girl growing up in that era too. One star added for the mention of Adam Ant. Above average read but was missing something for me and I don't know what. The ending was nothing out of the ordinary and more coud've been said about Malcs situation and Peggy's baby. It was, however, well written , original and different.
November 7, 2023
Little Gold, by Allie Rogers, kindle.read sample 21 March 2022 started again the other day and finished 23.01.23
Gosh, I've read books before because of some kind of a personal connection, but this one was amazing. I immediately want to know what else she's written! Finished the book in tears, having read most of it on a day I was really supposed to be doing something very important. Little Gold! What an amazing character. Peggy Baxter, too. Thank you, Allie, for creating them and sending them into the world.
Gosh, I've read books before because of some kind of a personal connection, but this one was amazing. I immediately want to know what else she's written! Finished the book in tears, having read most of it on a day I was really supposed to be doing something very important. Little Gold! What an amazing character. Peggy Baxter, too. Thank you, Allie, for creating them and sending them into the world.
August 14, 2017
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This book surprised me on many levels - it was beautifully written and contained a story that isn't used over and over again. It is a unique story with not many huge surprises but many turn and twists. It is a story that doesn't have the typical up and downs but kind of stays on level but there still something intriguing about it that keeps threader interested and rooting for little gold and her siblings.
This book surprised me on many levels - it was beautifully written and contained a story that isn't used over and over again. It is a unique story with not many huge surprises but many turn and twists. It is a story that doesn't have the typical up and downs but kind of stays on level but there still something intriguing about it that keeps threader interested and rooting for little gold and her siblings.
September 19, 2017
Beautifully evocative of 1980s Brighton, the story of 12 year old Little Gold growing up in a dysfunctional family and her growing friendship with her elderly neighbour, Peggy Baxter.
I loved this book, written by a friend and fellow Brightonian. Little Gold's vulnerability and resilience is very touching, and I adored Peggy and her determination to be herself, and create a space in which she can do so.
I loved this book, written by a friend and fellow Brightonian. Little Gold's vulnerability and resilience is very touching, and I adored Peggy and her determination to be herself, and create a space in which she can do so.
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