Birmingham Friends

by Annie Murray

In desperate times, good friends are there...

Genres: Fiction, War

562 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 1998

About the author

Annie Murray was a ‘childhood writer.’ Her career was helped a great deal by belonging to Tindal Street Fiction Group in Birmingham and by winning the SHE/Granada TV Short Story Competition in 1991. She has published short stories in a number of anthologies as well as SHE magazine. Her first regional saga, Birmingham Rose appeared in 1995 and reached the Times bestseller list. She has since published more than a dozen others, including the ‘Cadbury books,’ Chocolate Girls and The Bells of Bournville Green, Family of Women and her latest, A Hopscotch Summer. Annie has four children and lives near Reading.

Reviews

[Zainab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it quite a lot although I'm a bit mad about a few things not happening. Oh well...

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie was in my writer's group (we still see her a lot after she moved to Reading) and won a story competition in the early 90s and appeared on TV and what not. She met an agent and got an advance for her first novel, this one, which was astronomical to us. She writes historical fiction set in Birmingham, and I quite enjoyed this, she writes very well, but it's not really my bag. Annie has gone on to write many novels since, mainly all historical and set in Birmingham but I haven't read any more. I like the occasional short story she produces however (one in the anthology of stories I edited 'Going the Distance').

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes there is nothing worse then growing up with someone in a book, following them through right to their death. I did like how the story went on afterwards with the daughter. I was in tears every time Katie was mentioned again though.
An emotional book, leaving a generation behind and starting another, then another.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would have given it five stars but the last 100 pages or so were a complete bomb. The story suddenly and abruptly changes to Anna, Kate's daughter, who we know zero about as she grew up and, with the lack of character development, we care zero about her and her husband and her miscarriage. Further, why should would want to know a woman whom her mother knew thirty years ago with such urgency is not explained and rather ridiculous. I was really disappointed in this turn, this boring shift, to an otherwise terrific book.

[tmo. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolute roller coaster but what am I to do with a story like that? Being so privy to the lives of a few for so long, only to be left with no punch line. I've not learned much. It just made me feel intrusive. However, I enjoyed and appreciated the historical placement of the narrative throughout its generations of characterisation.

[Lizbeth Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive had this book on my shelf for about 15 yrs and never read it I picked up 2 days ago and couldn't put it down a story if 2 friends one is toxic shes called olivia the other is called kate they are as different as chalk and cheese its a ripping good read dont miss reading this I highly recommend this book enjoy

[Mary Higgins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to puSh myself to finish this depressing book and now I wish I hadn't wasted all that time. N


I don't know how to avoid such books but I'll make sure I read a precise in future. Thoroughly glad I finally got to the end. Gave it every chance but no more thank you. Depression, depression, depression!

[Rebecca Millar · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was given this book as a gift, I didn't expect to enjoy it. But the fierce friendship between Kate and Olivia as young girls is definitely relatable, and it's a book I've read so many times it's falling apart on me. Love it.

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good feel good read about friends and their lives by this great author

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Murray has written an honest portrayal of friendship, which is just as relevant to this generation as it is for the time period it was written. It made me think. Highly recommended.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow! I wasn't expecting that rollercoaster of emotions.

[Linda Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read

[June Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, couldn't put this book down

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping inter-generational story, which Annie Murray does so well. Tragic themes but with a hopeful ending for the new generation and made you so glad you are living in the present day, flawed as we still are.

Made a change to have more middle-class characters - Lisa was a vital contrast. I liked the way that the story had narrative tension in the past and the present. We both pitied and feared Olivia - a really well-rounded character.

I just wondered why Katie never divorced Douglas and married Roland - what was stopping her? Did I miss something?

[Polly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a long book and yet it left so much out. So many things I still don't understand. I read somewhere that this was the author's first book, and I think maybe it shows.

[Maire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all Annie Murrays books

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

didnt like it

[Anniek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all. During the first part of the book I had the feeling that this was yet another story set in the war. But then it grew more interesting and intriguing and at the end I couldn't stop reading!