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Careless Talk
A glorious comedy of misunderstandings set in a seemingly ordinary end-of-wartime suburb
In this second installment on the trials and tribulations of a young boy growing up in Birmingham towards the end of the Second World War, young Morley Charles—the inventive and sexually curious hero of The Pig Bin—is back, and this time with artistic ambitions and some serious anxiety that he won't be clever enough to get into the city’s art school. The resulting lies he tells to advance himself in the eyes of those around him of course bring about all manner of trouble, and Richardson captures perfectly the dialogue of a thirteen year old boy. Both externally with his friends, family, and teachers but also, and most importantly, with himself—the tortuous conversations that Morley conducts in his head to be able to face up to the world are both touching and humorous. At times heart warming and poignant, at others laugh out loud funny, Careless Talk is a charming, witty, and insightful book which leaves readers heart-warmed and wanting to know where life goes next for its young hero.
In this second installment on the trials and tribulations of a young boy growing up in Birmingham towards the end of the Second World War, young Morley Charles—the inventive and sexually curious hero of The Pig Bin—is back, and this time with artistic ambitions and some serious anxiety that he won't be clever enough to get into the city’s art school. The resulting lies he tells to advance himself in the eyes of those around him of course bring about all manner of trouble, and Richardson captures perfectly the dialogue of a thirteen year old boy. Both externally with his friends, family, and teachers but also, and most importantly, with himself—the tortuous conversations that Morley conducts in his head to be able to face up to the world are both touching and humorous. At times heart warming and poignant, at others laugh out loud funny, Careless Talk is a charming, witty, and insightful book which leaves readers heart-warmed and wanting to know where life goes next for its young hero.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
6 people want to read
About the author
Michael Richardson
137 books10 followersLibrarian Note:
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There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 8, 2013
Morley Charles has just passed his 11+ and has been chosen to go to Art College. His dad, who he thought was dead, is in fact still alive at the end of the Second World War and is on his way home. Morley cannot wait Morley has to maintain some dignity when going to this new school with a blazer badge sown on to his cap. His mother did query this, but, because Morley was regarded as a bright lad and what he said was right the mother continued her task. This event sets the scene for the novel. He was thrown into an arena of Protestants and superior beings at eh school and he adapted well, but he relaxed totally when his Dad ‘with one stripe’ came home.
Morley is growing up all the time. Every experience, even the Pig Bin kids and his mate Mickey Plant (who also goes to Art College) draws him forward. The nests of characters are a bit like card board cut outs that do not evolve.
To me Morley, his mother, his dad and Dawkins are the only characters in the book that are cared about by Morley. His new life, now that he has been taken out of Redhill looks very rosy even though there are some times in his life where he has to bend to the will of those around him by being a foreigner.
It would have been interesting to have got drawn into the world of the black marketer through the spiv of an uncle and his very glamorous aunt, but that was not expanded. The novel was really about Social Mobility and the impact that has whilst change takes place.
The story of Morley going to Art School, leaving his mates in Redhill Council School encapsulated the growing up of a young catholic lad. He needed to establish a history about his family, the Black Shirt connection – which put outside the mom and the negative, gave him the opportunity. The fact that Dawkins, the chauffeur’s son, also based his transition on pretence that like Morley had passed his 11+ helped him to construct a different life himself in his own world.
It reminded me a bit of Wilkie Collins – Lady in White – but set in one location Redhill – rather than in several across England. The mystery about the black shirts was good although I guess the book was really about social change and social cohesion, the College, the church and the family. It was mind blowing to listen to Morley thinking up ways to get through confession by admitting some things but omitting others. Very educative as far as I, the reader, was concerned.
The changes in Morley’s life were significant and the one attribute he had was his ability to paint. Because Morley was not comfortable in his skin and was ashamed of his background he contrived a new history whilst always looking forward. It might have been useful to read the Pig Bin first to understand his jeans as a lad in the war.
Parts of the book made me feel sad, religion is still dividing people as it was in the 1940’s when Morley’s granddad threw his father out because he fell in love with a Catholic – or should I say a Roman Catholic, nothing new there.
The ending was good. Morley, with the home coming of his dad, had a confidante who enjoyed his company without any pretence or fibbing. Morley was gaining confidence in being, at this stage of his life – capable.
Morley is growing up all the time. Every experience, even the Pig Bin kids and his mate Mickey Plant (who also goes to Art College) draws him forward. The nests of characters are a bit like card board cut outs that do not evolve.
To me Morley, his mother, his dad and Dawkins are the only characters in the book that are cared about by Morley. His new life, now that he has been taken out of Redhill looks very rosy even though there are some times in his life where he has to bend to the will of those around him by being a foreigner.
It would have been interesting to have got drawn into the world of the black marketer through the spiv of an uncle and his very glamorous aunt, but that was not expanded. The novel was really about Social Mobility and the impact that has whilst change takes place.
The story of Morley going to Art School, leaving his mates in Redhill Council School encapsulated the growing up of a young catholic lad. He needed to establish a history about his family, the Black Shirt connection – which put outside the mom and the negative, gave him the opportunity. The fact that Dawkins, the chauffeur’s son, also based his transition on pretence that like Morley had passed his 11+ helped him to construct a different life himself in his own world.
It reminded me a bit of Wilkie Collins – Lady in White – but set in one location Redhill – rather than in several across England. The mystery about the black shirts was good although I guess the book was really about social change and social cohesion, the College, the church and the family. It was mind blowing to listen to Morley thinking up ways to get through confession by admitting some things but omitting others. Very educative as far as I, the reader, was concerned.
The changes in Morley’s life were significant and the one attribute he had was his ability to paint. Because Morley was not comfortable in his skin and was ashamed of his background he contrived a new history whilst always looking forward. It might have been useful to read the Pig Bin first to understand his jeans as a lad in the war.
Parts of the book made me feel sad, religion is still dividing people as it was in the 1940’s when Morley’s granddad threw his father out because he fell in love with a Catholic – or should I say a Roman Catholic, nothing new there.
The ending was good. Morley, with the home coming of his dad, had a confidante who enjoyed his company without any pretence or fibbing. Morley was gaining confidence in being, at this stage of his life – capable.
March 17, 2015
Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award 2011
A very well-written novel set just after the second world war, told from the point of view of a thirteen-year-old boy who has just started at an Art School. The ability of Michael Richardson to evoke the period so convincingly is extremely impressive. The reader suffers with the protagonist as he negotiates the excruciating embarrassments of adolescence, but then cheers at the endearing way in which he manages to bounce back. It is warm, funny and real.
A very well-written novel set just after the second world war, told from the point of view of a thirteen-year-old boy who has just started at an Art School. The ability of Michael Richardson to evoke the period so convincingly is extremely impressive. The reader suffers with the protagonist as he negotiates the excruciating embarrassments of adolescence, but then cheers at the endearing way in which he manages to bounce back. It is warm, funny and real.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews