What do you think?
Rate this book
Laurence Carroll #1
Песен за петаче
Завладяващ роман в стила на великата Кронинова традиция. Богата и ярка панорама на живота такъв, какъвто е.
„Песен за петаче“, един от последните романи на Кронин, е разказ за живота на едно момче, Лорънс Керъл (герой от „Джоб, пълен с ръж“), за неговия нелек път към възмъжаването и обстоятелствата, които формират характера му — рано овдовяла майка, бедност, живот по роднини, жени, които с любовта или омразата си имат фатално въздействие върху него. Но въпреки повратностите на съдбата, която не го гали, Керъл успява да постигне мечтата си.
Написан великолепно, романът въздейства силно с горчивите истини и с топлия си хумор, но най-вече с онзи искрен и симпатичен реализъм, с който Кронин печели читателите си навсякъде по света.
„Песен за петаче“, един от последните романи на Кронин, е разказ за живота на едно момче, Лорънс Керъл (герой от „Джоб, пълен с ръж“), за неговия нелек път към възмъжаването и обстоятелствата, които формират характера му — рано овдовяла майка, бедност, живот по роднини, жени, които с любовта или омразата си имат фатално въздействие върху него. Но въпреки повратностите на съдбата, която не го гали, Керъл успява да постигне мечтата си.
Написан великолепно, романът въздейства силно с горчивите истини и с топлия си хумор, но най-вече с онзи искрен и симпатичен реализъм, с който Кронин печели читателите си навсякъде по света.
293 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
About the author
A.J. Cronin
220 books506 followersArchibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish novelist, dramatist, and non-fiction writer who was one of the most renowned storytellers of the twentieth century. His best-known works are The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films. He also created the Dr. Finlay character, the hero of a series of stories that served as the basis for the long-running BBC television and radio series entitled Dr. Finlay's Casebook.
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 4, 2023
I have been dithering back and forth between four or five stars for this book. I am trying like mad to figure out why I so like A.J. Cronin’s books! I know I enjoy every minute spent reading them. They are books of historical fiction. Cronin was not only an author but also a doctor. This book draws on his own personal experiences. What he writes of rings true. He writes here of a Scottish boy’s youth growing up in the early 1900s. The boy’s name is Laurence. His father was from Ireland and Catholic. The father dies when Laurence is young. He and his mother have a rough time. Family members let them down. Despite the hardships of life, the two manage, they get by. Given what happens to them, getting by is enough. The story is realistic.
The book doesn’t glorify either mother or son. The struggles they go through feel very real. Life is tough and mistakes are made, by both. Observing the challenges life throws in their path one comes to respect, admire and like the two. Neither are drawn as heroes, just struggling human beings. In that the two get by, there is hope. Despite all that happens, and lots does happen, the book is not depressing. The plot keeps the reader’s attention glued. Sometimes you get a hunch of what might happen but are then surprised at what does unfold. Not everything goes wrong, good things happen in ways you don’t expect.
It is common nowadays to draw women as being strong, smart and talented. I would not classify this novel as being feministic, and yet Laurence’s mother has such attributes. The difference is that she doesn’t demand recognition--she just quietly goes her own way. I like this.
We watch Laurie as he matures. From the assorted people along his life path, he learns different things—such as manners and good social behavior, the importance of exercise, an appreciation of nature and the joy of learning. We observe different characters who go different ways. By the end of the novel, Laurence is no longer tied to his mother’s apron strings; he has become an adult. You come to understand why he is as he is.
There is nothing in the story I would want to change.
The original English version of Cronin’s book was not available to me in audio format, which I need because of poor vision. A Swedish translation by Gustav Sandgren was available, so I chose that. The Swedish audiobook is read by Evert Elman. He reads clearly. He has a strong voice. He doesn’t dramatize. He lets the author’s words speak for themselves, which is just what I like! We have here a straightforward narration that is simple to follow. The narration I have given four stars.
A.J. Cronin was popular in times past. Today, he’s less well known. This is a shame. I discovered him a couple of years ago, and he has now become one of my favorite authors.
*******************
*The Stars Look Down 5 stars
*The Citadel 4 stars
*The Judas Tree 4 stars
*The Green Years 5 stars
*Shannon's Way 3 stars
Laurence Carroll Duology
1.A Song of Sixpence 5 stars
2.A Pocketful of Rye 3 stars
*The Spanish Gardener TBR
*The Keys of the Kingdom TBR
The book doesn’t glorify either mother or son. The struggles they go through feel very real. Life is tough and mistakes are made, by both. Observing the challenges life throws in their path one comes to respect, admire and like the two. Neither are drawn as heroes, just struggling human beings. In that the two get by, there is hope. Despite all that happens, and lots does happen, the book is not depressing. The plot keeps the reader’s attention glued. Sometimes you get a hunch of what might happen but are then surprised at what does unfold. Not everything goes wrong, good things happen in ways you don’t expect.
It is common nowadays to draw women as being strong, smart and talented. I would not classify this novel as being feministic, and yet Laurence’s mother has such attributes. The difference is that she doesn’t demand recognition--she just quietly goes her own way. I like this.
We watch Laurie as he matures. From the assorted people along his life path, he learns different things—such as manners and good social behavior, the importance of exercise, an appreciation of nature and the joy of learning. We observe different characters who go different ways. By the end of the novel, Laurence is no longer tied to his mother’s apron strings; he has become an adult. You come to understand why he is as he is.
There is nothing in the story I would want to change.
The original English version of Cronin’s book was not available to me in audio format, which I need because of poor vision. A Swedish translation by Gustav Sandgren was available, so I chose that. The Swedish audiobook is read by Evert Elman. He reads clearly. He has a strong voice. He doesn’t dramatize. He lets the author’s words speak for themselves, which is just what I like! We have here a straightforward narration that is simple to follow. The narration I have given four stars.
A.J. Cronin was popular in times past. Today, he’s less well known. This is a shame. I discovered him a couple of years ago, and he has now become one of my favorite authors.
*******************
*The Stars Look Down 5 stars
*The Citadel 4 stars
*The Judas Tree 4 stars
*The Green Years 5 stars
*Shannon's Way 3 stars
Laurence Carroll Duology
1.A Song of Sixpence 5 stars
2.A Pocketful of Rye 3 stars
*The Spanish Gardener TBR
*The Keys of the Kingdom TBR
December 13, 2016
From page one I was immersed. You have to love A J Cronin.
A Song of Sixpence is a slice-of-life coming off age tale set in Scotland, focusing on the only child of a devoted husband and wife who are town outcasts by reason of faith.
When that happy family is eternally sundered, the boy and his mother must make their way alone as best they can.
The hero of the story is your typical boy, insecure, conceited, gullible, and warm hearted. Until the very end the reader is unsure whether he will make his way successful or end up an utter failure.
I am invested enough to find out.
To be continued in "A Pocketful of Rye"...
A Song of Sixpence is a slice-of-life coming off age tale set in Scotland, focusing on the only child of a devoted husband and wife who are town outcasts by reason of faith.
When that happy family is eternally sundered, the boy and his mother must make their way alone as best they can.
The hero of the story is your typical boy, insecure, conceited, gullible, and warm hearted. Until the very end the reader is unsure whether he will make his way successful or end up an utter failure.
I am invested enough to find out.
To be continued in "A Pocketful of Rye"...
August 31, 2025
Чудесен разказвач е Кронин!
Миговете в неговата компания винаги са удоволствие, а историите и героите, които създава с думи, оживяват в съзнанието. В тази негова книга шотландският автор среща читателя с Лорънс – едно плахо момче, белязано неизличимо от самотното си детство, от ранната загуба на баща си и трудностите след нея, с които той и майка му трябва да се борят. Интересно е да се проследи процесът на възпитанието му, в което имат участие прекалено много жени със своите слабости и нездрави възгледи за живота. Неувереността и сляпата наивност го сблъскват с разочарования и предателства, тласкайки го близо до предела на душевното равновесие.
Въпреки всички предизвикателства, които животът му поднася, въпреки неприятните изненади и плесници на съдбата, Лорънс успява да се изправи и да постигне голямата си цел и победа – стипендия в университет и медицинско образование…
С интерес ще прочета и втората част от историята!
Миговете в неговата компания винаги са удоволствие, а историите и героите, които създава с думи, оживяват в съзнанието. В тази негова книга шотландският автор среща читателя с Лорънс – едно плахо момче, белязано неизличимо от самотното си детство, от ранната загуба на баща си и трудностите след нея, с които той и майка му трябва да се борят. Интересно е да се проследи процесът на възпитанието му, в което имат участие прекалено много жени със своите слабости и нездрави възгледи за живота. Неувереността и сляпата наивност го сблъскват с разочарования и предателства, тласкайки го близо до предела на душевното равновесие.
Въпреки всички предизвикателства, които животът му поднася, въпреки неприятните изненади и плесници на съдбата, Лорънс успява да се изправи и да постигне голямата си цел и победа – стипендия в университет и медицинско образование…
С интерес ще прочета и втората част от историята!
August 18, 2026
And the Misogyny Award goes to…
This semi-autobiographicalwhingefest novel tells the tale of poor young Laurence Carroll, born to be less rich and privileged than he feels he deserves, despite being richer and more privileged than around 90% of Scots at that time. No wonder the child whines so much. So poor was his upbringing that on one occasion he only got one sausage for dinner rather than the usual two. It’s enough to make a stone weep. To make matters worse for the ill-fated little victim, he is forced to live in a world that has women in it, and as we all know, women are all manic, sluts or bitches. His words, people, not mine. Rightly, Laurence has a particular antipathy towards spinsters, who, as we know, are all frustrated at the best of times, and positively maniacal during menopause.
Laurence is born into a mixed marriage – Irish Catholic father, Scots Presbyterian mother. At that time, the early 1900s, and for many decades afterwards, this was considered unacceptable by both communities. So Con and Grace were each cut off from their families, and their adherence to the Catholic faith meant that they were despised by their solidly Presbyterian village too. To be fair to Cronin, his depiction of this religious divide is accurate, even if it hardly breaks new ground. The family soon moves to a bigger town, where prejudice still exists but there is a bigger Catholic community, so the family is not so isolated.
Con has started his own business selling yeast to bakers, and is doing well. But unfortunately he contracts TB, and eventually dies of it, leaving Grace struggling to keep the business going – naturally, being a woman, she fails. So the family’s fortune diminishes, and with it Laurence’s hopes of a university place and a career in medicine. The rest of the book is taken up with him whining about this until, with the help of family and friends, and through sacrifices on the part of his mother, he gets his wish. Hurrah.
I read quite a lot of Cronin when I was young and remember enjoying him. I wondered therefore why he seems to have gone out of favour in recent years. I wonder no longer. The poor-me narcissism on display here pales into insignificance beside the middle-class snobbery and the wholesale misogyny in the depiction of every female character. This charming semi-autobiographical hero even comes to treat his mother with contempt in time, and Cronin clearly thinks we should all find that quite understandable. I’ve mentioned his stance on spinsters, but was largely able to laugh that off as saying more about him than them.
* * * Spoiler alert * * *
But – and this is a spoiler so if you’re still not convinced never to read this book, look away now –
* * * * *
Ugh! My notes start out by saying that the book is well written but not very interesting, and end with me ranting about how Cronin should be left to drown in the obscurity he so richly deserves, and vowing to St. Wilgefortis, patron saint of spinsters*, that I shall never read him again! And I stand by that.
* * * * *
*Apparently she miraculously grew a beard to avoid being forced into marriage. I wonder how Cronin would have diagnosed that?
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
This semi-autobiographical
Yet, although of course I could not know this, Miss Greville’s condition was one now well recognised in psychiatric medicine and not at all uncommon in women of her age and condition who have slight paranoid tendencies. In such subjects at the involutional period a flood of libidinal impulses, hitherto repressed, or sublimated, or dealt with by other mechanisms of defence, is released with specific imbalance of hormones and resultant delusions which are frequently centred upon a favourite physician or clergyman. This absolute and utter certainty that they are beloved and to be married is explained by the most cryptic indications, yet in a supremely reasonable way.
Laurence is born into a mixed marriage – Irish Catholic father, Scots Presbyterian mother. At that time, the early 1900s, and for many decades afterwards, this was considered unacceptable by both communities. So Con and Grace were each cut off from their families, and their adherence to the Catholic faith meant that they were despised by their solidly Presbyterian village too. To be fair to Cronin, his depiction of this religious divide is accurate, even if it hardly breaks new ground. The family soon moves to a bigger town, where prejudice still exists but there is a bigger Catholic community, so the family is not so isolated.
Con has started his own business selling yeast to bakers, and is doing well. But unfortunately he contracts TB, and eventually dies of it, leaving Grace struggling to keep the business going – naturally, being a woman, she fails. So the family’s fortune diminishes, and with it Laurence’s hopes of a university place and a career in medicine. The rest of the book is taken up with him whining about this until, with the help of family and friends, and through sacrifices on the part of his mother, he gets his wish. Hurrah.
Poor Miss O’Riordan, I must never permit myself to record anything really unkind of you. What harder thing is there in all the world than to be a frustrated, lonely, self-martyred, hypochondriacal, spinster housekeeper of forty-five, with only a daily Italian cleaning woman for help, in a struggling parish rectory?
I read quite a lot of Cronin when I was young and remember enjoying him. I wondered therefore why he seems to have gone out of favour in recent years. I wonder no longer. The poor-me narcissism on display here pales into insignificance beside the middle-class snobbery and the wholesale misogyny in the depiction of every female character. This charming semi-autobiographical hero even comes to treat his mother with contempt in time, and Cronin clearly thinks we should all find that quite understandable. I’ve mentioned his stance on spinsters, but was largely able to laugh that off as saying more about him than them.
* * * Spoiler alert * * *
But – and this is a spoiler so if you’re still not convinced never to read this book, look away now –
* * * * *
Ugh! My notes start out by saying that the book is well written but not very interesting, and end with me ranting about how Cronin should be left to drown in the obscurity he so richly deserves, and vowing to St. Wilgefortis, patron saint of spinsters*, that I shall never read him again! And I stand by that.
* * * * *
*Apparently she miraculously grew a beard to avoid being forced into marriage. I wonder how Cronin would have diagnosed that?
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
April 14, 2022
A quiet old fashioned story about a boy named Laurence Carroll who grows up fatherless in Scotland at the mercy of a self absorbed uncle and his struggling mother.
I’m always trying to share books with my mother and she loaned me this one as an example of a “ good book.”
I am interested in reading the sequel to this one A Pocket Full Of Rye, and perhaps The Citadel and Keys To The Kingdom AJ Cronin’s most acclaimed books.
3.5 stars
I’m always trying to share books with my mother and she loaned me this one as an example of a “ good book.”
I am interested in reading the sequel to this one A Pocket Full Of Rye, and perhaps The Citadel and Keys To The Kingdom AJ Cronin’s most acclaimed books.
3.5 stars
January 28, 2012
This is the story of a teenage boy, Laurence Carroll. His father dies of tuberculosis or some type of lung disease that he has ignored for so long that his condition is beyond hope. Poor Laurence and his mother are left penniless. But a wonderful neighbor, Miss Greville takes them in as boarders in her home. She is quite a character. Lots of fun and teaches young Laurence alot about life, including how to play crickett very well. His life inproves dramaticly due to her.
But things don't always last and his mother has to go earn a living in a convent as a teacher so that Laurence has to be sent to his Uncle Leo's to live for some time. Miss Greville, in the meantime, has some mental issues and has been tranported to an assylum.
Life with Uncle Leo is not easy. The man is a miser and lives as the poorest of men. Laurence is always hungry, although the housekeeper is a wonderful addition to his miserable life and lifts the gloom as best she can and shares her food with him, bought from her meager wages.
At last he is reunited with his mother and makes a success of his life. Loved this book.
But things don't always last and his mother has to go earn a living in a convent as a teacher so that Laurence has to be sent to his Uncle Leo's to live for some time. Miss Greville, in the meantime, has some mental issues and has been tranported to an assylum.
Life with Uncle Leo is not easy. The man is a miser and lives as the poorest of men. Laurence is always hungry, although the housekeeper is a wonderful addition to his miserable life and lifts the gloom as best she can and shares her food with him, bought from her meager wages.
At last he is reunited with his mother and makes a success of his life. Loved this book.
January 20, 2012
Now this was a surprise, albeit it, pleasant. A ten penny purchase from a local hall, this book has been sitting on my shelf for a while. Being uninspired as to my next major read and wanting some bedtime reading, this was it. Well A.J. is a good writer and has a wonderful dry sense of humour. This is not a plot driven piece, like most modern fiction, just a beautifully written story of a man's life. At times I laughed out loud whilst sitting up in bed reading. An undemanding but pleasurable way to send oneself off to sleep.
January 11, 2021
Song of Sixpence is a coming of age story set in Scotland early in the 20th century. Laurence Carroll grows up, sort of always on the outside, his father being Irish Catholic, and people in their community treating them a bit like pariahs. At times, when the opportunity for social advancement arose, he would shun the few friends he had out of shame and embarrassment, only to find it was not worth it. Life takes some rough turns, as when his father died from galloping consumption, or when his and his mother's benefactor had institutionalized for insanity. He believed all of his dreams of the future were dashed. He was often very naive, and would be taken in by less than scrupulous people, but it all works out in the end.
I did enjoy reading this older book (published 1964) and could understand his choices in spite of wanting to draw him aside and say "Look here Laurie, that is not the smartest decision", but I imagine in the past, some of my elders thought the same about some of my poor judgements.
I did enjoy reading this older book (published 1964) and could understand his choices in spite of wanting to draw him aside and say "Look here Laurie, that is not the smartest decision", but I imagine in the past, some of my elders thought the same about some of my poor judgements.
March 28, 2015
I just love AJ Cronin's writings. His stories aren't really stories, but are more about life. There are serious moments and his occasional witty style always evokes a laugh.
A Song of Sixpence is the first book about the early years of Laurie Carroll. As mentioned, it doesn't have a plot, but follows Laurie through the hardship, loneliness, grief, loves and miseries to these formative years of his life.
It was a pleasure to read, and if you want a relaxing weekend read, I'd recommend it.
A Song of Sixpence is the first book about the early years of Laurie Carroll. As mentioned, it doesn't have a plot, but follows Laurie through the hardship, loneliness, grief, loves and miseries to these formative years of his life.
It was a pleasure to read, and if you want a relaxing weekend read, I'd recommend it.
June 15, 2019
When I first read this quiet, very personal narrative back in the late 60s, it already seemed like a period piece, its style of writing very much in keeping with its pre-1920s setting. Down-to-earth and slow moving for most of its length, it's primarily a character study, with little in the way of plot. Sensitive and insightful into the persona of a boy growing up in the midst of family upheaval and economic hardship, it also captures the stark realities of a society dominated by religious prejudice and a rigid socio-economic code. Although Cronin's work has a certain charm and several of his characters (e.g. Miss Greville) are brilliantly drawn, I don't think books like this translate well into our world of today.
Read
November 16, 2016I pulled this book off a dusty shelf in my old family home. We are cleaning it after the recent passing of my father. Both parents now being gone, it's a big project.
So i needed something to read--i finished the books i brought--and read several old volumes that were my mother's. I enjoyed this very much. I didn't know the author but the subject interested me and now i plan to read more of his work.
There is a good deal of substance in the is book, written from the perspective of a young boy growing up in Scotland.
So i needed something to read--i finished the books i brought--and read several old volumes that were my mother's. I enjoyed this very much. I didn't know the author but the subject interested me and now i plan to read more of his work.
There is a good deal of substance in the is book, written from the perspective of a young boy growing up in Scotland.
November 26, 2016
I thought this was an excellent book about a boy coming of age in Scotland/Ireland at the turn of the century. It was a wonderful story of determination and strength. One of the lessons in the book is some family are trusted friends and have our best interest at heart. Others in our family can really take us for a ride and not for our betterment. This book was written in the early 1960s. It was a sweet and good story. A very worthy read.
December 6, 2013
This is that kind of old fashioned book that I just love every once in a while. The story of the narrator's young life, tragic in many ways, fascinating in others. Nothing much happens, but you enjoy it just the same. Not a plot driven story, it's more of a character study. Enjoyed it much, but wouldn't want a steady stream of this.
July 21, 2018
As a teenager in the 1960's A.J. Cronin was one of my favorite authors. Found this small gem forgotten on one of our bookshelves in a room used for storage. Could not put this book down. A.J. Cronin has come back into my life with his beautiful words. This story is based on events in his life - so remarkable. Now I need to find the sequel. Highly recommend!
July 27, 2025
Bir çocuğun içsel yolculuğunu, kalabalık ortasındaki derin yalnızlığını bu kadar sarsıcı bir şekilde anlatan çok az kitap vardır.
Okudukça Nora’nın acısını yüreğinizde hissediyorsunuz. Onun suskunluklarında herkes kendi çocukluğundan izler bulacaktır..
Bu kitabı bana kazandıran, beni bu duygularla tanıştıran kişiye ayrıca teşekkür ederim.
Bazı kitaplar sizi değiştirir. Bu da onlardan biri oldu.
Okudukça Nora’nın acısını yüreğinizde hissediyorsunuz. Onun suskunluklarında herkes kendi çocukluğundan izler bulacaktır..
Bu kitabı bana kazandıran, beni bu duygularla tanıştıran kişiye ayrıca teşekkür ederim.
Bazı kitaplar sizi değiştirir. Bu da onlardan biri oldu.
January 8, 2024
Wonderful, wonderful writing!
January 15, 2026
Exactly the sort of writing I was looking for! Delightful read. Great coming of age story
November 23, 2020
4 stars. This is one of my old books that I last read back in the 80's. I must have loved the book because I saved it. I enjoyed reading it again. An old fashioned read but with an interesting story. We first meet Laurence when he is a young boy, happy in his home in Scotland with his Mum and Dad. Kept at home due to several severe illnesses, Laurie goes off to school and discovers that he's really quite smart. Soon his mother is widowed and their circumstances change. Raised up, with plans and dreams, those dreams crash. His life is a series of ups and downs and we are interested in how he copes and what he and his mother have to do to survive back in the early 1900's. An interesting book all in all.
March 9, 2018
Bu kitap için aşırı bir önyargı vardı bende. Konusu çok sıradan geldiği için kesinlikle beğenmeyeceğimi düşünüyordum kitabı. Başlarda gerçekten de öyle oldu. Her kitapta göreceğimiz belli başlı karakterler sanki burada da vardı. Kitap ilerledikçe akıcı olmaya başladı ve ne olduğunu anlamadan kitabı yarılamıştım bile.
Dediğim gibi, konu özgün değildi. Babasını kaybeden küçük bir çocuğun zorluklar içinde büyümesini ve yaşadıklarını anlatan bir eserdi. Kitabın akıcılığı gerçekten sağlamdı, konu özgün olmasa bile yazarın dili anlaşılır ve netti, döneminde çıkan diğer eserlere göre daha sadeydi.
Bazı karakterlerin yapılarını pek beğenmedim, bence daha derine inilebilirdi; özellikle Nora karakteri için böyle düşünüyorum. Bazı yerlerde yazar açık kapı bırakmış. Bu noktalar biraz rahatsız edici olsa da yine de beklentimden iyi bir kitaptı.
Dediğim gibi, konu özgün değildi. Babasını kaybeden küçük bir çocuğun zorluklar içinde büyümesini ve yaşadıklarını anlatan bir eserdi. Kitabın akıcılığı gerçekten sağlamdı, konu özgün olmasa bile yazarın dili anlaşılır ve netti, döneminde çıkan diğer eserlere göre daha sadeydi.
Bazı karakterlerin yapılarını pek beğenmedim, bence daha derine inilebilirdi; özellikle Nora karakteri için böyle düşünüyorum. Bazı yerlerde yazar açık kapı bırakmış. Bu noktalar biraz rahatsız edici olsa da yine de beklentimden iyi bir kitaptı.
July 3, 2019
This was another enjoyable memoir-like novel, relating a young boy’s coming of age in early 20th century Scotland. Like in “The Green Years” also by Mr Cronin, the boy in question, Laurence Carroll, is the product of a mixed marriage: Scottish Protestant mother and Irish Catholic father, and growing up Catholic in a predominantly Presbyterian town brings its own hardships for the family. I loved this author’s style of writing in this novel, it makes me slow down and take in every descriptive passage. I find I’m able to see the environs about which he write, and at the end of the book, I feel like I’ve watched a movie. I liked the humor the was sprinkled through the story and made the more serious themes more palatable. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.
February 1, 2019
Written 1964 and covering the turn of the 20th century...this book was surprisingly entertaining and a pleasant read. You learn about Scottish life, coming of age despite religious prejudice. You will meet characters you will love or loathe --all who help or hinder young Lawrence, growing up amidst financial hardship. It reminded me a lot of David Copperfield...just fast forward a few decades and move the setting to Scotland. A.J. Cronin seems to be a sweet gentle soul who writes tenderly and sometimes amusingly.
December 24, 2012
When i had read 50 terrible pages of this book i looked up the author in my records and i had read his THE GREEN YEARS in 2009 and wrote that i never wanted to read any more of his works. Well as i had started, i had to finish and am I glad i did. Ther several WONDERFUL characters and the narator was a youth. I do not usualy like such but it was almost as good a PIP IN GREAT EXPECTATIONS. A VERY PLEASANT AFTERNOON READ.
June 30, 2014
It's many years since I've read an A.J. Cronin novel. I've missed him! Cronin draws from his own childhood. This is a coming-of-age story of a boy growing up poor in Scotland. Lawrence is appealingly gullible and believably selfish. The time he spends living with his miserly uncle is positively Dickensian! I look forward to reading the sequel, "Pocketful of Rye".
January 23, 2017
Now for the sequel.
I found this a bit predictable. Unusually, I found this yarn a bit hard going. I wanted to give Carroll a hard shake...but I guess that was the reaction Cronin intended. Again with a Bello book on Kindle there were far too many typo errors. I think all the Cronin books I have download, and that is quite a few, have all had typo errors. This is unacceptable.
I found this a bit predictable. Unusually, I found this yarn a bit hard going. I wanted to give Carroll a hard shake...but I guess that was the reaction Cronin intended. Again with a Bello book on Kindle there were far too many typo errors. I think all the Cronin books I have download, and that is quite a few, have all had typo errors. This is unacceptable.
December 31, 2019
A gem of a book, thoroughly enjoyed the story of Laurence Carroll and the trials he faced growing up. A great find at my local library and very happy to have picked it up- I look forward to discovering other books by AJ Cronin; his 1st person perspective and the manner in which the book was written was good.
February 25, 2013
A re-read of a book and author I much enjoyed many, many years ago From Amazon: Laurence Carroll narrates the story of his life from his early childhood in the Scottish highlands to his graduation from medical school and the beginning of his practice of medicine.
March 19, 2015
Probably excellent in its time, however even though it was written in 1964 the language is very old style and slow to read. I suppose in its day it might have been acceptable but is not a story one tends to remember or even learns from. Not recommended.
April 14, 2019
This book gives a view of life in a Scottish countryside. Laurie Collins is bounced around by the fates. He leads a great life a a young child with great potential and then falls down to abject poverty until the fates give him a bounce up.
January 26, 2016
I loved the "Citadel" and when I found this book at a used book store I had to pick it up. A.J. Cronin is a superb writer-- characters, setting, story & details-- a beautifully told story.
January 7, 2019
An old time classic about life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews