The Innocent of Falkland Road

by Carlo Gébler

London, Summer, 1964. The Beatles have just released A Hard Days Night and the swinging sixties are fast approaching. Ralph, twelve years old, waves his mother goodbye as she disappears to the U.S. to work for a year, leaving him in the care of Doreen, an Irish housekeeper, and her husband Tom, a labourer. It is never easy being stuck inside the pill-box of the skull and looking out, particularly when the world is in flux, when it is peopled by chancers and crooks, swingers and adulterers, unreliable friends and – very occasionally – even good people, and when the grown-ups around you play strange games that involve fighting as much as loving each other. Yet Ralph is nothing if not curious, as well as cunning if necessary: he hangs on and gradually, slowly, begins to understand the world as it really is, an experience that frightens, enlightens and surprises him. A masterful novel by one of Ireland’s finest writers.

292 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[BrianC75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library after reading the summary on the flap. The book covers a year in the life of a twelve year old in the 60s - a 'coming of age' period and therefore an important year in his life. I was attracted to the book as I had read Gebler before and because I too was a teenager in the 60s.
It proved to be an excellent choice - very well written and full of wonderful anecdotes and scenes which home in on the essence of that decade - assassinations, pop songs, confectionery bars! and much more. The storyline pulls you along with ease and Gebler ensures that you are fully supportive of his main character 'Ralph". The device of 'chapterising' the months works well.
Really Really Very Good. Nearly 5 stars.

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

English review below the Greek one...

3 1⁄2/5

Το βιβλίο χωρίζεται σε ξεχωριστά κεφάλαια ανα μήνα, από τον Αύγουστο του 1964 έως τον Αύγουστο του 1965 και ενώ ο συγγραφέας επιλέγει το τρίτο ενικό πρόσωπο για να διηγηθεί την ιστορία του, βασικά έχουμε την οπτική ενός 12χρονου αγοριού. Κάποιες φορές αυτό το αγόρι ακούγεται υπερβολικά ώριμο μέσα στην αθωότητά του και δεν με έπεισε σε κάποια σημεία, ωστόσο γενικά το βιβλίο έχει καλή ροή και μετά τις πρώτες σελίδες μου κράτησε το ενδιαφέρον.

Η γλώσσα ήταν εύκολη αν και για να δώσει έμφαση σε κάποιες σκηνές ο Carlo Gébler επιλέγει ξαφνικά να χρησιμοποιήσει μία πολύ ελλειπτική, λυρική γραφή που προτιμούν συχνά οι Ιρλανδοί συγγραφείς, η οποία ήταν λίγο άσχετη με το ύφος του υπόλοιπου κειμένου. Το τέλος του βιβλίου ήταν κάπως απότομο, ενώ υποθέτω ότι δεν μπορεί να πει κανείς ότι υπάρχει μία συγκεκριμένη πλοκή.

Ενώ είμαι άσχετη με τον τόπο και τον χρόνο του βιβλίου και δεν μπορώ να πω ότι δέθηκα ιδιαίτερα με κάποιον χαρακτήρα, βρήκα το βιβλίο αρκετά ελκυστικό με τον δικό του τρόπο. Όχι από αυτά που δεν μπορείς να αφήσεις από τα χέρια σου, αλλά σίγουρα από αυτά που σε καλούν να τα τελειώσεις χωρίς να υπάρχει πολύ συγκεκριμένος λόγος. Υποθέτω είναι κατα κάποιο τρόπο σαν ιστορία ενηλικίωσης, αλλά όχι ακριβώς.

Αξιοπρεπές βιβλίο. Όχι κάτι εξαιρετικό, αλλά αξιοπρεπές.

31⁄2 /5

Well, this book takes place from August 1964 till August 1965 in London and a bit of Wales and while it's told by a third person's point of view, mainly the narration comes from the eyes of a 12 years' old boy. Occasionally I thought that Ralph, the main character was a bit too well-behaved and too "sensitive" in his innocence to be real, while something felt a bit off sometimes, but otherwise this proved to be a flowing book that kept my mild interest. The language was decent, although sometimes the author suddenly relies on the elliptical, lyrical way that is popular with Irish authors, I guess in order to colour some scenes. I felt that this trick didn't blend very much with the writing style of the rest of the book. The end was kind of abrupt too.

I'm not Brit or Irish living in London, I wasn't even born at the time the book takes place, I don't think I connected much with any of the characters, while I don't think there is much going on to call this book a story with a tight plot. But I still found it captivating on its own way. Not unputdownable, but engaging after the first few pages. I guess sort of a growing-up story.

Not amazing, but a decent read.

31⁄2/5