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Before the Crying Ends
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
3 people want to read
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August 7, 2025
“And today it is raining as last night it rained and the day before. And the night before that day. For this town is Pontypridd. Where they know all about rain.
And it was raining when you got born. And it will be raining when you die.”
And so we return through the drizzle and smoke to Pontypridd – last seen in Tom Jones Slept Here – and meet up with Lew’s brother Ben (no love lost) in the pit, in the pubs, in the street, and in the snooker hall. He’s married to Rachel, but dotes on Melody. Melody is his brother’s wife. God, to whom he talks intermittently, is not sympathetic.
“Why are you standing there O my lamb?
Things don’t go well, as we might expect. But John Hughes’ fine ear for dialogue, for character, and for sharp-eyed description create a vivid picture of a claustrophobic Valleys town in the days when it was still a coal-mining community. Pity he didn’t write more books.
And it was raining when you got born. And it will be raining when you die.”
And so we return through the drizzle and smoke to Pontypridd – last seen in Tom Jones Slept Here – and meet up with Lew’s brother Ben (no love lost) in the pit, in the pubs, in the street, and in the snooker hall. He’s married to Rachel, but dotes on Melody. Melody is his brother’s wife. God, to whom he talks intermittently, is not sympathetic.
“Why are you standing there O my lamb?
I am waiting for Melody O my Lord.You are a soft bugger O my lamb.
She have promised to come.
Why is that Lord?She have forgot isn’t it.”
Things don’t go well, as we might expect. But John Hughes’ fine ear for dialogue, for character, and for sharp-eyed description create a vivid picture of a claustrophobic Valleys town in the days when it was still a coal-mining community. Pity he didn’t write more books.
Displaying 1 of 1 review