White City Blue

by Tim Lott

Estate agent Frankie Blue is known on his home turf - White City, Shepherd's Bush - as "Frank theFib." He's a liar - but one who always tries to tell the truth. He has been friends with Diamond Tony, a hairdresser, Colin, a computer nerd, and Nodge,a cabbie, since schooldays. Now they are thirty, and trying to live the same life as they did then - drinking, girls, coke, football. But Frankie is bored. He's decided to carry out the great "betrayal" - he's going to get married. From the moment he tells his mates, the whole patchwork of their friendships begins to collapse - revealing the sad, shocking but often hilarious truths that lie underneath.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Book Club, Modern

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Tim Lott is the author of seven novels and a memoir, The Scent of Dried Roses, which won the PEN/J.R. Ackerley Prize. White City Blue won the Whitbread First Novel Award and his young adult book Fearless was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Book Award. Tim lives with his family in north-west London.

Reviews

[LN · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending totally rectified everything that was wrong with the book. And by ending I mean the last sentence.

[Erin WV · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for a class way back in my undergrad days. The class was based on the modern British novel, and it's part of a pretty popular subgenre called "lad lit" AKA "What hell hath Nick Hornby wrought?" It's like chick lit, except it's worse because it's full of misogyny. (Not that I would include Hornby in that category. He, unlike most of his contemporaries, can write a troubled man who is nonetheless decent.)

This particular novel is about the baffling need for men to hold onto friendships that have outlived their lifespan, as a last-ditch effort to hold onto their youth. The main character here has three buddies who, every year, reenact the same pointless adventure they had once when they were young. But one year it conflicts with his girlfriend's birthday! Oh no! The choice between past and future!

First of all, any girlfriend worth her salt has no trouble celebrating her birthday the day before or the day after if there is a legitimate conflict. Second, the fact that he doesn't even like these guys anymore suggests that maybe the tradition might as well be retired.

I don't remember the writing being anything special, but it has been a very long time.

So: pass it up and read something better by Nick Hornby, or maybe some early Michael Chabon if you're American. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh does better with similar themes, as I recall.

[Erin Knoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this book - quirky characters, fun voice, a little thread of nasty drama running under the surface. The descriptions of different types of friendship are astute and hysterical.

Sadly, about three quarters of the way through the story kind of unravels. I don't mind if everyone's a jerk, but it was just something about the mix of cynicism and realism that was more unpleasant to read than anything else. So in the end, it was unsatisfying, and I was more disappointed than anything else by the predictable finish. Too bad...but I'd definitely read more by this author.

[Printable Tire]

I was really enjoying this book - I guess it would fall under whatever the male version of chicklit is - until the mammoth disappointment of the surprise secret of one of the pro's friends. This book better be autobiographical, because as a believable plot point it totally sucked. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but just think Chasing Amy.

I think I was reading this along the time my girlfriend dumped me after college. I know I bought it in 2004 when I was at Oxford.

[Reena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Following on from the dumbest book I’ve ever is the daftest book I’ve read. The difference? Nothing. Shallow characters, tedious plots and bad writing, they might as well be playing snap. End of story.

[Deborah J · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book for the lads. I read it because I'd heard a lot about Lott's latest book, and White City Blue revolved around 14 August, a date of significance for me. White City Blue had its moments - a couple of things made me laugh out loud - but it's meant for those 30 years younger than I, and for blokes. However, as a picture of London in the 90s and of the property boom it has a certain interest.

[Geetly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reiterates the fact that the our first reaction towards committment is always that of aversion.Even the second,third and fourth. Having said that,while this book is an accurate portrayal of friendship in today's times,I would like to think its a sad exaggeration.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those books that was easy to read, but didn't really make you feel anything.
Just a very easy read I guess.
This is Tim Lott's first novel and I can't say I'd be actively seeking out his pthers in a hurry!

Although that said, it was nice to read something so very English!

[Nacho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una sorpresa inesperada. Me la leí en un viaje de tren de unas tres horas. Que engancha, vamos.

En castellano, se titula White City a secas.

[Vy Nguyen]

Interesting read, so descriptive i could picture the friends in my mind. Dont know how precise it is to a guys state of mind but worth reading.

[S.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book about what it is like to be a young man in modern Britain.

[John Salmon]

Not liking this one too much chiefly because the protagonist is such a wanker and his narrative voice so odious. Most likely won't finish it.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book.

[Shirley Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I love an honest take on life and people and Lott achieved this in this beautifully written book.

[Geoff Warden · Rating 3 out of 5]

An author I had never heard of, but attracted by the rather lurid cover to the paperback Penguin edition I thought I would try this. I was looking for a slightly lighter read than the last few novels I have read and this didn’t disappoint.

The basis is an examination of friendship between a small group of friends, now about to enter their thirties, but who have been friends since schooldays. The first person narrator, Frankie, feels he is betraying his old mates by getting engaged. Old animosities and shared experiences bind the group together, but at the heart of it the relationship is fragile.

Tim Lott manages to create a very credible set of characters and is convincing about the tensions in their friendships. The writing is sharp and well observed. The only criticism I would have is that the novel is a little “picaresque”, in that it veers from one set piece to another, including some revealing flashbacks to incidents from childhood and late teenage years.

[Adam Wolstenholme · Rating 4 out of 5]

What stands out for me is the details that bring the characters to life. Diamond Tony's flaring nostrils; Nodge's pensive smoking; Colin's idiotic and revealing sexual fantasising about the robots in Blade Runner. All these I can recall now without having read the book in years. Looking at some of the reviews, I think this book suffers from being seen as somehow representative of men, whereas it's better understood as just another story about a set of characters which, incidentally, might touch upon some universal truths. I found the structure very satisfying - the way the flashbacks catch up with the narrative proper. And it's full of nice little witty, wise, often cynical asides, for example that no-one is 'special'. People are pretty much the same. Anyone who says otherwise is annoying. Well put, Frankie Blue.

[Lewis Ledlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one I enjoyed a whole lot. Frankie seemed like a complete twat a whole lot of the way through but as you do with a protagonist, you still stick with them. I was unsure about Nodge the whole way through, but the hints to him being gay throughout and then the reveal at the end was really something! Colin I felt awful for, always hard done by, and his ending i felt was a bit too out of there. And Tony was a cunt fully. although I wish we saw what he was doing at the end when the wedding was. Standout characters: Colin and Nodge I think. Veronica was good too! The old man - Harry - was also a lovely call back right at the end.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

So it's been a while since I've read any lad-lit and the only reason I picked up this book was because someone on Goodreads said 'Read it for the last line alone.' Was the last line outstanding? Well, I didn't think so but that didn't mean White City Blue wasn't worth reading. It's about a group of men who have been friends since high school. They are all single for various reasons and play at been happily so. Frankie, the protagonist, upsets the group dynamic by finding love and getting engaged.

Lott relies heavily on back story for humour and context - probably too much for my liking because some felt overworked. In contrast, the parts set in the present and the scenes developed around dialogue were strong. I enjoy reading about male friendships - obviously I can't comment on the authenticity of this group but both their banter and vulnerable moments rang true.


3/5

[Richard Cunliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive piece of writing by Tim Lott, in which he entertains while offering some keen insights into human character. Many of us have known the sadness of a strong friendship eroded by life's ever-changing priorities, and in White City Blue the author poignantly shows us how time and circumstance can change irrevocably our most treasured relationships. Highly recommended by me, this book is lad lit for the thinking lad.

[Andy Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Slow starter for me, but picked up about a third of the way through and then held my interest. The writing boasts well-realized characters who are interesting and lends insight into platonic male relationships. The dialogue was crisp, the music references were hip, the story well-paced. That being said, the plot was predictable and somewhat derivative with a definite indie-film cinematic feel. Fun read, not much to it.

[Adam Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see how some would find this novel grating, especially with the narrator's laddish tone, doused in thick layers of irony that were customary for the late 90's, but I found White City Blue to be thoroughly enjoyable. It loses its way slightly in the final third where it has to manufacture drama to get the plot somewhere, but never loses the razor sharp wit, and has a surprisingly large amount of pathos.

[Kamran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good... Not too bad is all I can say

[Tim Steward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, could have been edited better!

[Manta Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book

[Eve Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and it was very realistic to real life situations. Really well written.

[Tony Lawrence]

Francis Blue, ‘Frankie the Fib’, is a clever, street-wise 30-something estate agent in West London, and he’s getting married. And that’s a big problem! Because Frankie is in love with a gang of friends he’s had from school, and he’s not sure if he wants to give it all up, to grow up, and share his life with someone else. He’s not sure if he likes Nodge, Colin & ‘Diamond’ Tony anymore, but they’re a hard habit to break; predictable (if not reliable), and with a shared past (the mythical ‘14th August’ anniversary), and shared secrets. In their different ways, they all use the gang to hide part of themselves away from the world, and to avoid facing up to their own independent lives & future selves. Frankie says that your habits become who you are, not the other way around? (He’s wrong) In the end he does the right thing – of course - but, the real story is about breaking away, breaking the habits, accepting the right & inevitable over the familiar & moribund (Frankie does this, but also Nodge & Colin), “…a game that’s been played out, an emotion that’s been used up…you’re a habit i’ve got to break” Frankie the Fib is eventually honest with himself about being scared of a future in the so-called ‘real world’, he lets go of the bank and lets himself be dragged along in the ‘tide of events’.

I vaguely remember seeing this book years ago (1999 Whitbread 1st novel winner), but I thought it was about football hooligans, some sort of uncover expose? I was very wrong, it’s a great book; evocative, philosophical, funny, sad, confused in parts – like life actually. It feels more ‘real’ than a box full of Hornby’s, Elton’s or Parsons’. Don’t get me wrong, i’ve read and enjoyed my share of lad-lit, but this is something different, a sub-species or even a whole other evolutionary schism.

Last, but not least, some more ammunition in the war of the sexes:

“Do you know what denial is, Frankie? Duh, yeah. As I understand it – stop me if I get this wrong – its what i’m in when I say something you disagree with.”

“Honesty, concern – it’s overrated. It’s a form of hostility.”

(14/10/2019) I've re-read this before the new follow-up, which picks up the story after the events of 1998/9, looking forward to reacquainting myself with Frankie & Vronky, Nodge, Colin, and maybe 'Diamond' Tony?

On second reading, I am still blown away by the flair, power and truth in Lott's writing. Even though the mid-80's and late 90's are drifting further away, i'm happy to revisit these familiar people and times as if it were my own past. Is it me, or does the nostalgia in a book not age as badly as other media?

[Edward Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny yet slightly disturbing tale of male friendship in the modern age, this twists itself into an almost sinister story that tries to explain how difficult it is for men to form meaningful friendships with other men that aren't entirely based on getting drunk and watching sport together.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winner, 1999 Whitbread First Novel Award

[Elwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gelezen in NL's. Titel de Leugenmakelaar. Deze was echter niet bekend in GoodReads. Matig boek.