Number 5

by Glenn Patterson

The brilliant and unusual story of one house, five families, and the way ordinary lives are affected by an extraordinary town - Belfast. In this compelling, engaging and deeply moving novel, the successive occupants of a three-bedroomed terraced house go about the complicated business of keeping themselves and a home together in a place that the rest of the world knows as Belfast, but to them is just the town. Things happen that might happen anywhere, and things happen that could happen nowhere else, sometimes as noises off, and sometimes on the front doorstep. Birth, death, infidelity, loft conversions: this is the world as most of us see it - from the inside of the house out.

Genres: Fiction, Ireland, Irish Literature

307 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patterson tells the story of one house in one suburban neighborhood over 5 decades. Each section of the book begins with a new family moving into the house. There are some characters that stay in the neighborhood throughout the decades, such as Ivy who is an 18 year-old newly wed when the story begins. The brilliance of the story is the "normal" quality of life despite 30 years of the Troubles in Belfast, just down the road. Another aspect I appreciated was although there is a church or two in the neighborhood, religion rarely dominates the lives of the characters the way we have come to see it can in some segments of Northern Irish society. The one family identified as Catholic are the Tans, a family of Chinese immigrant parents and their children and extended family. As the book observes, because they were "Chinese" no one ever considered they might be Catholic. Although the Troubles are in the deep background, they do touch the people of this neighborhood. As the years go by, what was once a modest neighborhood for upwardly mobile lower middle class families, becomes more trendy and costly as prosperity comes to Northern Ireland in the early 2000's. The final chapter brings the reader full circle as one of the original residents returns to visit the neighborhood on a visit from Australia. Patterson is to be appreciated for the way in which he portrays the lives of ordinary residents of Northern Ireland - people whose voices are often obscured in recent history.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the description of this book on the back cover I got really excited. It sounded like it was RIGHT up my street, and although I enjoyed it ok, it just never fully met my expectations. The writing felt rather clumsy at places, I found myself having to go back and re-read paragraphs quite often. Also I found it very frustrating that the individual stories just seemed to stop abruptly before moving onto the next story, and although most of the loose ends were tied up at the end, the ending felt rather rushed and I didn't feel satisfied that all the things I wanted to know had been answered.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim in a Viennese bookshop. Its not my usual style but I thought what the hell. And I really enjoyed it. The way the families lives are entwined is interesting, but what I enjoyed the most was the social commentary of changing family structures that is recognisable up and down the UK. I could have been reading my own family homes history, or that if any number of my relatives homes. I enjoyed the last chapter bringing the threads together of the questions I had along the way. And let's be honest...we've all had an Ivy as a neighbour!

[Paul Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my monthly book group.

I have read several books by Glenn Patterson, and he is a fine writer. Sadly, this book just didn't capture my interest, and I struggled to finish it. I think it is well-constructed, the five stories from five decades, of different residents of the same house brings a variety of central characters, while some long-term residents of the street provide an element of continuity. This structure also allows Patterson to briefly look at emerging social issues and changing societal values.

[Joy]

I don’t think this book aged well. (Ot else it was just misguided.) The idea is great, but I thought he wrote women really questionably and it was just hard to read or get into. The first story focused on a woman who is unhappy in her marriage… as told by this male author who really didn’t write the woman well, IMO. It wasn’t compelling. When I got to the 3rd chapter which was going to be about the Chinese-Irish family as told by this white guy, I had to step away.

[Barra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a house through the decades told through the inhabitants and their neighbours, the changing decor, the evolving gardens and thoroughfares, the comings, the goings, the secrets, the renovations and the revelations. A hugely enjoyable novel with an innovative narrative structure.

[Martinus Eleets · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, absorbing, poetic read.

[Sheena Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just alright to me. I enjoyed the writing but I would lose track and get confused between the sections of different families.

[Juliana Jura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great potential. An interesting take on the lives of five families who live in a house over a period of four and a half decades. The stories themselves are interesting( or could be!) particularly as the house is located on the outskirts of Belfast and the historical aspect is present during each decade, by the occupants and their lives.
Sadly for me, the storyline misses the mark each time. Plots 'fizzle' out leaving you wondering if you've missed anything whilst reading the book. Ivy, who lives in the street and supposedly links the families over the years, also has a weak storyline.
The book left me feeling disappointed. The front cover quotes a review by Carlo Gebler . 'a fantastic novel..... A really wonderful read'. Carlo didn't read the same book as me!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

the premise of this book is simple, and really could work just about anywhere - a single house and all its various incarnations and inhabitants over five decades. it's graceful and sensitive and bravely done in its context (belfast). it's wide-reaching and relevant without being preachy or stooping to caricature by any stretch of the imagination. a chinese teenage boy in the '80s and a '50s housewife are both written with equal believability.

and let me tell you - i'll never think of '50s housewives the same way again after reading this. or housewives in general, for that matter ...

a lovely, sad, strange book about scraps left behind and their effects on veritable strangers.

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book boring and tedious. Skipped a few chapters, and still the story didnt seem affected. No flow.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvellous well told story about characters you actually care about