RUNNING AWAY

by Leslie Thomas

Written with the characteristic wit and good humour, Leslie Thomas's novel tells the story of a grown man who runs away from home, and the adventures that befall him in his quest for a new lease of life. His latest love affair discovered (thanks to an observant fifteen-year-old daughter who points out the still-wet suds of expensive soap lingering in his ear), bestselling author Nicholas Boulting sets off amid a torrent of abuse to see what else life can offer. After his fantasy escape to Luxor turns into a nighmarish excursion to Malaga, Nicholas returns hastily to London. He moves into a flat in Little Venice with Sol Solomon, a sex-mad writer of dubious reputation, and sits down to write his next novel, Owls of Desperation. Full of the qualities we have come to expect from his novels, Running Away is Leslie Thomas's eminently readable and enjoyable story of one man's mid-life crisis.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Born in Newport, Monmouthshire, 1931, Leslie Thomas is the son of a sailor who was lost at sea in 1943. His boyhood in an orphanage is evoked in This Time Next Week, published in 1964. At sixteen, he became a reporter, before going on to do his national service. He won worldwide acclaim with his bestselling novel The Virgin Soldiers, which has achieved international sales of over four million copies.

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second reading:

If this had been the first Leslie Thomas I’d read it may well have been the last.

As much as I love his style and easy-storytelling, I couldn’t like these characters, no matter how much I tried. I’m not a fan of any character who plays away from home and this continued through to an analysis of family and marital breakdown.

It has its lighthearted moments, but not enough to steer away from the bitterness and air of defeat shared by many of those in this tale.

Disappointing.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to run

As always Leslie conjures up a fun romp, always a good escape from the mundane. It's an easy and enjoyable read you can easily picture the characters

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10

[Heather Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Unconventional Love Story

Vivid and funny, with a strong sense of place. A most enjoyable book, which makes one want to read more from the same author.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book. Leslie Thomas never seems to disappoint. Lovely writing