Whose Turn For The Stairs?

18 Dalbeattie Street Trilogy #1

by Robert Douglas

This is an utterly charming story about twelve families and their tightly knit street in 1950s Maryhill. Following the end of the war, the close rebuilds its ties and the strong sense of community and friendly neighbourhood bonds are soon back in place. There is young love for Rhea and Robert; a surprising new start for James; a change of direction for George; and all overseen by the matriarch of the street - Granny Thomson. And of course, all buoyed up by a big helping of Scottish humour and strength of spirit. Yet it is all not perfect in their the families have to deal with poverty, religious bigotry, racism, heartbreak, lies, violence and death.
But the powerful friendships cannot ultimately be broken. In Robert Douglas's first novel, he recreates a time and place particular to Glasgow but to which everyone will relate.

Genres: Scotland

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2009

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1950 - this is a thoroughly enjoyable snapshot of one year in the life of close knit neighbours living in a Glasgow tenement building. Rationing is still in effect, the toilet is a shared experience, trams rattle up and down, freezing foot stamping weather, paper thin walls, scant wages.... but friends with advise, shoulders to cry on, people to keep your secrets, pals to celebrate your small victories, help when it's needed, friends that can be relied upon and will give you their last penny ....... It makes you nostalgic. You long for a time most of us have never even experienced.
I especially loved listening to the audio version - with all the accents. I was continually amused to hear myself take on a Scottish lilt when talking and to have the phrases "a wee blether"; "you cheeky bissum" ; 'my wee pal" etc.. spring into my head during conversation.

Gorgeous, warm and uplifting.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book transports you to a close community of families all living together in a tenement building in Glasgow. Set a few years after the second world war, the after effects still influence the lives of the residents. We are shown the hardships of having to bring up a family whilst living in just one room and sharing a toilet. The descriptions of Glasgow and the working class battles to get enough to survive on, are wonderfully laid out for the reader. There are elements of Glasgow dialect but it never intrudes on the readability of the book. It is easy to care about the characters that we are introduced to. All in all a very enjoyable book.

[Fay McInnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really simple narrative that you will love if you are from Glasgow

[marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It appears I am in the minority on this book, everyone seem to love it! The best thing I can say about it is that the dialogue was good for the most part and i liked some of the characters. The outcomes of the stories were predictable, though, and oh my god the nostalgia. Nobody can just use soap, they use a particular nostalgic brand of soap, and if the outside toilet is mentioned once it's mentioned 15 times. I could imagine it being ok as a radio play, where this detail would be stripped out and you'd just get more of the character interplay. I guess maybe this just isn't my kind of thing...

[Danny Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book! I urge anyone who grew up in the 50's to read this. And of course anyone else who would like to know what it was like. The story is about people living in single ends in Glasgow. That's a one room apartment for those not in the know. The characters are so vivid that they have to be drawn from life. Their Granny was my Granny. I love this book.

[Marian Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for one of my book clubs. Coming from England and being fortunate enough to live in a normal house etc., I had no knowledge of this type of living at all. I loved all the social history that was included and also enjoyed the characters. The type of diary style writing, was interesting as it neither started anywhere or went anywhere as a narration, but I still enjoyed it.

[Zoe MacIver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an 50s girl! I'm a modern girl but I loved this book! My granny recommended me to read this and I'm so glad she did. I loved all the characters and the different situations they found themselves in! A great novel!!

[Carole Anne Coventry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great wee book if you love gossip, lol

It's like a set of short stories about the neighbours up one close and their relationships with one another. This book brings back memories of the positive side to living in a tenement in Glasgow.

[Petrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The trials and tribulations of a closeful of folk in Maryhill in the 50's. Enjoyable if a bit predictable.

[Maureen]

Bookends

[Crys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book!

[william l hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have now read 4 of books by Robert Douglas and intend on reading more his description of life in 18 Dalbeattie Street Glasgow in the 50's and onwards is superb takes me back some
I'm sure it would make great Film/TV to rival Coronation St /Emerdale /EastEnders
Totally loved these books and looking forward to more of his

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story without any real plot. Basically an insight into the families in a working class tenement close in Glasgow about 1950. Interesting if you are about that era. Sometimes it feels that you are being 'taught' about the period and inundated by lots of facts if in an interesting way.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant !

I loved this book and didn't want it to end , very well written . I will certainly be reading more by this Author

[Lynne Easy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, strong characters and Scottish humour.

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

[Arjuna Srinidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book! Adding a small note here to say that when I found the book, it had a little 'bookcrossing' number. Loved the concept of it and have now 'released' the book! :)

[Lady Lisa_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every bit of this book, I grew up in my grans tenement flat, and my mum had grown up in one too, where there were multiple families sharing one toilet, and she kept a “Po” under her bed. My gran cleaned the steps right up to she got sick. This book gave me an insight into what it was like in the 60’s for my mum, and for my gran.
So carefully written, I loved every part of it

[Ajit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great easy read.. Gives a view into the lives and conditions of the people living in Glasgow during the 40s...What the situation was after the 2nd world war with rationing prevalent all over UK, folks returning after being POWs for years, young lads going into the army and what this meant for their loved ones...

Robert Douglas manages exceptionally well to define his characters and then keep you engrossed throughout the novel in their lives... The novel really transports you into that era...