Scunthorpe Pageturners discussion

Lately, he had begun to wonder what mattered, apart from Eileen and the girls. He was touching forty but didn’t feel himself to be getting anywhere or making any kind of headway and could not but sometimes wonder what the days were for. (p. 33) Weariness, worry and repetition are imbued in the story and Furlong’s character seems like a man on the brink. What are the factors that have led to this?

I feel the sheer utter monotony of daily adult life with family responsibilities and purposeless point of life are a big factor.
The other huge factor is how controlled the town is by religion and that you can't be seen to be stepping out of line and thinking differently or trying to improve your lot in life.
A sense of 'you should know your place, especially considering your start in life'.

I think his self reflection is part of his reaction to his upbringing. He is aware his circumstances could have led down a darker path but is also aware that in some ways that
they are still holding him back.

Money worries as people around him struggle to make ends meet.