Other commentators have observed how accurately the minute details of the time, just after WWII, have been documented. I spotted several anachronisms and inaccuracies without looking for them. For example Auntie Vi watched an advert for Maidenform Bras on a television which had been bought in order to watch the Coronation; this would be impossible because (a) The BBC has never shown adverts. (b) A television bought in 1953 had no tuner and would be incapable of receiving the ITV signal. The chronology is a bit unclear at times too, for example when was Martin conceived?
Otherwise the story just about makes sense with some interesting pre-echoes of the Grantchester Mysteries. I didn't find it unputdownable but it made an agreeable bedtime read.


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Canvey Island Hardcover – 1 May 2006
by
James Runcie
(Author)
James Runcie
(Author)
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Product details
- Publisher : Bloomsbury; 1st edition (1 May 2006)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0747581878
- ISBN-13 : 978-0747581871
- Dimensions : 17.15 x 2.79 x 24.38 cm
- Customer Reviews:
Product description
Review
'Canvey Island, James Runcie's tender, intimate account of post-war England, left me both wistful and elated: wistful because of the inevitably compromised emotional lives of its characters, their furtiveness and timidity, their betrayals and bereavements; elated because the novel is so engaging, so well-shaped and so unsparingly, generously truthful.' Jim Crace 'More books should be like this: elegantly written, unpretentious and unashamed fun.' Joanne Harris on THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE 'The novel is a triumph of inspired imagination. Full of allusions, exotic and quixotic, artful and crafted.' FINANCIAL TIMES on THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE 'As in his previous novel, THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE, Runcie has taken a small nugget of history and polished it to delicious effect, capturing the flavour of everyday life in long-vanished societies.' Sunday Telegraph on THE COLOUR OF HEAVEN
Book Description
A spellbinding story of post-war Britain through the lives of one family
About the Author
James Runcie is the author of two novels, The Discovery of Chocolate and The Colour of Heaven. He is also an award-winning film-maker and theatre director and has scripted several films for BBC Television. James Runcie lives in St.Albans with his wife and two daughters.
Customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
29 global ratings
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The Rodent
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading - just about.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2018Verified Purchase
One person found this helpful
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Anglo-Irishman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Prosaic? Maybe
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 June 2014Verified Purchase
This is a well-observed account of life during the related decades, with sound characterisation. The themes make up for the lack of strength in the plot; but, then, what sort of strong plot would such prosaic lives offer? There's nothing sensational, just ordinary lives lived as best they can with mistakes and successes like anyone else's. I found its verisimilitude uncomfortable, but who wants to be complacent about real life, for that is what the author presents. It's rather sad because it makes one think that perhaps most lives don't make much of a difference. Nevertheless, it is the cumulative effect of all those ordinary lives that make the difference, and perhaps that is the main lesson to be learned from this book. Prepare to be interested, but not to be thrilled or intrigued, and think about your own life and what you do with it.
2 people found this helpful
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Rose Thurman
5.0 out of 5 stars
A piece of social history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2015Verified Purchase
A more serious book than the Grantchester series. It describes a way of life familiar to anyone who is a baby boomer and born just after World War 2. The historical events will jog memories long forgotten. The personal relationships however are contemporary and heartfelt. Descriptions of Canvey Island and coastline whilst setting the scene also remind us of the vulnerability of our coastline and the need to protect our environment. Martin's job is very much of today. I enjoyed the individual thoughts of each character which kept the pace up to the extent I couldn't wait to find out what happened to them all and finished the book at 3am! Recommended.

Maura
3.0 out of 5 stars
recent history brought to life
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2014Verified Purchase
I found this book interesting historically - I remember the east coast floods and I don't recall any other novel set in that period. Today's floods are terrible too but the post-war gloom and bleakness added to the misery then. Plot not totally convincing but good to see Runcie experimenting over so many genres.

RoseMarie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very well written, interesting history.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2014Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the writing and found it interesting. Some of the characters were not necessary to the story but i did enjoy the story which for the times was unusual.
One person found this helpful
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