Gold

Dan Rhodes

Average Rating 7/10 (1 Review)

Miyuki Woodward; lover of pints and instant food has been taking a holiday to the same seaside town for eight years. She is made to feel at home, at least during pub-quiz nights, when Short Mr Hughes, Tall Mr Hughes and Mr Puw are especially glad to recruit Miyuki and her trivia prowess to their team. This year, following an act of raw creativity involving some cans of gold spraypaint, Miyuki will take part in the most turbulent events the village has seen since Tall Mr Hughes returned from the pub toilet without remembering to button up.

Review by Jessica (100808) Rating (7/10)

Review by Jessica
In a seaside pub its regulars Tall Mr Hughes, Short Mr Hughes and Mr Puw are discussing the subject of alligators. Septic Barry is discussing the problems of human waste disposal with the Children from Previous Relationships. He left home at sixteen after a row about lemon cheese. He slept in a tent and had a paper round but in time he gave it all up to live in an old caravan at the local camp site, to help the human waste disposal team. Tall Mr Hughes’ subject of alligators is cut short when the lounge bar’s doors open and Miyuki Woodward, an attractive Japanese looking girl, makes her entrance - what a way to begin this clever novel.

Every year Miyuki returns to the village for a holiday, enjoying her solitary cliff top walks and her evenings in the Anchor. Eating junk food and reading one book a day was her intention and a real pleasure to her. Why did she go shopping for large bags of gold spray? Who was looking for God’s nostril in this weird and wonderful seaside village? Wouldn’t you think it strange if you went for a drink in a pub and the landlord tells you to f off and a few other obscenities? Well in this tale, this is exactly what happens.

The characters in this book are like people from another world.
This story has a fairy tale feel about it but even so it made me laugh out loud at times. A very original, amusing, unforgettable book. You will remember it every time you sneeze!
Jessica (10th August 2008)