Christopher Fowler's memoir captures life in suburban London as it has rarely been seen: through the eyes of a lonely boy who spends his days between the library and the cinema, devouring novels, comics, cereal packets - anything that might reveal a story.
Caught between an ever-sensible but exhausted mother and a DIY-obsessed father fighting his own demons, Christopher takes refuge in words. His parents try to understand their son's peculiar obsessions, but fast lose patience with him - and each other. The war of nerves escalates to include every member of the Fowler family, and something has to give, but does it mean that a boy must always give up his dreams for the tough lessons of real life?
Beautifully written, this rich and astute evocation of a time and a place recalls a childhood at once entertainingly eccentric and endearingly ordinary.

Prizes

Winner of Green Carnation Prize 2010

One of the funniest books I've read in a long time. In fact, these pages are packed with so many good lines, even the footnotes are a joy to read. ...Witty and wise, moving but never mawkish, this is the kind of memoir that puts most others to shame * TIME OUT *
Entrancing, funny, deeply moving and wonderfully written. Please read it -- ELIZABETH BUCHAN
Funny and charming...here a voracious young reader makes his great mental escape from the suburban Stalag of south London via the literature that, once he masters its craft, will lead him back to recreate this lovingly detailed past -- Boyd Tonkin * INDEPENDENT 'Books of the Year' *
Beautiful, magical and moving * DAILY MAIL *
Absolutely charming...beautifully written, with a sort of English Thunderbolt Kid (Bill Bryson) feel. Highly recommended -- Sarah Broadhurst * BOOKSELLER *
The book is fabulous, and I hope it sells forever. -- JOANNE HARRIS
Delightfully written, this funny and engrossing memoir is a wonderful evocation of a Fifties and Sixties childhood * CHOICE 'Book of the Month' *
Upbeat and forgiving...Fowler's South London childhood was deeply weird...but the tone is sunny, and anyone who remembers Mivvis, jamboree bags, streets with no cars, Sid James and vast old Odeons will love this Sixties retro-fest * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
A wonderfully vigorous read, confident in its total recall and acute in its deft definitions of characters. -- SAGA MAGAZINE
Humorously recounted, Fowler's passion for reading is framed by an affectionate description of his London childhood, adding colour to a memoir packed with anecdotes * FINANCIAL TIMES *

Christopher Fowler was the multiple award-winning author of almost fifty novels and short story collections, including the celebrated Bryant & May mysteries. His other novels include Roofworld, Spanky, The Sand Men and Hot Water. He has also written two acclaimed memoirs, Paperboy (winner of the Green Carnation Prize) and Film Freak, plus The Book of Forgotten Authors and Peculiar London, Bryant and May's singular and eccentric guide to the city. In 2015 Chris was awarded the Crime Writers Association's coveted 'Dagger in the Library' for his body of work. He lived in London and Barcelona. Diagnosed with cancer just as the UK went into lockdown in 2020, Chris died on 2nd March 2023.