Stuart a Life Backwards
by Alexander Masters
Everybody agreed that the book was brilliant - sad but tremendously funny too - a great story which achieved what Stuart wanted in that it was not “bollocks boring”.
The unusual structure of the book kept the reader’s concentration and demanded attention, at times seeming almost as chaotic as Stuart’s life.
The book with great sympathy and compassion deals with a number of important social issues and the friendship between Alexander and Stuart is portrayed with great humanity and affection.
Despite the attempt to introduce a note of controversy by the reading of a blatantly hostile review all remained convinced of the merit of the book as a worthy winner of the Guardian First Book Award.
NS. June 2006
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