Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

Roland’s choices

Theme: Passing

READ: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

LISTEN: Wary + Strange (2021) by Amythyst Kiah

WATCH: Mr Loverman (BBC iPlayer)

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READ: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

We all loved Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. Roland has really upped his game

Barry is a brilliant creation both loveable and infuriating. Barry is an autodidact, polymath, drinker, and a successful business person, who holds some traditional and unreconstructed views, but who has also garnered plenty of wisdom. From the off we learn that although he has been married for over 50 years and has two adult daughters, he is gay and his one and only real love is his best friend Morris. They grew up together and their relationship has been going on since their early years in Antigua.

Mr Loverman explores what happens after Morris challenges him to be honest with his wife and family and ask for a divorce.

This novel has got the lot: humour, wit, pathos, drama, and surprises. All the characters are wholly credible and multidimensional, and each offers new and surprising perspectives. It’s also a page turner.

Highly recommended

Nick 9 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 9 / Keith 8 / Roland 8 / Robin 9 / Hamish 9.5

LISTEN: Wary + Strange (2021) by Amythyst Kiah

A divisive choice

Roland loves the Blues Rock and this musical adventure washed him up on the shores of Wary + Strange. Roland, Nigel, Nick and Hamish all gave it a thumbs up. Keith quite liked it. Robin and Tristan lambasted it. 

WATCH: Mr Loverman (BBC iPlayer)

One of us loved it (Hamish). Some liked it (Roland, Robin and, to an extent, Keith). Some couldn’t really be bothered having read the book and enjoyed that so much (Nick, Nigel). And Tristan thought it was incredibly stupid to choose an adaptation of a book we’d just read, effing and jeffing all the while. Take that Roland.

 

HBG endorse it: 11 October 2024 - 14 November 2024

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