Novels set in Brixton/surrounding area
- Thread starter trashpony
- Start date
trashpony
Hag
Have read Baby Father - it's v good.
I will have a look for Martin Millar
Thanks people
bluestreak
HomosexualityIsStalin’sAtomBombtoDestroyAmerica
bluestreak
HomosexualityIsStalin’sAtomBombtoDestroyAmerica
forgot ll about the wondeful herne hill cameo in from hell. time to reread wise children as well, read it at uni and loved it, forgot it was set in brixton.
bluestreak
HomosexualityIsStalin’sAtomBombtoDestroyAmerica
oh, i read that years ago, it was ace. keep meaning to go back and reread it.
Jangleballix
Better living through chemistry.
Graham Greene's The End of the Affair is set around Clapham Common.
timothysutton1
Brixton resident.
Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne
(and no I did not just search Amazon for Brixton, I have actually read it and it is quite good).
(and no I did not just search Amazon for Brixton, I have actually read it and it is quite good).
clandestino
no llevar papel
Martin Millar's first three books are all set in Brixton, and brilliantly capture the feel of what the area used to be like.
Milk, Sulphate And Alby Starvation
Lux The Poet
Ruby And The Stone Age Diet
If you enjoy those, my favourite of his books is Love And Peace With Melody Paradise, which is about different gangs of travellers trying to set up a free festival, and it's absolutely hilarious.
I don't think his books are dated particularly, but they're written and set in another era for Brixton, which is interesting in itself. One of the books is set in one of the 80s riots, if I remember correctly. I always think of it when I walk around the back streets off Effra Parade.
Milk, Sulphate And Alby Starvation
Lux The Poet
Ruby And The Stone Age Diet
If you enjoy those, my favourite of his books is Love And Peace With Melody Paradise, which is about different gangs of travellers trying to set up a free festival, and it's absolutely hilarious.
I don't think his books are dated particularly, but they're written and set in another era for Brixton, which is interesting in itself. One of the books is set in one of the 80s riots, if I remember correctly. I always think of it when I walk around the back streets off Effra Parade.
Thimble Queen
Called away to another place
Can you get him again please?? That would be amazing!
clandestino
no llevar papel
The lively atmosphere of Offline wasn't really suitable for one of Martin's readings sadly, as he's a very softly spoken guy who gets laughs from nuance and a very slow boiling kind of irony. I've seen him do a reading where it was just people who were fans and who were quiet and attentive and he was hilarious. It didn't really work at the Dogstar that night though...
Maybe you could do a Spoken Word Offline back at the Ritzy, editor? Just poets, readings, etc. That would be fun, and a nice contrast to the Albert nights.
Maybe you could do a Spoken Word Offline back at the Ritzy, editor? Just poets, readings, etc. That would be fun, and a nice contrast to the Albert nights.
B-Town
Active Member
I liked Brixton Rock!
sparkybird
ask the bird...
ooo, great thread!
I've realised that in the last 6 months I've read quite a few of the books listed - some through choice and others as part of a bookclub. I too liked Alex Wheatle's books - OK the prose isn't going to win prizes, but I felt it they were quite 'Brixton' and enjoyable to read.
The book set in Kennington is I think London Belongs to Me by Noman Collins first published in 1945. Great book -with some amazing characters all renting rooms/flats in a house in Dulcimer Street (ficticous) in Kennington. I can highly recommend it! IIRC Brixton and Streatham get mentions.
I'll also check out some of the other books suggested on this thread
SB
And Hangover Square has got to be up there in my top 10. I read another of Patrick Hamiltons (Slaves of Solitude) about wartime London worker moving out to the burbs but it wasn't as good, I felt
I've realised that in the last 6 months I've read quite a few of the books listed - some through choice and others as part of a bookclub. I too liked Alex Wheatle's books - OK the prose isn't going to win prizes, but I felt it they were quite 'Brixton' and enjoyable to read.
The book set in Kennington is I think London Belongs to Me by Noman Collins first published in 1945. Great book -with some amazing characters all renting rooms/flats in a house in Dulcimer Street (ficticous) in Kennington. I can highly recommend it! IIRC Brixton and Streatham get mentions.
I'll also check out some of the other books suggested on this thread
SB
And Hangover Square has got to be up there in my top 10. I read another of Patrick Hamiltons (Slaves of Solitude) about wartime London worker moving out to the burbs but it wasn't as good, I felt
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Not a novel, but a wartime diary
http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/pages/titles/index.asp?id=27
Although the author didn't live in Brixton she worked in Brixton so there's lots of references. It's a really good read.
http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/pages/titles/index.asp?id=27
Although the author didn't live in Brixton she worked in Brixton so there's lots of references. It's a really good read.
