“This warming tale takes you through laughter, sadness, anger and regret to ultimately show that we all need to be accepted for who we are and be loved by somebody.” Nicola Crisp, Lovereading.co.uk“This is a beautiful and incredibly sad book. My heart really went out to Alfie. I cried a lot reading this.” The Book Lover’s Boudoir“It is touches like this that lifts this book from a fictional … like this that lifts this book from a fictional biography to a realistic story of a life as it is lived… It is at once a contemporary story and historical fiction.” Northern Reader
“A lovely and richly told story of another time, when things were if not easier, then simpler.” The Library Door
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In the summer of 1953, twenty-year-old Alfie steals away from his troubled childhood home in London to start a new life in Exeter. His own life. And at first it’s everything he ever dreamed it would be. For the first time in his life Alfie feels like he belongs.
Today, in a care home in the Midlands, eighty-six-year-old Alfie is struggling to come to terms with his dark past.
Alfie’s story is one of regret, the mistakes we make, and the secrets even the most unassuming of us can hold. But it is also a story about family, friendship, the things we should treasure and protect, and how the choices we make can shape our lives and the lives of others.
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“It was just consuming. I really think everyone should read this, it hits you in the emotions.” Afternoon Bookery
“A beautifully written story that I couldn’t put down. I loved every emotion packed moment.” The Bookwormery
“A heartwarming story about getting old, life and grief. A lovely read to curl up with and enjoy.” Lovereading.co.uk
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I chose to read this book as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team and the author sent me a copy. This does not affect my review in any way.
Alfie Cooper is in his mid-eighties and lives unhappily in the Pinewood care home, but with no family to look after him he has no other option. The Inconvenient Need to Belong is the story of Alfie’s life told in a series of flashbacks either during his Saturday morning escapes to the park to feed the ducks where he chats to a young man, Fred, or via the computer at the library where he starts up a penpal conversation with a young, single mother in America, Anne.
Alfie leaves his home in London, keen to be away from his domineering father, and ends up in Exeter where he quickly finds work, somewhere to stay and friends. Other than him missing his family, well, his mother and younger sister Betty, his new life goes smoothly. He even finds a girl he likes, if only he could pluck up the courage to ask her out. Sadly, things sour when Alfie drinks more than he should, then sees the girl out with another man.
This is a well written story and steadily paced throughout. There isn’t a lot of action but the story unravels gently and as you get to know the younger Alfie and he faces the challenges of life you end up willing him on, hoping against hope that what you suspect might be up ahead for him isn’t really going to happen.
I really enjoyed the dedications Alfie made up for Rosalind each week and they showed a fun side of him that as a grumpy octogenarian was hard to see at times as he mulled over his life and reflected on the regrets he had about it. Recommended for all those who enjoy a gentler tale that draws you in.
I enjoy reading books when one or more of the main characters are of the older generation. I was attracted to this book because of that fact. The main character Alfie Cooper is an 86 year old living in Pinewood Care Home for the Aged Residents. In the US, this would be equivalent to an assisted living faculty. It’s very interesting to meet the other people in this care home. Some are annoying, some are very lively and then there is Alfie, who keeps to himself and is pretty much a grump all the time.
Viewing these elderly residents on the surface, you would take them just as they present themselves and not think about what happened in their prior life that influenced who they are now in their later years. This book tells the story of Alfie’s life. The reader comes to understand the experiences which shaped his life. Some people overcome their difficulties and some make the difficulties an excuse for how their life unfolds.
This is a debut novel by Paula Smedley. I liked her writing style. She did a great job of developing her characters. The plot is believable. I personally did not like the ending of the book. After reading Alfie’s life in meticulous detail, the ending seemed to very rushed and over before I fully realized it was ending. (I read the eBook and did not focus on the percent read.)
Also, I want to mention I disliked the undercurrent of the author’s opinion on the politics in the US. (This is a small part of the book, but I want to express my feelings.) This comes through in a character’s voice, but I could have done without this subject in the book. I read to escape real life and I was surprised to be reading comments about politics. A quote from this book “My own daddy always told me that you don’t discuss politics or religion”. I wish the book held to that statement. If I want to read opinions of US politics, I am sure I could find many books on that subject.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read the advanced reader copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.