by John Wain
First published 1983
Paul faces pressures that seem too heavy for someone his age. His working-class family depends on him in ways that force him to grow up fast. The economic realities of 1980s Britain press down on his household, and Paul must navigate between his own desires and the weight of family expectations. His mother struggles to keep things together while his father remains largely absent from their daily battles. Paul watches his friends move forward with their lives while he remains tethered to home by duty and circumstance. The gap between what he wants for himself and what others need from him grows wider each day. Wain captures the particular burden of being young when the world demands you act older than your years.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, social-issues, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, duty-vs-desire, family-obligations
Setting: Britain, United Kingdom
Period: 1980s
192 pages · Paperback · Black Swan