One For My Baby - Tony Parsons

"The same combination of self-deprecating humour and well intentioned bafflement that endeared "Man and Boy" to millions of readers.... A kind, affectionate book". Observer. When I bought this book, I had no preconception about the author or knowledge of his former works. Tony Parsons has quite a history in journalism, and has been labelled as a "lad-lit" writer that is sometimes targetted by feminists. Former works include "Man and Boy", "Wife and Man", although I have not read these. ◄The story► ◄Man, fed up with teaching in the UK, goes to Hong Kong, meets love of his life ... more

Tony Parsons, for those of you who don't know already, is a bit of a controversial bloke. In his youth, as a journalist at the then-edgy NME, he was married to Julie Burchill. She famously left him holding the baby, giving the inspiration for Parson's first novel, Man and Boy. As a proper grown up, he has now graduated to contributing challenging, angry pieces to various mags and papers, as well as spraffing pretentious yet compulsive drivel on the wonderful Late Review programme. He is famously outspoken on the subject of women’s equality (sample quote:'there is no sight more degrading ... more

…well, not necessarily at the same time, although, who knows! Do you believe in more than one chance at love? Or do you think that there is only one person for you to spend the rest of your life with? This is just what Alfie Budd thought – but then he lost his one true love and thought that he had seen his chance at happiness disappear. Alfie had gone to Hong Kong to escape his humdrum life in London. Fed up and disillusioned with trying to teach English literature to children who had no desire to learn it, the revelation that British people could get a one year permit to work in ... more

This book was a revelation. Tony Parsons comes across on TV as a slightly hard nosed wide boy made good, which in some ways is reflected in his novel. However, his style is underladen with sensitivity and empathy for the characters. As a woman, my reading of novels by and about men is limited. However, as with the novels of Nick Hornby (such as 'Fever Pitch') this helped expand my horizons! Afie Budd is an English teacher in Hong Kong when his wife is killed in a diving accident. Returning to the UK, he feels his life is disintegrating around him, when he befriends a Chineese family. Afie's ... more

I've read this book twice now - I'd forgotten how much I'd wanted to throttle Alfie (the lead) during the first read. Alfie's just lost his wife and yet it is almost impossible to feel sorry for him. Throughout the book he insists that everyone just gets one chance at happiness and, unless you too are prone to fits of despondency, you will roll your eyes at the sheer lack of optimism. Having said all this, there are parts of this book that can make you well up with tears of anger, happiness and deep, deep, sorrow. The way Alfie feels about his Nan and the way he takes care of her when she ... more