The suburb of Bourneville grew up around the Cadbury's chocolate factory and it is where 11 year old Mary lives with her parents. Starting from VE Day in 1945 and coming up to (almost the present day) Mary's story and that of her family is punctuated by major events in British life and their lives reflect the changing face of Britain in the last 75 years. Coe is always an author who can be relied upon to produce a thoroughly enjoyable book with a streak of satire and humour, this is no exception and is really wonderful. A cynic might say that it is manipulative and full of cliches, and the plot does seem like that, but it is the quality of the writing and empathy that reader develops with each character that makes it so good - why is Jack more peripheral than Martin or Peter? It's because he epitomises what some people feel is wrong in society, selfish and ambitious with unpleasant view, a small dose is enough to get the idea.

Even though I have read almost of Coe's books, many set in and around Birmingham where I grew up, I have never read a novel where I know so many of the places in which a book is set so intimately: Adil's for a Balti, Solihull Cinema and Birmingham Odeon to see James Bond, Dorridge of all places. The story is a series of snapshots of a fictional family and a real country across one lifetime: that of his own mother. Attitudes and beliefs migrate as time passes. It is loosely woven onto his other work, and raised a smile of recognition from time to time. I'm a similar age to Coe, so it maps onto my life with ease. He writes skilfully with compassion and heart, even about the sides of ourselves we might not like to expose. I am very glad I bought it, it isn't his very best, but it is very, very good.

Working for Waterstones meant that I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of this book well before the publication date. Jonathan Coe is still very angry! After the less political but still excellent 'Mr Wilder and Me' Coe has written a companion piece to the brilliant 'Middle England', this time though it's not just about Brexit. In 'Bournville' Coe is asking how the country has ended up where it is and what may have caused it. Set mainly around the Birmingham village built by Cadburys, on the surface it is a wonderful story of a family between VE and the 75th Anniversary in 2020 seen in snapshots over the years at times of major events such as a Royal Wedding and Funeral. Underneath though this is quite angry and is the best book I have read in a long time.

I loved reading about this place which is not far away from where I live. I often wondered about Bournville, the place where Cadbury chocolate comes from and have been fascinated by what its story might be. Bournville chronicles a family's journey through time and in a way West Midlands as well through the political discourse that underlines the plot. Right from the time the village was carved into the existence to the sweeping changes of the war and its aftermath, to the coronation, EU inclusion and later Covid, it takes a reader on a fascinating rollercoaster through time. Love his writing and realised he is a prize winning author for his previous one. Must catch up on that one next!

Bournville follows four generations of one family, whose lives are shaped and influenced by the Birmingham suburb where they live, and the chocolate factory where some of them work. Throughout the decades, the reader is hooked in as the fortunes of Sam, Bell, their daughter Mary and other family members play out. Over the chapters we see Mary grow and change from an 11 year old child, to a teenager, then a trainee PE teacher with two suitors, a busy working mum with three children, and finally an elderly widow and grandmother. The characters are extremely well realised and as you follow them across the years you get to know them intimately - they become very real to the reader, and once you finish the novel you find yourself still thinking about them. Witnessing the sweep of the decades and the passing of Mary’s life lends a sense of poignancy to the novel, and a very real feeling of life’s brevity. With its opening and closing chapters set in the 2020 lockdown, this novel is circular in its construction, and its events take place between VE Day on 8th May 1945 and its subsequent 75th anniversary in 2020, as well as other defining, landmark moments over this time period: the 1953 coronation; the 1966 World Cup final; the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales; the 1981 royal wedding; and the death of Princess Diana. We also see how these 75 years have brought great social change which disunites and bewilders both the family and the nation, because this is far more than a highly engaging, well written family saga. Coe is a superb chronicler of – and commentator upon -modern social and political history. Here he explores Great Britain’s relationship with Europe, especially Anglo- German relations; attitudes towards the Royal Family; immigration, racism, and homophobia; snobbery and intolerance; and the development of the European Union, its operation and legislation. Ultimately, Coe charts the rise and rise of Boris and the road to Brexit, both of which clearly bewilder, anger and frustrate him, and the reader is also prompted to consider the wisdom of the choices made. Despite the socio-political history and commentary, Coe’s skilful authorial touch ensures that this novel is never dry, dull, polemic. It is always an engaging story, and one which has a tremendous heart, humanity, emotion, and humour. The last section of the novel is especially moving because it is based on Coe’s experience of his own mother’s death during the pandemic. There is also much love shown for Bond films, and of course, inevitably, chocolate! This is a really well-written, captivating and enjoyable novel, which I would definitely recommend. I enjoyed it very much. With thanks to Viking Books for a copy of this novel, in return for this independent review.