Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour for the Audiobook - The Lovely City by Louise Hare. Narrated by Theo Solomon and Karise Yansen.
About the Author
Louise Hare is a London-based writer and has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. Originally from Warrington, the capital is the inspiration for much of her work, including This Lovely City, which began life after a trip into the deep level shelter below Clapham Common.
Follow @LouRHare on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit louisehare.com, Buy This Lovely City
About the book
The drinks are flowing. The jazz is swinging. But for the city's newest arrivals, the party can't last.
With the Blitz over and London reeling from war, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England's call for help. Fresh off the Empire Windrush, he's taken a tiny room in south London lodgings, and has fallen in love with the girl next door.
Touring Soho's music halls by night, pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home - and it's alive with possibility. Until, one morning, he makes a terrible discovery.
As the local community rallies, fingers of blame are pointed at those who had recently been welcomed with open arms. And, before long, the newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy which threatens to tear the city apart.
Lawrie is not long off the Empire Windrush at Tilbury docks. He more or less works around the clock as a musician and postman. While he is out making a special delivery he comes upon a woman in distress, she has just found an infant near a pond, and so begins the attempt to discredit and blame Lawrie. An absolutely innocent Lawrie.
Lawrie is targeted because he is a dark skinned man. Itt doesn't matter that he was there per chance and he helped the woman, as far as the police are concerned he is the culprit. The police officer tries to fit the person around the crime, and whilst doing so Lawrie takes a kicking.
People start to gossip and in an attempt to take the finger of blame off themselves they start pointing said finger at others. People like bi-racial Evie, who has plenty of secrets to hide, despite the picture of innocence she puts on display. Is she capable of dumping an infant and leaving it to its fate?
For those of us who try to be aware of our white privilege and the systemic racism that is a shadow on our society, this is quite often a difficult read. I can't even fathom discarding a child because of its skin colour or treating someone who isn't white as if they were a lesser person than myself. I was raised to regard everyone as equals, but a wise woman taught me that isn't sufficient - you have to be aware of the oppression, the racism and the inequality to be able to do something about it.
It's historical fiction with strong topics of racism, oppression, police brutality and assault. Hare doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the reality of the Windrush generation and their experience in post-war Britain. It is also a relevant topic in our day and age, as the aforementioned generation and their contributions are still met with criticism and opposition.
It's certainly an emotional listen, which is narrated exceptionally by Theo Solomon and Karise Yansen, as they do the words of Hare justice.
Buy The Lovely City at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Audible Uk.
Listening Length - 10 hours and 46 minutes, Author - Louise Hare, Narrator - Theo Solomon, Karise Yansen, Whispersync for Voice - Ready, Audible.co.uk Release Date - 12 February 2020, Publisher - HQ, Program Type - Audiobook, Version - Unabridged, Language - English, ASIN - B07V4LTTXF.
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