‘The Sadness Of The King George’ by Shaun Hand is a contemporary look at life from the point of view of a twenty-year-old barman in the Birmingham area.

In a grotty pub The King George we are left in the mind of the Unnamed Narrator, a lad that can’t find a way forward. He can’t seem to find any self-confidence, a girlfriend or even a life. He has never quite managed to find it in himself to be able to converse with the mixed bag of regulars. This book is about exploring this young mans thinking process. He is a bag of uncertainty with no ambition and wanders aimlessly through life. He has no idea as to why everyone seems to have more knowledge than him and he is so scared of doing something wrong. I felt so sad for him, I wanted to help him. I had moments where I almost could have given him a shake but I understand how he feels.

I was at home with this story straight away. A grotty pub with the same bar staff and regulars day in day out. All struggling in some way…could have been set in Oldham! My parents and grandparents when I was young were frequenters of a Labour club. Similar scenario, everyone knows everyone. Pubs a bit of a dive but the connection is there. It was a big part of our lives as a family so I really got engrossed. The apathy of the Unnamed Narrator is not that unusual these days (not in my town anyway). At least he does have a job even though he wishes for better things.

I could easily visualise the pub and the people. Shaun Hand has written these characters fabulously, right down to the last detail and the way they all interact in the pub setting is just like in our corner pubs everytime I visited any. The Unnamed Narrator just personifies a young person of today. Not the ones that have an aim and are either working hard or studying hard to get somewhere, the ones who have basically been given no opportunities when they needed them. As they mature they are scared with no confidence and they are occasionally offered opportunities but are too scared to grab them.

This book in a weird way struck home to me as I have dealt with young people such as the Unnamed Narrator and I understand the way they work. I did enjoy the banter and the oddities of everyone too. Such a weird and wonderful pub! They will be missed.

Thanks to Random Things Blog Tours and Bad Press Ink for the copy of ‘The Sadness of The King George’