Every Light in the House Burnin'

I read my first Andrea Levy, "Fruit of the Lemon", very recently and loved it, so I had high hopes for this book, but actually finished it feeling rather disappointed and unsatisfied. Although I enjoyed the rather anecdotal style, and the bright snippets of Angela's childhood, and felt empathy with the family as her father's health declines, it really didn't hit me in the stomach - I felt it lacked any drive or purpose. I did love the title, though - beautiful and really sticks in your head.

I did not enjoy Small Island but I really loved this book, it made me laugh out loud when she described being taken to church with her Mum, I could imagine it as it was written so descriptively but concisely. Her problems with the doctors etc when her Dad is unwell is heartbreaking but above all is the childlike optimism. Not too long a book and well worth a look.