Going Home
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
Ratings1
Average rating4
'Meltingly warm' OBSERVER, 10 BEST NEW NOVELISTS FOR 2024 'Pepped up and gorgeous, just bristling with life' OLIVIA LAING, GUARDIAN 'A beautiful, funny tale of London and lives new and old' SUNDAY TIMES 'A spirit-lifting debut' DAVID MITCHELL, author of Cloud Atlas 'Poignant yet very funny . . . Tom Lamont writes in clear, swift prose about the power struggles that exist in even the most loving of families and the longest of friendships. A lyrical, hypnotic delight' KATHERINE HEINY, author of Games and Rituals 'I will never forget these characters: so pained and funny, so brilliantly drawn, wrestled with and forgiven' HELEN GARNER, author of The Children's Bach 'I adored every moment. The characters have stayed with me ever since' BELLA MACKIE, author of How To Kill Your Family 'It has a bright ring of truth which chimes on every page' CLAIRE FULLER, author of Unsettled Ground 'Explores parenthood, responsibility, freedom and faith . . . Immersive and finely observed' THE BOOKSELLER, Editor's Choice Local boy Téo Erskine is back in the north London suburb of his youth, visiting his father - stubborn, selfish, complicated Vic. Things have changed for Téo: he's got a steady job, a brand-new car and a London flat all concrete and glass, with a sliver of a river view. Except, underneath the surface, not much has changed at all. He's still the boy seeking his father's approval; the young man playing late-night poker with his best friend, unreliable, infuriating Ben Mossam; the one still desperately in love with the enigmatic Lia Woods. Lia's life, on the other hand, has been transformed: now a single mum to two-year-old Joel, she doesn't have time for anyone - not even herself. When the unthinkable happens, Joel finds himself at the centre of an odd constellation of men - Téo, Vic, Ben - none of whom is fully equipped to look after him, but whose strange, tentative attempts at love might just be enough to offer him a new place to call home.
Reviews with the most likes.
Tom Lamont's debut novel, Going Home, tells the story of a motley adult crew unexpectedly tasked with caring for a toddler after his mother's death. The story unfolds through the perspectives of four characters: the child's temporary guardian (Teo), his best friend (Ben), the guardian's ailing father (Vic), and a local rabbi (Sybil). The novel explores themes of fatherhood, friendship, grief, and community, weaving together humor and pathos as the characters grapple with their new responsibilities and their own personal struggles.
As a gay man contemplating adoption, this story resonated with me in ways I hadn't anticipated. The story beautifully captures the essence of what makes a family - and it's not necessarily biological ties, it’s also possible for men to be primary caregivers (however messy that may be). In a literary landscape that often relegates men to peripheral roles in childcare, this novel presents a refreshing perspective where male characters take center stage in nurturing and raising a child. The way the story explores the formation of father-son bonds that aren't rooted in biological connection spoke directly to my own aspirations and anxieties about adoption.
The pacing of the novel perfectly captures the day-to-day reality of adapting to unexpected parenthood. The trials of getting a toddler to get to bed. The world-peace like negotiations to get a child to stop doing something and start doing something else, felt very real.
What makes this novel particularly compelling is its honest portrayal of the characters' struggles and growth. None of the characters are perfectly prepared for their roles and watching them navigate their new responsibilities while dealing with their own personal issues feels authentic and relatable. The book doesn't shy away from showing the messiness of learning to be a parent, but it also celebrates the beautiful moments of connection and understanding that emerge from these challenges.
The representation of male emotional vulnerability and care work is exceptional. Lamont manages to portray these aspects without falling into stereotypes or sentimentality, instead offering a nuanced look at how men can express love, concern, and nurturing in their own ways.
While the novel isn't perfect - some subplots could have been more developed - it earns a solid four stars for its sensitive handling of unconventional families, its positive representation of male caregivers, and its authentic portrayal of the joys and challenges of unexpected parenthood.
