Rare Singles

This book is about two decaying wrecks whose best days are long behind them. One is an American soul singer, the other is a Northern English seaside town. The story of how one gets on in the other is charming and sweet. Bucky Bronco and his English chaperone Dinah are well drawn and engaging characters, beaten down by the tribulations of life, but each with an escape - pain pills for one, soul music for the other. They're very likeable, and you'll be rooting for both of them throughout. The book is very much in Nick Hornby territory, which is perhaps a surprise from the author of The Gallows Pole and Cuddy, but hey versatility in a writer shouldn't be sniffed at. It's not a demanding read, but it's not slight either. It's well written, with a very strong sense of place, and all the characters, even the minor or less likeable ones, feel realistic and believable.