The Barbecue at No. 9 cements Jennie Godfrey as a tour de force and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that her characterisation is out of this world and her craft is astounding.
Godfrey’s writing is luminescent. It is so full of the human experience with love and loss and heartbreak all intertwined into this street. She is brilliant at capturing the magic of the everyday and spinning it into something extraordinary. It is a story about the messiness of life, all of the flaws and mistakes we make, but also the love and hope that ensures beyond it all. It is a story of family and the sacrifices we would make in order to keep the ones we love safe. It is a story of love in all its forms and some of the threads woven in are these gorgeous fledgling relationships or reigniting of continued ones. All in all, it is such a rich tapestry of these interwoven plots and feels like magic caught in a bottle.
There is an undercurrent of danger that ripples through the pages. Right from the start, there is something sinister occurring and that tension keeps bubbling over. It feels as though things could explode at any moment, which makes for an exhilarating reading experience. There are plenty of twists and turns in store, but I loved how these were so rooted in the characters, their dynamics and secrets at play. Every action has a consequence and every secret or twist has an emotional weight behind it. Godfrey does these touches of thrilling suspense perfectly and you feel as though you’re watching over their shoulders all the way through.
Where Godfrey’s work shines the most for me though is her characterisation. She has such a knack for really feeling like you’ve caught the essence of a person in just a few pages. The voices are distinctive and gripping, making you feel surrounded by the occupants of the street and all of their trials and tribulations. The use of multiple narratives is excellent and offers duelling insights into the dynamics of this strange street. Godfrey balances all of these different characters, storylines and perspectives so well and ties them in wonderfully to the backdrop of Live Aid. Like the famous event, the book is ultimately a celebration of love and humanity uniting. At the same time, it is a portrait of the secrets we keep behind closed doors and the cost of keeping up a perfect façade. All of these characters are carrying something, often some secrets that are slowly unveiled, and these have deep effects on each of them. They all spring off the page and straight into your heart. There is a real tenderness Godfrey shows to them and nuance that allows for messiness and mistakes to be made. They feel authentic and three-dimensional with interesting arcs and developments over the pages, but also that their stories will continue long after the final chapter. You can recognise these people in your life or recollection of the era because they are so well drawn and believable.
Every ingredient comes together to deliver a stellar story and one that revels in both the quieter, more intimate moments and the splashier, more dramatic ones. There is intrigue and mystery but also touches of romance and friendship. You get a sense of the true meaning of community and that is a message that resonates even stronger for today. Everything builds to a wonderful conclusion that perfectly suits the themes of the book. For me, that ending has remained in my mind, rent-free as it were.
The Barbecue at No. 9 is an electrifying read that cuts to the heart and delivers stellar characterisation. It proves that Jennie Godfrey is a marvel, if any further proof was needed.
The Barbecue at No. 9 is available from Amazon, Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis
It’s the summer of 1985 and the residents of Delmont Close are preparing a neighbourhood barbecue to watch the biggest music event in history: Live Aid. A day like no other that will end having reached millions and changing the lives of all who attend.
House-proud Lydia Gordon, whose idols are Princess Di and Delia Smith, is determined to put on a show that will impress everyone – with her posh garden and state-of-the-art television, and her sweet husband and two children, Hanna and David.
But as the guests flood into number nine, so do all of the secrets that have been kept in the close.
Rita, a new neighbour from Australia, is hoping for a fresh start but harbours a shocking event in her past; Steve, a young Falklands veteran, battles his own demons; and Mr Wilson is surely too good-looking to ever be trusted.
But as the hours count down to the last performance of the night, it’s Lydia who faces the heart-breaking truth that her immaculate home and flawless family might not be so perfect after all.
And if each of their neighbours is guilty of hiding something, so are the Gordons at number nine …
