When We Were Romans

By Matthew Kneale

From the acclaimed author of 26a, comes a dazzling new novel about the fight to achieve one’s dream, and an unsolved disappearance at the heart of a family.

As a child Lucas assumed that all children who’d lost their parents lived on water. Now a restless young man, and still sharing the West London narrowboat with his sister Denise, he secretly investigates the contents of an old wardrobe, in which he finds relics from the Midnight Ballet, an influential black dance company of the 1960s founded by his Jamaican father, the charismatic Antoney Matheus.

In his search to unravel the legacy of the Midnight Ballet, Lucas hears of hot-house rehearsals in an abandoned Notting Hill church, of artistic battles and personal betrayals, and a whirlwind European tour. Most importantly, Lucas learns about his parents’ passionate and tumultuous relationship and of the events that led to his father’s final disappearance.

Vividly conjuring the world of 1950s Kingston, Jamaica, the Blues parties and early carnivals of Ladbroke Grove, the flower stalls and vinyl riflers of modern-day Portobello Road, and the famous leap and fall of Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, Diana Evans creates a haunting and visceral family mystery about absence and inheritance, the battle between love and creativity, and what drives a young man to take flight…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9780307373755

Matthew Kneale

Matthew Kneale was born in London in 1960, the son and grandson of writers. He studied modern history at Magdalen College, Oxford. He has written five novels, including English Passengers, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award, and two nonfiction books. For the last fifteen years he has lived in Rome with his wife and two children. Visit him at MatthewKneale.net. 

Reviews for When We Were Romans

[xmaystarx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and was glad to be able to review it. Usually I find my reviews are either glowingly positive or full of negatives but this one has an equal combination of both. The story itself is told by 9 year old Lawerence who is dragged to Rome along with his toddler sister by their mother who thinks their estranged father is after them. Kneale did a good job describing scenarios as they would be observed through a 9 year old's eyes and the book was written as if Lawrence did the writing, typos and all. This started to wear on me early one, the misspelled words were never consistent (the same word misspelled different ways) and sometimes he would misspell a fairly simple word and then spell correctly a tough, long word. I think the story would have been just as effective without this aspect. The author did a great job in exhibiting how malleable the thoughts of young children are and how in their eyes what mother says is always the truth. I found Kneale was able to get me to care for the kids and feel really bad that they were being dragged into the situation they were. This is something that many writers have trouble doing - and he was able to do so with everyday events and descriptions, a job well done! So, besides the writing that drove me crazy at some points and my utter frustration with the mother, I enjoyed reading When we were Romans and would recommend it as a quick, entertaining read.

[iubookgirl · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

When We Were Romans is told from the viewpoint of a nine year-old boy. Kneale's ability to maintain that voice throughout the book is remarkable even if a bit wearing. Lawrence, the narrator, gives the reader a stream of consciousness view into his journey to and adventures in Rome with his mother and younger sister.I found the writing style tedious. In fact, I'm slightly annoyed with myself for finishing this book. I kept getting frustrated with it all the way through, but kept at it to find out if my hypothesis about this family was right. And, of course, it was. This is not an uplifting, or particularly original, story so don't expect it to be.Bottom Line: If reading misspelled words and grammatically incorrect sentences drives you crazy, I wouldn't recommend this book for you.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Told in the voice of nine-year-old Lawrence, this is the story of a divorced mother trying to protect herself and her children (Lawrence and his three-year-old sister, Jemima) from their abusive father. Lawrence is the man of the house: he tries to protect his mother and keep her from slipping into depression, struggles to protect his baby sister from learning the truth about Dad, and cares for his pet hamster. But, what is the truth? Like the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, we have a child narrator who doesn't fully understand what it going on. The author enables the reader to see the truth without ever abandoning Lawrence's voice or point of view.This is a great story of family loyalties and the bonds between mother and child. (p.s. Yes, the misspellings bothered me a bit, but still a great book!)

[icolford · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kneale convincingly writes from the perspective of ten year old Lawrence, who is thrust into the role of protector of his mother and sister when his mother flees London for Rome. The book has twists and turns aplenty, but the ending is especially poignant, not to give anything away...

[rlangston-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The last 20 pages took this from 2 stars to 2.5 stars.I was very disappointed with this book, as I have really enjoyed others by Matthew Kneale.I didn't get on with the child stream of consciousness writing style, and found it monotonous. The characters were unlikeable and one dimensional. The story was also one dimensional, and it wasn't until the (redeeming) final pages that the complexities and different aspects of the story became apparent.

[donna828 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I started out liking this book. It was refreshing to get to know Rome and its history through the eyes of 9-year-old Lawrence who ends up there with his mother and little sister. They are trying to get away from their father, but Lawrence's narration very early on drops hints that there is something wrong with his mother. Things are not always they way they seem, or the way they should be for that matter. In a well-ordered world, parents look after their children rather than turning their worlds inside out. Mom is unpredictable and, though she seems to love her children, they sense the strangeness of their situation and their little adventure quickly goes downhill. The invented spelling didn't bother me too much, but I got tired of all the whining. Granted, these kids had plenty to whine about, but it seemed excessive and grated on me.This book has been compared to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; however, it fails to deliver the same quality of charm and fascination. It just made me want to reread Mark Haddon's far superior book.

[redhillsreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A current day story told from the perspective of a nine year old boy of their family's (Mother, son and daughter) travel to Rome to escape from their father who is perceived by the Mother as being predatory.The thinking, perspective and voice of nine year old Lawrence seems very true for that age. The ending is very touching and satisfying.

[stephivist · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Children are taught to trust their parents, but what happens in a family when the parent cannot be trusted? This question is played out in When We Were Romans. Kneale writes this story from the point of view of nine year old Lawrence with a tumultuous family life, complete with spelling errors and all the confusion of a young child lacking enough knowledge to understand his situation. As others have mentioned, the reader knows the likely story development long before the nine year old narrator (personally I found the ending to be utterly predictable), but this makes the story all the more engrossing. The important part of this novel is not any individual event, but the perception of and reaction to the events by Lawrence. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend id. I found some parts to be slow, but the authentic voice and experiences of Lawrence kept it moving.

[neverwithoutabook · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an easy read and interesting, although I'm not sure I really enjoyed it. The story is told from the perspective of a nine-year old boy with all the focus and interests one would expect from this age. His friends, his hamster, his toys and his relationships with his family. Occasionally we are treated to excerpts of his learning about Space and Roman history. It is much more than that, tho, the reader finds, as the story unfolds. At first I was amused at the perspective, and I am impressed with the author's ability to stay 'in character' throughout. Some would be bothered by the mis-spellings and grammatical errors but it is what you would expect from inside the mind of a 9-yr old. There were definitely times I felt that Lawrence was mature for his age, like when he is trying his best to help his mother even when he's not sure what it is that she needs, and other times when I felt he was simply acting out by his deliberate misbehaviour. The interaction between him and his sister was completely believable. There were parts that puzzled me and the ending was not at all expected but did make everything clearer and more understandable. I don't like to give away an ending, so I won't, but I do feel this book is worth reading. It will draw you in.

[kkkoob_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A work reminiscent of "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" or "Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close" in the voice of the young narrator. An engaging, yet eerie novel as the mother's mental illness begins to more completely invade the storyline.

[ekanderson_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nine-year old Lawrence lives with his mum and sister, Jemima, in England. They constantly have to worry that their estranged father will come from Scotland and hurt them. So one day his Mum packs them up and tells them they're going to stay in Rome until it's safe again. They drive and drive, and finally find their destination only to be passed from friend's house to friend's house. Lawrence's mum says their father is turning their friends against them, and Lawrence wants to do his best to help his mother, but sometimes he worries about her - she gets sad and stays in bed for days and some of her credit cards have stopped working. Lawrence has choices to make, but he really just wants to go home.The innocence of Lawrence lends itself well to Kneale's narrative, allowing the reader to see only what the boy sees, even if we know that much more is going on that he can't understand. Every detail - the Italian culture, the family drama, Lawrence's retelling of stories from his history books - will suck you in.

[dulcibelle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this, in the way that I would enjoy talking to a precocious child. You have to keep in mind that the narrator is a nine-year old boy and sees the world from that vantage point. The book is written in as stream of consciousness (there were times I found myself gasping for breath just trying to keep up) and a lot of the spelling is phonetic (a little disconcerting, but easy to figure out if you pronounce the words). But, it works. The author succeeds in making the reader really get into Lawrence's life and the adjustments he has to make when his mother moves his little family to Rome.

[mcna217 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"When We Were Romans" by Matthew Kneale tells the story of the disintegration of a family as seen through the eyes of a nine year old boy. This novel is a entirely realistic account of divorce from a child's perspective. The author capably captures the bewilderment, anguish, and mixed loyalties of a child caught in the aftermath of his parent's separation. It is both well written and emotionally compelling. Even though the subject matter is depressing, Mr. Kneale is able to effectively capture the small, humorous, and poignant moments of childhood. I enjoyed this book a great deal and read it in one sitting. I would highly recommend "When We Were Romans" and look forward to reading "English Passengers" , also by Mr. Kneale.

[jocraddock_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A charming story of a young boy, Lawrence, and his strong-willed sister Jemima, as they react to post-divorce trauma in their family. Written in the voice of Lawrence, the phonetic spellings and run-on sentences can be a challenge, but often invoke memories of the runaway-train thought patterns of young children.Lawrence attempts to hold true to his man-of-the-family status, placate his younger sister, and keep his mother in what should be less stressful, happier situations. His struggles with his own needs as a growing child are well examined.It is also a sad story of mental illness, and the effects of dysfunction visited on innocent loved ones.A page-turner through and through, I felt the book ended "short," although that is likely how most of these situations do end.

[alluvia_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Don't start this book at 7 pm if you need to be bright-eyed at work the next day - this is my lesson. I was up until 1 am needing to find out what happens next, then what, then what, as the story (told through the perspective of a young boy, whose age I never did catch) unfolds and intrigues. First you think you understand what the family situation is, what the conflict is, then you begin to see what the child cannot and then, well, I won't spoil it, but just try to put it down! The voice of the narrator is believable, and the pieces of the puzzle come together at an elegant, tightly constructed pace. Loved it

[zibilee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lawrence is a clever and lively nine year old boy with a penchant for astronomical trivia. He lives in England with his mother, 3 year old sister and his hamster Herman. Lawrence has a typical day to day life, fighting with his sister, speculating on his neighbors new kittens, and reading his favorite books. His mother though, is increasingly worried about his estranged father's malicious attempts at spying on the family and ruining her reputation among the neighbors, and decides it would be safer to relocate the family to Rome, where she lived before she met her husband. The trip is as troublesome as it is adventurous, and everyone looks forward to excitement and new situations. Once in Rome, "Mum's" friends seem glad to see her and offer help, but soon the family wears out their welcome. Struggling from place to place, Lawrence regales the reader with tales of unusual emperors and frightening popes, while trying to help and comfort a mother who is distraught and despondent. After finagling a place of her own for her family to live, it becomes clear that Mum's version of events regarding her husband do not reflect the reality of what has been going on. Lawrence, struggling to maintain an equilibrium in his world, must cope with the day to day life in a world where nothing is as it seems, and there is danger in very unsuspected places.I was aware going into this book that there were spelling inconsistencies and that they book was told from the perspective of a child. I believe that the knowledge of this particular aspect of the book enabled me to accept it and disregard it more easily. I did notice that some words were spelled differently at different times, but it was not something that deflected my appreciation of the story. Though I easily saw Lawrence's mother's real conflict, the way the author handled the voice of Lawrence enabled me to see it from another perspective, one that highlighted the mystery and rationalization of a young boy in the face of unknown mental turmoil. Lawrence seemed both innocent and shrewd, not understanding the depth or gravity of his family's problem, but knowing that he had to be the man of the family and help his mother cope with the inevitable. At one point he mentions his responsibility as the only logical solution, for if he lets go, there will truly be no one who can cope. His staunch determination was staggeringly heartrending. At once scary and humbling, looking through Lawrence's eyes I saw the hopefulness and rationalizations of a child who is clearly in the dark, yet believes he can see everything clearly. It was an odd way of seeing things, at such an oblique angle, that I found it both entrancing and horrific. At times, it was so dreadfully uncomfortable to imagine life in this 9 year old mind, complicit yet not complicit, aware yet shielded by the very guilelessness of adolescence.I thought this was an excellent book. The tale was unexpected, and told in such a way as to render it lively while still being very serious. In fact, I believe that the light manner of the narration did something to heighten the impact of the dramatic elements of the story. In this case it was not so much as an unreliable narrator as an inexperienced one, making sense of the story in the only capacity that he could. While things are stark for the reader, the main character remains in a state of innocence that effectively renders his inability to document an occurrence in the horrible worldly way we are familiar with, and in the end paints a picture of anguish in an elegant way. This is an unusual book, but one well worth the effort.

[trishnyc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is an interesting read that delves into the topsy turvy world that young Lawrence, his sister Jemima and their mother live in. The story is told by Lawrence a nine year old boy who has been forced by circumstances to shoulder way too much responsibilities for such a young child. Shortly after meeting the family, they are on the run from a father who is portrayed as an ominous figure who means to do his family ill. The family ends up in Rome, living on the mercy of friends, charity of strangers and some good old fashion luck. Through it all Lawrence is our guide, fascinated by Roman leaders of days past, astronomy and trying to navigate the world around him.Very early on I realized that Lawrence is not as reliable a narrator as he would have us believe. His naivety clouds his ability to realize the true enormity of his situation. But this is not his fault as he is only a child and has a child's propensity to believe adults that he has come to love and trust. I believe that most people will realize certain facts very early on and know what is really going on. But I will not go into those details cause I hate when people spoil a book for those who have not read it.I thought it was an a good enough read. Some of the draw backs of this book is that it is told in a child's voice, complete with misspellings. For awhile that literary device worked but then it just got a tad annoying and overdone. The book also dragged in parts and as much as it was a short book at 224 pages, I think it should have been shorter as parts of it just felt unnecessary. One of the best things about this book was its ability to convey the powerlessness of childhood, the petty jealousies of youth, sibling rivalry and the many feelings and emotions that being a child evokes.

[bccjillster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

WHEN WE WERE ROMANS is a ride-along inside the mind of 9-year-old Lawrence, who is torn between maddening childish urges and being oh so responsible. Part of what's fascinating is that this is not a tale told in black and white, of good behaviors and evil deeds; it's colored with the crayons of childhood. Because we're privy to Lawrence's thought processes we get to feel along with him as he reacts to the adults in his world. And his reactions make good sense, from the inside.Lawrence, and his 3-year-old sister, Jemima, are rushed from London to Rome by their mom, who fears her estranged husband. She runs back to her pre-marriage circle of pals with two bickering confused kids and a hamster named Herman. With his feelings ping-ponging between siding with his mother (especially against the wild child Jemima) and being furious with her for the mess mom's making of their lives, Lawrence begins to change. And therein lies the best part of the novel for me. We are suddenly capable of remembering how we made choices at that age. Of how quickly impressions were formed and reversed. How absolutely urgent feelings and needs became. The devastating, stomach wrenching shock of realizing your world is falling apart. And the ultimate lack of control childhood imposes.When We Were Romans builds to a more than worthwhile ending. At times I wanted to push things along a bit, and the too cutesy device of using a child's misspellings was annoying and distracting. Kneale should have had faith in his ability to communicate "being Lawrence" without that crutch. If the misspellings had been limited to a diary, or even the spoken words, it might have felt more natural, but they were used throughout his thoughts (i.e., the whole narrative) and thus detracted from the flow. They also seemed overdone for a boy who read as much as he did. A fun bit is side tri ps through a tipsy condensed version of Roman history. As Lawrence reads books from a series of Hideous Histories, he begins to say things like "if you don't let go, I'll Caligula you!"Overall, quite a worthwhile read; one that book groups will love to discuss. It also raises questions about what your own children are thinking in unsettling ways and a reminder that each facial expression and reaction by an adult becomes a Tolstoy novel to a child. This is not a 'coming of age' novel; it's a bumpy ride through a fogbound obstacle course with glimpses of clarity and madness, as experienced by the child we used to be.

[sheboom_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A boy's daily life is affected by his mother's depression and anxiety. Narrated by young Lawrence; the phonetic spelling grows a little old by the end of the book. The end of the book is much more intriguing than the start of it; I could have done with more insight into Lawrence's future, but a book that leaves you wanting more isn't a bad thing.

[efoltz_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Two children go on an adventure to Roman with their crazy mother. The mother becomes more and more paraniod that someone is out to get them. At times, the book read more like a memoir than a novel.

[hsullivan_43 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very fast, enjoyable read that features 9 year old Lawrence, who is forced to grow up maybe a little faster than he should. Himself, his mother, and his little sister are running from his father, and have travelled from England to Rome in search of some peace and solace, and they find that it's not easy being on the run. This story is told through Lawrence, who shows remarkable strength and restraint throughout the book. I loved it!

[frisbeesage · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A funny, sad, frustrating book about a young boy trying to hold his family together as his mother slowly goes crazy. I thought the voice of Lawrence, a nine year old boy, was impressively authentic. In fact, I liked the well developed personalities of everyone in the book. Sadly, in the end, the plot jsut didn't have enough meat for me and the ending wasn't very satisfying (even if it was more realistic).

[bauernfeind · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I could take the point of view of the young man, I could take the juvenile references to many things, I could even take the story line/plot. What I could not take was the misspellings — you could tell many of them were so intentional, not an accident of youth. Too staged.

[triscuit_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This compelling story is narrated by a 9 year old hero who valiantly tries to hold his little family together as his mother becomes more and more unstable. Lawrence has fascinations appropriate for his age - Roman emperors (I learned quite a bit about Nero from him), outer space and his hamster. Convincingly childlike, he also steps up to the challenges thrust upon him. I couldn’t turn away from the story as I rooted for this charming boy on that fascinating edge of childhood, just before adolescence plunges him into a more adult and less trusting worldview.

[silverheron_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WHEN WE WERE ROMANS by Matthew KnealeNan A. Talese, PublisherISBN: 978-0-385-52625-8I had not been reading a whole lot lately and decided that I would ease my way back into my 20 plus ARC pile. I chose this book out of the pile mainly because it was only 224 pages long and I figured I could blow through it fairly fast. What follows are my thoughts on this book. Please read the entire review before deciding on this book.I was hoping for something reasonably light. What I found was a well written book with lots of characters that I did not like. All of them had issues and not a tremendous amount of redeeming qualities. The early reviews likened this book to “To Kill A Mockingbird” and I spent most of the book wondering why. I truly fought my way through the book. The entire book was about the frustrations that the 9 year old protagonist was feeling. It starts out with his mother, his sister, and himself fleeing their cottage in England because of an abusive father that was stalking the family. They run away to Rome to stay with the mother “Hannah’s” friends from years before. The troubles just seemed to get from bad to worse. Slowly throughout the book certain truths started to become more and more apparent to the reader. Even though the story was sad and frustrating I found myself wanting to read more and more. I wanted to have something good start to happen. I wanted the truth to finally come out. Finally when I was done I could feel satisfied. The ending was the best that could have come out of a very bad situation. During the book I got the sense of being a voyeur watching a train wreck taking place. It was painful yet I just could not look away. After I was done reading the book I started to really think about the character of the boy Lawrence that Matthew Kneale created. I don’t think I have ever seen a better job of creating the voice of a nine year old child hopelessly trying to hold his family together. Torn between his needs as a child and his desire to care for his mother was so perfect that I was unaware of anything but his view of his world. Then in the end the difficulty of overcoming the situation that he was placed in was perfectly portrayed.If this book is not put on the classic shelf I expect that a hole will exist there than can never quite be filled. If you are looking for a light beach read this is not the book for you. If you want a book that makes you feel and explore the relationships of life this is for you. Highly Recommended

[lpmejia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For anyone who grew up in a home broken by divorce, Matthew Kneale’s WHEN WE WERE ROMANS will strike a cord. Narrated by nine-year-old Lawrence, the book captures perfectly the confusion, mixed loyalties, and anxieties felt by children whose world has been upended by divorce. Kneale has constructed a powerful story here, one that not only reminds us what it was like to be young, but also how the actions of adults can have life-long consequences for our children.After a difficult break-up, Lawrence’s mother decides to leave their home in England and move to Rome, where she lived happily as a young woman. Along with his little sister Jemima and his beloved hamster Hermann, Lawrence reshapes his life, keeping himself entertained with stories of famous Popes and Emperors while trying to cope with the reality of a new people, a new country, and an unfamiliar language, only to find in the end that, once again, nothing in his life was what it seemed.Kneale does an astounding job of capturing not only the speech, but the logic and thought processes of a child. Throughout the book Lawrence applies his limited little-boy experiences and knowledge of the world to each changing circumstance, sometimes with funny results, sometimes with tragic. In each case, however, we see behind the curtain of his thoughts and how they affect and inform his actions. Matthew Kneale has written a book that makes you laugh and cry in equal measure, taking you into a world where the adults around you hold all the keys and have all the power. That Lawrence nevertheless survives his experiences is a testament to the resilience of all children. It’s a lesson we all should learn.

[detailmuse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In When We Were Romans, precocious young Lawrence tells of the time he and his mother and little sister fled from the UK and his stalker-father, and lived for a time with friends in Rome.Lawrence’s stream-of-conscious(ish) narration is marked by a child’s struggle with spelling, an interest in cosmology and Roman rulers, and a quirk of attributing animal labels to the people he meets. It’s an original voice, not so much unreliable as naïve, and although it grows overdone and tedious, it’s a terrific immersion into a child’s perspective, specifically a child in the midst of family dysfunction.NOTE: There’s a suspense aspect to the novel, with a twist that’s well-earned, and the best part of the book was having it dawn on me and then be confirmed through a gradual accumulation of clues. Thus I strongly recommend against reading reviews (and potential spoilers) before reading the book. Instead, jump in and enjoy!

[24girl_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Narrated in the voice of nine-year-old Lawrence, the story begins when his mother, Hanna, becomes convinced that their estranged father is stalking them. Hanna packs up the car and the family sets off on a trip from their home in London to Rome. Once in Rome, the city where Hanna lived as a young woman, the family bounces from friend to friend quickly overstaying their welcome in each place. Then just when it seems that they’ve found a place to call their own the unthinkable has happened and trouble begins again. Initially it was hard to get past the misspelled words and grammatical errors from the story being told by Lawrence but I kept reading and the storyline dragged along until midway through. Just at the point when I was about to throw in the towel and move on the book picked up the pace and the story came alive. Then it came to a screeching halt again with the ending. Saying anymore would be letting out a spoiler so I’ll just say that the ending left me asking too many questions for this to be a satisfying read.

[jgoto_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Matthew Kneale’s When We Were Romans is written in the voice of nine year old Lawrence. Lawrence’s mother is convinced her ex-husband is stalking them, so she and her two children run away to Rome to escape. Through Lawrence’s eyes we see the automobile journey to Italy and the events which occur once they arrive.The character of Lawrence has been compared to that of Scout in to Kill a Mockingbird or Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. I must say that when I was reading the first half of the book, I heartily disagreed. Lawrence’s personality is very bland. His account of events is monotonous – maybe because the events themselves are uninteresting. Closer to the end of the story, once his mother’s lack of mental stability becomes apparent to the reader, the events and Lawrence’s perspective become much more engaging. Interspersed with and related to the action in the story are Lawrence’s musings on historical and space trivia. These blurbs are interesting to read and give us a glimpse of Lawrence’s nine-year old personality. The language in the story is understandably childlike, but I found the spelling errors extremely irritating. At times it is appropriate. For example, Lawrence explains that “kaybeller” means very pretty in Italian. It made me smile to see how the unfamiliar phrase is processed in his young mind. However, throughout the entire book, words are written incorrectly, such as “their” instead of “they’re,” lower case letters for names of cities, etc., etc. This is not supposed to be Lawrence’s written account of events, he’s telling a story. There’s no reason for having scores of words misspelled throughout the book – not only does it add nothing to the story, it is completely distracting.I did not find the bulk of this novel to be particularly interesting, but the ending was strong and redeemed the book to some extent.

[caitemaire · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nine year old Lawrence, his younger sister Jemima and his mother Hannah are about to go on a trip. They are going to leave their cottage in England, drive through the Channel tunnel, across France and the Alps to their destination of Rome. The children will learn Italian and see the sites of Rome. Yes, it sounds like an exciting adventure.But there is more going on here than just a get away, a change of scene. Because Hannah believes that her ex-husband is stalking her and the children, poisoning the minds of their neighbors and about to do them harm. So they must flee, Hannah tells young Laurence, where his father will not find them.However, there are more problems, even before they reach Rome. It seems that young Lawrence is aware that he must be careful around his mother, watching her moods, trying to keep her from getting 'sad'. Yes, his mom has serious issues that we begin to see through Laurence's eyes and things are getting worse as the trip continues and there is a distinct feeling of trepidation as the story progresses and the feeling that things are heading toward an even more terrible conclusion.The author, Matthew Kneale, tells the story through Lawrence, using the speaking patterns and thoughts, grammar and spelling of a 9 year old. And to a large degree, he succeeds. Well, except with the spelling perhaps. I understand what he is trying to do, and when it comes to Lawrence dealing with the unfamiliar Italian places and such, his attempts to spell them as they sound to him make sense but the rest of the misspellings are inconsistent and often become just annoying. An interesting idea just taken too far.And then there is a problem, I think, with the character of Lawrence himself. He is described on the dust jacket as “endearingly innocent and preternaturally wise” but I would suggest he is neither. A child that grows up in a household where the parent is dealing with alcoholism, or drug use or mental illness learns at a very early age techniques to 'deal' with it. How to cover for the parent, what to say to outsiders, how to behave so as to not 'provoke' a reaction. And at times, Lawrence is aware of that and acts accordingly. He loves his mom, but he also realized something is wrong and something 'bad' is always possible, if he is not alert and ready to say or do something.But then, at times, he acts so contrary. True, he is only a child, but I see little preternaturally wisdom in his behavior. So, a bit of a mixed opinion. An interesting book that is worth reading, but not totally successful in it's execution.