The novel is a clash of American mythology with contemporary British reality. Jack Maertens and Neil Blake are tired of life on London’s Holloway R...
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reviews
Mar 31, 2009
Maria
rated it: 
'On the Holloway Road' by Andrew Blackman, is an exceptional piece of writing. I found it absorbing and insightful;there are many memorable paragraphs which stay with you long after you have read them. This is an amazing debut novel which has already won an award: 'The Luke Bitmead Award 2008'.
It's the story of Jack and Neil, two young men who are as different to each other as it is possible to be: Jack is a struggling writer, trying unsuccessfully to finish his first novel; he lives w More...
It's the story of Jack and Neil, two young men who are as different to each other as it is possible to be: Jack is a struggling writer, trying unsuccessfully to finish his first novel; he lives w More...
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Apr 09, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
This is one of my favourite books I have read at uni, though I only found one other person on the course who enjoyed it. It is a fairly short and easy read but having read lots of novels this term which were a good 200 pages past their best, I admired Blackman’s restraint.
The greatest success in this book are definitely the characters and I think everyone is or knows a Jack or a Neil. I personally see a lot of myself in Jack, and just like him, was captivated by Neil’s articul More...
The greatest success in this book are definitely the characters and I think everyone is or knows a Jack or a Neil. I personally see a lot of myself in Jack, and just like him, was captivated by Neil’s articul More...
Mar 28, 2009
Drew
rated it: 
"On the Holloway Road" shares more with Jack Kerouac's classic "On the Road" than three words in their titles.
Andrew Blackman's novel is the modern day equivalent of the journeys of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, only set in the U.K. Even the main characters are thinly veiled versions of Kerouac's thinly veiled characters. For those of you keeping score at home, that means Jack Kerouac=Sal Paradise=Jack Maertens and Neal Cassady=Dean Moriarty=Neil Blake.
More...
Andrew Blackman's novel is the modern day equivalent of the journeys of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, only set in the U.K. Even the main characters are thinly veiled versions of Kerouac's thinly veiled characters. For those of you keeping score at home, that means Jack Kerouac=Sal Paradise=Jack Maertens and Neal Cassady=Dean Moriarty=Neil Blake.
More...
Apr 26, 2009
Susana
rated it:
First of all I must confess I never heard of Jack Kerouac's novel, so I don't have that as a point for comparison. I was also a bit worried that the novel held a very English point of view that I would be unable to relate to, but it wasn't the case. I was hooked from page one.
The writing is excellent and the characters of Jack and Neil are very believable (Jack more or, but then again I'm a bit of Jack myself so I am more prone to believe what I am familiar with). Having just finish More...
The writing is excellent and the characters of Jack and Neil are very believable (Jack more or, but then again I'm a bit of Jack myself so I am more prone to believe what I am familiar with). Having just finish More...
Oct 14, 2010
Andy
rated it:
the reviews I read of this were mostly good - but the book didnt quite deliver for me. Not exactly sure where it was going - a decent story, but just a bit to ordinary for me!
Aug 10, 2011
James
rated it:
An interesting rewrite of On The Road, set in modern day Britain. The author plays on the contrast between the open road of the 50s original, and the traffic-jammed, speed-camera lined roads of nowadays. The titular road leads from London to the north of Scotland, and the two central characters have many encounters, although with a level of disillusionment and bathos not found in On The Road.
The writing throughout is strong and this is worth a read if you like On The Road.
The writing throughout is strong and this is worth a read if you like On The Road.
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