It's All Right Now

by Charles Chadwick

Meet Tom Ripple, a man with an uncommon outlook on his common life. At home in a North London suburb, Ripple keeps close tabs on his neighbors while his own family splinters apart. As the years pass by he forges on, bravely and awkwardly, in his relationships with his wife and children, his parents, girlfriends, colleagues, and friends, and in his ongoing search for certainties, both moral and practical. But what he gains in wisdom over time, he loses in love, as his marriage disintegrates and his children grow further away from him. The more he lives and the more he learns, the less he understands. Through the vividness of his voice and his growing sense of the sorrow and absurdity of the world, Tom Ripple becomes an unusually appealing anti-hero, aware of his ordinariness and the limits of his intelligence, with a ribald sense of humor, and a clumsiness in his attempts at emotional connection with others. He is a bewildered everyman navigating his way through modern times. In this remarkable debut novel, Charles Chadwick has created one of the most memorable, brilliantly realized characters in contemporary fiction. By turns poignant, funny, heartbreaking, and profound, It's All Right Now is a towering achievement and a singular work of the imagination.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, British Literature

688 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Charles McKenzie Chadwick was an English novelist.

Reviews

[Karen·]

I'm sure we've all seen those ludicrous so-called reports that claim men think about sex every, oh I don't know, fill in the number of seconds you feel like today, 19? 28? Whatever. I mean, all I wonder about with those 'findings' is how on earth they were arrived at? Wouldn't you get the same effect as asking someone not to think about a large red dog? Of course that's what then enters the mind's eye. So surely the same effect will purvey if you give a person a clicker and tell them to click it every time they think about sex....
My musings are not unrelated to Tom Ripple. He does appear to look at every woman he meets in terms of her secondary sexual characteristics, and there's little doubt that he can be perceived as a dirty old man, on more than one occasion. He can also be occasionally irritating with his wisecracks, and even more so with his pride in them. He's definitely a flawed character, which is what makes him an Everyman, an ordinary bloke, struggling with trying to do the right thing, trying not to cause harm, trying to be decent to others.
I spent close to 700 pages in his intimate company, and almost wept at the end for the loss when it was over.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, following the late life blooming of Tom Ripple. It took a long time for Chadwick to write, but you can really feel his love for his protagonist. Remarkable. But nestled in this story of personal understanding and growth, is the wonderful philosophical exposition of the essence of human kindness. And that is.....

Jane’s death and funeral. How lovely to take a lawyer who doesn’t believe in God and make her the person most symbolic of charity as defined in 1 Corinthians xiii.

This is the essence of the Christian life, yet not in a church, and surely not from a preacher’s mouth...so subtly done.

The chapter means that we can know many things and have many things and do many things and yet, that is all nothing unless we are pure of heart, that we act charitably, for the sake of others and God and with no expectation of reward. It also means that what we know now is cloaked in a riddle: we only know part. That perfection awaits us in the ultimate answer that God will provide. (I write this, though a infidel). Chadwick certainly makes Jane the poster child for the charitable person. The second part, however....and perhaps, he elides: “When I was a child…..” Does he mean Ripple, who as a younger man somnambulated through a marriage and the growth of his children? He watched TV. Not a bad man, but an incomplete man. But then he took Mrs. Bradecki to Poland, and met and loved Jane, grew fond of Schubert. He came to understand, to see life not so darkly through its glass.

Ripple is smart enough and kind enough. He wants to be liked but if he isn’t, well, it really isn’t that big a deal. He suffers fools.

He admits his flaws. Indeed, he is flawed, but isn’t that the way it must be in a flawed world?

He seems to loathe no one.

He gets by.

I really miss Tom Ripple.

[Robert Wechsler]

In his first novel, Chadwick shows what an excellent writer he is. But he is still not quite up to the challenge he gave himself: a long novel with a first-person narrator whose life is extremely dull and who is neither likeable nor particularly interesting. This is not Beckettian angst, it’s a very narrow British life looked at from within by someone who is observant and opinionated and intelligent (to an unbelievable extent), but just doesn’t merit over 600 pages. At 113 pages, I had had enough.

And yet I like flat prose done as well as Chadwick does it. It’s so hard to define what is missing, because it isn’t just plot or character, or even voice; the voice works on the whole. It’s more that there is a limit to living with such a voice, and that Chadwick didn’t make me want to see what he was going to do with it for the next hundred pages, not to mention hundreds. Maybe it’s just my increasing impatience, my wanting to taste and move on.

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : It's All Right Now - Nevisande : Charles Chadwick - ISBN : 60742860 - ISBN13 : 9780060742867 - Dar 688 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2005

[JTT · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare that a book becomes a part of my memory and I actually pine to return to the place and time the author has created. This book did that for me. It is profound and sad and inspiring. Maybe the book will appeal more to an older crowd but I found that Chadwick has such wisdom about life and, especially, aging. It is a remarkable book. If I ever feel that I have time to re-read favorite works this book will be near the top of my list.

[Bernd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of Mr. Everybody in postmodern times was written by Chadwick over many decades and published when he was over 70. It's the convincing and authentic story of a father, husband, colleague, a seemingly simple narration, but with the effect that you miss the main protagonist after you finish the book.
The "typical" character of this (British) life is also indicated by the German title "Ein unauffälliger Mann" (An inconspicuous man). But though this life seems so inconspicuous it's full of sadness, tragedy, humor and comic. One of my favorite books.

[Martinxo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read four pages of this outstandingly boring book before abandoning it. Oh my it was dull.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

At nearly 700 pages, this is a whopper of a book. And at first, I didn't know how I was going to get through it. Well, not only did I manage to finish it, but also I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it because it's a peculiar book about a peculiarly ordinary man written in a stream-of-consciousness style at times; but once I'd gotten about a hundred pages in, I was quite hooked. It's a slice of life sort of thing, the daily thoughts and activities of a man growing older, sometimes depressing, often interesting, and right on the mark.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel of 70-something author Charles Chadwick, and breathtaking in its scope. Sometimes a little depressing (you can't help but recognize some of Tom Ripple's unsavory behavior in yourself and your own family) but ultimately hopeful, it's all right now presents an unflinching look at the life of a mediocre man.

[Ian Cornelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can best be described as a stream of consciousness. Written as if we’re reading Tom’s (the main character’s) journal, it provides a relatable glimpse into the flood of thoughts that sometimes arise from ordinary situations, and sometimes perhaps the lack of thoughts we have during extraordinary circumstances. Tom carries the reader through the second half of his life, picking up with his family life at home with a wife and two young children.
That said, the stories that Tom tells can swing between intriguing and boring; as many words are given to Tom’s thoughts about his children’s relationships with their neighbors (a formative plot point) as are given to the cluttered contents of a acquaintance’s desk in their flat as Tom pops in for tea. Lengthy descriptions can be welcome in a story where they have importance, but sometimes too much attention is given to the wrong thing. Each story Tom tells, whether interesting or mundane or otherwise, were often bogged down with dozens of internal thoughts and specific descriptions and references that more often than not degraded the quality of the story. This writing style has a very fine line, but often falls on the wrong side of it here.
That being said, Tom’s story is equally fascinating and relatable. It’s truly an insight into a life: the complications, the victories, and all in between. Tom is not always a protagonist you root for, but there’s a sense of understanding that Tom is only human that puts us all on his side. If the fast and dense writing style is something you enjoy, as well as a slow-burn story where each thread eventually gets a conclusion, then I’d recommend this novel. If you prefer an interesting story more tightly-told, then I’d suggest something elsewhere. Regardless, this is a story about an ordinary life, and we can’t always expect a life to be so easily understood - but we try.

[Michael Fitzhugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow!

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite excellent reviews, a very difficult book to read. Very odd writing style. I quit after 5 pages.

[Lana Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite disappointed. I expected different but he just sounded like a dirty old man. Maybe I could have endured but I only got through about a dozen pages.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a daunting book. It is almost 700 pages and took me 10 weeks of start and stop reading. It is a lifelong journal of a very ordinary man living a pretty uneventful life. At first I wasn't sure if I would carry on. Tom Ripple is married with two children but seems very removed from them. His wife is a social worker who knows the right way to do everything and he seems very much the sidekick. As time goes on he divorces (his wife says they have run their course and it's time to move on), and maintains a very slim relationship with his children. I read on because I couldn't help myself. Tom and his single life and his relationships with his children, his ex-wife and his neighbours grew on me, and I confess that as I neared the end I purposely stopped because I knew the ending and I didn't want it to come.

[Daniella Brodsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to give this book only three stars, because the writing, premise, and characterization was superb. The problem was, it was about three hundred pages too long. I'm not sure how many people would have read it until the end. I understand why the author wanted it to be long in theory, given the content, but the truth is, he could have achieved the same effect without losing the reader with some considered cutting. When you forget the point of your book is to have readers enjoy the experience, you can do some self-indulgent stuff without realizing. I really enjoyed the first three-fifths of the reading experience, but after that I was dragging, just trying to finish, which is an unfortunate end to this lovely, subtly heartbreaking story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly sentimental introspective on coming of (old?) age for those in the autumn of their lives. Living is more about enduring, then he climbs out of the hollow of his life and finds a new acceptance and peace in living in the present. It captures the angst of growing old(er) and seeing life as it really is (is that all??). I enjoyed the journey with him, have shared similar feelings and thoughts and got some measure of comfort in knowing that peace can be had if you just go with it, look at what's IS there to be savored-- enjoyed, even. And have learned that it IS TRUE.

Great book for those 50+... younger folks can wait... you'll understand when it's time.

[Alan Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly, I very much enjoyed this book. My wife picked it up in a closing down sale purely because we had lived in a north London suburb many years ago. (The back cover blurb refers to Tom Ripple living there). The sheer length of the book (679 pages) had put me off starting before now and it had looked down from the shelf reproachfully for some time. I recommend making the effort, although you probably need to be approaching your later years to appreciate it fully. I certainly did not find it boring and a struggle to get through as some readers have commented.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really slow read and a very long book. Not the best combination but the protagonist of this psuedo-memoir is highly likeable. This likeability made it possible for me to read all but 200 pages of this 600+ page tome. I eventually gave up (because life's too short) but I spent weeks wading through this old man's minutia. Not a bad read if you were bed bound for a few weeks.

[Barbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so exceedingly dull...just like the main character. I wish I hadn't made the effort to slog through all 679 pages. It's unfortunate because I did feel promise in the story; otherwise I wouldn't have made it through. It just needed some major editing.

[brian tanabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly british. Enjoyably british.

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

first novel from 72-yr old british civil servant, chatty anyman with a fascinating mundate life.

[Tom Gibbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling but subtle.

[Chuck Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Near the top of my ten favorite reads of the decade.

[Nancy Cook-senn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Updike redux

[Franzesep2e · Rating 4 out of 5]

a quiet book about a quiet man and the quiet life he leads..and i read it in less than a week.