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Completion
A sharp, sardonic, perceptive and painfully funny book about money, love and the sorrows and joys of modern family life by a talented debut author. Set in our age of property obsession, Completion is a state-of-the-nation novel about valuing the wrong things, investing in the wrong people, and whether home is ever really a house.
The Manvilles’ North London home was once an example to their peers: the subject of ‘The House on the Hill’, Pen’s series of popular children’s books, and a recurring feature of the newspaper lifestyle sections. But since Pen and Jerry’s divorce, the house has fallen out of use, and so has the family.
Jerry, formerly an award-winning ad-man, is beginning to leave a trail of ex-wives and semi-estranged children across the city. In the south of France, Pen has perfected her garden, but her new marriage comes as more of a struggle. In the tedious heat of Dubai, their daughter Isobel, an accidental ex-pat, spends the days ignoring her own children and managing her online virtual farm. And in his grotty flat in deepest East London, her brother Conrad cleans his bicycles and wonders what to do with his life – besides pursuing his latest crush.
When Pen decides it’s finally time to sell the house, Jerry discovers some unexpected new occupants who violently disagree. Soon, the Manvilles – each of them funny, flawed and sporadically lovable – will have to say goodbye to The House on the Hill.
The Manvilles’ North London home was once an example to their peers: the subject of ‘The House on the Hill’, Pen’s series of popular children’s books, and a recurring feature of the newspaper lifestyle sections. But since Pen and Jerry’s divorce, the house has fallen out of use, and so has the family.
Jerry, formerly an award-winning ad-man, is beginning to leave a trail of ex-wives and semi-estranged children across the city. In the south of France, Pen has perfected her garden, but her new marriage comes as more of a struggle. In the tedious heat of Dubai, their daughter Isobel, an accidental ex-pat, spends the days ignoring her own children and managing her online virtual farm. And in his grotty flat in deepest East London, her brother Conrad cleans his bicycles and wonders what to do with his life – besides pursuing his latest crush.
When Pen decides it’s finally time to sell the house, Jerry discovers some unexpected new occupants who violently disagree. Soon, the Manvilles – each of them funny, flawed and sporadically lovable – will have to say goodbye to The House on the Hill.
- GenresFiction
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2014
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34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 18, 2017
Fantastic first novel for Tim Walker, I do hope there are more to follow?! Loved the style of writing and Tim brought his characters to life. I laughed out loud quite a few times. 😊😊
June 2, 2022
A slightly rambling tale of an unappealing family, divorced parents and two adult children. All deeply unsympathetic characters, and I didn't much care what happened to any of them.
March 31, 2014
Smart, vivid and often hilarious, Completion is an assured debut rooted in society's obsession with property and how it affects identity, family and relationships. Featuring eminently recognisable - if not always likeable - characters caught up in the complexities and dissatisfactions of modern life, Completion brings their grass-is-greener malaise to the boil before delivering the punch that will bring each to their senses. Highly readable, with depictions of East End hipsters to make you weep.
August 14, 2015
This book was funny and enjoyable to read, poking fun at a particular class of people (the ones that fill the colour supplements of Sunday newspapers). Recommended reading for a sunny day in the garden.
January 11, 2016
A nice easy read.
The main family characters all irritated me independently at different points, for making such bad decisions. But on the whole it was an easy page turner that I wanted to read each night.
The main family characters all irritated me independently at different points, for making such bad decisions. But on the whole it was an easy page turner that I wanted to read each night.
March 19, 2014
A refreshing read, away from the norm. Plus bikes! :)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews