Anything Goes

The Hopkins Family Saga #6

by Billy Hopkins

It's December 1963 when Billy Hopkins and his wife Laura arrive back home in Manchester, after five years in Africa. The bitter English weather is a shock, but there are bigger surprises to come, for the world they left behind has changed beyond recognition. Now, it's the swinging sixties, with headlines full of the Beatles and the pill, LSD and mini skirts. Traditional values have been thrown into the melting pot.

As a father of four, Billy might have cause to worry. But his youngest son still believes in Santa Claus and while his daughter's reading Jackie, she's not even a teenager yet. Billy's more concerned about the welfare of his increasingly forgetful father and about the daily challenges he faces as a college lecturer than about the impact of modern society on his offspring. When the four junior Hopkins start to choose their own, unexpected paths in life, though, Billy finds it harder than usual to see the funny side of things...

ANYTHING GOES brings readers close to a warm and loving family who somehow get through all their ups and downs - the dangerous illness of a child, the astonishing money-making schemes of enthusiastic youngsters, the heartbreaking decline of a parent - without ever losing their sense of humour.

Genres: Historical Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published November 21, 2005

Reviews

[Kate Winiarska · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. I really felt like I became part of the family after 50 pages or so, I loved the humorous antics of the kids and was intrigued at how one man's life and family could be so interesting and yet so normal and familiar at the same time. I'll definitely be reading more of Billy's books in the future.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable easy read. Very likeable characters and plenty of entertaining situations.



Its the first of the series that I have read, so rather starting at the end, but I will certainly try to go back and read more.

[Marxilyn Briz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic paradoxical story of life. Very humorous and interesting.

[Andrée · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gargh. Nothing to recommend this

[Wendy Lovatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy going read, nothing too dramatic happens, but a pleasant read.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mostly autobiographical novel set in a time of massive change, what an array of characters!

[Darla Ebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has a very simple style and at first he appears to have strung together a list of cliche's about the 60's and the items and culture available in the UK at that time period. The choices of the children of the main character echo the cliche's but all in all it is a benign read, quite vanilla. Though one respects the author for his abilities in writing and in telling his semi-autobiography

[J.J. JOHNSTONE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book

This is another good book in the series and looking forward to reading the next one. Would recommend these books.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☀️

[Steph Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this part of the story, especially after all the other books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pleasant like 'our kid'.

Would definatelty read another book by this author.