The Trouble with Goats and Sheep [SAMPLE]

by Joanna Cannon

Exclusive sampler ahead of publication.

England,1976.

Mrs Creasy is missing and The Avenue is alive with whispers. As the summer shimmers endlessly on, ten-year-olds Grace and Tilly decide to take matters into their own hands.

And as the cul-de-sac starts giving up its secrets, the amateur detectives will find much more than they imagined…

Genres: Fiction, Book Club

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2015

About the author

Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Joanna Cannon is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling debut novel The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, which has sold over 250,000 copies in the UK alone and has been published in 15 countries. The novel was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize, shortlisted for The Bookseller Industry Awards 2017 and won the 2016 BAMB Reader Award. Joanna has been interviewed in The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, The Times, and Good Housekeeping magazine, and her writing has appeared in the Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, and the Guardian, amongst others. She has appeared on BBC Breakfast, BBC News Channel’s Meet the Author, interviewed on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5, and is a regular at literary festivals across the country including Edinburgh and Cheltenham. Joanna left school at fifteen with one O-level and worked her way through many different jobs – barmaid, kennel maid, pizza delivery expert – before returning to school in her thirties and qualifying as a doctor. Her work as a psychiatrist and interest in people on the fringes of society continue to inspire her writing, and Joanna currently volunteers for Arts for Health, an organisation bringing creative arts to NHS staff and patients. Joanna Cannon’s second novel Three Things About Elsie is published in January 2018 and explores memory, friendship and old age. She lives in the Peak District with her family and her dog.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but found the end very dissapointing - it built up so many questions then answered none!

[Karen Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The writing is just so beautiful. An example of the great descriptive writing - "July had found its fiercest day yet. The sky was ironed into an acid blue, and even the clouds had fallen from the edges, leaving a faultless page of summer above our heads."

The story is set mainly in that hot summer of 1976 which some of us of a certain age might remember. The action also takes place in part 9 years earlier when a baby goes missing.

The story centres around the lives of the residents of The Avenue. The characters are beautifully observed and you can almost see them even though they aren't really physically described. I think most people know at least one person like each of these characters.

The story is mainly told from the point of view of Grace, a 10 year old living on The Avenue, and her friend Tilly. They decide during this hot summer that they're going to search for God, after Mrs Creasy goes missing, so that they can ask God to keep everyone safe. They think they can find God because their local preacher told them that God is everywhere. The story brings out the fears that young children have and how they manifest themselves.

I've seen some people on here complaining that the story ended abruptly without explaining things properly. I don't think it did that. I think most of the ends were tied up very well leaving just enough room for speculation on what happens next, which any good book will do.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep is another book that had a huge amount of hype around it so I delved in expecting to find it amusing, witty and full of nostalgia based on the blurb.


For those of us that remember that long hot summer of 76 it did have it's fair share of references that made me stop and think oh yes I recall that, Angel Delight, Jackie, Whimsies and of course the beloved Bay City Rollers so on those merits alone I enjoyed reminiscing.


The story itself though was rather long, drawn out and overly complicated. Set in the perfect gossip spot of a cul-de-sac there is bound to be secrets and scandal. I could just imagine the two young girls investigating the disappearance of a resident, what fun over the holidays!


Unfortunately I didn't gel with any of the characters apart from Grace and Tilly but even they got wearing after a while. I have sat on this review for a long time in case my mind suddenly threw in a ray of hope that I had missed something crucial but it still remains an ok book but it didn't fill me with the wonder that some other readers experienced. I know the author has a new story out now so maybe that one will inspire me.


Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book as it has such a good premise, but by the end it became known as 'the tedious book', I get that was the point - small town mentality on a street in the 70s where everyone knows everyone's business ( ''A parade of people joined together by tedium and curiosity")
but the book was lacking where it could have shone. There was a plot line which kept the book moving to a point but instead of a big climax at the end it just fizzles out. If the characters were supposed to be the main focus then I found them all rather 2D and I didn't care for any of them - except Walter Bishop...perhaps if he were to write his account of the goings on I might be interested then!

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who grew up in the suburban 1970s , this is a great read. The book is essentially a mystery set against the backdrop of 1970s living. It centres around two ten year old children, Grace and Tilly , who become embroiled in the strange disappearance of a woman in their street and a set of neighbours who blame her missing on the oppressive heatwave taking place. I found it funny and engaging with so many reminders of life in that era. A great read for holidays and train journeys.

[Eleanor Purdon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quirky read with tales of 'everyday England' side-lined by deeper questions on human nature and morals

[Nicky Triggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing ending after all that build up? Perhaps there is nothing else to say. Mrs Creasy knows all and the sheep and goats were revealed.
None of the characters were developed particularly well. Walter is an interesting character and we learn more about him by the end than most. I liked the parallel between Grace and Mrs Morton, going on with a lie, but Grace annoyed me because she was so disloyal to Tilly. Lots of things were hinted at, but could have been described more fully. I think the scene and heat were described quite well though. The claustrophobia came through.
An easy read with some interesting observations about human behaviour and the need to fit in. I don't feel the need to read more books by the author particularly.

[Dantanian · Rating 2 out of 5]

My mind just kept slipping away from this one - an 'easy' read' that just didn't have enough chops to keep me interested - it only was beguiling when you were reading the passages from the kid's naïve, but imaginative point of view. The adult characters were of little substance and hardly interesting enough to tell one from the other. It doesn't even succeed that well of being evocative of the Summer of 76 either. Something like this plot happened in my Avenue as a child so maybe this just seems a bit of a secondhand idea to me. It just has no 'zip'.

[Eufe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this delicious mystery with quirky characters. 10 year old Grace was the perfect voice to highlight the ugliness often found in the adults that inhabit her world. All around thoughtful and charming at the same time.

[Mairi Deans · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with this book. I enjoy quirky novels but this one never engaged me. The cast of characters was too large and I found it hard to like any of them except for Grace and Tilly. Too many loose ends were never dealt with.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down and had just the right amount of suspense with interesting characters.

[Emma Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, creatively written, love the character development and how the plot developed. For me in particular it made me very nostalgic for my childhood, totally recommend this read!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleverly told story from 10 year old Grace's viewpoint with vignettes from the supporting characters, the neighbours on the avenue: Mrs. Creasy goes missing one day late in June. Everyone speculates as to the whys. Most of the neighbours suspect they know why and are worried, very worried. There is a secret on the avenue no one wants known.
The haze of a hot summer in the Midlands, circa 1976, and two little girls with nothing to do, it's far too hot, decide to find out if God is in their street, mainly because of Mrs. C gone missing, a funeral at the local church, and the seeming avoidance of number 11, where Mr. Bishop resides (he's like 'he shall not be named'). There are so many layers in this book, so much is revealed about each neighbour, back stories that surprise and put past incidents in perspective and shine a light on the missing person.
We all live on a street. We rub together with many different people. There are prejudices, odd balls who are never spoken to, an undercurrent of something that might happen, or might not. It is very easy to get into Cannon's setting (sleepy English town/village on boiling hot summer days without a breeze or speck of rain when emotions and tensions are on high alert), Grace (who wants to be older but feels saddled with a friend who no one notices), assorted busybodies like Sheila, Dorothy, May and a handful of husbands, sons who want to persecute Mr. Bishop because he does not fit in and may have done something back in 1967, or may not have but directing anger at him suits the crowd.
Cannon shines in this her debut novel. It all started rather innocently and then I saw where it was going, the underlying vibe, something sinister, something waiting to come out, all so much more than the missing Mrs. Creasy.
There is a lot of waiting, a lot of revealing and then, God does appear in a drainpipe. Who knew?! (This line is brilliant: In fact, I didn't think anyone would have noticed if Jesus had walked into the room, unless He happened to be accompanied by an Arctic roll, page 19)
Cannon provides choice lines like, page 312, 'Everyone began shouting at the same time. Their voices all crowded into one big noise, and it was impossible to hear what anyone was saying. I watched Detective Hislop, who was still standing in front of the camera, his notes folded and pressed into his pocket, and a look of deep satisfaction on his face. I saw him nod very slowly at PC Green and PC Hay, and I saw them nod very slowly back again.' This is a telling scene, where the street begins to truly unravel.
The Trouble With Goats and Sheep is a great title and you'll discover why when you pick up this terrific book!

[Sania · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trouble with goats and sheep is a quirky yet simple tale of a community in England through the heat wave of summer 1976. Two young girls set out to find God in the avenue which is filled with adults who are biased and prejudiced. First reading gives an impression as if it is a simple tale of local community but a closer inspection reveals it is a study of human nature with its fallacies and miscalculations.
The title covers the religious distinction among humans as virtuous and sinful, where goat denotes the sinners and sheep the righteous ones. It becomes a real predicament when humans start judging each other and sometimes even without evidence target other people’s characters. The elements of misinformation and hearsay add to creating an atmosphere of insecurity and outrage among members of the community.
Cannon uses multiple perspectives to build the narrative but main focus remains on Grace who is engaged in exploring her neighborhood. Following the perspective of a child is exciting and nostalgic at the same time. I really enjoyed reading her aspirations and wishes and it reminded me of my childhood. Their bonding tests the trails of time, misunderstanding and at times selfishness but in the end as they emerge as friends again it is utter joy to read about them.
Her prose is a treat to savour, it is simply beautiful. She creates a background for each and every event poetically. I think her writing deserves praise more than the plot of the novel.
Excerpts:
But in the darkness, the ash trees bowed their heads towards the water, searching for their reflections and the canal became black and limitless, stretching like a ribbon of ink in the distance. The night altered the landscape, until it became as confusing and unfamiliar as another country (Connon 128).
July had found its fiercest day yet. The sky was ironed into an acid blue, and even the clouds had fallen from the edges, leaving a faultless page of summer above out heads (Connon 157).
It is a very ordinary day. It is strange how the worst day of your life often starts like just another day. you might complain for something more interesting to happen, something to break the back of your routine, and just when you think you cannot bear the monotony any longer, something comes along that shatters your life to such a degree, you wish with every cell in your body that your day hadn’t become so unordinary (Connon 289):

[Susan Turbié · Rating 4 out of 5]

An English suburb in the scorching summer of ’76. I was 4 at the time and have only a vague recollection of the drought but the many other 70s pop culture/consumer references conjure up vivid memories: Angel Delight, Club biscuits, Brotherhood of Man, Space Hoppers, etc.
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep is an engaging coming-of-age tale with elements of mystery/detective fiction. Although the genre – apparently “nice” suburban folk who are in fact all harbouring dark and, in some cases, criminal secrets – is a little clichéd and has been rather overdone in TV and fiction (Desperate Housewives, for one), Cannon brings a touch of originality and, at times, poetry. Her style was a revelation to me: I had hitherto believed that polysyllabic words were an essential ingredient for elegant prose, but the author proved me wrong, particularly with her use of analogy and zeugma.
I agree with some reviewers that the ending was a little frustrating and left a few loose ends (how, for example, can the rest of the gang not have known it was Mrs Forbes who torched the house and just assumed it was them???) But on the whole it’s an engaging, funny, often touching, well-written story.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Grace was one year old something strange happened on her cul-de-sac, called an "estate" in this British novel. Now she is ten, and the relatively minor incident has snowballed into layer upon layer of misunderstanding, judgement, irrational thinking and fear. The neighbors scapegoat one older, "different" neighbor, Walter Bishop, and blame him (for practically everything that goes wrong), while excusing themselves, when, really, they are at fault. Grace and her best friend, Tilly, try to sort out the estates' history, and find Mrs. Creasy, another neighbor, who has gone missing! Some people may know why, or at least a piece of the puzzle, but no one is speaking up, due to their own guilt over another, more serious, incident. I will not go into details as the story unravels the truth, bit by bit, and nudges the neighbors to face the truth. The girls want Jesus to take care of everyone in the neighborhood, but He is hard to find. For me the story is a tale of human nature with a lot of Biblical confusion and contradiction, starting with trying to figure out which neighbors are sheep and which are goats, twisting the Biblical parable on its head.

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting and taken from an interesting point of view. The characters are all a bit vague and I didn’t really relate to any of them. The plot starts out interesting but winds around for most of the book and then suddenly speeds up and finishes in rather unsatisfying way. The winding around implies that there is going to be great secrets that are slowly revealed but in the end there is only one secret. The story could have been told much more quickly and other secrets and plots developed. Having grown up during the time period of the book I could relate to the outside influence of the heat and how the characters interacted with each other. I did enjoy reading it just not enough to rate it above a three.

[Angela-Gaye Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book as a whole especially all the references to the hot summer of 1976 as I remember it well. Some of the descriptions are wonderful ...

“the avenue was filled with a smell of scraped plates.”

“fragments of music littered the street”

“I looked at the sky, which sat like an ocean above our heads”

“and I sat near the front so God could hear us better”

It's worth reading just for all the fabulous snippets.

A good story too although the many references to the fire became a bit tedious. Great twist towards the end and a great example of how assumptions and prejudices affect communities and can ostracise sone individuals.

I'd definitely recommend reading this.

[Jane Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written - really interesting to see the world through the eyes of a child. There’s lots of humour in this approach. The story is set in the hot summer of 1976 And there are flashes back to mysterious incidents that occurred 9 years earlier. So it’s not a chronological tale. Rather we are presented with pieces of a jigsaw that together form a picture of what happened and why the characters are acting strangely! But the author doesn’t provide all the jigsaw pieces, and we are left to imagine some of the answers for ourselves.

[Karen Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't hate the book. In fact Joanna Cannon has a very quirky way of writing which is laugh out loud funny. Great style and very concise. She would be a great short story writer. But after the first 200 or so pages the novelty of this style wore off and the characters started to get confusing.
By the end, I was totally mad. So much build up, so little explanation. It didn't exactly have an ending, more come to a screeching halt.

[Sarah-Jayne Windridge-France · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend raved about this book and I had such high hopes when she lent it to me.

TBH the book was good and I loved all the referrals to the 1970's (when I was a lass).

It was well written with lots of fun references and good characters.

I think my failing was that I had so little time to read more than a page or two in a sitting it's taken me over a month ... if I'd have read it in a few days I'd probably have raved about it too!

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the intent was good but there was little character development and you were flipping back and forth between the 10 year span to get clarity on someone or some event. My unprofound take away "the goats thing they are really sheep", we shouldn't judge without the facts. It was just very difficult to keep reading, not really much of a mystery, kept waiting for the page turner to happen.

[Sherelle Allwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Trouble with Goats and Sheep so much that mid-read I decided to look up for other books in her collection.
I have to say however, the end of this book was very disappointing. Probably more so because I felt for a few chapters that nothing at all seemed to happen a bit of a roller coaster for the final chapters and then nothing! I has so many questions unanswered and was ultimately disappointed to find things didn’t come together as I had anticipated.

[Akimbo1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read mystery novels, but I may have to change my mind after reading The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. The story takes place within one block of council housing in Britain where two young girls embark on solving a mystery by surreptitiously examining each of their neighbours. Cannon is skilled at making the most mundane aspects of their neighbours' daily lives, seem both fascinating and dangerous.

[Gill Croker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book. The majority of it is written about the summer of '76 in the person of Grace, a ten year old. The way it is written depicts the innocence of childhood and the balmy weather of a very hot summer. It is well written. Although the story develops as Mrs Creasy has disappeared it looks back on the rum up to this event and looks at each of the neighbours. It shows bigotry and secrets that are held and quite disturbing that most people just go along with the crowd.

[Liz Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Well written with great characters and lovely descriptions. Exploring issues that surround keeping secrets, deflecting shame by judging others. Loved the different perspectives, particularly of the two precocious girls. Plotting well done as well. Thumbs up for her first book. Will look forward to her second.

[Stuart Harley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book and, whilst it didn't grab me as much as I would have liked, I did enjoy it as I was about the same age as Grace at the time the book is set.

It is a refreshing approach to write an adults book from the point of view of a 10 yr old child and this gives it a unique quality

[Victoria Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by a Book Tuber, I bought this in a charity shop for £1.00...bargain I thought and I was right. It bought back memories of the 1976 Summer when I was young. Great, funny but sad read. Very moving in the different relationships between neighbours in a cul-de-sac. I have bought Three Things About Elsie (her follow up book) because of how much I enjoyed this book.

[P.J. Roscoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I barely began this book and just couldn't continue, so lent it to a friend, who I am happy to say found it quite interesting and kept her intrigued enough to finish it. For the author, please don't take this personally. I am in a busy place right now and reading a book that doesn't capture me quickly is not for me. I wish you well :)

[Claire Fern · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky read, not quite as good as Cannons other book but still enjoyable.
Set in the late seventies when everything seemed ‘edenistic’ a woman disappears. The streets community spirit comes out along with all the dark secrets. Told through the eyes of a ten year who is an unreliable witness abs somewhat annoying it does make you wish for years gone by.