Luke and Jon

by Robert Williams

Luke's mum is dead. He finds himself in a small, scruffy northern hill town, with a near silent father, who he fears might be trying to drink himself to death. Then he meets Jon. Jon is massively strange. He wears 1950s clothes, has a side-parting and a twitch. The kids at school call him 'Slackjaw'. When Luke discovers his secret, Jon changes his life in more ways than he can imagine. Luke and Jon is a coming of age novel about family, bereavement and how lives can change forever in a single second. Written with great power, warmth and humour, it signals a hugely engaging and original new voice. Compelling and emotionally acute, it is a unique debut.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Death, British Literature, Contemporary

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Robert Williams grew up in Clitheroe, Lancashire and currently lives in Manchester. His first novel, Luke and Jon, won a Betty Trask Award, was translated into seven languages and called 'a hugely impressive debut' in the Daily Telegraph. He has worked in a secondary school library, as a bookseller for Waterstones, and has written and released music under the name The Library Trust.

Reviews

[Rizal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death.
Closure.
Friendship.

Loved it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let them shout it down every Manchester street, let them shout it loud enough to disturb the author behind the counter at Waterstones: Robert Williams (no relation) has a talent to be envied. Who is he, and how does he know so much about grief, the slow burn of it, and of male comradeship, and how does he get it down so well? With a style as neat and unfussy as the cubes of colour in a child's paintbox, and in under two hundred pages, he involves us in real, lived lives, with humour and pathos held in careful balance. My only dissapointment was how, if not for the NYP prize, this short novel might have been kept from the public.

I wish the author a great future.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was one I picked up in my school years, and it pops into my head every now and then. I decided to give it a re-read and it's just as I remembered. Fantastic. This is the story of a normal boy forced into a lonely life, and a lonely boy who gets the chance to live a better life.

I really like that throughout the book, there is very little that is remarkable – the story is very character driven. Luke is matter-of-fact and likeable, especially for a thirteen year old boy. Jon is not the usual energetic supporting character, and that's what makes them 'Luke and Jon'.

Luke and Jon are drawn to each other for their own survival, and the result is a lovely coming-of-age story that has bits that resonate with everyone.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story written in an unusual style - kind of lyrical and poetic. Melancholy, but not as depressing as you might think given the subject. To me the book felt like a throwback, as if it had been written maybe fifty years ago. While I was reading, every so often I was startled by a mention of a cell phone or the internet reminding me the book is actually contemporary.

[Hippopotamidae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joli roman sur une amitié entre deux adolescents réunis par le destin.

[Cel Kila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jolie histoire, sans pour autant être un coup de cœur. Robert Williams aborde le sujet délicat du deuil, d'une manière douce mais jamais gnangnan. Il raconte l'histoire d'un père et de son fils, qui se reconstruisent ensemble, et de ce petit voisin un peu bizarre, avec qui ils semblent s'être vraiment bien trouvés.

[Péter Moesko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mostanság népszerű ifjúsági regények hajlamosak messzire rugaszkodni a realitástól. Csupán ezért is üdítő kivétel az elsőkönyves Robert Williams regénye, mely vállaltan a szürke hétköznapok és a józan ész határain belül ragadja magával az olvasóit korosztálytól függetlenül.

A történetbe egy szörnyű balesettel kapcsolódunk be: a 13 éves Luke elveszíti az anyukáját, és kissé szórakozott apjával kénytelen lesz új városba és kisebb házba költözni. Az apuka egyedi, fából készült játékokból próbálja fenntartani magukat, Luke pedig a tájképfestésnek hódol. Művészi beállítottságú kiscsalád ők ketten, de persze épp olyanok, mint bárki más, az ő házukra is keletről süt (már ha süt) a reggeli napfény. A kényszerű környezetváltozás azonban nehéz. Az apa inni kezd, Luke pedig új iskolába kerül.

A másik címszereplő mégsem az apa, hanem egy Luke-kal egyidős fura kisfiú. Gyakorlatilag a semmiből bukkan fel kettejük életében, és hamar a mindennapjaik részévé válik. Jon sovány, ódivatúan öltözködik, ódzkodik a tévétől és még sosem evett sült krumplit. Ellenben mindent tud az angol történelemről vagy épp Anglia földrajzáról. Bogaras egy srác, de ahogy Luke is mondja, ők mindig is az a család voltak, amelyik szeretettel fogadta a kívülállókat. A könyv három magának való figura kívülállóságát és szokatlan barátságát meséli el.

Jóllehet, a Luke és Jon oldott hangvételű, könnyed olvasmány, vidámnak távolról sem nevezhetnénk. Az anya elvesztése utáni tompa fájdalmat, céltalan dühöt és tétova spekulációt megejtő egyszerűséggel és kíméletlen őszinteséggel kapjuk a gyomrunkba. S ha ez nem lenne elég, Jon magánélete sem leányálom: beteg, paranoiás nagyszüleivel él súlyos, sötét függönyök mögött, gyakorlatilag teljes izolációban. Kemény, már-már kilátástalan élethelyzeteket ismerünk meg a könyv 280 oldalából, melyeket viszont furcsamód még a legdeprimáltabb pillanatában is különös derű hat át.

Robert Williams jó érzékkel váltogatja a különféle idősíkokat és a különféle elbeszélői módokat, ami által – főleg a könyv elején – a lassú, “talpra állás előtti” eseményszövés anélkül válik dinamikussá, hogy a középpontban álló trauma, valamint apa és fia cselekvésképtelensége bagatellizálódna. Külön érdekes megfigyelni, ahogyan a kezdő fejezetek szikár, tényközlő tőmondatai a történet előrehaladtával szép lassan átadják a helyüket egy nyíltabb, színesebb beszédstílusnak. Simonyi Ágnes fordítása kiválóan tükrözi a regény szereplőinek lelki fejlődését – a letargiából való kilábalást.

Takeshi Kitano Fiúja, Janne Teller Semmije és Wolfgang Herrndorf Csikkje után a Scolar ismét olyan kiadvánnyal gazdagította a kortárs ifjúsági regények sorát, amelyik nem a fantázia és a mágia szabályrendszerében játszódik, hanem az egyszerű hétköznapokban. Elődjeihez hasonlóan a Luke és Jon is olyan eseményekről és gondolatokról mesél, amelyekkel valószínűleg már valamennyiünk kénytelen volt szembesülni. Ez a szembesülés viszont a legtöbb esetben magánügy, melyet kevés emberrel osztunk meg. Robert Williams szerethető figurái köntös nélkül, teljes sebezhetőségükkel lépnek az olvasó elé, és megengedik, hogy végigkövessük, amint gyakran esetlenül, mégis kitartóan próbálnak új életet kezdeni.

(2012, Kultblog)

[Mina Yamanaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I did not expect an interesting story from this book which has a fairly simple and not interesting book cover. However, it was contrary to my expectation; a person who hates to read books like me could manage reading it. One of the biggest reasons why I hate reading is that usually the first part of the books are so boring that I cannot continue reading them until I get to the exciting part. In this story, it was exciting from the beginning. The basic information of the main character, Luke and his dad are presented in the first part and the situation they are under is already something. The story is written in a simple yet thought-provoking style which let audiences share the feelings of the characters in the story. I was impressed by the innate strength of Luke who silently accepts the reality and lives his life strongly. The way author decided to write such as making the narrator Luke, successfully worked to me in terms of letting readers sympathize with him and absorb them into the story. This book deals with rather serious issues such as death of mum and bullying, but it does not sound too heavy, so I'd recommend it for people who are interested to read those kinds of themes without feeling too bad.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke has just moved to a remote wreck of a house with his father following the death of his mother in a motor accident. Both thirteen year old Luke and his young father are having difficulty coming to terms with the loss. Shortly after settling into their new home Jon turns up at their door, a neighbour and the same age as Luke he has come to say hello. Luke and Jon soon become good friends despite Jon's odd manner and strange outdated dress, and Luke learns they have more in common than living on Bowland Fell, they have both lost a parent.

However, when they start school together at the end of the summer holidays Luke sees the reality of Jon's odd ways. But is Luke, a sensitive boy and an able budding artist, strong enough to do what he knows is right? And will Luke's father get himself back together after the loss of his wife?

Luke and Jon is a touching story of the power of friendship. While Luke relates the story of his growing relationship with Jon he frequently looks back to his recent loss, and tires to come to terms with it. It is touching, heart-warming and positive; a well written and very accessible story that should appeal to all ages.

[Pekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this paperback second-hand from Arkadia International Bookshop in Helsinki on 28 February 2013 because it looked nice. I put it on my shelf, did something else for five years and then picked it up.

What an understated, beautiful little book! Flawless. It made me happy and sad, ultimately happy.

Luke and Jon must be adults now. I'd like to meet them, hear Jon lecture about anything, see Luke's paintings and his dad's masterpiece (I'm sure it's still standing).

I want to read all the books Robert Williams has written and will write in the future. In the meantime, I will listen to the music he has made as The Library Trust.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What did I think of this book? Well, it is a small story, it has no earth-shattering, heart breaking, jaw dropping event. It seems that has already taken place, and this book is more about the fallout from losing your mother at a young age, and having your whole world forever changed.

I was drawn in from the start, sympathizing with the narrator and rooting for a happy ending.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book, the straight-forward, yet eloquent narration, the description of the setting, making you feel you are there.

Good read, I will definitely go back for more by this author.

[Lacarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worum geht’s?

Luke zieht mit seinem Vater in den kleinen Ort Duerdale, was wohl ein ausgedachter Ort in Schottland ist. Lukes Vater ist ein Spielzeugmacher, aber er ist sehr unglücklich, weil seine Frau, Lukes Mutter, kürzlich bei einem Autounfall ums Leben kam.

Luke lernt Jon kennen, einen Jungen, der genau wie er selbst dreizehn Jahre als ist und in der Nachbarschaft wohnt. Allerdings sieht Jon ein bisschen merkwürdig aus. Er trägt Klamotten wie alte Leute. Überhaupt ist er ein bisschen komisch. In der Schule ist er das Lieblingsopfer der Halbstarken, die ihn traktieren und bedrohen. Jon lässt es stoisch über sich ergehen, aber Luke macht es wütend. Er stellt sich auf die Seite des Nachbarjungen, obwohl er genauso gut auch mit den coolen Kids abhängen könnte. Die beiden freunden sich an. Jon bleibt immer ein bisschen reserviert und bald lernt Luke auch den Grund dafür kennen. Währenddessen versuchen Luke und sein Vater, die Trauer über den Verlust von Ehefrau und Mutter zu verarbeiten und ihr Leben irgendwie wieder auf die Reihe zu bekommen. Das ist ein langer und schwieriger Weg, den Jon über weite Strecken allein zurücklegen muss. Sein Vater ertränkt seinen Kummer in Whiskey und droht, an seinem Unglück zu zerbrechen. Erst ein Projekt hilft dem Spielzeugmacher, langsam wieder aufrecht zu stehen und seinem Leben wieder Energie und Auftrieb zu verleihen.

Und wie war’s?

Über weite Strecken beherrschte eine hintergründige Traurigkeit die Geschichte. Eine Traurigkeit, die ein Teenager verspürt, der dieses Gefühl nicht ganz zulassen kann. Der auch stark sein muss, wo sein Vater es nicht kann. Ein Junge, der sich von der neuen Umgebung ablenken lässt, von einer Freundschaft, die für ihn wohl auch so etwas wie ein Projekt ist. Nur, dass er dabei nicht an das Ende denkt, sondern an den Prozess. Er will Jon helfen, und eigentlich hilft er damit auch sich selbst durch eine schwere Zeit. Er schottet sich gegen das Gefühl des Verlustes ab, so gut es geht. Er weiß, dass seine Mum gestorben ist und er weiß, wie es passierte. Aber das tiefe Gefühl der Trauer lässt er nicht zu. Man kann beim Lesen spüren, wie er die bebenden und schrecklichen Ausläufer dieser Emotion herannahen fühlt wie die schwarzen Wolkenfetzen eines Unwetters, sie aber unterbewusst verdrängt. Er behält seine Mum lieber so im Gedächtnis, wie er sie wahrgenommen hat. Die Trauer und was sie anrichten kann, beobachtet er lieber von außen am Verhalten seines Vaters. Aber trotz aller Ablenkung gelingt es Luke nicht, die aufgestauten Emotionen vollständig unter Verschluss zu halten. Sie entschlüpfen, hier und da, manifestieren sich in übermächtiger Wut und Orientierungslosigkeit.

Dieses Buch habe ich nach der Übersetzerin ausgesucht. Brigitte Jakobeit hat Titel übersetzt wie „Der Junge im gestreiften Pyjama“, „Die Frau des Zeitreisenden„, „Fangirl“ und jüngst auch „Carry on„, das im Deutschen den sperrigen Titel „Aufstieg und Fall des außerordentlichen Simon Snow“ erhält und im August erscheint. All diese Bücher, von deren gemeinsamer Übersetzerin ich bis vor kurzem gar nichts wusste, haben mir sehr gefallen, und so wählte ich „Luke und Jon“ aus, ein natürlich nicht besonders fröhlicher und trotzdem empfehlenswerter kurzer Roman.

Die Wertung:

Auf der Coverabbildung sehen wir Luke und Jon. Sie ist ansonsten eher schmucklos und irgendwie fade. Ein Coverkauf wäre das wohl nie geworden. Orthografisch gibt es hier nichts zu meckern. Nur einmal habe ich über einer Schreibweise gebrütet, bin aber zu keinem Ergebnis gekommen. Sei’s drum, an der Wertung hätte das nicht gerührt. Der Ausdruck gehört wohl zu den einschlägigen Gründen, aus denen ich ein Buch von gerade dieser Übersetzerin ausgewählt habe. Er ist nicht überzeichnet, um einen literarischen Anspruch auszustrahlen, der gar nicht notwendig ist, gleichzeitig ist der Stil aber wohlgeformt und ausdrucksstark. Mehr wörtliche Rede hätte den Lesefluss etwas begünstigt, aber rückblickend finde ich, dass das der Wahrnehmung der Geschichte eher geschadet hätte. So hat es meiner persönlichen Unterhaltung ein Pünktchen gekostet. Ich habe das Lesen zuweilen als etwas anstrengend und ermüdend empfunden. Glücklicherweise helfen die vielen kurzen Kapitel, sinnvoll zu pausieren und trotzdem am nächsten Tag den Wiedereinstieg zu finden. Und so kommt „Luke und Jon“ insgesamt auf vorzeigbare 4,4 Punkte.

[Linda Hepworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the 11th April, at 4.27pm, thirteen-year-old Luke’s mother is killed in a car crash and his life changes in an instant. Immersed in grief and a whisky bottle, his now near-silent father stops paying the household bills and, by the early summer, their home has been repossessed. After all the debts have been paid, the only house they can afford is a remote, neglected cottage on a fellside above a scruffy northern town; it is here, away from everything familiar, that they must try to create a future for themselves.
Soon after moving in Luke meets Jon, a boy of the same age who lives close by, in an even more ramshackle house, with his frail, elderly grandparents. Wearing clothes more suited to the 1950s, with a side-parting in his hair and an almost obsessional habit of amassing facts and figures, Jon appears quite eccentric but, both outsiders, the two boys soon strike up a friendship. Luke becomes aware that Jon is keeping a secret and, when he discovers what it is, their friendship becomes pivotal in changing their lives.
I found this a beautifully written and very moving story about bereavement, mourning, the power of family and friendship, bullying and the struggles faced by characters who are trying to rebuild lives shattered by loss. The author’s acute observations of the many, and changing, faces of grief felt entirely credible and I soon found myself drawn into the lives of the characters as they each found ways to deal with their feelings of pain and grief. I liked the fact that rather than dividing the story into formal chapters, the author used frequent headings (sometimes a couple per page, sometimes one every two or three pages) to move the story forward in a convincing fashion. As the story is told in Luke’s voice, the narrative was given an immediacy which effectively captured not only his emotional journey, but also those of his father and of Jon. I loved the fact that each of the characters found a different way of dealing with his demons: Luke through his paintings, his father through sculpting with wood and Jon through immersing himself in books. I think that the author effectively showed how these activities were used, initially as defences and, ultimately, as ways of being able to move forward.
There is absolutely nothing sentimental about this story; the pain described is raw and powerful but the holding out of hope, and the restorative nature of love are evoked in an equally powerful way. The writing is made more effective by the fact that it is so restrained, with barely a word feeling unnecessary. This was marketed as a novel for young adults, but its psychological integrity means that it is a story which will appeal to a much wider readership – it’s a remarkable debut novel.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke and Jon is a debut novel by Robert Williams, first published in 2010. Luke and his father, struggling after the death of Luke’s mother, move to a remote run-down cottage on the fell overlooking the northern town of Duerdale. They soon meet Jon, the strange boy with a secret who lives in the next house on the fell, wears 1950s clothes, and goes to the same school as Luke.

The bleak rural setting reminds me of several novels I have read this year, including Devil’s Day and Pine, and this book stands strong beside them. Williams grew up in the same part of Northern England as myself, and his familiarity with life in East Lancashire comes across.

When I reflect on what I most enjoyed about this book, I have to say it’s the voice of the writer. The story is delivered with startling brevity and clarity, and while quiet, it still manages to fizz and resonate with emotion. The sense of place is strong, and all the characters are well drawn and believable.

There was nothing I disliked about it, which puts it among the top three novels I have read this year. At 50,000-60,000 words, it was short, which is unusual for a debut novel, but at the end I didn���t put it down feeling parts of the story were left untold.

I was completely taken by surprise by how brilliant this novel really is, and highly recommend it.

[Marek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tuto knihu mi darovala Barnajka a já děkuji za poslání této knihy. Kniha se četla dobře, přečetl jsem ji na jeden zátah. Kniha se mi líbila, knihu hodnotím na 5*. Knihu doporučuji nejen mladším čtenářům. :)

Je to kniha o přátelství mezi dvěma chlapci - Lukem a Jonem. Každý z nich si prochází těžkými chvílemi, pocházejí z různých sociálních prostředích. V knize se vyskytují různá závažná témata. Líbily se mi také retrospektivní pohledy. Kniha byla chvílemi smutná, ale zároveň dávala naději. U určité scény jsem se ztotožnil s hlavním hrdinou a pociťoval jsem, že se nezachoval správně a já jsem si v této souvislosti vzpomněl na jeden moment ze střední školy, kdy jsem se vůči jednomu "kamarádovi" také nezachoval tak, jak bych měl. Po letech jsem toho litoval a zpětně jsem si říkal, že jsem se mohl vůči němu zachovat lépe. Když o tom nyní uvažuji, tak možná jsme byli kamarádi ve škole, ale ve skutečnosti to nebylo opravdové kamarádství, které jsem měl s Jirkou. Bylo to jiné. Jenže u Jirky jsem udělal také plno hloupostí, kterých dodnes lituji, jenže bohužel už to nemůžu vrátit zpátky, i když bych si to z hloubi srdce přál.

[Daný · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book standing in my bookcase for several years and finally got around to picking it up. No regrets for buying it then - a tight, well-written and emotional story. It’s written with some distance (no lyrical drama scenes) but that creates room for the reader to engage in more depth with the story and the three main characters: Luke, whose mother has recently died in a car accident; his father, a woodworking artist who can’t keep himself together after her death; and Jon, an odd boy who becomes tangled up in their lives. Would definitely recommend it.

[vk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does not matter how deep you are…

Either a big or a tiny little goal you want to achieve. You must find something. Something important, which can

make you fight for,
make you stronger,
make you through all.

Something. Makes your life. Meaningful.

[Paul Huggett · Rating 1 out of 5]

ebook version is lacking basic punctuation... annoying me so much that I can't continue reading this book

[Petra Be · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a story for younger teenagers about how your life can dramatically change in a few minutes. The narrator's voice doesn't sound very 13-year-old though.

[Telys · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai adoré ce court roman aux personnages tellement humains <3

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely lovely book

[READING4Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, gentle and poignant read. A harrowing story of loss and emptiness deftly handled with honest prose.

[Pek Fanni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but i wish that i chould see a bit from their future

[Luke John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, poignant and life affirming. A read that will stay with me for some time.

[Victoria Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Luke and Jon' is a heart-warming tale of Jon who, after the death of his mother, moves to a scruffy northern town with his almost entirely mute father who is drinking heavily. Jon meets Luke, a boy in 1950s clothes with a side parting and a twitch. The kids at school refer to Luke as "slackjaw". Luke has a secret, though, and when Jon finds it out it changes everything for Jon and his dad.

'Luke and Jon' is a coming of age story about family, death, depression, friendship and redemption. Robert Williams' debut novel is really impressively written and has a lot of heart. It's not all doom and gloom, though, it's heart warming and, at times, funny.

Shortlisted, rightfully, for several awards, 'Luke and Jon' won the Betty Trask Award - and rightfully so.

[Sofia Lindholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book this morning in a book shop, and just finished it. It´s the sort of novel you just can´t put aside, that completely overwhelms you. The novelist Willy Vlautin comments it like this: "It´s the sort of novel I´m always hoping to find. It´s odd, heartfelt, romantic, sad, and most of all honest" and I feel that´s quite an accurate review. I enjoyed it from the first to the last page, and I guess my thoughts will be turning back to the story once in a while. The british language is "brilliant", and I realize I must have been reading quite a few american books as it pleases me so much to read it.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke's mother died in a car accident. Luke tells us about his life and his feelings, his relationship with his father and his friendship with a boy he meets called Jon. Neither Luke or Jon quite fit into the crowd at school and both are to some extent unintentionally neglected by their 'responsible adults'.
The story is told in a series of detailed episodes in Luke's life, many featuring Jon or Luke's father, but some Luke alone. It is very well done and I found it a completely consistent realisation of a teenage boy coming to terms with a tragedy; not a single expression or thought jars or breaks the flow.

[sisterimapoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected treat left behind by a visiting friend.

I had no expectation when I started this - it was just there so I read it. Nothing unusual in the premise but the way Williams handles the boys, and their stories coupled with the bleak settings turn it into something quite special.

Nothing amazing happens, it's more just about how two boys get by once the bad things have happened. Their friendship isn't a miraculous or loaded thing - it just is.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found the narrator's voice to be a little too elegant and sophisticated to belong to the main character, and although I didn't feel either he or his friend Jon were really developed very much, and although the depiction of bullying and school seemed a little unsure to me...

... despite this, I cried actual tears when I read the last page, and my heart hurt a little bit at the grief. A sweet book which doesn't try to do anything especially remarkable and is all the better for that.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book is excellent and this is the second time I have read it. The characters and thoughts are believable and a number of difficult and taboo subjects are dealt with sensitively and accurately.

There is one aspect of the book that irritates me to some extent and that is the lack of the use of apostrophes which at times, particularly the first time I read the book, struggling to grasp what was being said.

I strongly recommend this book for young and not so young adults.