The Book of Newcastle

Reading the City: A City in Short Fiction

by Angela Readman (Editor), Zoe Turner (Editor), Jessica Andrews (Contributor)

The original Northern Powerhouse, Newcastle upon Tyne has witnessed countless transformations over the last century or so, from its industrial heyday, when Tyneside engineering and innovation led the world, through decades of post-industrial decline, and underinvestment, to its more recent reinvention as a cultural destination for the North.

The ten short stories gathered here all feature characters in search of something, a new reality, a space, perhaps, in which to rediscover themselves: from the call-centre worker imagining herself far away from the claustrophobic realities of her day job, to the woman coming to terms with an ex-lover who’s moved on all too quickly, to the man trying to outrun his mother’s death on Town Moor. The Book of Newcastle brings together some of the city’s most renowned literary talents, along with exciting new voices, proving that while Newcastle continues to feel the effects of its lost industrial past, it is also a city striving for a future that brims with promise.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Travel

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2020

About the author

Angela Readman is a twice shortlisted winner of the Costa Short Story Award. Her stories have won the National Flash Fiction Day Competition, The Mslexia Short Story Prize, and The Fish Short Memoir Prize. They have also been shortlisted in the Manchester Fiction Prize.

Her debut story collection Don't Try This at Home was published by And Other Stories in 2015. It won The Rubery Book Prize and was shortlisted in the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. She also writes poetry: her poetry collection The Book of Tides was published by Nine Arches in late 2016. Angela's debut novel, Something Like Breathing​, will be published by And Other Stories in 2019.

Reviews

[Annas Jiwa Pratama]

You know that meme about whenever Mexico is portrayed in an American film, they always use a sepia filter? I think the UK is kind of like that for me, but with dull blue-grey filter instead of sepia. I have zero interest in football, and the politics there seems like a bit of a mess. All in all, I did not come into this book with much curiosity, which, I admit, is a pretty bad attitude to have when you start a book.

However, among the four Reading the City series, I’ve read, I think The Book of Newcastle is my second favorite, a close contender with Jakarta (who won by virtue of relatability, I think). Overall, I would say that Newcastle, compared to Jakarta, delivers a far less vibrant reading, both in terms of tone and range. Its stories mostly stick to present times, and almost all of them are from a working-class perspective. However, the book itself is a very pleasant read, and very well edited. It reads like a good concept album, with superb tracks at the beginning and ending. It also does well in representing the locale, particularly the city’s suburbs, the Tyneside houses.

Here are my favorites:

Calling from Newcastlep sets the tone early: the Newcastle we’re going to see, is the Newcastle of the working class. It’s damp and dehumanizing, and the best bet you have for some dignity is one another. It’s miserable, but with a certain self-aware lightheartedness. Relatable for anyone living under the crushing weight of capitalism (degrees may vary).

Thunder Thursday on Pemberton Grove feels like an episode of Hey Arnold! (that’s a very good thing!), where everyone in the neighborhood gets a little story of their own. Set in a block of the Tyneside houses, it’s the short that’s most vivid in my mind. It’s diverse characters feels like a showcase of archetypes, but it’s a fun read and feels pretty fuzzy at the end.

The Here and Now is a comically morbid short about a guy dying from a heart disease getting conned by a bum. I just like this one because it’s funny. Also, I think buying a plot for your grave early is a wise investment, saves a lot of trouble for the folks you leave.

Ekow on Town Moor is probably the most melancholic of the bunch. It tells of Ekow, in a tumultuous episode of his life, running in the town moor, and finding comfort there. ”He picked up speed and powered through the swing gate onto the moor. The dew on the ryegrass seeped through the fabric tops of his running shoes, but he didn’t notice. Soon it would feel like he’d left Newcastle behind completely.”.

Tangents
• As per the introduction’s recommendation, I watched Ken Loach’s film, I, Daniel Blake as sort of a companion piece to the book. I loved it. Much like the Newcastle portrayed in the book, its mood is somber, living is harsh, the system is dehumanizing, but there is dignity to be found with your fellow people through solidarity.

• Ekow on Town Moor really brings back memory of living in Maastricht, of the Sint Pietersberg, where there’s a wooden chair right on top of the hill, from which you can pretty much look at almost all of the city. It used to be my pitstop after early morning weekend runs. Or the patch of wilderness right beside the Maas, where wild horses roam in spring, summer, and fall.

[Tomas Marcantonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comma Press' excellent “Reading the City” series continues with “The Book of Newcastle”, a collection of ten short stories set on Tyneside, edited by Angela Readman and Zoe Turner.

As with the previous books in the series, one of the greatest strengths of this collection is its ability to completely immerse the reader in the city, whether they are familiar with the area or not. Newcastle is more than just a backdrop to these stories, it is the character that ties them all together.

In some stories it broods in the background, only to step forward and take centre stage in the next. The desolate moors, the Tyneside flats, the cosy pubs and stotties – all are well represented, but at the same time this collection never feels like a Geordie checklist or a Newcastle A to Z. Stereotypes are left at the door; these stories are about the people of the city – people from many different walks of life – and that's why it's so readable and universal.

The themes and subjects of the stories vary, but the ones that stand out are family and community ties. Mother and son, best friends, next door neighbours – these are recurring relationships, explored sometimes hopefully and sometimes heartbreakingly, but always feeling very real.

The writing in this collection is uniformly excellent. There are no weak stories and it is difficult to pick out favourites in such a great selection, but I must give special mention to “Magpies” by Angela Readman, and “Blood Brothers” by Jessica Andrews, both of which were outstanding.

The former is told from a mother's viewpoint as she observes the changes in her son as he grows older and more distant. Beautifully written and poignant, it also employs magic realism to stunning effect. “Blood Brothers” is similarly spellbinding, a tale of best friends who grow apart. I'm usually wary of stories that are crammed full of pop culture references, but this is one that gets it spot on, transporting the reader to a time and place with aplomb, while telling a touching story.

If you're yet to sample the delights of the “Reading the City” series, this collection is a great place to start. Funny, heartwarming, and affecting, “The Book of Newcastle” paints a memorable portrait of a stunning city, and it's highly recommended.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my views.

[Edu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing compilation of short stories mostly centring on characters from markedly working-class backgrounds. I believe the book gave a really fresh and sometimes even quite a harsh take on life in the city, with some stories leaving a lot to think about afterwards. Through their discourse, the stories were able to unweave the social fabric of Newcastle upon Tyne and lay it bare to the reader.

[Emily Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lazy morning well spent whilst lovesick for my favourite City. Eye opening to see the City from so many different perspectives. Will also now keep an eye out for Julia Darling books and other writers featured.

[Setayesh Dashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during a short trip to Newcastle. It's always such fun to read fiction about a city you're spending time in, but the short stories in this book were quite good on their own too. I started the book with low expectations but ended up really enjoying almost all of the stories. Some were absolutely breathtaking. I also found Newcastle utterly charming, so it was a delight to know about magpies and Tyneside flats and lives of the Newcastle middle class while taking pictures of the Grainger market and looking at the view of the bridges from the Free Trade Inn :)

[Martin Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't get off to a great start with this one because the first page of the introduction contains a factual clanger that would make any Geordie wince, but thankfully that wasn't a sign of things to come! A varied and interesting collection of stories, some (as with any such anthology) perhaps landing more impactfully than others, but all firmly rooted in and unmistakably *of* the area. Well curated, then, and a collection from which more than a few impressions continue to linger.

[Charlotte ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My best friend edited this book! Very proud.

[Luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

222/365

[Mourning_elf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another 10 short stories from the city series. I am not familiar with Newcastle so i only read it for fun .

[maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed most of the stories in the first half, second half was full of stories that felt a bit underdeveloped. It was really nice to read something set at home and which reflected the working class experience. My expectations for short stories are probably too high as it’s hard to get a fully fleshed out story in so few words, still this book mostly achieved doing so.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to read this book while in Newcastle. I recognised the places mentioned - e.g. Jesmond Dene.
The stories seemed very real, raw, honest - it was quite sad to notice the recurring theme of suicide in the book.