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Apples
'We got a McDonald's the night my mam got lung cancer.'
As a distraction from sleazy male admirers, spiteful classmates and her mother's cancer, Eve's eyes are opened to a multicolour life of one night stands, drug fuelled discos and endless varieties of cheap plonk. She barely has time to notice Adam. Adam, however, notices Eve. Whilst contending with sexual frustration, a violent father and increasingly compulsive behaviour, is he too busy reading Razzle in his bedroom to make his move?
Narrated alternately by Adam and Eve, alongside a cast of teenage delinquents, perverts and butterflies, Apples is an exploration of the difficulties of growing up, the complications of friendship, and the consequences of getting 'fucked as quick as you can'.
As a distraction from sleazy male admirers, spiteful classmates and her mother's cancer, Eve's eyes are opened to a multicolour life of one night stands, drug fuelled discos and endless varieties of cheap plonk. She barely has time to notice Adam. Adam, however, notices Eve. Whilst contending with sexual frustration, a violent father and increasingly compulsive behaviour, is he too busy reading Razzle in his bedroom to make his move?
Narrated alternately by Adam and Eve, alongside a cast of teenage delinquents, perverts and butterflies, Apples is an exploration of the difficulties of growing up, the complications of friendship, and the consequences of getting 'fucked as quick as you can'.
200 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2007
21 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Richard Milward
23 books52 followersRichard Milward was born in Middlesbrough in 1984. His debut novel, Apples, was published in 2007, and he recently passed his degree in Fine Art from Byam Shaw at Central St Martins in London. He currently lives in Middlesbrough.
Essay on his writing: http://www.faber.co.uk/article/2009/2...
Essay on his writing: http://www.faber.co.uk/article/2009/2...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
March 30, 2010
Yet another coming of age book about the teenage sect in London...and this one I read a long time ago but can't seem to get out of my head.
Usually when authors write about kids they given them these adult words and adult maturity, though they try to play it down. It's like we can't help but write ourselves into a kid's mind. Milward doesn't do this at all. His treatment of the characters' is pure, raw, illogical and perfect.
This is essentially a story of Adam (the nerdy kid in school who occassionally gets smacked around by his dad) and Eve (the popular girl in school, with something of a heart). Don' roll your eyes just yet...Milward weaves a story that we've all seen in our high schools and sometimes colleges. Eve's mother is diagnosed with cancer and she concentrated on outfits for the night's next party. Adam manages to awkwardly break through his shell and spends the rest of his week beating himself up over it.
It's just all so true.
This is a great book to read anytime, but it makes me think of rainy days spend driving to see relatives...so maybe best for a road trip vacay. It's short and small enough to pack in your purse ;)
Usually when authors write about kids they given them these adult words and adult maturity, though they try to play it down. It's like we can't help but write ourselves into a kid's mind. Milward doesn't do this at all. His treatment of the characters' is pure, raw, illogical and perfect.
This is essentially a story of Adam (the nerdy kid in school who occassionally gets smacked around by his dad) and Eve (the popular girl in school, with something of a heart). Don' roll your eyes just yet...Milward weaves a story that we've all seen in our high schools and sometimes colleges. Eve's mother is diagnosed with cancer and she concentrated on outfits for the night's next party. Adam manages to awkwardly break through his shell and spends the rest of his week beating himself up over it.
It's just all so true.
This is a great book to read anytime, but it makes me think of rainy days spend driving to see relatives...so maybe best for a road trip vacay. It's short and small enough to pack in your purse ;)
January 14, 2008
Apples is often funny, though relies so heavily on stereotypes you might as well be watching Hollyoaks. 'Chavs' on a council estate must have: tracksuits, bleached hair, fake nails, high heels, a tendency to steal things, loads of sex, a pocketful of drugs, a bag full of spray paints and a stomach full of Bellabrusco.
I often felt that the author was simply writing the book to take the piss out of anyone with a penchant for what I've listed above. Most of the characters seemed unable to help themselves out of their dire situations, Milward seemed to be enjoying pointing out just how stupid he thought these people were. If someone was already f**ked on drugs, spewing in the street, pregnant and heartbroken - why not have them drink more and sleep with the wrong person? Hmmm... I'm not sure I believe it.
Maybe I'm being as judgemental as Milward here, but he's currently studying at St Martins - I'll go out on a limb and say he probably hasn't had much experience of life on a council estate.
I often felt that the author was simply writing the book to take the piss out of anyone with a penchant for what I've listed above. Most of the characters seemed unable to help themselves out of their dire situations, Milward seemed to be enjoying pointing out just how stupid he thought these people were. If someone was already f**ked on drugs, spewing in the street, pregnant and heartbroken - why not have them drink more and sleep with the wrong person? Hmmm... I'm not sure I believe it.
Maybe I'm being as judgemental as Milward here, but he's currently studying at St Martins - I'll go out on a limb and say he probably hasn't had much experience of life on a council estate.
November 2, 2008
Apples is great. Not sure what the title refers to, probably a metaphor for something or other.
The characters in this book are wicked. Council estate kids having fun, getting fucked up and fucked over. It's done in a non-glamorous way and nobody is judged for their behaviour.
If you like books about going out, taking drugs, getting pissed and shagging then this is the book for you.
A new low in getting high.
The characters in this book are wicked. Council estate kids having fun, getting fucked up and fucked over. It's done in a non-glamorous way and nobody is judged for their behaviour.
If you like books about going out, taking drugs, getting pissed and shagging then this is the book for you.
A new low in getting high.
December 16, 2018
This was a very interesting book, written in an experimental style, about a group of kids growing up in a small industrial Northern town.
The style takes a bit of adjusting to, but once you are used to it, it's very engaging and easy to process.
There were a few scenes which were very uncomfortable and made my toes curl. Let's just say it's not for the faint-hearted.
I'd be interested to know if this is based on the Author's experiences, or written from an outside perspective.
Give it a go if you want something a bit unusual.
The style takes a bit of adjusting to, but once you are used to it, it's very engaging and easy to process.
There were a few scenes which were very uncomfortable and made my toes curl. Let's just say it's not for the faint-hearted.
I'd be interested to know if this is based on the Author's experiences, or written from an outside perspective.
Give it a go if you want something a bit unusual.
March 7, 2011
This was quite an odd book that I whizzed through in a day off work. It wasn't terrible but the whole way through something about the narrative felt sort of stilted, as if the author hadn't decided exactly what mood he wanted to create. It pitched somewhere between funny & tragic but I felt it fell a little short of both. I didn't understand the Adam/Eve/Apples metaphor at all & couldn't see that it had any link to the plot. Some sections were quite good and showed clear insight into how rubbish it can be to be a teenager but the main characters were not entirely convincing. I particularly found that certain turns of phrase they use jarred slightly; for example what 15-year-old lad have you ever met who would talk about a shirt as 'that number I wore to the disco'? Or a slightly rough scally girl saying the guy she fancies is 'quite the honeypie'? The whole thing reminded me of Bret Easton Ellis' 'The Rules Of Attraction' (one chapter in particular bears a striking similarity) but not as well executed.
It's funny though that after all these negative points I didn't come away hating the book and found it difficult to choose between a one or two star rating. I think it's quite apparent that this was the author's first book & I would be interested to read something by him in the future to see if and how his style develops & becomes more polished.
It's funny though that after all these negative points I didn't come away hating the book and found it difficult to choose between a one or two star rating. I think it's quite apparent that this was the author's first book & I would be interested to read something by him in the future to see if and how his style develops & becomes more polished.
July 14, 2008
This was crap. Quite simply.
Okay, so I didn't finish it. Mainly because for the first 50 pages (all that I read), all it was about was sex and drinking. I don't read books to get that, I can walk past my local nightclub at 3am and see quite enough of that thanks.
No thrilling plot. No good characters, they were totally unbelievable. In fact, Apples is totally unbelievable full stop. I'm a teenager, 18 years old in fact, so it wasn't too long ago I was the same age as these characters. And trust me, that was NOT all I was about. Neither were most of the teens at my school. A lot of them shagged about, sure, but all of the characters in the book are like caricatures of Chavs. Sure, teens like to talk about/have sex. They also care about other things too.
To be fair, maybe later on in the book it suddenly changed and started talking about stuff other than sex. In which case, I may be wrong. But from what I'd read, I'd gather not...
Okay, so I didn't finish it. Mainly because for the first 50 pages (all that I read), all it was about was sex and drinking. I don't read books to get that, I can walk past my local nightclub at 3am and see quite enough of that thanks.
No thrilling plot. No good characters, they were totally unbelievable. In fact, Apples is totally unbelievable full stop. I'm a teenager, 18 years old in fact, so it wasn't too long ago I was the same age as these characters. And trust me, that was NOT all I was about. Neither were most of the teens at my school. A lot of them shagged about, sure, but all of the characters in the book are like caricatures of Chavs. Sure, teens like to talk about/have sex. They also care about other things too.
To be fair, maybe later on in the book it suddenly changed and started talking about stuff other than sex. In which case, I may be wrong. But from what I'd read, I'd gather not...
June 28, 2020
So disappointing. Booze, drugs, rape, murder and racism. Born and bred in Middlesbrough myself, I was looking forward to reading a book set there, and while it was cool to hear of places I knew well, the actual story really lacked. The characters weren’t really developed, the shocking moments were really awful (Claire threw her baby off a bridge, really? And we saw no follow up of this!) and the amount of rape and casual racism is disturbing. Sorry but I wouldn’t recommend this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2008
This book is shite and I learned absolutely nothing except to avoid Milward like the plague.
March 22, 2011
What makes a good book? Is it a page-turner, a book you simply cannot put down? Or is it a book that leaves an impression and leaves you wanting more – caring for those characters you have just spent time reading about?
I would have thought both but having just read Richard Milward's debut "Apples" I would say I related to the former but not the latter.
I couldn't put this book down, the style of writing was excellent and the subject matter, the teenage years, is something that everyone can relate to. We have all been there in some context, a sneaky few drinks underage, the excitement of boys and girls – thoughts and actions of kissing and sex, at least one person "off their face" on some illegal substance.
"Apples" tells the story of Adam and Eve. Set in Middlesbrough in an area full of council estates, it is written from the POV of a cast of characters including a street light and a butterfly. The flitting between narratives was executed well, and the sights and thoughts of non-humans was a great touch. The story tells of all trials and tribulations of the teenage years – the hormones, angst, excitement and the naivety.
I loved the style so much I found myself turning page after page, letting out frequent chuckles at the often crude yet, often brutally honest style Milward writes. The biggest let down for me? The ending. I don't want to spoil the plot, but the ending was poor. It was abrupt and really quite unbelievable. The consequences of some of the actions of characters were overlooked or skimmed past, where in reality they were pretty epic events that would inevitably have consequences. It was quite a disappointment to see the book end in such a way.
I found, on reflection, not a lot really happens in the story it's more a tale of events that don't really lead anywhere, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. When written in the way Milward has, it doesn't necessarily have to have a major storyline, if the words and flow work as they are and can still conjure emotions for the reader then I see no harm.
Interestingly, Richard Milward although from the Middlesbrough area, is a fine art student now studying at St Martin's in London, I would hazard a guess he isn't from a council estate, maybe this is why I felt it lacked a certain grittiness that comes across when the writer has a little more insight maybe formed a little less on opinions, although this novel was written at 19 years old – that's pretty impressive.
I would definitely read more by Richard Milward, I do love his style – next time I just hope for a little bit more depth to the story and characters and a better ending!
I would have thought both but having just read Richard Milward's debut "Apples" I would say I related to the former but not the latter.
I couldn't put this book down, the style of writing was excellent and the subject matter, the teenage years, is something that everyone can relate to. We have all been there in some context, a sneaky few drinks underage, the excitement of boys and girls – thoughts and actions of kissing and sex, at least one person "off their face" on some illegal substance.
"Apples" tells the story of Adam and Eve. Set in Middlesbrough in an area full of council estates, it is written from the POV of a cast of characters including a street light and a butterfly. The flitting between narratives was executed well, and the sights and thoughts of non-humans was a great touch. The story tells of all trials and tribulations of the teenage years – the hormones, angst, excitement and the naivety.
I loved the style so much I found myself turning page after page, letting out frequent chuckles at the often crude yet, often brutally honest style Milward writes. The biggest let down for me? The ending. I don't want to spoil the plot, but the ending was poor. It was abrupt and really quite unbelievable. The consequences of some of the actions of characters were overlooked or skimmed past, where in reality they were pretty epic events that would inevitably have consequences. It was quite a disappointment to see the book end in such a way.
I found, on reflection, not a lot really happens in the story it's more a tale of events that don't really lead anywhere, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. When written in the way Milward has, it doesn't necessarily have to have a major storyline, if the words and flow work as they are and can still conjure emotions for the reader then I see no harm.
Interestingly, Richard Milward although from the Middlesbrough area, is a fine art student now studying at St Martin's in London, I would hazard a guess he isn't from a council estate, maybe this is why I felt it lacked a certain grittiness that comes across when the writer has a little more insight maybe formed a little less on opinions, although this novel was written at 19 years old – that's pretty impressive.
I would definitely read more by Richard Milward, I do love his style – next time I just hope for a little bit more depth to the story and characters and a better ending!
June 19, 2012
I got Apples as the Kindle Deal of the Day for 99ct because the general idea and description sounded like something I might enjoy reading. Wrong.
The entire book is about drugs, sex and alcohol, written from Eve, Adam, a butterfly, unborn Baby Boy, street lights and random supporting characters – done in a way that I found disgusting as well as very disturbing. I also did not feel the humor and laughed or even smiled 0 times. I was hoping for some kind of growth or development of the characters, but I (personally) did not see it – except in Adam. At around 30% into it, I got really bored and skimmed through the rest so I knew what happened in the end – now I wish I had not even done that. The end is no end, imho, and feels more like “Uh oh, deadline. Let’s just stop, write The End on it and be done.”
My 99ct were wasted for this piece.
The entire book is about drugs, sex and alcohol, written from Eve, Adam, a butterfly, unborn Baby Boy, street lights and random supporting characters – done in a way that I found disgusting as well as very disturbing. I also did not feel the humor and laughed or even smiled 0 times. I was hoping for some kind of growth or development of the characters, but I (personally) did not see it – except in Adam. At around 30% into it, I got really bored and skimmed through the rest so I knew what happened in the end – now I wish I had not even done that. The end is no end, imho, and feels more like “Uh oh, deadline. Let’s just stop, write The End on it and be done.”
My 99ct were wasted for this piece.
November 14, 2010
Set against the backdrop of a Middlesbrough council estate, this book unfolds in the nightclubs, the pubs, and the bus shelters. It talks about the drugs and the under-age sex. It deals with loneliness, fear and isolation. This is good.
It's told by two narrators: Adam and Eve. Their voices and unique and realistic. Funny and clever. The dialogue is excellent. If Milward wasn't so young when he wrote this book, then I thing that the dialogue could have been appalling, but because of his age, he pulls it off.
Awesome book.
It's told by two narrators: Adam and Eve. Their voices and unique and realistic. Funny and clever. The dialogue is excellent. If Milward wasn't so young when he wrote this book, then I thing that the dialogue could have been appalling, but because of his age, he pulls it off.
Awesome book.
September 22, 2012
this sort of book scares the living daylights out of me .... especially when well received by Irvine Welsh, to think it could be a true way kids are behaving.
A tale of drinking, drugs and too much sex amongst the underage teens of northern england.
I enjoyed the narrative from a few perspectives, though found the butterfly and one other fairly pointless, but the whole deadness of the tone hit me, especially in relation to her mothers illness, and later in the story the casual way everyone accepted rape... quite unnerving....
A tale of drinking, drugs and too much sex amongst the underage teens of northern england.
I enjoyed the narrative from a few perspectives, though found the butterfly and one other fairly pointless, but the whole deadness of the tone hit me, especially in relation to her mothers illness, and later in the story the casual way everyone accepted rape... quite unnerving....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 27, 2014This book is weird, creepy, and racist. The female characters are very obviously written from the perspective of the male gaze. It's particularly disgusting because they are teen girls... But the author was only 21 at the time of publication, which makes it just slightly less skeevy than if this stuff had been written by, say, a 40 year old man. Still. I'm creeped out.
June 15, 2018
"It felt like someone dropped a cartoon ton-weight on me. I must've been thinking about Majorca pretty hard - I wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep, but my belly was still churning and my eyelashes were glued. I wiped my mouth then rolled about in the bed - I didn't have a clue where I was, but I figured it was Rachel's room and slowly the memories of the party started to jigsaw themselves together. My skull was absolutely exploding. It was hard to look through the dark, and I got the shock of my life seeing Adam's head by the bedside. Where did he come from? I couldn't remember him being at the party, and I couldn't even speak when he shifted his weight and asked, You okay?"
I have owned this book for such a long time. A friend of mine knows the author. Apples is based in my local area. I am proud to say I am born and bred in Teesside. Although I do not live in the specific town of Middlesbrough, I know it very well, have worked there for a number of years and continue to visit on a regular basis. I attended Teesside University and have worked in a number of different establishments in the town, from the Cleveland Police to Legal Services to their school system. In my personal opinion, Teesside has a great opportunity for people to achieve. It is making people aware of
Teesside's potential which could change these children's lives. However, there are a select few areas, as there are in many towns, which are underprivileged and can struggle to get by. Unfortunately, that is the kind of area where the characters of th
is book live. Before I started to read the book I read some reviews and was surprised at how much people did not believe these things are likely to happen. How they did not see it like this and felt that Milward was exaggerating the area the characters lived in. Harrowingly this is exactly how some people live, especially in large built-up areas where there is such contrast in living conditions. I wanted to prove this is truly how some children live. This is the life they are subjected to because of where they live and only a small percentage escape and get out.
The main characters live in the Beechwood and Easterside estates of Middlesbrough. They are Adam and Eve, hence the name of the book is Apples. We mostly hear from Adam and Eve throughout the story, there are chapters where we hear information from other characters, Claire, Gaz and even a streetlamp and a butterfly at one stage! Adam is a character who I really felt for. He clearly has a number of personal issues going on both at home and with his own understanding of himself. It is obvious from the very beginning he has severe OCD which is going to get worse if he does not learn to control it. He has to make sure he opens and closes things, such as doors, books etc a number of times otherwise people will die, or become seriously ill. Adam is extremely socially awkward and thinks everyone is laughing at him or at his expense. He starts to come out of his shell throughout the book but appears to keep on getting knocked down. Eve, in contrast, is a very confident, open and frankly, naive young girl. These characters are approximately 14 or 15 years old in the story and Eve thinks
she is more streetwise than she is. She drinks, she sleeps with random people, she takes ecstasy in nightclubs off people she doesn't know all because she does not want to face the awful cancer illness her mum is going through at home. Eve thinks she knows the ways of the world, she thinks she is able to take on anyone and will be better off for it. I honestly wanted to give her a hug. I wanted to take her in and open her eyes to what a life like that will really lead her too. Adam is the same, I wanted to help him in so many ways. I wanted to take him away from the abusive home life he was surrounded by and to help him with his social anxiety and other aspects of his life. I also felt for Claire, Eve's friend. She has a baby when she is still a child herself. She has no one to support her because of the background she has come from herself and no one seems to be able to help her. She is destined to spiral down and be unable to see a way back out. It is such a shame, yet a realistic description of what having a child so young can do to someone living in this situation.
Throughout the whole book there is only one character who I did not like. Gary, or Gaz as they refer to him. He is horrible. He thinks he has control over everyone and thinks he has the right to take advantage of them. I just hope that Eve realises and something is done about him. I honestly felt sick to my stomach every time Milward mentions him. The way he walks around other people's houses at parties, thinking he is in charge and taking advantage of unconsenting young girls. Milward uses Gaz's character in a way which got me really frustrated. I felt very strongly about Gaz and thought Milward did this very well.
I would like to point out here that this is absolutely how a number of children live in the
Middlesbrough area. I have worked in the area of Middlesbrough where this book is set out and I have heard awful stories about the children living there. How they are exposed to drug use and dealing, sex and heartbreaking living conditions. Because of this, I am confident there are a number of other towns and cities where children are also living a life like this. They will be subject to sexual encounters when still children themselves, drug use and abuse of all kinds. If there are any young people reading this, even if you don't think you are young and you think you know what's best, please get the help you need in order to make a better life for yourself. You are worth so much more. You may be in your mid-teens and think you are invincible and you know better, but I work with a number of young people in schools who I just hope and pray will see the errors of their ways and be able to help themselves before something horrific happens. There are massive numbers of children who come from areas of the country where they think they will not achieve anything more than what their social status predicts. Being on benefits or having a large number of children from a young age. This does not have to be this way. You can be absolutely anything you want to, you have so much potential you just need to see how much you are worth. There are a huge amount of places you can turn to to
get help. If you don't feel like this help can be found at home speak to someone at school, ring the NSPCC or just speak to a friend or their parents/guardians. I would hate to think someone who is reading this is going through what these poor characters experienced. To the people who have previously reviewed this book, I want to make you aware this is absolutely happening in real life and it is happening far too much! Please open your eyes to the young people around you as it could be happening to someone you know and you may be the person who can change their life.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book, although I would put an age recommendation of 16+. I feel this book is not suitable for young teenagers and there is a massive amount of inappropriate language, drug use and reference and sexual encounters which are not suitable for children under 16. I feel the people who need to read this book are the people who have their eyes shut to what society is really like. They are the people who believe everyone lives the perfect life and every child or young person lives in a kind and stable upbringing. I am sorry but this is not the case. Disgustingly, children are abused, they are taken advantage of and they become involved in things which no one should ever experience. Please help them and become aware of what is going on.
Rating: 7/10
10-Word-Review: Harrowing but painfully accurate for a huge amount of people.
If you would like to read other reviews, please check out my blog at threeminutesfortyfiveseconds.blogspot.co.uk
I have owned this book for such a long time. A friend of mine knows the author. Apples is based in my local area. I am proud to say I am born and bred in Teesside. Although I do not live in the specific town of Middlesbrough, I know it very well, have worked there for a number of years and continue to visit on a regular basis. I attended Teesside University and have worked in a number of different establishments in the town, from the Cleveland Police to Legal Services to their school system. In my personal opinion, Teesside has a great opportunity for people to achieve. It is making people aware of
Teesside's potential which could change these children's lives. However, there are a select few areas, as there are in many towns, which are underprivileged and can struggle to get by. Unfortunately, that is the kind of area where the characters of th
is book live. Before I started to read the book I read some reviews and was surprised at how much people did not believe these things are likely to happen. How they did not see it like this and felt that Milward was exaggerating the area the characters lived in. Harrowingly this is exactly how some people live, especially in large built-up areas where there is such contrast in living conditions. I wanted to prove this is truly how some children live. This is the life they are subjected to because of where they live and only a small percentage escape and get out.
The main characters live in the Beechwood and Easterside estates of Middlesbrough. They are Adam and Eve, hence the name of the book is Apples. We mostly hear from Adam and Eve throughout the story, there are chapters where we hear information from other characters, Claire, Gaz and even a streetlamp and a butterfly at one stage! Adam is a character who I really felt for. He clearly has a number of personal issues going on both at home and with his own understanding of himself. It is obvious from the very beginning he has severe OCD which is going to get worse if he does not learn to control it. He has to make sure he opens and closes things, such as doors, books etc a number of times otherwise people will die, or become seriously ill. Adam is extremely socially awkward and thinks everyone is laughing at him or at his expense. He starts to come out of his shell throughout the book but appears to keep on getting knocked down. Eve, in contrast, is a very confident, open and frankly, naive young girl. These characters are approximately 14 or 15 years old in the story and Eve thinks
she is more streetwise than she is. She drinks, she sleeps with random people, she takes ecstasy in nightclubs off people she doesn't know all because she does not want to face the awful cancer illness her mum is going through at home. Eve thinks she knows the ways of the world, she thinks she is able to take on anyone and will be better off for it. I honestly wanted to give her a hug. I wanted to take her in and open her eyes to what a life like that will really lead her too. Adam is the same, I wanted to help him in so many ways. I wanted to take him away from the abusive home life he was surrounded by and to help him with his social anxiety and other aspects of his life. I also felt for Claire, Eve's friend. She has a baby when she is still a child herself. She has no one to support her because of the background she has come from herself and no one seems to be able to help her. She is destined to spiral down and be unable to see a way back out. It is such a shame, yet a realistic description of what having a child so young can do to someone living in this situation.
Throughout the whole book there is only one character who I did not like. Gary, or Gaz as they refer to him. He is horrible. He thinks he has control over everyone and thinks he has the right to take advantage of them. I just hope that Eve realises and something is done about him. I honestly felt sick to my stomach every time Milward mentions him. The way he walks around other people's houses at parties, thinking he is in charge and taking advantage of unconsenting young girls. Milward uses Gaz's character in a way which got me really frustrated. I felt very strongly about Gaz and thought Milward did this very well.
I would like to point out here that this is absolutely how a number of children live in the
Middlesbrough area. I have worked in the area of Middlesbrough where this book is set out and I have heard awful stories about the children living there. How they are exposed to drug use and dealing, sex and heartbreaking living conditions. Because of this, I am confident there are a number of other towns and cities where children are also living a life like this. They will be subject to sexual encounters when still children themselves, drug use and abuse of all kinds. If there are any young people reading this, even if you don't think you are young and you think you know what's best, please get the help you need in order to make a better life for yourself. You are worth so much more. You may be in your mid-teens and think you are invincible and you know better, but I work with a number of young people in schools who I just hope and pray will see the errors of their ways and be able to help themselves before something horrific happens. There are massive numbers of children who come from areas of the country where they think they will not achieve anything more than what their social status predicts. Being on benefits or having a large number of children from a young age. This does not have to be this way. You can be absolutely anything you want to, you have so much potential you just need to see how much you are worth. There are a huge amount of places you can turn to to
get help. If you don't feel like this help can be found at home speak to someone at school, ring the NSPCC or just speak to a friend or their parents/guardians. I would hate to think someone who is reading this is going through what these poor characters experienced. To the people who have previously reviewed this book, I want to make you aware this is absolutely happening in real life and it is happening far too much! Please open your eyes to the young people around you as it could be happening to someone you know and you may be the person who can change their life.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book, although I would put an age recommendation of 16+. I feel this book is not suitable for young teenagers and there is a massive amount of inappropriate language, drug use and reference and sexual encounters which are not suitable for children under 16. I feel the people who need to read this book are the people who have their eyes shut to what society is really like. They are the people who believe everyone lives the perfect life and every child or young person lives in a kind and stable upbringing. I am sorry but this is not the case. Disgustingly, children are abused, they are taken advantage of and they become involved in things which no one should ever experience. Please help them and become aware of what is going on.
Rating: 7/10
10-Word-Review: Harrowing but painfully accurate for a huge amount of people.
If you would like to read other reviews, please check out my blog at threeminutesfortyfiveseconds.blogspot.co.uk
June 5, 2018
Denominada “El ‘Trainspotting’ del nuevo milenio”, por el “Waterstone’s Online”, la novela “Apples”, del entonces veinteañero Richard Milward, causó conmoción entre la generación milenial: su abierta y cruda descripción de la adolescencia inglesa, plagada de sexo, drogas y alcohol, llevó incluso a algunos críticos a compararla con “El guardián entre el centeno” (lo cual no es poca cosa).
La historia se centra principal pero no únicamente en Eve y Adam. La primera, una coqueta y liberal quinceañera que ya tiene lo que parecen años (aunque en realidad sean pocos meses) en el multicolor paisaje de la promiscuidad sexual y psicodélica. Pasa sus noches con sus amigas arrimándose a muchachos para que le provean de alcohol y drogas a cambio de besos, arrumacos o, de plano, sexo. Por su parte, Adam es un virginal –literal– y calenturiento chavo que está enamorado de Eve, sin saber realmente el temperamento y la “licenciosidad” de su oscuro objeto del deseo.
A ellos se unen adolescentes violadas (y dejadas preñadas) en su embriaguez, padres abusivos, madres casi desahuciadas, jóvenes narcotizados que golpean y casi matan a quien sea, sin deberla ni temerla…
Como dice Catherine Taylor, de “The Guardian”, esta obra “es un relato grosero, gráfico, divertido y desconcertante. Bien construido y con un magnífico lenguaje lleno de fluidez, es una mirada a una experiencia personal de la adolescencia totalmente reconocible”. ¿Divertida? Sí. ¿Cruda y soez, a la par que fresca y real? También. Pero, ¿genial? Rotundamente no. Me recordó mucho a “Menos que cero”, la novela inicial de Bret Easton Ellis (que tampoco me impresionó). Desde luego que refleja, sin tapujos, la adolescencia, pero sin méritos literarios. Eso sí me parece una exagerada afirmación.
La historia se centra principal pero no únicamente en Eve y Adam. La primera, una coqueta y liberal quinceañera que ya tiene lo que parecen años (aunque en realidad sean pocos meses) en el multicolor paisaje de la promiscuidad sexual y psicodélica. Pasa sus noches con sus amigas arrimándose a muchachos para que le provean de alcohol y drogas a cambio de besos, arrumacos o, de plano, sexo. Por su parte, Adam es un virginal –literal– y calenturiento chavo que está enamorado de Eve, sin saber realmente el temperamento y la “licenciosidad” de su oscuro objeto del deseo.
A ellos se unen adolescentes violadas (y dejadas preñadas) en su embriaguez, padres abusivos, madres casi desahuciadas, jóvenes narcotizados que golpean y casi matan a quien sea, sin deberla ni temerla…
Como dice Catherine Taylor, de “The Guardian”, esta obra “es un relato grosero, gráfico, divertido y desconcertante. Bien construido y con un magnífico lenguaje lleno de fluidez, es una mirada a una experiencia personal de la adolescencia totalmente reconocible”. ¿Divertida? Sí. ¿Cruda y soez, a la par que fresca y real? También. Pero, ¿genial? Rotundamente no. Me recordó mucho a “Menos que cero”, la novela inicial de Bret Easton Ellis (que tampoco me impresionó). Desde luego que refleja, sin tapujos, la adolescencia, pero sin méritos literarios. Eso sí me parece una exagerada afirmación.
April 2, 2023
I got this book at a charity show for £1 and now I understand why.Honestly, was struggling to get past chapter two.
PROS
. Nice graphic cover art .
. Finding out that the main characters are called "Adam" and "Eve" and that's what inspired the title and cover art is a nice touch. Feels a little lazy but you can tell some thought was put into it so that's nice.
. Short. Easier to get through.
CONS
. Pretty outdated beliefs on female sexuality and race (I would give the benefit of the doubt because the characters are meant to be young and unintelligent and this was written in 2007 but it reads like that is just the writers true feelings.)
. I am aware that this book is meant to be a young adult book so I'm not the target audience (I'm 20) but the comedy is ALL crude and only focuses on sex and mean spirited insults. I can't imagine a young adult actually enjoying it, I think you'd have to be 10 and finding out what sex is for the first time to find it funny.
. As I mentioned, the characters are all crude so as a result of this, they're not very likeable and read 2 dimensional. The main male character is always horny but in a super unlikeable way and the main female character constantly slut shames and insults her friends. I don't mind unlikeable characters but these ones were flat and uninteresting.
PROS
. Nice graphic cover art .
. Finding out that the main characters are called "Adam" and "Eve" and that's what inspired the title and cover art is a nice touch. Feels a little lazy but you can tell some thought was put into it so that's nice.
. Short. Easier to get through.
CONS
. Pretty outdated beliefs on female sexuality and race (I would give the benefit of the doubt because the characters are meant to be young and unintelligent and this was written in 2007 but it reads like that is just the writers true feelings.)
. I am aware that this book is meant to be a young adult book so I'm not the target audience (I'm 20) but the comedy is ALL crude and only focuses on sex and mean spirited insults. I can't imagine a young adult actually enjoying it, I think you'd have to be 10 and finding out what sex is for the first time to find it funny.
. As I mentioned, the characters are all crude so as a result of this, they're not very likeable and read 2 dimensional. The main male character is always horny but in a super unlikeable way and the main female character constantly slut shames and insults her friends. I don't mind unlikeable characters but these ones were flat and uninteresting.
June 21, 2019
I find myself randomly thinking about this book a lot and end up re reading every couple of years.
On the face of it this is a book containing sex, drugs and a not exactly rock and roll. However as these group of teens navigate life and all the complications that come with it it shows each person trying to find a way through life, and in most cases getting it wrong.
This isn’t a story to make you like the characters, and hopefully what they are going through is not relatable, but it shows a real side of life and people trying to get through it somehow.
On the face of it this is a book containing sex, drugs and a not exactly rock and roll. However as these group of teens navigate life and all the complications that come with it it shows each person trying to find a way through life, and in most cases getting it wrong.
This isn’t a story to make you like the characters, and hopefully what they are going through is not relatable, but it shows a real side of life and people trying to get through it somehow.
August 30, 2023
let's say 3.5 stars. having recently enjoyed Richard Milward's newest novel Man-Eating Typewriter, I decided to try this novel, his debut from 16 years ago. Apples is by turns cringey, appalling, and darkly funny, while remaining compelling from start to finish. this is a book where even the most well-intentioned misfit is far from innocent. flashes of ferocious physical and emotional violence barely register as blips in the monologues, no less shocking for their sapless treatment. this was definitely not my adolescent experience, thank christ.
January 10, 2024
“If you were ever a teenager, read it”. I refuse to believe this is an accurate depiction of an entire population of teenagers, anywhere on this earth, at any time in history.
There was no real plot (which is fine) but in order to have no real plot you have to have interesting characters. These characters were all two dimensional and unlikeable, that only ever thought about drugs, alcohol and sex, with an ALARMING amount of rape and racism, met with such an indifferent attitude with absolutely every single character.
There was no real plot (which is fine) but in order to have no real plot you have to have interesting characters. These characters were all two dimensional and unlikeable, that only ever thought about drugs, alcohol and sex, with an ALARMING amount of rape and racism, met with such an indifferent attitude with absolutely every single character.
June 21, 2017
Following good reviews I expected more from this book with comparisons to Trainspotting. Well written by a young writer to be fair and a bit of a flashback to places, areas and alcoholic drinks I grew up experiencing in my teens. Certainly a very unusual perspective used to narrate the story at one point too! However, I felt the story just didn't didn't progress onto something more substantial and found it difficult reading some of the language and content.
July 27, 2025
Growing up and being a teenager at roughly the same time as this book was written, living in the north east, it’s a pretty good portrayal of life at that time and the teenage experience of getting absolutely spannered on a weekend and only caring about boys!
It’s also really sad at the same time and pretty heartbreaking with some brutal scenes and the reality that life really wouldn’t get much better for some.
Written from the naivety if the teenage perspective really gives it life.
It’s also really sad at the same time and pretty heartbreaking with some brutal scenes and the reality that life really wouldn’t get much better for some.
Written from the naivety if the teenage perspective really gives it life.
February 25, 2018
I picked up this book as it's based in my home town of Middlesbrough, and I enjoy recognising places in stories. And the familiarity of the surroundings is the only thing that kept me reading, as this books is dreadful.
It does make me happy that I turned out to be a "goth" and kept myself on the other side of the road to The Empire, tucked away in Blaise's having a great time!
It does make me happy that I turned out to be a "goth" and kept myself on the other side of the road to The Empire, tucked away in Blaise's having a great time!
March 12, 2024
basically if skins was a book
i enjoyed it all the way through, with the change in character and perspective nicely rounding out the plot, though i did find that there was a lot left unexplained at the end, but that’s definitely for the reader to decide
if you can get over all the SA and racism it’s generally quite entertaining
i enjoyed it all the way through, with the change in character and perspective nicely rounding out the plot, though i did find that there was a lot left unexplained at the end, but that’s definitely for the reader to decide
if you can get over all the SA and racism it’s generally quite entertaining
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2017
Bit of a non-story with no real trajectory or conclusion. Call me old-school, but I love it when stories have a clear beginning, middle and end and that the characters go on some sort of journey.
Not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but not particularly riveting.
Not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but not particularly riveting.
March 14, 2021
I wasn’t sure how I would take to this book, but I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a very realistic portrayal of inner city young people. It’s bleak, at times funny, and leaves you with so many thoughts.
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June 26, 2022I really wanted to like this book but I really didn't like it at all, I hated the characters and felt like I was on acid or something, I found it very triggering and the language was atrocious, some of the book was actually written backwards as well which I found a struggle
September 16, 2022
An insufferable Trainspotting filtered through Millenial degeneracy. Simultaneously deeply disturbing and genuinely funny. Multiple narrators provide a creative way to portray character through a strong showing of voice in the prose. I'm very excited to read more of Richard Milward's work.
April 25, 2025
das buch habe ich auf der straße gefunden und die person, die es vor mir gelesen hat, hat irgendwann aufgegeben die triggerwarnungen in jedes kapitel zu schreiben… das beschreibt dieses buch eigentlich ganz gut
January 6, 2022
Rounded up to 3 stars. Bit of a strange ending - not sure I’d recommend. Easy read and good storyline but inconclusive end
March 9, 2023
I think I was quite shocked by this book. I often read Young Adult stuff, I'll read anything so long as it's interesting. Dunno about this one though. Maybe you can be 'too old' for certain stuff.
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