When I Was

A Writer's Review BOOK OF THE YEAR, chosen by Leslie Wilson - "What struck me about this novel was the vulnerability of people trying to be adults, and somehow never managing it; the deeply insecure parents are imprisoned by their class and difficult background, trying to negotiate the world without enough tools to do so, at least not enough to fool other adults that they know what they're doing, and aren't we all like that at times? The four children are also struggling through their lives, particularly the youngest, an observant, sometimes truculent little girl who loves her parents in spite of their failings. The family relationships ring absolutely true.

There are passages of wonderful comedy, particularly the abortive excursion to Brighton in a hire car, which turns out a disaster, particularly for the car. There's  also deep and devastating sadness. Engaging, perceptive and compassionate, this is a novel that’s hard to put down."

"I found it utterly compelling and could not put it down. The opening scenes are simply wonderful, every single note was so true. Lovely pure sounds, deftly struck. The narrative really moved – it was superbly paced. The family of the story is caught helplessly in an inexorable, grinding progression from old world to new. It's only hinted at in the [beginning] but from then on it's a world of earth tremors and eventually collapse. Yet it's still such a personal, intimate story of one hapless family and the reader feels for them so deeply! It's also a portrait of the artist in youth: [Miller], the mute observer, not missing a thing, observing so much. I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world. I'm enriched by it."
– Carolyn Polizzotto
"A lyrically written novel about life in 1950s London, based on the author’s own childhood. The beautifully written book offers a crisp snapshot of life in Great Britain after the war. This is a highly recommended novel presenting a slice of life of one family in a bygone era." - Maureen Stapleton, Love Reading
"The touch is light and often humorous … the characterisation is interesting. There is much to recommend this novel, particularly readers interested in the social changes happening in post-war British society." - The Hoistorical Novel Soc