An excellent memoir about a boy growing up gay in the 60s and 70s in Nottingham (a city in the East Midlands, England). What I found brilliant was the level of detail; the author’s ability to remember so much, while undoubtedly not always pleasant, was useful for writing this book.
The memoir focuses on the ages of around 8 to 18 and segues from one traumatic experience to the next. The early death of his mother, horrific bullying and lengthy stays in hospital, resulting in fear of abandonment, paranoia and shame. What does shine through is that he was still not afraid to be himself and his father was very supportive, even helping young Simon to create fashion inspired by Marc Bolan. Over the years, Simon’s style changed from glam rock to punk, encouraged by the music that was one of his comforts.
While it’s awful to read about the violence and prejudice that Simon was subjected to, somehow the overall effect of the book is not overwhelmingly sad, because it’s a story of survival, with a wry sense of humour.
Independently published in 2022 with Butterworth Books.