We Don't Know What We're Doing

I hate the ending of each chapter but it reminds me of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER by junot diaz.

horrible book. imagine Sally Rooney (writer of Normal People) and imagine her worse book.Now this book is 10000 times worse.

Funny, insightful, sometimes hilarious stories of provincial life in Caerphilly

If you're not sure if you should read this book, think no more.... read it! These 10 stories are wonderfully crafted and read quickly. The characters are strong and I feel I've visited Caerphilly.

I stumbled across this book on holiday in Adelaide (Australia) while browsing in a bookshop in the city. I was drawn to it because some of my ancestry goes back to Caerphilly, where most of the stories are set. It's a very absorbing and readable work. The quality of the stories does vary, as in any collection, but those in which the narrator is most similar (I imagine) to the author are most successful - 'Bolt', 'Fugue' and 'How Sad, How Lovely' are the standouts for me - all very finely observed stories of subtle marginalisation and people perilously close to breakdown. Loneliness and mental illness are never far from the surface, but the ironic and deadpan humour (reminiscent of David Szalay) get you through and make them a pleasurable read, though not always an entirely comfortable one. An extremely promising debut. Hope he writes and publishes more. Da iawn.