Drugs, Sex – and Protest
- Book: The Space Between Things
- Location: Birmingham, Moseley
- Author: Charlie Hill
The Space Between Things opens on 22nd November 1990 – the day that Margaret Thatcher resigns. And it takes one back perfectly to that time… Arch is smitten by Vee at a celebratory party, and their story is one of the backdrops for the book. Vee heads off the next day to the Balkans, where (as we later learn, and this is not a spoiler), she works as a photographer for an agency documenting war crimes. Arch becomes more political (provided there is a party involved) and gets though the book in somewhat of a haze caused by drugs and alcohol. He, and his friends (if they can be called that) attend the wild ‘travelling’ rave parties of the time, and sympathise with those holding protests against the building of new roads. For a person of a certain age (hands up), it certainly takes one back and revives memories.
Charlie Hill writes extremely well and wittily. There are many chortles (and the odd guffaw) brought about by his style. He clearly knows Moseley well (he is a Birmingham boy…) and takes us through the changes in the place in the 90s – the part gentrification, the disappearance of some old and much loved pubs, and the appearance of supermarkets. I don’t know Moseley at all, but it rings very true.
The Space Between Things is a fun book with a cast of eclectic characters. Perhaps not as much depth as I would have liked in some of them, but perhaps it isn’t that sort of book. A definitely good read, with high scores for nostalgia and for Hill’s wit and writing.
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