Bloom of Youth

In this original and entertaining novel, set in the Sussex of the 1950s, we discover, via Ruth, its teenage narrator, the series of events which see her grow from schoolgirl to young woman on the brink of life and self-discovery. Ruth's is an endearingly chaotic and eccentric household, with minor literary pretensions. It is presided over by her resilient and resourceful mother, totally undaunted by diminishing family finances. The dream of childhood and adolescence are caught by Anderson in a most appealing mixture of humour and poignancy, resulting in a book which moves beyond mere period piece into a memorable documentation of youth's bittersweet exuberance.