Barnsley is a town that was defined by its pit. Men are men and that's the way it has always been. For Alex it's been a repression of his feelings, for his son Simon it is a dead-end job and the escape of OnlyFriends and a drag persona and for his brother Brian it is the work with researchers about his town. Over time the pit has closed and the town has become less of itself, failing schools, lack of jobs but the people still have their pride.
Having worked in the Barnsley area many years ago I recognised so many of the characters in this book and the circumstances they find themselves in. I love the juxtaposition of the run-down shopping centre, the fact that McDonalds left the town (although there are a couple on the outskirts) and the boutique, Pollyanna. selling high-end designer clothes out of reach of the majority. The theme of the book is change but also about sexuality and it works well on all levels. It's a poetic little gem ( )