BB FANS

I finished this book this morning and can thoroughly recommend it. I haven't felt this moved by a book or a person in a long time. It tells the true story of Stuart , who as the burb says is a thief, convicted criminal, drug user, hostage-taker, pyscho and street raconteur. His story is told backwards at his suggestion to the author Alexander Masters, from the man he was when the author first met him at the age of 33 to the happy go lucky little boy of 12 years old. I felt as frustrated by Stuart as the author but also equally enamoured by his honesty, his wisdom and his wit. He was an amazingly complex character who could make you love him and hate him, all in the space of about 1 minute.

I don't want to give to much away in case anyone wants to read it, but it really is a fantastic read, though at times, the events of Stuart's life are almost unbearable to hear about.

I started this book last night. Coincidentaly I picked it up from the library this week and found out ellie was reading it at the same time. It is based around Cambridge and I already recognise things that happened that were in the news and people that friends of mine knew

wow what a book! I finished it this morning. I'm still struck by the fact that you and I had coincidentaly decided to read it at the same time ellie without either of us saying! Anyway an excellent insight into the issues of homelessness and mental illness. I will definatley buy my own copy and read it again and underline bits and make loads of notes in the margin! Parts of it for me was strange because so much of it I recognise, living in the same city. For example I went to one of the places mentioned in the book on Saturday which is a place for homeless people to work and live commune style (Emmaus) then I came home and read about it in the book that evening! weird. I also know people that work in a lot of the homeless refuges mentioned so it was very close to home for me in terms of familiaraity. Definatley a book that everyone should read. A real understanding of how the 'system' can often in its attempts to sort things, create a worse problem.

bought my own copy this evening. Now I can read it again and make loads of notes and underline bits.

*note to self, get a life*

Oh I do that with all my books HC. Its great as in about a year or two you will re-read it and think 'my my, what a load of pretentious twaddle I wrote'. Or is that just me?

oh thats just you

Did you have a bowl of BITCHY for breakfast or what?

no I'm like this without any help