Going Places (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 5): An endearing account of bringing up a family in the 1950s - Tapa dura

In GOING PLACES, Kenya unfolds within the prose like an old map and the
country seems to suit the Hopkins sleight of hand. You can sense the
wisdom of experience dripping into his life, page by page.
I read GOING PLACES in one sitting. Time vanished, the sounds of the
day receded, the cat remained unfed.

Going Places is the fourth novel written by Billy Hopkins. This latest
in the series, by far the best, engages interest and attention from the
very beginning and keeps up a pace that has the reader eagerly turning
the pages. Though the writing is humorous, there runs through it a vein
of pathos and honesty that induces inner reflection. The author has an
unusually developed skill of capturing the mood of the times and the
"atmosphere" of places and events.
This has to be among the top half dozen autobiographical-like works for
2003 and from now on it will head my personal list of favourite novels
for many years ahead.

GOING PLACES
Billy Hopkins's story is more relevant than ever in these days of TV
shows such as 'No Going Back', but nowadays the world seems a much
smaller place. GOING PLACES is well-written nostalgia for those who are
old enough to remember.

Received my copy of GOING PLACES. Just read the first few paragraphs
and had a good laugh. Billy and I are kindred spirits.

GOING PLACES arrived yesterday and I have not put it down since. It is
so evocative, especially from the Colonial Office interview onwards,
bringing back a range of emotions and memories, most extremely happy I'
glad to say.
Tomorrow we are off to France by which time I should have finished the
masterpiece. The holiday reading will be good this year.

I bought GOING PLACES yesterday and I am just finishing HIGH HOPES (for
the second time) to get me back into the right mood. No matter how many
times I read these novels, I get a good laugh and I love the stories and
so I am really looking forward to opening your latest.

I loved the story of GOING PLACES and your wonderful sense of humour.
I was in Nigeria in the colonial days, in Ecuador, and in Sierra Leone.
Everything you wrote seemed to ring a bell with me.
Thank you for a wonderful book - it recalled so many experiences for me.

I have just finished reading GOING PLACES, an amazing book. I cried, I
laughed, and enjoyed all of it with so many memories of things that
happened to me in India, Nepal, and Cambodia.
Wow!! What a book! Many thanks.

GOING PLACES grabbed me so that I wanted to know what was coming next -
the thing that all good novels should do. It moved at a steady pace,
coherently and sequentially (thank God it was non-Joycean!)
I was intrigued by the chapters about Manchester - the problems of
housing and financial manipulation and I identified with those early
years: the disappointments and the euphoric moments of success.
You fulfilled all my expectations about Kenya. You took the reader with
you into the atmosphere of Africa with its delights, fears and horrors.
(I admire the way you coped with the flora and fauna). The native
Africans come alive on the page.
Your sense of humour came across nicely both linguistically and in
action. It gave a breezy levity to a serious adventure. I felt you had
captured the spirit of what it was like to be a teacher in that area of
Africa at that time.
I loved your book and anticipate the next instalment. Congratulations.

Like all his books, GOING PLACES is written in a conversational style
that soon draws you into the dramas of family life and keeps you hooked
right to the end.