LoveReading Says
Oh my, I have quite fallen in love with this absolutely glorious and spellbinding tale. A wonderful infusion of themes means ‘Attend’ quite rightly, refuses to be labelled. Set in Deptford, London the streets, houses, and locations are as eloquently described and important as the characters. Skirting the violent criminal underbelly of the town and exploring the struggle of addiction, the story hovers within touching distance of an unseen mysterious power that planted itself in my mind and continued to lurk and explore my thoughts and feelings. The enigmatic and almost otherworldly Deborah sits centre stage, acting as a magnet, weaving Sam and Anne into her story. ‘Attend’ has a deliciously dark fairytale quality that sits alongside the heartfelt realism of life quite beautifully. This is West Camel’s debut, his writing is alluring and sang out to me, I simply can't wait to see what comes next. I recommend Attend with every fibre of my being, it has must-read stamped all over it.
Liz Robinson
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Attend Synopsis
SHORTLISTED for The Polari First Book PrizeLONGLISTED for the Guardian's Not the Booker PrizeA beautifully written, darkly funny, mesmerisingly emotive and deliciously told debut novel with echoes of Armistead MaupinFrom its opening gambit to its final line, Attend demands and rewards attention' Foreword Reviews'With its blend of dark, gritty themes and gorgeous imagery, this is a book to make you believe there's still magic in the world' Heat Magazine'I've fallen in love with this absolutely glorious, spell-binding tale' LoveReadingAs the threads of their lives unravel they find magic under their feetWhen Sam falls in love with South London thug Derek, and Anne's best friend Kathleen takes her own life, they discover they are linked not just by a world of drugs and revenge; they also share the friendship of the uncanny and enigmatic Deborah. Seamstress, sailor, story-teller and self-proclaimed centenarian immortal, Deborah slowly reveals to Anne and Sam her improbable, fantastical life, the mysterious world that lies beneath their feet and, ultimately, the solution to their crises. With echoes of Armistead Maupin and a hint of magic realism, Attend is a beautifully written, darkly funny, mesmerisingly emotive and deliciously told debut novel, rich in finely wrought characters that you will never forget. 'It's a genuinely pleasurable experience to encounter something couched in such alert and transparent language as West Camel's Attend In three hundred finely judged pages, West Camel leaves the reader eager for more from his pen' Barry Forshaw, CrimeTime'Lyrical and intense, the spellbinding prose is full of carefully chosen words which create an emotive and flowing' Crime Review'Rich, lively and intelligent, Attend is a novel of mystery, morality and meaning, but so delicately sewn together, you never notice the seams Rosie Goldsmith'There is such a joy to the language. West Camel is a truly gifted wordsmith, and a beautiful storyteller' Louise Beech'Skilfully weaves a tapestry of multi-layered threads delicate, evocative prose tells an intriguing story with contemporary relevance, insight and compassion' Live & Deadly'A book of past and present, grief and tragedy, forgiveness and redemption, and hopes and dreams a great debut novel' Off-the-Shelf Books'A singular and distinctive read Within the city grime and gritty plotlines, glitters an arresting tale' Books, Life and Everything'Precision language and beautifully interwoven storytelling I couldn't put it down' Liz Loves Books'Filled with a magic that is unique and uplifting. Attend is adventurous, charming and utterly compelling' Random Things through My Letterbox
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