Tuesday, September 07, 2021

Night Boat to Tangier (Kevin Barry)

Kevin Barry
Night Boat to Tangier




A book I bought for Simon as we'd spent time in Algeciras in the 1980s waiting for a ferry to Maroc. We weren't there for the same reason as these guys and were taken under the wings of 4 Moroccan guys who on the other side of the waters helped us negotiate travel between the Spanish enclave and Morocco proper. And one then took us to stay with his family in Casablanca. Such hospitality. For that little adventure see here: https://sites.google.com/site/funkingpunker/home  Anyway Barry's story is of two guys waiting at the port looking out for a certain girl whilst reminiscing about their lives which have been, umm, let's say interesting but you wouldn't've wanted to be part of their lives. Well I wouldn't've. No more spoilers as it's a compelling and fascinating read darkly funny at times. As they are the same age as me, give or take, a lot of the cultural references are of my time which makes it more readable. This edition has an extra short story Old Stock which is more descriptive than a plot but nonetheless enjoyable. 

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