I wanted to rate this higher—and I did really enjoy the writing, the book gallops along—but I just found the characters too unrealistic to side with. Sophie's mother-in-law and Coriander the left-wing student activist were particularly over-the-top. Even as a die-hard Remainer, I felt it would have been nice to have one of the main characters vote Leave, or at least, not have all the Leave voters be completely irredeemable out-and-out racists ([ Ian's redemption at the end notwithstanding (hide spoiler)]) One of the strongest passages, I felt, was the scene where Benjamin's dementia-addled Leave voting father returns to his old factory site, now turned into a shopping and housing centre—it was so well done, sympathetically dealt with and so nuanced, if only the rest of the book (and Colin's character) had been a bit more like it. But possibly, a group of Remainers reacting in horror to what a hypothetical consort of elderly racists have voted for is perhaps just too like my life for me to enjoy it.

Yikes! What timing. As I read this book Theresa May's Cabinet was falling apart over the proposed Brexit deal. Old wounds seem to have resurfaced. Only a few days ago I was lectured on the failure of the deal by a pair of Leave supporters who gracefully told me that it was "okay" for me to have voted Remain and the memories of that bitter summer rushed back. Both campaigns seemed contemptuous of the other and as the referendum drew closer their sanctimonious tone seemed to creep ever more into the world around us. Only today I see that the news is filled with reports on the rise of anti-depressant prescriptions after the vote - something I believe would've happened whatever the result. A book about Brexit? Surely that can only stir the pot more

Thankfully, no. In "Middle England" Jonathan Coe manages to take us back even further. To a time when we talked of recession and austerity. Coe goes further than most, acknowledging that Brexit wasn't just a summer campaign that divided the country. He goes back to earlier fractures that led to the vast rift. He even nods back to the 70s to show the path was forming even then. He charts how we sleepwalked into the Brexit referendum, with society slowly drifting away from the oddly polite middle-ground that the British do so well. As island people, we are good at looking inwards, and this book demonstrates how we did it so well our fellow Brits became even more foreign than the European community we were voting on.

At times this book made me laugh out loud. A release of the tension that has resurfaced. The characters are natural and easy to relate to. They are, in the whole, moderates - people you may disagree with, but only in the form of a chat over a drink in the pub. Coe takes an impressively balanced and fair view of his characters in that regard, offering a reasonable spread of views and extremes and acknowledging the backgrounds behind them all. The cast is fairly dull and normal in that regard, and that makes the story enjoyable.

Much as this is pitched as a Brexit novel it does offer far more than that. It is really a story about British people. About their relationships with each other. Brexit simply frames the growing divide that we've witnessed this century. It is amusing and poignant. It offers some hope that the scars of 2016 will heal, even if they are being torn open once more just now. Post-Brexit the book is far more hurried, with many big leaps in the timeline to move things forward, and while it loses some of the investment I had built up in the characters it highlights how far things have moved on since the vote.

If I'm honest, I think there are a lot of people not ready for this book yet. There are people I would share it with, and others who I know would react badly to it. This country still has a long way to go with Brexit and for some, it's just too soon, but it's a great book, and when things stabilise a bit more I'll have even more people to recommend it to.

I absolutely love books by Jonathan Coe, and could not wait to read this. Coe has such a deceptively easy writing style, and he always manages to write about real lives and real emotions in such an effortless manner. The same is true of Middle England, and I felt the topic was one which needs someone of his calibre to tackle it. He writes about the way we find ourselves in England today, what it really means to be "English", and the divisive results of Brexit, on whichever side of the debate. My only slight criticism of the book is that some of it felt like the 'issues' had been rather shoe-horned in, and some plot lines seemed rather far-fetched simply to touch upon an 'issue'. However, I do remain a huge fan of Jonathan Coe, and this is a book which needed to be written and certainly needs to be read.

In his latest novel Coe takes the characters from The Rotters’ Club and The Closed Circle and subjects them to the turmoil of the Referendum and Brexit. He does this with his usual keen and observant eye, but disappointingly chooses to do so with an unrelenting series of set-pieces, which, whilst often entertaining in themselves, avoid nuance and insight and offer little to the political debate. His potentially interesting characters are not explored in any depth and none of them mature or change. This becomes wearisome, as each appears to be there simply to stand for a particular point of view or outlook. Satire is never successful if it simply chronicles what’s happening in the real world, it has to bring something more to the table, and this novel unfortunately doesn’t. Set-piece after set-piece with no narrative drive and no psychology ends up being a series of occasionally funny but never involving scenarios. Coe includes every issue he can think of – racism, xenophobia, political hypocrisy, political correctness cruises, garden centres, family life, ageing and so on and so on - and casts his critical eye over them but offers no resolutions or correctives. Amusing at times, but so lacking in depth and so obvious and banal, that although I actually quite enjoyed reading the book, I was distinctly underwhelmed by it.

ICoe certainly took me down Memory Lane with this and I appreciated the way he provided descriptions within the framework of the characters' lives. However, somehow for me his writing failed to be the humorous reading I was expecting. Somehow it often left me unsettled and I found it increasingly tedious. However, I can appreciate that is my personal view and this could be a very appealing style for many.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This my first Jonathan Coe book. I enjoyed it. It is well written and it tells a personal and a national story that felt familiar - it felt very much like part of my own recent history.
It is based around a number of recent Britsh events from the 2012 Olympics to the Brexit Referendum,
I don’t think it would be everyone’s cup of tea. But I liked it and I am glad I read it.

Maybe it’s just me, but I just don’t get this. I’m not really sure what the aim of this book is. It seems to be a kind of state-of-the-British-nation account (from around 2010 to 2016) as viewed through the eyes of a group of generally somewhat privileged and, for me, unappealing characters, who seem to me to be more caricatures than real multidimensional people in the mostly fairly superficial portrayal. I have no issue with flawed people, but I need to be given at least something that makes me like them or at least feel some empathy, but I’m afraid these characters left me cold. Unfortunately, the narrative lacks the humour of someone like Bill Bryson and I just can’t help thinking why anyone – at least an adult Brit who has lived through this era - would want to rehash all the (depressing) old news and conversations through characters that are not at all interesting. It’s like suffering through a gathering of people you hardly know – possibly even take an instant dislike to - who are repeating same old same old and you just can’t wait for the moment to arrive when you can leave with at least a modicum of politeness.

I understand that this book forms a series, so that some readers may have become familiar with the characters in previous books and developed a kind of relationship with them, and indeed they may previously have been presented in such a way as engender that much-needed empathy in we readers. I came to this book ‘cold’ without that advantage, so may sound rather harsh in my judgement to those who have already found an appeal in the characters and/or style. But no, I just don't get it.

I love this book.
I'm exactly the right age for this series (The Rotters' Club, The Closed Circle, Middle England), which follows a group of Midlands friends from childhood to the present day, and recognise so much from my own experiences.
From the shocking pub bombing in The Rotters' Club through the many comic and poignant moments of Benjamin and his friends/family's lives, there's so much to enjoy.
The books are as much social history as they are cracking good tales. Cleverly written, well researched... and with plenty of wry humour.
The Rotters' Club was a wonderful reminder of the days of strong trade unions, orange swirl carpets and prawn cocktail being the height of sophistication.
Middle England brings things right up to date and puts Brexit firmly to the fore.
In the decreasing likelihood of a "People's Vote" it should be compulsory reading for all.

This was an interesting enjoyable read, revisiting old characters from The Rotters Club centred on Brexit, the rise and fall of David Cameron and reminding us other events in the window the book covers between just before the General Election in 2010 to September 2018. There are plenty of new characters as well in this, at times, lighthearted read around the serious issues we are all facing. Reading this book in the week when the Prime Minister has introduced the Commons to her Brexit deal I found this focused the mind on what had preceded the point we now find ourselves in.

Now living on the geographical edge of Coe's Middle England I am more than familiar with the places mention in the book, even living for a time in Earlsdon, Coventry in the late 70's. A bit of a nostalgic trip down memory lane as well with Hatfield and the North, having grown up in the city where this particular prog rock band originated. The England Coe paints is the one we have got used to, the decimation of industry, decline of the traditional high street with the rise of food banks versus the genteel golf courses and garden centres.

I loved the intermix of fact and fiction, so easy to relate to the places, people and times. A thought provoking read in these tumultuous times, at times disturbing as we all have to face up to the next, unwelcome, chapter in our future.

I was sent a copy of Middle England by Jonathan Coe to read and review by NetGalley.
This is an enjoyable easy read that is the epitome of ‘Middle England’ - Middle Class, Middle Aged and somewhat Middle of the Road. While being largely character based the novel’s main purpose seems to be a platform for politics, most especially Brexit. The book is both amusing and informative but I feel it will appeal to rather a niche audience. A shame really as the writing is good and the plot certainly has its moments!

I came to Middle England not realising it was part of a series, and this probably impacted slightly on my enjoyment of it. However it is still an enjoyable story chronicling a period of great change in modern Britain.

The story covers the period between April 2010 and September 2018, and we (well, the characters) relive many of the major events throughout this period - the Coalition government, the London riots, the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, Jo Cox's murder, the Referendum, and more. At times this feels like a bit of a checklist of shoehorning events into a narrative, but I did enjoy the ride and most of these added something to the story.

As I said, for readers familiar with the Trotters there may be more to enjoy here, but for readers new to the family the narrative is still engaging. Coe has some interesting observations to make about the British psyche, and this has been one of the most enjoyable "state of the nation" books I've read about Brexit/contemporary Britain. Recommended!

Middle England

I thought the blurb sounded interesting; I haven't read earlier books by this author featuring some of the characters, so came to it as a standalone.

Overall, it's an entertaining and often amusing read. It's light, with a few laugh out loud moments and I enjoyed it. But I was also disappointed that the author stuck with so many stereotypes. The intelligentsia is largely right and good, Brexit is bad and supported by racists. It's very simplistic and it gives no credence to the many leave voters who did so for judicial, fiscal and logistical considerations which had nothing to do with being racist Little Englanders. I think he missed a trick in reflecting a wider viewpoint.

The story is very much set in the Midlands and weaves an interesting take around real events including intercity riots and an MP murder. Whilst that gives context to many of the set pieces with the central characters, it fails to address the underlying weakness of a blinkered narrative. But for all that, I enjoyed it.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

In this highly entertaining satire set in the Midlands and London, Jonathan Coe unfolds the political and cultural tapestry of the past eight years: the Cameron/Clegg government, the London riots, the Olympic opening ceremony and the slow – and increasingly faster – descent into Brexit chaos.

Coe is a master in chronicling the recent past, taking the country’s temperature and capturing its mood. He does take sides (Remain) and his anger and exasperation sometimes shine through.
I found this book funny and well thought out and if you, like me, read the news and think ‘how did this all happen?’ it’s just the ticket.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wouldn’t normally choose to read a book about Brexit but I have read Jonathan Coe’s novels before (The House of Sleep and What a Carve Up!) and been very impressed by his excellent writing so thought I would try this one. I’m really glad I did. The writing is again an absolute treat. The author has an incredible sense of comic timing - lots of examples but I don’t want to give anything away. I hadn’t read the previous novels in this series but it didn’t matter at all. I am now very keen to read them though! The structure of the novel meanders a little like Benjamin Trotter’s river and this is just fine. It’s a book to get lost in. I was carried away by the characters and their lives, the small problems, the bigger ones, overshadowed all the time by Brexit and the sense of uncertainty facing us all. A seriously good book by an outstanding author.

I had hoped that "Middle England" would give me some light relief during the Brexit process. But it is such a big and emotive issue for me that I have found it almost impossible to engage this book as a work of fiction.

I like both the writing style and the concept a great deal but this is a book to which I shall have to return in a few years, once I have cooled down, before I can give a considered opinion. On that basis, I have given it an "average" rating.

Many thanks for giving me this copy to review.

A new book by Jonathan Coe is like greeting an old friend. His books have the capacity to move me like few others. Middle England is his Brexit novel but is so much more than that. It examines the conditions that led up to it, taking in ‘political correctness gone mad’, ‘people like you', and why we never saw it coming.
Some of the characters return from The Rotters Club, and The Closed Circle although this reads as a stand alone novel perfectly. Coe shows us how we were encouraged to be dissatisfied with immigration and multiculturalism. As in the British Empire , we are being divided and ruled.
Ben Trotter unexpectedly has a book published. A newspaper profile makes it look as if it only happened because of tenuous connections to ‘elites and experts.’ Sophie, a lecturer, is accused of transphobia due to a teenage girl who ‘knows her rights.’ As austerity bites throughout the David Cameron Premiership, people look for someone to blame.
One dialogue that runs through the novel is a series of meetings between a journalist, Doug and a communications director in the Tory Government, Nigel. At every meeting save the last one, Nigel makes out that everything is going brilliantly. After the referendum result, he admits that the country is ‘fu**ed’, and that everything is a mess.
Despite this, Middle England ends on a tone of glorious hope that makes up glad we made the journey.

I’ve had mixed responses to Jonathan Coe novels over the years. I loved The Rotters’ Club and What a Carve Up!, I thought The Closed Circle (follow up to The Rotters’ Club) and House of Sleep were okay, and I’ve started one or two others that I couldn’t get through at all.

Middle England picks up the story of the protagonists of The Rotters’ Club in 2010 and follows their stories up to and after the Brexit referendum. It doesn’t have a conventional narrative arc, it’s more a series of vignettes showing how Benjamin, Doug and co react to current events and to changes in their personal lives. It’s a bit like a hearing a series of anecdotes about old friends, moderately entertaining if you know them (though I’m not sure you’d be interested if you don’t).

While What a Carve Up! took apart Tory rule with savagery and humour and heart, I found this examination of Brexit terribly condescending. If you’ve been following politics at all in recent years, I don’t think you’ll learn or experience anything new. If you’re not interested in politics, why would you read it at all?

The political points made in the novel, such as they are, are so crass and obvious that they make phone-ins seem erudite. Benjamin’s father and pretty much everyone of their generation is a cross between Victor Meldrew and Katie Hopkins, while it seems the true pain of Brexit for the protagonists is that they have to listen to dreadful people’s views over dinner.

I know that people actually do say the things that you think are only clichés (who hasn’t sat through an awkward family Christmas or a wedding trying to ward off comments about how ‘the neighbourhood has gone downhill since they moved in’, or ‘my best friend’s cousin’s brother is getting a fortune in disability and he plays golf three times a week’) but in a novel don’t we want something a bit more challenging? Something that tries to understand the lives and thoughts of people who disagree with us? Something to make us consider the bigger forces that led us to this point?

If Coe is on the side of progressives, why does he make all the characters so unsympathetic and out of touch? Sophie, Benjamin’s niece, doesn’t think racism is a thing in one chapter, then in the next thinks an Asian woman is ‘brave’ because she runs a class for speeding drivers(?!). Sophie’s beginning a career in higher education but instead of struggling to pay the rent on precarious short-term contracts, she drifts airily between teaching in Birmingham, research at the British Library and lucrative private lecture gigs. The people who are really suffering are at the periphery of the story. Doug’s privileged daughter, who invites herself to a riot on a kind of poverty safari, is at least self-aware.

I don’t think you can call it satire if it doesn’t make you laugh, or give you some insight, or motivate you to change. This just made me sad.

I loved revisiting the characters of The Rotters' Club and their experiences over the last 10 years.

I particularly enjoyed the section about the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony especially as the characters experienced many of the emotions that I did.

I love the humour in Jonathan Coe's writing and his ability to pin down feelings an=d the mood of each time period that he writes about.

Here's hoping that everyone in the UK survives 29th March 2019 in one piece!

ps thanks for the tip about Irish passports

In this lighthearted page-turner, Jonathan Coe explores the serious issues surrounding the state of the UK leading up to and after the Brexit vote.

Coe's Remain support is evident. For a leave supporter, this might be an uncomfortable read at times, but there are characters from both sides, and some who are undecided in their views. The most striking aspect of the novel is how uncomfortable the characters are with the state of the country, whether they are pro or anti EU membership.

As the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is still unclear, this book should be compulsory reading for anyone living in the UK. Can anything be done to mitigate the effects of this vote?

I hadn't read the previous books in this series, but was pleased it worked for me as a stand alone novel, and I will certainly look to read the others as "prequels"!
It felt quite odd reading such recent history as a novel, but I felt the author used the characters well to encourage the reader to stop and look again at the momentous changes which are happening in the personal and national lives of our country and its citizens.