William Lavery is an endearing character, a gentle "old soul" molded by his middle-class Britishness to have a stiff upper lip and family tragedy when he was 8 years old. As we follow William, we discover his upbringing means he keeps relationships at arm's length, despite having a loving family.
The supporting characters are wonderful, particularly his school friend Martin Mussey. Martin is a larger-than-life character, the type of friend anyone would wish for. Time spent with Martin's family brings to mind Enid Blyton-style family get-togethers. The relationship between Uncle Robert and Howard also makes you realise the lengths people had to go to keep secrets and how much society has changed.
Music plays a huge part in William's life. Throughout the novel, we see that music, no matter the genre, can be uplifting and joyful. Music can give people a sense of purpose, a reason to live or simply a brief escape from the desperate life they lead.
It is obvious to the reader that William is suffering from PTSD, and this, combined with his upbringing, is part of the reason he struggles with relationships. William realises that he needs to return to Aberfan, to confront his nightmares and hopefully allow him to move forward.
Equally heartbreaking and uplifting, this was a joy to read.
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