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Albert Entwistle was a postman. It was one of the few things everyone knew about him. And it was one of the few things he was comfortable with people knowing . . .’ Most of the story is Albert opening up to friendship and the possibility of finding his lost love. There is very much a “found family” element going on. He comes to rely on a young single mother of Trinidadian heritage as well as an older single woman who are both people on his postal route. As they help him, he also helps them. Very heartwarming, all in all. There is also a degree of formulaic-ness and every stereotyped person possible who needs support is turned into a character and given 10 minutes in the spotlight. Also, parts sort of turn into a manifesto on gay pride (from young George). If I can see the strings being tugged, it takes away a bit of the emotional depth for me. Because his mother didn’t like him. Albert has no idea why as he did everything to please her, took care of her every demand, her every desire. Albert’s mother, however, never had one good thing to say about her son, always so upset she could never carry the other children she became pregnant with to term. The woman was never able to realize that she had a child in front of her all the time who wanted her, she, so wanting “more”, to never appreciate what was there all along.
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle: A surprising, uplifting
CW – homophobia, gay bashing, casual racism, death of child with cancer, parental emotional abuse, death of elderly pet Yeah, but one thing I've learned is that if you try to do that, you never do put the past behind you - it just tags along in the present. And it burrows into you like some kind of poison. It's only by facing up to it and dealing with all the feelings it brings up that we can learn from it and move on.” Three months before his sixty-fifth birthday, Albert receives a letter from the Royal Mail thanking him for decades of service and stating that he is being forced into retirement. At once, Albert’s simple life unravels. Without the work that fills his days, what will he do? He has no friends, family, or hobbies—just a past he never speaks of, and a lost love that fills him with regret. And so, rather than continue his lonely existence, Albert forms a brave plan to start truly living, to be honest about who he is . . . and to find George, the man with whom he spent one perfect spring and summer long ago. I listened to this on audiobook. Loved the narrator he really brought Albert and the rest of the characters to life. There were some great characters in this book.We know where the book is heading – a reunion of Albert and George. Cain takes a bit too long to get us there. He wondered if it ever occurred to all those people who socialised without any unease at all just how torturous it was for someone like him to be thrust into that kind of situation.” But he reminded himself that everyone was busy steering a course through their own dramas, that everyone was grappling with their own challenges in life. They're all busy coloring themselves in.”
hidden gay lives finally being uncovered - BBC Culture The hidden gay lives finally being uncovered - BBC Culture
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, I think, gives a pretty accurate portrayal of what one of the lives a person who hid this real secret of self could look like. Especially if they were overly paranoid as Albert is, so scared that people would find out. Because, it is not the secrecy that makes Albert’s character so odd, the things he does around people when he is forced to be around them, the arms length he puts them at and, if they get inside that huge protective zone he puts around himself, he freaks out. Albert Entwistle, in the book, seems to have snares with ringing bells around the proximity of himself, and, when a person even nudges one of those snares he completely freaks out, makes a scene. All these years of worrying that someone would get close and then, they might know. HB: Are there any ways that you and Albert are similar? Or is he completely completely different to you? The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain is a beautifully written story that will pull at your heartstrings and make you smile through your tears. The protagonist is a sweet lovable character whose story pulls you in. The author touches upon themes of friendship, love, self-acceptance and community. The author sheds a light on discrimination against gay men in the 1970s and the challenges faced by same-sex couples in the same era through conversations with those whose experiences were similar to Albert’s at the end of the book. Yes, the plot was predictable but it is a heartwarming read with an interesting cast of characters that keeps you engaged till the very end. The subplots were well integrated into Albert’s story and it never felt as if the story was digressing. The story was a tad too long but not so much that the reader would lose interest. I switched between reading the book and listening to Simon Vance’s brilliant audio narration which made for a wonderful immersion reading experience.The story itself is cute, but it is too long. For example, the storytelling needs some fine tuning as some of the events are not too exciting. Additionally, the romance between Albert and George is underwhelming. I still don’t understand what is so special about George. Aside from just love, did George inspire Albert to be a better person? Did Albert and George go through an experience that bonded them? Is there a great friendship between Albert and George? I so enjoyed this – a warm-hearted, moving and thought-provoking joy about an elderly postman’s awakening to life and love’ FANNY BLAKE Wonderful. Written with such a good heart, filled with joy and strength and optimism . . . inventive and fun but most importantly, true.’ RUSSELL T. DAVIES
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