Goshawk Common :: Common Ground

Since I read Naomi Ishiguro's debut collection of short stories, I had to continue with her second book, also debut novel, 'Common Ground' (March 2021). Again, I refused to buy the book. Borrowed it from the library. They stock only hard copies and there aren't digital books. (Reviews here, here and here.)

Although the story isn't really isn't my cup of tea, I rather enjoyed it. This is a completely different sort of storyline and content to her first book of short stories. 'Common Ground' is a much stronger piece of work. Her fantasy/fairy tales aren't arresting, and didn't draw me into their world. The language was middling. But this, is sharp, observant, and the story is very much relevant to today's experiences. 

Two young boys in Newford, Surrey became good friends in 2003, lost touch and reconnected as adults in London 2012. They were not schoolmates. Street-smart and savvy, and also a Traveller/gypsy Charlie Wells was then sixteen years old, and quiet, shy, bookish and studious Stanley Gower/Stan was thirteen. They continue to meet at Goshawk Common, and found common ground with each other. However, racial and societal prejudices gradually seeped in, as they always do against Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers (or Welsh or Scottish, or traveling circus and fairground showmen or anyone with a nomadic lifestyle), in spite of the UK Equality Act 201. Then they went off their separate ways and lost touch for nine years. 

'No trainers,' said the bouncer at the first bar he tried., mouth turned down in a thin line of dour disdain as, at the same time as stopping Charlie, he waved through a bunch of lads, who as far as Charlie could tell were dressed just the same as he was.

'What?' Charlie said, 'Sorry, mate, I know you're only doing your job and all but weren't some of those just in trainers, same as me?'

'Not really,' said the bouncer.

'Sorry?' said Charlie.

The bouncer just shook his head.

'But surely trainers is trainers though, right?' said Charlie. 

The bouncer appeared to think about this for a moment, then said, 'No. These ones' — indicating the shoes on Charlie's feet — 'these aren't the same thing at all.'

The first half of the book was narrated from the perspective of Stan. The second half held Charlie's perspective. The boys, now weary young men, met again after losing touch for almost a decade. They bumped into each other at a student art party in London. Would this friendship pick up from where it left off? Nobody knew if the friendship would endure. 

Charlie now works in a warehouse, is a raging alcoholic and unhappily married. Anti-Traveller prejudices follow Charlie. It never ends. Stan is a university student doing his Masters in Journalism, and is now doing all right. Stan initially interned at a paper 'Writing Left', but he quit because he realized that his old boss might be too practical and prejudiced. He wanted to do a story about Travellers, and Charlie's life, but his old boss said no because "Gypsies don't sell papers." He kept in touch with Charlie in London, and wanted to be part of his life. 

Charlie had to participate in a traditional fist fight to defend the honor of his disabled brother. That spun off a whole series of incidents and fights and people landing in hospital injured, which ended with them having more fights with others and a fight with a racist group in a local pub. Stan proposed and Charlie finally agreed to write an article about the fight and such, which was published by The Newford Echo. How cool was that to see Charlie's name in print. And the story clearly indicated that this friendship has endured.