'Set against the colourful boho backdrop of London's Camden in the 1990s, Craig Revel Horwood's first novel, Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street, tells the story of an unlikely family of friends who each rent a room in a ramshackle six-bedroom, four-storey townhouse. Like any family, the residents of Diamond Street sometimes fights and often act up but when the chips are down, they're there for each other in an instant - usually brandishing a cheap bottle of booze, and the offer of an impromptu kitchen disco.
Presided over by the wise-cracking but warm-hearted patriarch of the family, Danny Hall, a professional dancer turned choreographer, the novel follows a year in the life of the inhabitants of Diamond Street, rough diamonds one and all, as they try to achieve their dreams - with unexpected, heart-warming and sometimes hilarious results.'
Set in the heart of the 1990's, Horwood's first novel feels like a time-capsule from a pocket of what could be described as being a simpler time. Where technology is only beginning and social interaction face-to-face is still real and heart-warming. If you want constant references to 'Love is all Around' by Wet Wet Wet, then this is definitely a book for you.
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I must admit, I was a bit sceptical. I have always had a deep hatred for books which have numerous main characters, but somehow it just worked. It didn't bother me, in fact, it was seamlessly interwoven so that we could understand all the main characters' motivations and what it means for them to succeed as well as fail.
Main characters such as Danny, Lachlan, Jewel, Lil and Cat, are very well-rounded in terms of what they have gone through as people and how they seem to come together as not only housemates, but friends (or how Lil puts it, family). There are clearly times of heartbreak and big fights, but it is clear that from the very beginning that these people are here to truly stick together throughout all the hardships that they all have to conquer individually.
The narrator voice that Horwood portrays at first seems a little unsettling due to hearing his voice in full, but in the end it feels like a warm hug wrapping around the reader yet sharing his new protégé to the world.
However, it is clear that there were some instances where relationships between some characters felt a little rushed. I’m talking romantic relationships, specifically Danny. Yes, it was a nice touch that all the characters of importance had the relationships with certain people which they all wanted for in the beginning. But Danny? I understand that his character arc was different to some of the other characters in the story, but I felt dumbfounded by some questions I am left with about his relationship with both his parents (specifically father) and romantic relationships, which became more relevant as the story progressed.
Shall we address the elephant in the room? Jewel and his ordeal which unfortunately sent him to hospital. It’s awful and he should have never been in such a position, but genuinely it felt a little rushed. Lil’s portrayal of what she believes to be a spiritual matter felt a lot more like a cop out rather than something considered as innovative. However, if you don’t care much about these things and just want a great entertaining light read, well you would love this book which in the end I did enjoy it when not picking on these specific points.
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/dances-and-dreams-on-diamond-street/craig-revel-horwood/9781789292381
WHSmith: https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/dances-and-dreams-on-diamond-street/craig-revel-horwood/hardback/9781789292381.html
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