Hensher spins a tale of such complexity in this book and others of his I've read and he does it with such ease. I know it isn't easy because there's a tremendous amount of background work that goes into creating a finished work. Hensher maintains control over the plot and the characters, just. The prose, on occassion, felt dense and under prepped. But, there is more to like than to be disappointed by.

I've really enjoyed Hensher's previous work and The Friendly Ones starts off well - an exploration of two families who live next door to one another providing the framework for a state of the nation novel as we've come to expect from Hensher.

However, it is sprawling in a dull way - slightly too long and not contained enough - although the sections set in Bangladesh are impressive.

Overall The Friendly Ones needed a little bit more editing and a more engaging book may have appeared.

A large, sprawling novel following the lives of two families based in Sheffield. I found the plot gripping and the Bangladeshi conflict sections fascinating. There is an extremely large cast of characters and I occasionally found it difficult to keep track of who everyone was.
I'll definitely be reading more by Hensher.

This is the story of neighbours. The drama starts with a huge family gathering of an extended Asian family at which two of the younger children are chatting to the man next door, who is up a ladder pruning. When one of the children chokes, the man, luckily a retired doctor, rushes round and performs a tracheotomy, thus saving the child's life. The narrative then shifts to the doctor and his family and the next third, perhaps, of the book is devoted to them. It leaves the reader slightly wondering what the purpose of the opening chapters were, introducing many characters about whom little more is said for over 100 pages.
My overall view is that the book is too long and would benefit from some rigorous editing. The writing is good in itself, just the story seems to lose it's way. A good read if you like a long slow paced read.

Purporting to be a big epic novel of our times, this is a perfectly enjoyable novel about two families and the fallout of their relationships. It ticks a lot of boxes but feels worthy rather than entertaining.

A long well plotted epic novel spanning several generations of two neighbouring families in Sheffield and what transpires to them both.

A well established patriarchal family and newly arrived immigrants find their stories intertwined in a lush tale which is sympathetically told by a splendid author.

Despite the plethora of characters introduced and the length of the book, my attention was held throughout and the time Invested was fully rewarded.

This is a remarkably sweeping and ambitious book by the well respected author Philip Hensher who charts over a period of around 50 years the saga of two very different families who become neighbours in an affluent suburb of Sheffield. (this is where Hensher spent is early life). The story begins at a family barbecue hosted by Nazia and Sharif who originated from Bangladesh but left due to the trauma of that country's bloody succession from Pakistan which was achieved in 1971. The timely intervention of the neighbour next door, Hilary Spinster a retired GP will form an association between the families that will continue to the present day. This novel has a vast almost Dickensian array of characters through which we see not only how characters develop but also how society has changed during this dynamic ever changing period.

Hensher states that he took his story from "The Winter's Tale" and "Eugene Onegin" and one can see that the unjust death of young prince Mamillius corresponds with the presumed death of Sharif's brother taken away from the family home by the Pakistani military forces. It is this act and the identity of the collaborator who informed the authorities that would haunt the family for generations to come. From Eugene Onegin, Tatyana's love letter to Onegin baring her soul is also replicated and her letter is received and rejected in a similarly dismissive manner in Hensher's novel.

There are so many themes in this novel and plots and sub plots that one can not but be fully engaged in finding out how the story will end for the characters here. Issues of class, race and gender are explored as we see how attitudes have and have not changed over the years. One also gets an appreciation of how historical events can impact the lives of those caught up in it and the consequences that this will have for future generations. In a world of increasingly closed boarders and fear of the new arrival this work emphasises the benefits and enrichment that our society has gained from those who come from outside.

Reading Philip Hensher's biography, reference is made to his time at Oxford, Cambridge and the House of Commons and all three institutions are featured in the novel. I certainly believe that this will become one of the books of the year and although long in length it is certainly worth investing time to read this insightful and penetrating novel of our times.

A sprawling novel following two families based in Sheffield, but from very different backgrounds. One whose patriarch is a retired local gp and the other a Bangladeshi immigrant who is a university professor.
I enjoyed the social history in the novel and the personalizing of the conflict in Bangladesh which I find helps with understanding some of the things people endure in war. However, I did struggle with how many characters there were and finished the book thinking I didn't really feel I'd got to know any of them.
In the acknowledgments, Hensher says he took his story from the classics of "The Winter's Tale" and "Eugene Onegin" I must admit to not having read either of these, and if I had maybe I would've been more appreciative of the novel. Sadly this hasn't inspired me to read them though.

Essentially this is the story of two families, both living in Sheffield, one originally from Bangladesh. After an initial family barbecue at which an incident brings the neighbours together we follow their stories moving across the decades and across continents. I like the humanity of this novel and the way in which Hensher shows how our lives can be enriched by taking time to learn about each other. Some parts were less successful than others, but overall definitely a good read.

I’ve previously enjoyed Philip Hensher’s novels so was thrilled to get an advance copy of the friendly ones. It’s a typically sprawling story that takes in two families across the decades and continents, whilst centred around the elder members of two households in Sheffield.
Whilst I enjoyed it, I’m left thinking it’s somewhat less than the sum of its parts- there are sections that are gripping with vivid characterisation, but some characters drop out for extended periods and return years (and pages) later with insufficient characterisation to keep track of who they are and where they stand in the grand scheme of things. Having said this, there’s a magnificent sequence around the half way point where the narrative races forward through the years and lives of the cast, up to a shocking surprise.
Whilst initially unconvinced at the non-uk elements, this is where the middle of the book comes alive in the tensions of civil conflict and balancing the fight for independence with family life.
I feel I might have enjoyed it more with time to keep racing through - reading over the best part of a fortnight may not have been the most rewarding.

worthy and intriguing narrative moving across a neighbourhood, and then, across time - a new Bangladeshi family moves into a suburban neighbourhood, and with their particular style of humour and family relations make impact on all around them. an early incident between son of the doctor/neighbour and Aisha, the Cambridge educated daughter of the newbies in the row is referred to over the years - as she becomes a lauded and decorated citizen, and he declines into heading up a local charity all those years after he declined to take up with her. Aisha's best friend Fanny has made her own way and they still refer back to Leo - we learn much about where they are and what their impulses are, subtly comparing cultural morays. satisfactory if a bit (forgive me) dull - this is well written and worthy and engrossing (nevertheless).