Borribles

Twice in one day, what's the world coming to?

Jolly bit of news here about The Borribles.

This has put a smile on my face. The Borribles books by Michael de Larrabeiti have long been a favourite of mine and deserve a bit of recognition.

It is clear that one or two people fail to see any merit in them because they are, according to Wikipedia (that accurate fount of all knowledge), young adult books. Sorry, Wiki, but that's bollocks. They might appeal to young adults, but they were written for a much wider audience.

The Borribles is a well-written, highly astute political analysis; a fascinating exploration of morality and the importance of community; an excellent exposition on how we create an underclass; and its all wrapped up in a bloody good story. It is a powerful piece of mythology. Oh, and did I mention? It's a bloody good story.

The confusion may arise from the fact that it is a set of books about children (of a sort). That does not make it a book written exclusively for children. Sadly, many adults will not read books with children as the main protagonists. Partly because there aren't a vast amount out there (although I've no doubt my reader will provide me with a long list).

Anyway, I will quietly celebrate the success of the books in this small poll. I love the work of Woolf, Dickens, and Moorcock, but de Larrabeiti has best captured the London I know.