An interesting rewrite of On The Road, set in modern day Britain. The author plays on the contrast between the open road of the 50s original, and the traffic-jammed, speed-camera lined roads of nowadays. The titular road leads from London to the north of Scotland, and the two central characters have many encounters, although with a level of disillusionment and bathos not found in On The Road.The writing throughout is strong and this is worth a read if you like On The Road.

An interesting rewrite of On The Road, set in modern day Britain. The author plays on the contrast between the open road of the 50s original, and the traffic-jammed, speed-camera lined roads of nowadays. The titular road leads from London to the north of Scotland, and the two central characters have many encounters, although with a level of disillusionment and bathos not found in On The Road.The writing throughout is strong and this is worth a read if you like On The Road.

After reading "A Virtual Love" last year, I made it one of my New Year’s resolutions to read "On the Holloway Road", Andrew Blackman’s first novel who won the Luke Bitmead Award in 2008.Because it was inspired by Jack Kerouac’s "On the Road", I was a little worried that I might miss something important if I don’t read that one first, but decided to go ahead and read it anyway. Perhaps I’ll read Kerouac’s book one day, but I’m in no hurry.The story follows Jack and Neil, two young men in their tw...

After reading "A Virtual Love" last year, I made it one of my New Year’s resolutions to read "On the Holloway Road", Andrew Blackman’s first novel who won the Luke Bitmead Award in 2008.Because it was inspired by Jack Kerouac’s "On the Road", I was a little worried that I might miss something important if I don’t read that one first, but decided to go ahead and read it anyway. Perhaps I’ll read Kerouac’s book one day, but I’m in no hurry.The story follows Jack and Neil, two young men in their tw...

On The Holloway Road is a road trip novel set in the United Kingdom, but with obvious links to the Jack Kerouac American story. The main characters, Jack and Neil, are both searching for something: Jack, an aspiring writer, for what? Inspiration, acceptance……..? Neil appears to be the opposite of Jack - loud, brash, and confident, in search of adventure. Both want to find some meaning to life and their trip, they hope, will provide the answer to all their questions.There was so much reality in t...

On The Holloway Road is a road trip novel set in the United Kingdom, but with obvious links to the Jack Kerouac American story. The main characters, Jack and Neil, are both searching for something: Jack, an aspiring writer, for what? Inspiration, acceptance……..? Neil appears to be the opposite of Jack - loud, brash, and confident, in search of adventure. Both want to find some meaning to life and their trip, they hope, will provide the answer to all their questions.There was so much reality in t...

On the Holloway Road By Andrew BlackmanIt’s been a few weeks since I read this book and therefore this review is based on the elements of the novel that have resonated with me during the interceding time.One of the reasons I wanted to write about On the Holloway Road is that since reading it, I’ve also travelled part of the route that the novel’s Jack Maertons and Neil Blake took. It happened on my own road-trip to Scotland. My husband pointed out as we trundled along in our bus-with-a-woodstove...

First of all I must confess I never heard of Jack Kerouac's novel, so I don't have that as a point for comparison. I was also a bit worried that the novel held a very English point of view that I would be unable to relate to, but it wasn't the case. I was hooked from page one. The writing is excellent and the characters of Jack and Neil are very believable (Jack more or, but then again I'm a bit of Jack myself so I am more prone to believe what I am familiar with). Having just finished the book

First of all I must confess I never heard of Jack Kerouac's novel, so I don't have that as a point for comparison. I was also a bit worried that the novel held a very English point of view that I would be unable to relate to, but it wasn't the case. I was hooked from page one. The writing is excellent and the characters of Jack and Neil are very believable (Jack more or, but then again I'm a bit of Jack myself so I am more prone to believe what I am familiar with). Having just finished the book

A very good British take on "On The Road". Believable characters. Made me want to go on my own road trip up the A1. Would really really like to see On The Holloway Road made into an independent Brit "flick".

I wanted to read this as I know the author slightly. It reminded me of Withnail & I. Blokey drinking and irresponsible behaviour on rather pointless road trip. Not really my sort of thing. Not entirely convinced Andrew has been to Oban - I have and don't recall it as anything near as attractive as he describes. I enjoyed the central relationship while at the same time being annoyed by both parties fairly equally and in turn. I don't think I am the target audience. if you enjoyed Withnail you'll

I wanted to read this as I know the author slightly. It reminded me of Withnail & I. Blokey drinking and irresponsible behaviour on rather pointless road trip. Not really my sort of thing. Not entirely convinced Andrew has been to Oban - I have and don't recall it as anything near as attractive as he describes. I enjoyed the central relationship while at the same time being annoyed by both parties fairly equally and in turn. I don't think I am the target audience. if you enjoyed Withnail you'll

'On the Holloway Road' by Andrew Blackman, is an exceptional piece of writing. I found it absorbing and insightful;there are many memorable paragraphs which stay with you long after you have read them. This is an amazing debut novel which has already won an award: 'The Luke Bitmead Award 2008'. It's the story of Jack and Neil, two young men who are as different to each other as it is possible to be: Jack is a struggling writer, trying unsuccessfully to finish his first novel; he lives with his m...

'On the Holloway Road' by Andrew Blackman, is an exceptional piece of writing. I found it absorbing and insightful;there are many memorable paragraphs which stay with you long after you have read them. This is an amazing debut novel which has already won an award: 'The Luke Bitmead Award 2008'. It's the story of Jack and Neil, two young men who are as different to each other as it is possible to be: Jack is a struggling writer, trying unsuccessfully to finish his first novel; he lives with his m...

The two main characters, Jack and Neil, embark on a road trip after meeting on the Holloway Road. The book focuses on Neil's powerful influence over the people he meets, his attitude toward the world and the people he encounters, and on their trip together. Jack has left behind an unfinished novel and his mother to embark on the road trip. Neil has left nothing behind aside from his past brushes with the law.The characters are developed as real living human beings. I value this. I tire of stereo...

I got Andrew Blackman’s ‘On the Holloway Road’ by mail a few days back and as soon as it arrived I dropped whatever I was reading and started it. I finished reading it yesterday. Here is what I think.‘On the Holloway Road’ is narrated by a writer called Jack. Jack is working on his big, complex literary novel but it is not getting anywhere. One evening while he is having dinner at the kebab shop near his home, a man walks in and comes and sits at his table, uninvited. Soon the two start a conver...

the reviews I read of this were mostly good - but the book didnt quite deliver for me. Not exactly sure where it was going - a decent story, but just a bit to ordinary for me!

"On the Holloway Road" shares more with Jack Kerouac's classic "On the Road" than three words in their titles.Andrew Blackman's novel is the modern day equivalent of the journeys of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, only set in the U.K. Even the main characters are thinly veiled versions of Kerouac's thinly veiled characters. For those of you keeping score at home, that means Jack Kerouac=Sal Paradise=Jack Maertens and Neal Cassady=Dean Moriarty=Neil Blake.Like Sal and Dean, Jack and Neil are an u...

"On the Holloway Road" shares more with Jack Kerouac's classic "On the Road" than three words in their titles.Andrew Blackman's novel is the modern day equivalent of the journeys of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, only set in the U.K. Even the main characters are thinly veiled versions of Kerouac's thinly veiled characters. For those of you keeping score at home, that means Jack Kerouac=Sal Paradise=Jack Maertens and Neal Cassady=Dean Moriarty=Neil Blake.Like Sal and Dean, Jack and Neil are an u...

This is one of my favourite books I have read at uni, though I only found one other person on the course who enjoyed it. It is a fairly short and easy read but having read lots of novels this term which were a good 200 pages past their best, I admired Blackman’s restraint. The greatest success in this book are definitely the characters and I think everyone is or knows a Jack or a Neil. I personally see a lot of myself in Jack, and just like him, was captivated by Neil’s articulate thoughts and z...