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Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Life is Just... by Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon takes place during the swinging sixties. The story starts with a prelude of a mysterious death in 1931, which will grab your attention and keep you guessing until the end. Fast forward to 1962, Cambridge, and we meet Freddy Wheatcroft, who has just been appointed Dean of St. Andrew's College, and the rest of his successful but dysfunctional family. Instantly I found it fascinating, reading about life in the sixties. Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon nostalgically takes readers back to the era of counterculture and revolution and its effect on social norms – philosophy, music, drugs, sexuality and formalities – without overshadowing the premise and storyline.
The prose is evocative and engaging. The characters are realistic and well developed. Lesmoir-Gordon also deftly highlights the growing spiritual interest in Eastern religions and philosophy. Freddy’s twin sons, Mark and Dominic, as well as his daughter Lauren, represent the youth of intellect and intuition trying to disentangle themselves from their father’s conservative mind, searching for the meaning of life in their own ways. The darker side of the era in terms of mental illness and homosexuality is well-explored and thought-provoking. There are some parts of the narrative that are slow for me, but the overall pace is good and consistent. Life is Just... is an easy yet substantial read about familial bonds, struggles, guilt, and acceptance. Readers who grew up through the sixties, especially in Cambridge, will able to identify with the story intimately. All in all, this is a solid read from Lesmoir-Gordon.
