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Critics' Opinion:
Readers' Opinion:
First Published:
Jul 2021, 384 pages
Paperback:
Aug 2022, 400 pages
Book Reviewed by:
Kim Kovacs
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If you loved A Man Called Ove, then prepare to be delighted as Jamaican immigrant Hubert rediscovers the world he'd turned his back on in this "warm, funny" novel (Good Housekeeping).
In weekly phone calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a picture of the perfect retirement, packed with fun, friendship, and fulfillment. But it's a lie. In reality, Hubert's days are all the same, dragging on without him seeing a single soul.
Until he receives some good news—good news that in one way turns out to be the worst news ever, news that will force him out again, into a world he has long since turned his back on. The news that his daughter is coming for a visit.
Now Hubert faces a seemingly impossible task: to make his real life resemble his fake life before the truth comes out.
Along the way Hubert stumbles across a second chance at love, renews a cherished friendship, and finds himself roped into an audacious community scheme that seeks to end loneliness once and for all ...
Life is certainly beginning to happen to Hubert Bird. But with the origin of his earlier isolation always lurking in the shadows, will he ever get to live the life he's pretended to have for so long?
1
NOW
Moments before Hubert met Ashleigh for the first time, he had been settled in his favorite armchair, Puss curled up on his lap, waiting for Rose to call. When the doorbell rang he gave a tut of annoyance, wagering it was one of those damn courier people who were always trying to make him take in parcels for his neighbors.
"Would you mind accepting this for number sixty-three?" they would ask.
"Yes, me mind a great deal!" he would snap. "Now clear off!" And then he would slam the door shut in their faces.
As he shifted Puss from his lap and stood up to answer the door, Hubert muttered angrily to himself.
"Parcels, parcels, parcels! All day, every day, for people who are never in to receive the damn things! If people want them things so much why them no just buy it from the shops like everybody else?"
With words of scathing condemnation loaded and ready to fire, Hubert unlocked the front door and flung it open only to discover that the person before him wasn't anything like he...
Here are some of the comments posted about All the Lonely People.
You can see the full discussion here.
All the Lonely People overflows with poignant moments. Pick one that was the saddest or heartbreaking for you.
On page 276 the author beautifully describes what is is like to be sitting vigil at a loved one's deathbed when they finally choose to let go. I wanted to ask him if he had experienced this scene because it is so realistic. The waiting is ... - millicentg
Are there things non-immigrants can be aware of or do today to help immigrants transition to life in a new country?
As a bilingual person I help many Hispanic immigrants in my community with translations at doctor's offices and at their children's parent teacher conferences. The immigrants I help have a very limited knowledge of English. Of course not... - viquig
Ashley makes a leap of faith by setting out on her own to raise her daughter. What hardships did she encounter? What kind of strength does it take to create the type of life you want while raising a child?
She was all alone in an unfamiliar place. She was a single mom with no support system or job initially. Child care seemed to be one of her biggest hardships, which is how she first met Hubert. Ashley was an outgoing social person, so she craved ... - margiec
Did the plot twist about Hubert's daughter surprise you?
Yes! I was shocked. But after that shock, I realized that Hubert himself didn't admit his daughter had died until that moment. His mind had been helping him cope by "making up" the phone conversations and the imminent arrival of ... - carolt
Gus’s descent into loneliness took on a dramatically different form than Hubert's. Why do you think Gus found himself living like he did?
Loneliness is loneliness, how one deal’s with loneliness determines how one’s life will be led. - kathleenq
Gayle states in a Q&A that he set out to write a book about "how someone's life fills and then empties again," and the chapters set in the past accomplish that goal remarkably well. These feel realistic, as Hubert faces hurdles he must overcome to prosper in his adopted country; his life is good by many standards but far from idyllic. Along the way, the author tackles complex themes such as racism, drug abuse and grief, among others, and the unexpected depth here is what transforms the book from a light-but-forgettable read into a satisfying and memorable one. There are a few moments some may find a little manipulative — plot points inserted more to tug on readers' heartstrings than because they make sense — but I doubt most will mind. The book is compulsively readable and its characters so loveable it's easy to gloss over its minor flaws...continued
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(Reviewed by Kim Kovacs).
Beth O'Leary, author of The Flat-Share
A heartwarming story about the power of community and human connection. Hubert Bird stole my heart. Clare Mackintosh, New York Times bestselling author
I'm such a fan of Mike's, and think this is absolutely his best yet. The characters are so warm and so real, and the issues of loneliness and displacement are so very topical and important. Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner
Mike Gayle is on World Beating Form with All the Lonely People. It's the right book at the right time and you're going to love it. Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things
Hubert Bird is a gentle hero and I loved him. A book that is perfect for the times we live in, but also one to treasure for many years to come. Tracy Rees, author of Amy Snow
A tremendous read, as always. A funny, warm, heartbreaking, wonderful story about family and friendship and the power of caring in an imperfect world. Hubert, Ash & the gang are unforgettable characters.
The protagonist of Mike Gayle's novel All the Lonely People is a member of the "Windrush generation," which refers to people from the Caribbean who emigrated to the United Kingdom between 1948 and 1971.
Facing a severe labor shortage after World War II, the British government began encouraging mass immigration from citizens of its colonies. This position was bolstered by the British Nationality Act of 1948, which combined the citizenship of Britain and its colonies and permitted these groups to enter the United Kingdom.
The HMT Empire Windrush ("HMT" stands for Hired Military Transport) arrived in Jamaica to pick up servicemen who were on leave during the time when these pro-immigration policies were under discussion, and an ...
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