Be True Unto Thine Self Joe (Room at the Top - John Braine)

Member Name: Emmald

Product:	Room at the Top - John Braine
Date:	26/08/09 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good storyline from John Braine

Disadvantages: None at all.

The late John Braine was born in 1922 in Bingley, West Yorkshire and in total he wrote twelve books, all fiction. John's most popular novel was `Room At The Top`, written in 1957 and eventually two years later the story was made into a film.
It is obvious that John had a great rapport with the North of England and his understanding of the Northern way of life during the 1950s is strikingly `real` as you start to head into the story.
Lets not forget for one moment just how different life was during the 1950s, the men were seen as the head of the household, men drank beer in smoky public houses, smoking was perfectly acceptable and even considered as chic and sophisticated.
Money was tight for most families and many working families lived in sub standard housing that would be seen as only fit for the bulldozer these days.
But one of the burning issues had to be the divide between the social classes, if you were born into working class then it was very difficult to pretend to be anything else but.

Reading `Room At The Top` is like taking a trip back in time. Even though the book has quite a few characters there are three principal characters that make the story work so well.
Joe Lampton is a 25 year old young man who loves his pint of beer, his cigarettes and above all his women. Joe works in the local council offices and in his spare time he tries his hand at amateur dramatics. Joe has looks on his side but he has been bred from working stock and he is sick and tired of being the underdog. Joe wants to climb the social ladder and to be able to socialise with the best of them.
Alice Aisgarth is a confident and attractive thirty five year old married woman who too like amateur dramatics, Alice is worldly wise and she knows the ropes well. Alice has a husband who loves others but not her and in turn that often leads to Alice discreetly taking different men to her ample bosom.
The third main character is Susan Brown, Susan is a pretty nineteen year old girl who just happens to be the daughter of a prosperous businessman. Susan is naïve and has no real experience where the opposite sex are concerned. Her family want the best for her and nothing short of the best will do, her life is mapped out.

`Room At The Top` is one of those books that in fact has a fairly simple storyline and it is easy reading. Joe Lampton goes to his amateur dramatics club where among many others he meets up with both Alice Aisgarth and Susan Brown.
Joe desperately wants to be something he is not and it soon becomes crystal clear that he carries a massive chip on his shoulder.
There are two paths that Joe can consider taking, one of those paths will give him happiness, peace of mind and security and the other route will enable him to move in the right circles and climb that social ladder that has become his main aim in life.
The storyline keeps you guessing and of course there are twists and turns, some that are welcome and others that are heart-rending.

I loved the book and I have also watched the film which is brilliant too. Joe never ceased to amaze me, he certainly shows both Jekyll and Hyde. Joe is a passionate man, he needs a woman and one that can satisfy him fully.
The storyline flows well and it is not totally predictable either. As the chapters pass the class division issue is rammed home again and again.
Joe was in fact raised by his Aunty and Uncle who live in a back to back terrace house, though Joe wants better for himself ( far far better) it is obvious that he loves and respects the couple who brought him up.
The book brings laughter and happiness which is often marred by bitterness and sarcasm. Inadequacy is followed by triumph and one farewell is followed by tragedy.

There is one old adage that seems to leap out at you as you read the book...`Be True Unto thine Self`.

`Room At the Top` is available on Amazon for £5.99.
There are 240 pages and it is published by Arrow books.
ISBN-10 0099445360.

One for the adults.

Summary: Life during the 1950s.