An exceptionally touching novel in multiple ways ... . The novel carefully shows the way the child’s very existence changes each of the other characters’ lives, all while perfectly encapsulating the frustration, boredom, anxiety and tremendous bursts of tenderness that come from raising a young one ... I’ll take a moment here to applaud Lamont’s human, heartfelt and nonjudgmental portrait of depression and suicide ... Made me cry on more than one occasion, and laugh out loud many more times. It’s a terrific reminder that what binds us to our loved ones isn’t blood but the care we take to keep them close, and our ability to show up for them when we screw it up on the first go-round.
Skillful ... Lamont crafts a wholly engaging and frequently affecting tale about friendship, fatherhood, family ties, and finding the ability to love unconditionally ... A sure-footed first novel but it is not without the odd misstep. Some of Lamont’s scene-setting descriptions are overlong ... Fortunately, these quibbles are few and far between. Lamont...impresses on various levels. There are sharp observations on everything from London life to the relentless grind of child care ... Lamont shows himself to be a writer of great promise.
This is the journalist Tom Lamont’s first novel, and it has the kind of plot that feels fine tuned and long thought out. A lot happens in a small space ... I can’t say I loved the tidiness of the ending, but I’ve read Going Home twice now and I still don’t feel as if I’ve tapped its power. Children seem to be more alive than adults, keener, less jaded, and this novel feels the same, pepped up and gorgeous, just bristling with life.
Grabs us straight out the gate ... The novel immediately captured me, but it also quickly irked me. There are plot holes you could drive a red double-decker bus through. But I’m glad I persevered – because once I decided to suspend my disbelief, a beautiful and compelling story of the bonds and the friction between fathers, sons and male friends unfolded. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Sharp ... This novel isn’t perfect: some of the plot points feel too neat, such as those involving Ben’s love life. But Lamont conveys a strong sense of place.
Lamont is a sharp observer of suburban ritual, with an ear for a good phrase ... What lets the book down, though, is its slightly mawkish plot and arguably predictable characters.
All the while, each character accelerates towards the end of their own story and all four head for a convergence. There are moments along the way that strain plausibility, but these don’t seem to matter in a book that succeeds so strongly through its charm and its heart.
Brilliantly capturing mundane and surprising aspects of raising a child, this is a fascinating portrait of parenting, the British Jewish community, and the struggle to break ties that may be holding you back.
Smart, warm-hearted ... Overflows with heart, and its characters feel real with their multitude of dreams, fears, serious self-doubts and fierce loyalties.
