Mayflies

Whitley Bay Book Group discussed Mayflies in September 2023.

This is a story of male friendship and the passing of time, told through the story of Jimmy and Tully. In the first part, they are teenagers going off on a weekend to Manchester to hear some of their favourite bands. The second part takes place 30 years later when Tully phones Jimmy to tell him he is terminally ill, and to ask for his help.

The group had different reactions to the book, depending partly on whether it chimed with our own recollections of being that age, whether we recognised the characters’ enthusiasm about music and politics and having everything in front of them. And also whether we understood Tully’s impulse in the second half of the book to turn to the friend of his youth, or were annoyed with him for not being open with his wife Anna. Most of us recognised the young (and middle-aged) men’s banter and their propensity for making lists (“top three best films starring Robert De Niro”, “top three best goals ever scored by a Scottish player”). We discussed whether both parts were necessary, with the first part setting the foundation for the second, and whether they successfully joined up showing continuity of character and the themes of the book. Interestingly the BBC adaptation of the book made the second half the main narrative, with the first half as flashbacks.

We mostly liked the writing style, which was engaging and conversational, and the author’s way with similes and metaphors (“haircuts like agendas”). Our views of the book ranged from finding it perceptive and authentic to judging it contrived and insincere.

This all led to a wider discussion on male vs female behaviour, the nature of friendship and the intensity of young people’s friendships, and whether list making and being word perfect on film dialogue is a male trait.

We awarded it between 2 and 5 stars, with an average of 3.5.