I really liked Benjamin Myers’ “The Offing”. It’s a gentle, inoffensive coming-of-age tale; romantic with a small ‘r’.
Like most things, “The Offing” is far from perfect: perhaps it tries a little too hard early on before it gets into the swing of itself; and most sixteen-year-olds simply wouldn’t have the nouse to do some of the things Myers’ main character does – especially when it comes to building renovations in record time! You might also argue that the whole thing is a little ‘light’ and predictable, and the ending too neat; yet while all of that may be true, it doesn’t stop the book being ‘a good read’.
I’m not a lazing-on-a-beach-with-a-good-book kind of person, but if I were there are lots of worse choices than “The Offing” for such recreation. Indeed, given the ‘offing’ is the term used to describe that point where, visually, the sea and sky blend into one on the horizon, it might just be the ticket for a seaside holiday!
Ian Gouge - Writer 