Glitterland by Alexis Hall (2024 recording)

Narrated by Nicholas Boulton

As I noted in our January Picks post, Alexis Hall’s Glitterland has been re-recorded to include some bonus material that was not available with the recording made in 2016. With Nicholas Boulton in the narrator’s chair once again, there was no question in my mind that the narration would, once again, be wonderful (and it is), but as the 2024 version is a brand new recording made and published by a different publisher, anyone who owns the 2016 version will need to purchase the new version in order to get the extras – it won’t automatically update. I thought there might be listeners out there who already own the 2016 version wondering if it’s worth getting the new edition for the extras, so I’ve edited and updated my original review to include a brief mention of what they are.

ORIGINAL REVIEW – JANUARY 2016

Ash Winters is firmly middle-class; a graduate of Cambridge University, he’s well-off, a successful author, has a nice flat in London, dresses understatedly in designer clothes… but he also suffers from Bi-Polar disorder, depression and extreme anxiety, conditions which have hospitalised him in the past, most recently following a suicide attempt. Ash has been struggling with his illness for so long that it’s taken over his life, and, to an extent, that of his friends, many of whom he has pushed away because of his belief that, deep down, he doesn’t deserve them.

When he attends a stag-do that he has been unable to get out of, he spies a man on the dance floor who is decked out in spangly, sparkly clothes, his hair styled to within an inch of its life, his tan obviously a fake one – and is surprised to feel the stirrings of genuine attraction. Ash’s recent sexual encounters have had more to do with his need to forget himself and his life for a short while than they have been about physical attraction for his chosen partner, so to find himself actually wanting someone is … odd. And the part of Ash that isn’t surprised is repulsed at the fact that he can possibly find someone who looks like he’ll be appearing in the next series of The Only Way is Essex even remotely attractive. But he does, and soon the pair is heading off to the flat “Essex” is sharing with friends, Ash’s preconceptions based on the guy’s looks and flamboyant nature marking him out as perfect fodder for casual, anonymous sex.

Darian Taylor is an aspiring model who lives with his nan – whom he adores – and while he might not be the sharpest pin in the box, he’s incredibly sweet and down-to-earth, the sort of person without a bad word to say about anyone, and comes into Ash’s life like a breath of badly needed fresh air. After their one-night-stand, Ash hadn’t expected to see Darian ever again, until at a book signing;

“Who should I make it out to?” I asked, not quite managing to look up.

“Oh, I dunno,” said a far too familiar voice, “`ow about maybe `To the geeza what I slept wif and then done a runner on in the middle of the night, making `im feel like a right slapper’?”

Ash and Darian pair up again, this time at Ash’s place where Darian makes himself at home, going so far as to cook his nan’s awesome Cottage Pie, (while Ash freaks out about shopping for and making a salad!) and generally brightening up Ash’s life, reminding him what it’s like to have someone around him who doesn’t define him by his illness, or by what he has or what he does. Darian likes Ash for himself, and only wants to be with him and make him happy.

With Darian, Ash gradually comes to see that perhaps his life doesn’t have to be dominated by darkness and loneliness, and to realise that he’s allowed to be happy and feel positive emotions as well as all the bad ones that have caged him so effectively. Darian is never going to cure him, of course, and the author is very clear about that, but I love how we’re shown that he’s going to be there for Ash and help him to climb out of the pit. Something else I also appreciated about the story is that when Ash acts like a complete dickhead and hurts Darian really badly, his eventual grovel is spectacular and no less than Darian deserves. Conversely, though, the one negative thing I can find to say about the novel is that Darian is perhaps rather too accepting and forgiving – but on the whole, it’s a minor point in what is a hugely enjoyable story.

The characterisation of both leads is superb, and the writing is wonderful – whether it’s in the many, many laugh out loud moments, the descriptions of Ash’s mental hell, or of Darian’s innate kindness and sensitivity. As someone whose birth certificate says “Essex” (and who now lives there) I had no trouble at all with the lingo, and frequently found myself laughing along with Mr Hall’s brilliantly observed humour and “orange” jokes! I have, however, seen a number of reviews of the book – in which Darian’s speech is written as spoken – that have indicated that some readers had problems following it. Of course, that isn’t an issue with the audiobook – and for anyone who worries that perhaps a Shakespearean actor of Nicholas Boulton’s calibre might have trouble sounding like an Essex boy – all I can say is “think again”, because he’s utterly brilliant, and – for good or ill – his Estuary English accent is perfect.

Once again, I’m awed by Mr Boulton’s vocal characterisations and his ability to hit all the right emotional notes. His portrayal of both principals is outstanding and completely spot on for each of their characters; sharp-tongued, witty and often emotionally raw Ash is dry-toned and deadpan, but there is always the underlying sense that this is a guy that could snap at any moment. He’s wonderfully open in the moments when Ash breaks down, allowing the listener to hear all his fears and insecurities in his voice, and equally good at manifesting Ash’s clever humour and his genuine affection for Darian. And his performance of “Essex” is every bit as good – Darian’s genuinely open-hearted, unaffected nature coming through in every sentence.

The book has a small number of secondary characters who, though they don’t appear often, are all perfectly formed little gems – Darian’s nan and his lifelong friend Chloe, Ash’s agent Amy and his ex-lover and friend Niall – all are fully realised both in print and by Mr Boulton in his performance, which is, simply, flawless.

2024 EDITION

The new recording includes a new forward by the author, and, at the end of the book ‘proper’, Darian’s nan’s Cottage Pie recipe. This is followed by the short story Aftermath, which picks up immediately after the end of the book and, IMHO, is the final chapter or epilogue the original was crying out for! The one real criticism I’ve made of some of Mr. Hall’s recent books is that they end rather abruptly. While I’m not normally the biggest fan of epilogues, in some cases – such as this (and Boyfriend Material) – the story ends immediately after the leads profess their love and get together and it feels rather abrupt. But Aftermath gives us that extra glimpse of Ash and Darian I was craving after ‘THE END’ – their return to London and Ash’s flat, Darian discovering Ash’s tattoo, their talking about a future together and a little bit of kinky sex to boot! The other extra is Shadowland, a bonus story written especially for this edition in which Ash’s friends Max and Niall talk “while Ash is with Darien at Max’s stag party”. It sheds light on their relationships with Ash and with each other, and why those relationships have become so fractured.

The 2024 release contains around seventy-five minutes of new material. If you already own the 2016 version, that might not be sufficient inducement to purchase the new one – although I will say that the inclusion of Aftermath (about forty minutes) does, for me, really tip the scales in favour of buying the new version because I really need that little glimpse into what happens ‘after’ the HEA. But no changes have been made to the main part of the story – and I believe Aftermath has been available in print previously (although it’s now included in the new edition of the book, so is no longer available separately), so if you’ve read it you aren’t missing out on any of Ash and Darian’s story.

Whatever you decide, Glitterland is an insightful, funny and very human story containing just the right balance of angst, humour and romance. Nicholas Boulton’s performance is, as Darian would say, ‘totes ahmazin’ babes’ – and the audiobook is very highly recommended.

Note: New audio versions of the other books in the Spires series will follow. Waiting for the Flood – narrated by Will Watt – releases Feb 20th and For Real and Pansies are on the way, although release dates and narrators for those are not yet known.

Caz

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