Reading Between the Lives by Derek West, illustrated by Harold West

A beautifully written collection of short stories, following the life of Harold as he progresses from pre-war schoolboy, to young man, husband, father and beyond. Based in Wallasey, Merseyside, during the first half of the 20th century, these semi-autobiographical stories chart Harold’s life together with his wife Ethel and three sons, Michael, Howard and Derek as they navigate life’s everyday mysteries, triumphs and disappointments. Told through the eyes of his youngest son, they capture a child’s perspective of family life against the backdrop of society’s ever changing landscape. They are at times joyful, painful and humorous, propelling the reader affectionately to times gone by. Evocative and elegantly written, coupled with beautiful illustrations from Harold’s middle son, which bring the stories into rich focus. It’s the tale of one man’s journey, and the lives he touches along the way. "A lark sings his song high above the school, piercing, stationary in a blue sky, and they all wait as in a photograph, locked into a moment of equilibrium."