Where Did It All Go Right?: Growing Up Normal in the 70s - Softcover

"This realistic and honest snapshot of life in the 70s, portayed through a child's eyes, is fascinating as well as nostalgic for it combines the qualities of perceptiveness and naivety that only children possess...Cobine this with his descriptions of family life in which he is unable to disguise both his deep affection for his parents, grandparents and siblings, and the result is both an absorbing autobiography and a piece of social history exuding warmth and humour at every juncture." (Waterstone's Books)

"this expertly composed snapshot of life is a hilarious and upbeat testament to the relevance of happy memories" (Big Issue)

"every word is nostalgic, warm and funny" (Daily Mirror)

"an unashamed nostalgia fest" (Time Out)

"ingeniously written and superbly observed" (Daily Express)

'They tucked him up, his mum and dad' Andrew Collins was born 37 years ago in Northampton. His parents never split up, in fact they rarely exchanged a cross word. No-one abused him. Nobody died. He got on well with his brother and sister and none of his friends drowned in a canal. He has never stayed overnight in a hospital and has no emotional scars from his upbringing, except a slight lingering resentment that Anita Barker once mocked the stabilisers on his bike. Where Did It All Go Right? is a jealous memoir written by someone who occasionally wishes life had dealt him a few more juicy marketable blows. The author delves back into his first 18 years in search of something - anything - that might have left him deeply and irreparably damaged. With tales of bikes, telly, sweets, good health, domestic harmony and happy holidays, Andrew aims to bring a little hope to all those out there living with the emotional after-effects of a really nice childhood. Andrew Collins kept a diary from the age of five, so he really can remember what he had for tea everyday and what he did at school, excerpts from his diary run throughout the book and it is this detail which makes his story so amazing.