Runaway
by May, Peter
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On Mar 21, 2015, CloggieDownunder said
“Regret is such a waste of energy. You can’t undo what’s been done. But every new day offers the chance to shape it in the way you want” Runaway is the seventh stand-alone novel by Scottish journalist, screenwriter and author, Peter May. When seventeen-year-old Jack MacKay makes a sudden decision, in 1965, to escape Glasgow and head for London, he is surprised that his four friends are ready to drop everything and become a runaway too. Each has his own reasons, but all are convinced their band, The Shuffle, can make it big in the Big Smoke. But events don’t follow the script they have written: some months later, Jack and two of the band return to Glasgow to nurse their emotional (and physical) wounds. In 2015, the three lads, now in their late sixties, are brought together again by the report of a murder in London. In response to the near-death demand of one of their number, they are heading south again to face up to the shocking events that, fifty years before, shaped their lives, in Jack’s case, for the worse: “…his own sad story was so painfully stark that all the regrets of his life came flooding back to very nearly drown him. All the missed opportunities and squandered chances….. His unrealised dream of becoming a professional musician. Dropping out of university. Settling always for second best, because that was the path of least resistance. Leaving him now, in his late sixties, widowed and alone, treading the boards in the role of a non-speaking extra until it was his turn to exit the stage” May runs the two narratives in tandem: events in 1965 are told by Jack in the first person; those in 2015, in the third person. They have various elements in common: runaways using “borrowed” vehicles; pursuit by disapproving family; diversions off the A74; an inconvenient loss of goods and transport through theft; and a certain money belt. May perfectly evokes the feel of the times, both the sixties and the present day. His wide-eyed, naïve lads and his cranky old men are completely convincing, his pacing is faultless and his plot twists are brilliantly conceived. The banter between the characters has a genuine feel and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments on both road trips. May gives the reader some marvellous prose and his descriptions are beautifully evocative: “…I grew up in Glasgow in the fifties and sixties, two decades that morphed from sepia to psychedelic before my very eyes as I segued from childhood to adolescence” is one example. While readers of a certain vintage will enjoy the nostalgia, fans of May’s work will not be disappointed, and new readers are sure to seek out his backlist. Funny, moving, and thought-provoking, this is an exceptional read. With thanks to The Reading Room and Hachette Australia for this copy to read and review.
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Runaway
by May, Peter
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2017
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781681443058
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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A$9.34
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Quercus Books, 2017. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.34
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Runaway
by Peter May
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- New
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First
- Published
- 2015
- ISBN
- 9781780874555
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Littlehampton, West Sussex, GBR
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A$48.57
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Fiction - Hardback First Edition Signed. This book has never seen a shop! Item Price
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Runaway
by Peter May
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2017
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781681443058
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Strathroy, Ontario, CAN
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Quercus, 2017. Paperback. Good. 6x1x8. minor cover wear -- FREE SHIPPING ON $35 OR MORE Item Price
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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- Used - Very Good
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781681443058
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Runaway (UK Signed Copy)
by Peter May
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- Used - Very Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Fine
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- First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 2015
- Binding
- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781780874555
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Hull, GBR
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A$58.26
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London: Quercus, 2015. First Edition, First Printing. Hardback. Very Fine/Very Fine. The Book is very fine, square, tight and unread. It is unmarked, with clean pages free of inscriptions or marks and has been signed by the author directly on to the title page. There is some slight curl to the bottom of the spine. The Dust Jacket… Read more about this item Item Price
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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- US First Edition, First Printing Hardcover
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- 2016-02-09
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Quercus, 2016-02-09. US First Edition, First Printing Hardcover. Fine/Fine. Signed on a Bookplate Loosely Laid in SIGNED. Protected in clear Mylar cover. Bubble wrapped and shipped in a box. We do not stock or sell ex-library or Book Club editions. We are always looking to buy hardcover Mysteries and Thrillers. Item Price
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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- Used - Near Fine
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- Near Fine
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- First Edition
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- 2016-02-08
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- Hardcover
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- 9781623657895
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Hamilton, Ontario, CAN
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Quercus, 2016-02-08. First Edition. hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8x5x0. Signed. We're happy to combine shipping to save you some money. We're also always buying collectible book collections. Contact us for details. We're happy to provide pictures of any and all books for you, please just ask! Signed American first edition, first printing. Signed on… Read more about this item Item Price
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Runaway
by Peter May
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2015
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781780874555
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Hamilton, Ontario, CAN
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A$59.43
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Quercus, 2015. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. 6x1x9. Signed. We're happy to combine shipping to save you some money. We're also always buying collectible book collections. Contact us for details. We're happy to provide pictures of any and all books for you, please just ask! Signed British first edition, first printing. Signed on title… Read more about this item Item Price
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Runaway: The gripping standalone novel, inspired by the authorâs own life
by Peter May
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 2015-07-30
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781782062271
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Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GBR
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Quercus, 2015-07-30. Paperback. Acceptable. 88x16x140. Slant to spine from storage. Wear to cover. Same day dispatch (Mon- Fri) from the UK if ordered by 1pm. Item Price
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Runaway
by Peter May
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2017
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781782062271
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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A$9.18
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Quercus, 2017. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.18
Runaway
by May, Peter
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9781681443058
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Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Quercus. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
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Runaway
by Peter May
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- Used - VERY GOOD
- Published
- 2017
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781681443058
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Aurora, Ontario, CAN
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Quercus, 2017. Paperback. VERY GOOD. Small triangle of laminate missing from lower edge of front cover. Otherwise like new. 432 pages. -- Please feel free to ask for additional information, or detailed photos. US orders ship USPS from Niagara Falls, NY. Canadian orders ship from Ontario. Item Price
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Runaway: The gripping standalone novel, inspired by the authorâs own life
by Peter May
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781782062271
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Runaway: The gripping standalone novel, inspired by the authorâs own life
by Peter May
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781782062271
- Quantity Available
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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- ISBN
- 9781782062271
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Easley, South Carolina, USA
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UsedVeryGood. Ships Within 24 Hours M-F- Satisfaction Guaranteed! Has a publisher overstock mark. Item is in Good Condition. Clean Copy With Light Amount of Wear. Item Price
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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- 9781681443058
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Easley, South Carolina, USA
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Runaway
by May, Peter
- Condition
- Used - Good+
- Edition
- Reprint; First Printing
- Published
- 2015
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781782062271
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Blagoevgrad Region, BGR
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London: Quercus. Good+. 2015. Reprint; First Printing. Paperback. Some reading creases and shelf wear with bump to base of spine, slight cover peel, paper lightly edge toned. ; First printing of Quercus paperback edition with full number line, 2015. Nice tight copy, no names inside. Cover design uncredited with wrap around photo courtesy of Alamy. Heavy book and priced accordingly.… Read more about this item Item Price
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Runaway
by May, Peter
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- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 2015
- Binding
- Hardcover
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Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA
- Item Price
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Quercus, London, 2015. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. 1st UK edition hardcover in fine condition in fine dust jacket - true first printing - non-series novel - new, unread copy. Item Price
A$43.44