The Unwashed, Liar and Queen's Park to The Elephant Compilation - Sean Hogan - Bog

This eBook contains the first three of Seán Hogan's works. The Unwashed is a gritty look at the problems faced by social outcasts in inner city London through nine short stories. Refugees struggling to adapt to their new world, an alcoholic who is battling his demons and a look at the problem of gentrification. 'An amazing book. I could not put it down. In particular the story about the young asylum seekers was incredible. It gave a great insight into the fear and uncertainty that asylum seekers must face on a daily basis. This story should be read by all, as it may help change the mindset of society in general.' I just came across this book by chance on Kindle and being a fan of gritty urban type books gave it a go. Reading these stories was like discovering a new genre of writing, I felt as if I was inside the characters heads and sharing their thoughts. 'These stories strip away the unnecessary descriptive prose of most books and the author allows you to visualise and paint your own pictures of people and places. The characters are believable and I can find people I know in every one of them and myself in more than a few of them. This is a truly remarkable read and one that will have you looking at the people you pass in the street every day in a completely different light.' Liar is a dark, gritty and true to life novel following a young boy as he grows up in inner city London with his drug addicted mother. It illustrates the realities of addiction as well as society's obsession with labels and how they affect people's lives. 'This was one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read. I could not out it down! I could relate the the themes and issues in the book, which felt empowering. I felt connected. Sean Hogan has given a voice to the children of drug addicts and highlighted their journey in life. I highly recommend this book to all and cannot wait for his next book to be released.' I couldn't put it down. Liar examines one family's journey through some of life's most desperate struggles, primarily via the voice of Jay, the only child of his heroin and crack-addicted mother. Hogan doesn't seek to woo the reader with sensationalized stereotyping, but tells it how it is from the point of view of all his characters. It is a story of loss, of the way society's deep prejudice against addicts and their families can do far more to destroy an individual than the actual drug itself ever could, of how what is said, and left unsaid, can shape our entire futures. A great read. Queen's Park to The Elephant is a book of sixteen short stories which follows London's Bakerloo Line. There is a story for each station along the line, giving in an insight into the people you see every day on your journey to work.