Book Review
Thunder and Lightning: Bateman’s humorous memoir recalls a happy Bangor childhood
Author Colin Bateman’s charming and funny memoir recalls growing up in Co Down, where daily issues such as avoiding sadistic teachers and finding cash for sweets are much more important than the backdrop of the Troubles
Colin Bateman makes no secret about the unreliability of his memoir Thunder and Lightning. The author of over 30 novels for children and adults, Bateman grew up on the pleasant side of Bangor, Co Down, where a neighbour’s pet parrot whistled loyalist anthems every time someone came to their front door. For the young Colin, this was hardly political or particularly sectarian – in Bangor, it was just funny.
Bateman was 11 years old before ...
