Outstanding comic novels manage to provoke real laughter in the reader and, through wit, provide an insightful commentary on the current world. A novel that fits this build is John O’Farrell’s Family Politics, a book that resonates with the political aura of an election year in Britain. It captures the lives of Eddie and Emma Hughes, passionate lifelong supporters of the Labour party, whose faith in their cause leads them to protest till their feet give out and boycott businesses upon the slightest of slip-ups. Their disdain for the Tories is immense, something they’ve passed onto their son, Dylan.
Hence, their shock and disappointment is palpable when Dylan comes back from university announcing his political allegiance has swerved from red to blue – a shift they cannot comprehend. The plot thickens interestingly, as a byelection is set to take place in their town and Eddie aspires to run as the Labour nominee. While political debates flood the story, O’Farrell, known for his brilliant account of the pre-Blair years of Labour in Things Can Only Get Better, manages to present a balanced view.
Although Dylan is depicted as a spoilt child, assured of his high moral ground, his parents aren’t portrayed as flawless either. Years of assured certainty have left them blind to the idea that diverging opinions do not equate to having adversaries. Their refusal to indulge Dylan any further is likened to a situation familiar to those dealing with obstinate teenagers – no negotiations with ‘terrorists’.
Their dread of their truth coming out leads to amusing instances as they attempt to keep Dylan away from the public eye. But once Eddie’s comrades find out about the boy’s new party preference, he resorts to a humorous excuse, hoping it would inspire some sympathy. He claims his son is ‘transitioning into a Tory.’
Family Politics not only provides enjoyable reads but also resonates with the modern culture where debates on political and social matters have taken a toxic turn, often making people forget fundamental respect for each other even amongst those who share intimate bonds.