Ted's Cafe (Paperback)

I read Roger Sander's book earlier this year. It’s warm, funny and well-observed.

Post-Brexit-referendum Britain, male friendship, and later-life romance - this highly readable debut explores sweeping personal and political change. 

Roger Sanders’ Ted’s Café might be summarised in two words - “All change!” It’s a politically charged debut that will chime with Britons who experienced the Brexit referendum, especially remainers who mourn the loss of EU membership. At the same time, Ted’s Café takes in change of a personal nature — retirement, and later-life lust and love — alongside things that never change. Namely, the friendship between the group of men who lie at the novel’s heart. Men of a certain age will undoubtedly relate to the themes and relationships explored in this honest character-driven novel that has page-turning pace and plenty of heart and humour.

Roger Sander’s debut novel is a fascinating chronicle of those chaotic times just before the first lockdown. An expert mix of the personal and the political, it’s a bit Jonathan Coe’s Middle England, a bit Kingsley Amis’s The Old Devil’s for a later generation.

An insightful look at four friends putting the world to rights (in their own way)

Every town across Britain probably has a ‘Teds Café’ where a group of friends from school days meet to moan and ‘put the world to rights’ now that they have reached, or are nearing retirement.

Roger Sanders has caught such a group in the period between the EU Referendum and the beginning of Covid. Ted’s Café reflects the moans and concerns of the group about their community, health and future; also the ‘comedy’ in Parliament which led up to the final departure from the EU. The background of day-to-day world events makes the book a realistic read and reminded me of things which had slipped from memory. A little bit of romance enjoyed by a married member of the group adds a bit tension.

A very enjoyable read and it was hard not to identify individual characters with members of my community – they are probably typical of people across the world.

Accomplished first novel

A very interesting novel combining politics ,social history and four friends whose lives weave in and out of the narrative covering March 2019 to February 2020. A very difficult task but done with humour and a passion for honesty and fairness in society.

Excellent book from first-time author Roger Sanders.

What did I like or dislike? Well let's get the second half of that question out of the way, and say "nothing!" The author has written a book set in the period from the EU referendum up to the very early days of Covid; but this is far more than just one person's opinion of Brexit and other issues of the time. We see this period through the eyes of one of four regulars who visit Ted's Cafe once a week. Most are retired, and we get a glimpse of their lives as well as those of the first person. Being retired myself, I recognised so readily some of the things they faced in their retirement, and there were several occasions when I found myself thinking "so it's just not me then!" The second half of the book becomes a love story between one of the four and a stunning lady that comes into his life, and again this is beautifully written. All in all, an excellent first novel from this author, and I hope there is a follow up, and soon!

Great debut novel.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It may not be David Mitchell’s Black Swan Green but it’s up there and a similar semi-autobiographical feel about it! Easy to empathise with the main characters and the story cleverly intertwines with the threats of Brexit, complexities of Social media and other current affairs. I hope to see a follow-up as there’s a lot of life to these characters to come and we need to know- will they/ won’t they? Nice one Roger.

So it’s simple I want to know what Dawn Cunningham news is., therefore Roger needs to write a sequel.
If it is as good as his first effort then readers are in for a treat

In Ted’s Cafe the story weaves in and out of real day to day issues and the fortunes of four mates living there lives in the mess of a troubled country ripped apart by Brexit, Covid and the rise of Boris Johnson.

And of course the main man David Tanner and his quest for the perfect love
Ted’s Cafe is well worth investing in.

Excellent Debut Novel.

I can thoroughly recommend “Ted’s Cafe”, a story exploring themes of friendship, politics, retirement and society and how they all impact on each other. These threads are all carefully interwoven to create a compelling narrative, all the more impressive for being the author’s debut novel. Well done, Mr. Sanders!

Excellent first novel!

The author has written a book set in the period from the EU referendum up to the very early days of Covid; but this is far more than just one person's opinion of Brexit and other issues of the time. We see this period through the eyes of one of four regulars who visit Ted's Cafe once a week. Most are retired, and we get a glimpse of their lives as well as those of the first person. Being retired myself, I recognised so readily some of the things they faced in their retirement, and there were several occasions when I found myself thinking "so it's just not me then!" The second half of the book becomes a love story between one of the four and a stunning lady that comes into his life, and again this is beautifully written. All in all, an excellent first novel from this author, and I hope there is a follow up, and soon!

Well done Roger Sanders.

I was impressed by this debut novel by a local author . The story of David Tanner and his group of friends and the ups and downs of their lives during a turbulent time were compelling and believable. An example of the importance of friendship and that life after retirement is never dull.