All The Places We Lived by Richard Owain Roberts

However dark these issues, Roberts explores them with humour, making Hill relatable and human. Returning home clearly forces Hill to address past issues, such as his mother’s suicide, the lack of relationship with his father, and how his life compares to that of a particular old school friend. What Roberts manages so deftly to develop in Hello Friend We Missed You is Hill’s sense of unresolved trauma, particularly the way this impacts on his everyday decisions and aspirations. In fact, Hill appears to barely tolerate her, as he ‘feels sick’ when they talk, and later makes efforts to avoid her entirely. They almost immediately develop a sexual relationship although it is apparent that, for Hill, this is purely to fill the void of loneliness he is experiencing after the death of his wife. Upon returning to his childhood home, Hill meets Trudy, who has been employed as his father’s carer. Unfortunately for Hill, his terminally ill father is arguably the least of his worries, as he himself is still overcoming the death of his wife, Lucy, an event we are led to believe has had a significant and traumatising impact on his life and career. The story focuses on Hill, a stalled filmmaker who returns from LA to Ynys Mon to care for his dying father, Roger. Despite its stripped-back format, Roberts is able to perfectly capture the nihilism and pop-culture of the adult millennial generation. It’s a poignant and emotive reflection on loneliness, guilt, and personal trauma. Hello Friend We Missed You is Richard Owain Roberts’ debut novel, and continues the characteristic bleak yet humorous style found in his previous short story collection.

This post is free to all website visitorsįor access to the full New Welsh Review archive, become a subscriber today.

All The Places We Lived by Richard Owain Roberts