My enormous thanks to Justin David at Inkandescent for sending me a copy of One Last Song by Nathan Evans in return for an honest review which I’ll be sharing later in this blog post and for putting me in touch with Nathan so that we could stay in and discuss One Last Song together.

Let’s have that chat before my review:

Staying in with Nathan Evans

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Nathan. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Tell me, though I rather think I know, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought One Last Song as it’s my debut novella—it’s been some time in the making and I’m excited to finally get it into the hands of readers.

And what lucky readers they are. Congratulations on One Last Song. I loved it. But what would you say readers can expect from an evening in with One Last Song?

It’s a romantic comedy about queer elders—so you can expect a lot of laughs, and some tears; you should probably keep a box of tissues somewhere near.

I agree. You completely overwhelmed me with the ending Nathan!

It’s a bit like a Beautiful Thing for octogenarians: two older gentlemen—Joan and Jim—meet in a care home; at first, of course, they loathe each other, but then…

But then… indeed – and, being of a certain age, it was just wonderful to have older protagonists. This is your debut novella. How is it being received?

The TS Eliot and Polari Prize winner Joelle Taylor has described it as ‘a warm, joyful and ingenious tale of gay love from the UK’s Armstead Maupin’, which I don’t mind taking; the Polari First Book Prize winner Adam Smith has called it ‘a gem of a novella with characters to cherish,’ and I’m sure Joan and Jim would be delighted.

I’m sure they would – Joan in particular. And you must be delighted too.

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I’ve brought along a vinyl copy of Jessye Norman’s recording of Strauss’ Four Last Songs, and a record player to spin it on. Joan worked as a costume maker in Covent Garden and is a lover over all things operatic—music, and these songs in particular, is used throughout the book as thematic counterpoint to this story of late-blossoming love.

It most certainly is – and it was the reference to the last song that did for me completely Nathan. You were right about needing tissues!

Thanks so much for chatting with me about One Last Song. I’ll share my review in a minute, but you put the record on and I’ll give readers a few more details about One Last Song:

One Last Song

When a gentleman called Joan lands up in a care home, Jim doesn’t know what’s hit him – everything about his new neighbour is triggering.

And Joan is a colourful, combustible cocktail-ticking.

Battle begins. May the best man win.

But beneath antics and antique armour plating, what are both hiding?

And maybe they just may be batting for the same team.

An uproarious and uplifting romantic comedy about grey liberation.

Published by Inkandescent tomorrow, 1st February 2024, One Last Song is available for purchase here.

My Review of One Last Song

Joan is going into an old person’s home. 

What a fabulous novella! Nathan Evan’s writes with warmth and incisive wit so that meeting Joan and Jim is a real pleasure. I just loved One Last Song.

I think what works so effectively is the concept that it doesn’t matter how we identify sexually, what we wear or how we behave, essentially what each and every one of us needs is a little human understanding, compassion, kindness and connection. And in One Last Song, writing with all those features, Nathan Evans illustrates that difference can actually be the glue that unites us. 

It is through Joan particularly that Nathan Evan’s explores humanity so evocatively and affectingly. Joan is sharp, sassy and more than able to deal with those who might be a threat to him. But under that acerbic wit is also a troubled mind as he thinks about those who have passed through his life, and a vulnerability that is, at times, heart-breaking. Joan’s developing relationship with Jim and both their past triumphs and regrets are achingly well presented. I thought the way they grew together and were able to anchor one another in the present and in positivity was a universal message we’d all benefit from embracing. Certainly Nathan Evans’s style can be occasionally explicit, but there is never a moment when compassion doesn’t underpin every description, every memory and every interaction between characters – even when they are battling one another.

I found Harry’s initial attitude so thought provoking. He illustrates the unthinking prejudice so many have towards others not conventionally fitting into society and through him I wondered how frequently I might have made ignorant assumptions about others – indeed, reading One Last Song made me consider how many of those in my life who are older and have lived through negative attitudes towards homosexuality and queerness might have had to live their whole lives as a lie. One Last Song might be witty, engaging and entertaining, but it also has a profound depth.

The plot is a relatively gentle one as Joan and Jim’s relationship develops over time in the care home, but that aspect underpins all the more perfectly the depth of emotion presented by Nathan Evans. I was completely affected by these two men, their memories, their dreams, regrets and triumphs. In fact, I was reduced to tears when one last song was played. 

I thought One Last Song was a beautiful book. It shows how far society has come in accepting others who do not necessarily conform to accepted expectations, but equally it illustrates how far we still have to go. It’s also a book that I keep returning to in my mind. One Last Song may be a short novella, but both Jean and Jim pack an emotional punch that has me thinking about them frequently and it’s not until the book is finished that these two men’s lives impact fully. One Last Song is a special book.

About Nathan Evans

Nathan Evans’ fiction has been anthologized by Muswell Press (Queer Life, Queer Love) and published in Queerlings magazine. His poetry has been published by Fourteen Poems, Broken Sleep, Dead Ink, Impossible Archetype, Manchester Metropolitan University and Royal Society of Literature. His collection Threads was long-listed for the Polari First Book Prize, his second collection CNUT is published by Inkandescent. He was long-listed for the 2020 Live Canon Poetry Competition and shortlisted for the Carlo Annoni Prize 2020. His work in theatre and film has been funded by Arts Council England, toured with the British Council, archived in the British Film Institute, broadcast on Channel 4 and presented at venues including Royal Festival Hall and Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

For further information follow Nathan on Twitter/X @nathanevansarts and find him on Instagram. You’ll also find Nathan on Facebook.