The Magic Flute follows four Glasgow boys as they grow up through the 1960s, 70s and 80s, from childhood through girlfriends, adult responsibilities and disillusionment. A major theme is the music that they listen to at different times of their lives - there are also many elements from Mozart's opera scattered through the book. But while I was engaged in the boys' lives at the beginning, as they grow up the book visits them at ever less frequent intervals, and it becomes more difficult to care about them.

Sample: Twice he made them jump with false starts, put the stylus down in the wrong place letting loud guitar-noise shriek out at them. Then at last he judged it right, placed the needle just so in the space between the tracks with its soft expectant click and hiss. 'Now,' he said, and the music began. And after a few bars Tam felt the tension in his gut begin to ease. He let the music carry him, flow round him like water. ( )