Song of Sixpence is a coming of age story set in Scotland early in the 20th century. Laurence Carroll grows up, sort of always on the outside, his father being Irish Catholic, and people in their community treating them a bit like pariahs. At times, when the opportunity for social advancement arose, he would shun the few friends he had out of shame and embarrassment, only to find it was not worth it. Life takes some rough turns, as when his father died from galloping consumption, or when his and his mother's benefactor had institutionalized for insanity. He believed all of his dreams of the future were dashed. He was often very naive, and would be taken in by less than scrupulous people, but it all works out in the end.
I did enjoy reading this older book (published 1964) and could understand his choices in spite of wanting to draw him aside and say "Look here Laurie, that is not the smartest decision", but I imagine in the past, some of my elders thought the same about some of my poor judgements. ( )

A coming of age book of a young man coming of age near Glasgow in Scotland. Semi-autobiographical, as Cronin grew up there and was also studying to be a doctor. It is novel where you can travel back in time. ( )