Homelessness Public indifference to the problem of homelessness

� Homelessness � Public indifference to the problem of homelessness � Violence � Friendship � Loss � Appearance v reality

� The turning point in the novel occurs when the two separate storylines interlock. This happens when Shelter is approached for money by Link and Ginger on the streets of London. Shelter thinks that Link and Ginger are laughing at him, which causes him to target them as his next homeless victims. This leads to Ginger being murdered by Shelter and almost results in Shelter killing Link at the end of the novel.

� “Dad ran off with a receptionist in 1991. ” � On becoming homeless – “Vincent’s to blame for that. ” � “Vince started on at me about living off his money. ” � “One night when I’d been out with my mates he locked me out of the house. � “Vince started slapping me around the head. ” � “I guess Mum’s scared of him because she didn’t stick up for me, so I left. ”

� “There are guys so desperate or crazy, they’ll knife you or batter your head in for your sleeping-bag and the coppers you’ve got in your pocket. ” � “Nobody gives a damn. You’re just another dosser, and one dosser more or less makes no difference. ” � Homeless Liverpudlian who tries to steal Link’s watch – “Gizzit, if you don’t want your face smashed in. ”

� On his and Ginger’s unsuccessful attempts to encourage members of the public to give them money – “He might as well have put EVIL, SHIFTLESS BABY-KICKER, AFTER YOUR DOSH for all the good it did us. ”

� “There’s a plot – it’s been hatching a long time now – to undermine the country by clogging it up with dossers and junkies and drunks. Some of the top politicians are in it, and civil servants and social workers and even the church. � “I can’t turn garbage into men anymore, but I clean up the garbage, can’t I? ”

� “A man who keeps a cat can’t possibly mean anyone any harm, can he? ” � On his first victim – “Nobody wanted him, so nobody will miss him, and there’s one less dosser to clutter up the place. ” � “I’m not a murderer at all – I’m a soldier out of uniform, killing for his country. ”

� After meeting Link and Ginger for the first time – “I hope for their sakes they manage to retain that sense of humour because they’ll need it quite soon. I never forget a face, and our next meeting will prove far more amusing for me than for them. ” � After spotting Link and Ginger at Camden Lock market – “I’m going to watch my laughing boys, and when they separate we’ll see who has the last laugh. ”

� Luring Ginger to his death by pretending Link has been in a car accident – “Not dead. Not when I left. Badly hurt, though. Asking for you. ” � On killing Ginger - “He ran straight to the settee, yelling at me to call an ambulance, and I nailed him when he went to lift the blanket. ”

� “None of my lads is hungry, and they’ve got a roof over their heads and a floor as well. I sometimes think I spoil ‘em. ” � He attempts to kill Link at the end of the novel - “He was killing me, slowly, asphyxiation. My mouth yawned as I strove to suck in enough foul air for one last try. ”

� On smoking to suppress hunger pangs - “Dulls the pain a bit. ” � “Don’t tell anyone else you’ve got nine quid or you won’t have it long. ” � On why Link shouldn’t expect to receive benefits -“They’ll say you made yourself homeless ‘cause you left your mum’s place voluntarily. ” � On the importance of begging - “I wouldn’t wait till it runs out, mate. Like I said, some days you’ll make sod all. I’d start today if I was you. ”

� Link’s first impressions of her - “She was the best looking dosser I’d ever seen. ” � Asking for Link’s help to survive on the streets - “I don’t know what to do – how to live on the street. ” � On her true identity – “I’m sorry, Link. My name’s Louise Bain. I’m a journalist. ”