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Liked It “Drool Britannia. Townsend's new satire depicts anarchy in the UK, circa 2008, with real pathos benind the larfs.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Drool Britannia. Townsend's new satire depicts anarchy in the UK, circa 2008, with real pathos benind the larfs.”
Mitchell Shannon wrote this review Monday, January 21, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I thought I was done with Adrian Mole. I'd become sick of him and his farce of a life. I'd seen a lot of myself in him in his younger years, but then he became too pathetic and too much of a joke. I just hoped I wouldn't become him later on. And then this.
Michael wrote this review Sunday, September 9, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Now approaching forty and with severe prostate trouble, Adrian is once again sympathetic. I felt sorry for him. His life cannot go right and this time, it's all gone too far. The novel ends with a hint of optimism though, and I have to admit that I got a little misty-eyed. I sort of hope that there is a ninth book now, but I'd understand if there wasn't. Townsend has difficulties of her own and, frankly, perhaps it's better to leave a happy-ever-after to our own imaginations.
Marvellous.”“Hilarious. Do not read in public, you have been warned :-). ”
Maria Demetrious wrote this review Monday, April 30, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A lot has been written and said about Adrian Mole and his now 8 diaries that follow him through his life (since 13 3/4 and up to his "prostrate years" around his 40th birthday) and there is hardly anything to add with the newest addition to the series, so let's try a different approach.
Sydne wrote this review Sunday, March 25, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Before Christmas 2010 I reserved the book in the local library and got the news it was already hired out and I was third in the waiting line. By the middle of January I finally got the book, meaning that together with me four people had had the book within a month. And this basically sums it up. The Adrian Mole books are great and fast reads and the adjective "unputdownable" certainly appplies. Beyond that there is a whole world though.
Sue Townsend's fine characterisation of Adrian and his surrounding is beautifully consistent in all the novels (so far, I read the first, the last and one in the middle) and her depiction of the historic context is flowing and immensely important. I got reminded of a great episode of the American sitcom Ellen with Ellen DeGeneres which plays in the 60s and has her and her husband talking about possible investments. Ellen, the tame housewife, suggests IBM, but is overruled by her husband and Asbestos. From our perspective we of course know who is the real winner here, but obviously the episode doesn't. In this it is similar to Adrian Mole; when he talks about his safe investment in Icelandic Banks while we all already know where this one led to. This, together with the incredible naivety of Adrian Mole, makes the charm of all his books, and of course also the new one.”
“I think I've read all the Adrian Mole books now and this one was a bit more sentimental than the previous ones, & it left me a little down. Still, Adrian continues to muddle his way through his v. funny life and if Townsend writes a dozen more Adrian books, I'll damn sure read them. ”
Claire Miller wrote this review Friday, February 17, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Very good final entry in the series. Darker than others but a good read.”
Jeffrey Sanzel wrote this review Wednesday, November 30, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The latest in the ongoing saga of Adrian Mole.
Ross V wrote this review Monday, August 22, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The last time the readers saw Adrian, he was married (again) and with a toddler (again) and dealing with sharing a pigsty with his parents in the middle of no where. This book picks up just two or three years since- and very little has changed. However, for Adrian, the upcoming period of his life is going to find himself dealing with both a martial & health crisis, and to become a victim of the economic downturn facing the globe in the past few years.
On a personal level, I have been a fan of Adrian Mole for about 25 years now- having watched the show with my Grandmother in Canada in my youth and later, discovering the books, Adrian Mole was my safety read- it was a comfort book for me. And with each new book, I was furthered entertained and felt good about my life. This one, though, I didn’t have the same feeling about it- Adrian Mole has a life that, in some ways, is better than mine- as shocking as that is. And yet- he also has more problems then me as well.
But what was a weird moment was reading the entries that, in some cases are just 3 years in the past, and knowing WHAT I was doing on that date and time. That I knew that I was out at the club with friends, or at a pool party, or at work, or visiting S. Carolina, etc. This is, for me, the first time this has happened to me- and not just on significant days (ie- Wedding of Chuck and Di; Sarah and Andrew, Death of Princess Di, etc).
”
“As enjoyable as any Adrian Mole book. Will certainly not disappoint fans. Very easy to read and often funny.”
Khyan M wrote this review Wednesday, June 8, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Since I am a fan of Adrian Mole series, this is Adrian at 38 and the story goes that he contracted cancer, dealt with it, had to deal with his current wife, Daisy and still very much in love with Pandora... ”
Verniela W wrote this review Sunday, March 20, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
