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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This didn’t make me laugh out loud but I did enjoy it. Weirdly sad ending for a Mole book
I have to admire the scope of the series, which now spans three decades. It follows the political and social history of Britain closely all the way, and it's told from a vantage point well outside the normal ones favoured by writers (ie he's not posh and lives in Not London).
Adrian Mole is now well into his thirties and engaged to someone he doesn't love or even like very much. He's still very much himself and, as I said in my reaction to one of the earlier books, adult Adrian is slightly creepier and ickier than teenage Adrian. He's at least less sex-obsessed in this one, which is a relief, but he's taken to writing letters to Geoff Hoon, Radio Four and the Keeper of the Queen's Swans.
The politics are a lot closer to the surface than usual. Even the book's title refers to the Iraq War, which is a constant background to Adrian's personal life, and follows the arc of events from the weapons inspectors' visits through to the early day of the British presence in Basra, cruise missiles going astray and the discovery of what was going on in Guantanamo. His own son is one of the soldiers, aged 18, acting as a reminder of the reality of the war in a way she couldn't do if she were relying in news reports only.
Sue Townsend dictated this book to her husband after she lost her sight to diabetes, so the fact that she's kept up the quality is pretty impressive.
Adrian Mole is now well into his thirties and engaged to someone he doesn't love or even like very much. He's still very much himself and, as I said in my reaction to one of the earlier books, adult Adrian is slightly creepier and ickier than teenage Adrian. He's at least less sex-obsessed in this one, which is a relief, but he's taken to writing letters to Geoff Hoon, Radio Four and the Keeper of the Queen's Swans.
The politics are a lot closer to the surface than usual. Even the book's title refers to the Iraq War, which is a constant background to Adrian's personal life, and follows the arc of events from the weapons inspectors' visits through to the early day of the British presence in Basra, cruise missiles going astray and the discovery of what was going on in Guantanamo. His own son is one of the soldiers, aged 18, acting as a reminder of the reality of the war in a way she couldn't do if she were relying in news reports only.
Sue Townsend dictated this book to her husband after she lost her sight to diabetes, so the fact that she's kept up the quality is pretty impressive.
A very funny book. It's my first time trying literary comedy and I wasn't disappointed. It also has a soulful, touching aspect to it, especially Adrian's reaction when the Iraq war actually begins and starts to affect him on a personal level with his son, Glenn, being a soldier.
The comedy is stretched thin in some parts but on the whole, it's a relaxing, easy to read, and oftentimes funny book
The comedy is stretched thin in some parts but on the whole, it's a relaxing, easy to read, and oftentimes funny book
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh. I really wanted to love this, the first of the Adrian Moles I've ever read, but frankly I didn't. I certainly wouldn't say I hated it, but I didn't laugh out loud. Quick relaxing read but I don't think I will bother with the others.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Originally written: 09/03/19.
Most downer ending of an Adrian Mole book - I won't say ever, because Adrian - but definitely so far. Undoubtedly this was deliberate on Sue's part; the war in Iraq sparked the biggest protest in British history.
Also, Brainbox Henderson is back.
Nigel's gone fucking blind now, which hurts. I love Nigel, and I'm happy that he seems to be back for good now, because after the first two books he kind of vanished (mostly). He'd better be sticking around.
Adrian is shit at money management. It's been a while since his life choices have left me so frustrated, but boy did his spending this time bring all those books one and two flashbacks rushing in. 'Stop buying useless shit, Adrian,' I kept saying.
Cannot overstate how much a shithead Marigold was. I read the entire book in one sitting, just to get to her cosmic karma strike, and then it didn't. Fuck. Angry about William too. Bring him back from Africa; I miss the little guy! More than Adrian does, apparently, because the dickhead missed his birthday.
To summarise: poor Glenn, poor Robbie, love Pandora and like Daisy. Adrian, please get it together at some point.
To conclude: fuck Marigold.
Most downer ending of an Adrian Mole book - I won't say ever, because Adrian - but definitely so far.
Spoiler
Glenn's army friend Robbie was killed, and after I got so attached to him, the audacity, and Glenn's irreparably changed by it.Spoiler
Marigold was as awful as I predicted she would be, but I liked her sister, Daisy. Their parents can go and get shot out of a cannon though. Then Marigold, manipulative, selfish, childish, doesn't even get any comeuppance for her being The Absolute Worst! I mean, this is pretty in line for Adrian's life, but I don't care. Gimme vengeance. Her thing through the whole book is that she wants to get married, and then she does! To Brainbox Henderson, admittedly, but even so.Also, Brainbox Henderson is back.
Nigel's gone fucking blind now, which hurts. I love Nigel, and I'm happy that he seems to be back for good now, because after the first two books he kind of vanished (mostly). He'd better be sticking around.
Adrian is shit at money management. It's been a while since his life choices have left me so frustrated, but boy did his spending this time bring all those books one and two flashbacks rushing in. 'Stop buying useless shit, Adrian,' I kept saying.
Spoiler
He didn't listen, and then he had to sell his flat at Rat Wharf.Cannot overstate how much a shithead Marigold was. I read the entire book in one sitting, just to get to her cosmic karma strike, and then it didn't. Fuck. Angry about William too. Bring him back from Africa; I miss the little guy! More than Adrian does, apparently, because the dickhead missed his birthday.
Spoiler
How did Adrian come to marry Daisy by the time of the "one year later" chapter? Last I heard, he had her running away from Marigold's wedding under a cloud of shame because he decided to out their relationship during his best man speech.To summarise: poor Glenn, poor Robbie, love Pandora and like Daisy. Adrian, please get it together at some point.
To conclude: fuck Marigold.