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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
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.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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I was eight years old when Tony Blair and George Bush declared war on Iraq. I remember my parents gathering my older brother and I in the kitchen and telling us what was happening and that there was no need to be worried or scared.
I first read Weapons of Mass Destruction as a sixteen year old sixth former. At the time of reading I had given up on my geography a-level and my teachers had given up on me in return so they just let me get on with my reading at the back of the classroom. I remember discussing it with my teachers and with my parents as I was reading it and when I finished it I declared it my favourite Mole book.
Almost a decade later, I have re-read it and I'm happy to say that it's still my favourite Mole and I perhaps love it even more.
Obviously the Gielgud the Swan stuff is as funny as it was and Adrian's life makes me groan and cringe just as much but it's all the underlying, yah know, stuff that you don't really get when you're a sixteen year old kid just trying to ignore a lecture on isostatic recovery that makes this book so great and so, so heartbreaking. That "you can't afford a lifestyle, Moley, only a life" is a killer. Everything that happens to Glenn and Robbie. The way we're reminded that a Labour government (supposedly the 'goodies' of the UK parliament) lied to the UK and invaded Iraq.
Aged eight, my parents told me not to be scared or to worry about the war in Iraq. Aged sixteen Sue Townsend told me to be more than that. Be angry. Aged almost 26 - remain angry. And put down the credit card.
I first read Weapons of Mass Destruction as a sixteen year old sixth former. At the time of reading I had given up on my geography a-level and my teachers had given up on me in return so they just let me get on with my reading at the back of the classroom. I remember discussing it with my teachers and with my parents as I was reading it and when I finished it I declared it my favourite Mole book.
Almost a decade later, I have re-read it and I'm happy to say that it's still my favourite Mole and I perhaps love it even more.
Obviously the Gielgud the Swan stuff is as funny as it was and Adrian's life makes me groan and cringe just as much but it's all the underlying, yah know, stuff that you don't really get when you're a sixteen year old kid just trying to ignore a lecture on isostatic recovery that makes this book so great and so, so heartbreaking. That "you can't afford a lifestyle, Moley, only a life" is a killer. Everything that happens to Glenn and Robbie. The way we're reminded that a Labour government (supposedly the 'goodies' of the UK parliament) lied to the UK and invaded Iraq.
Aged eight, my parents told me not to be scared or to worry about the war in Iraq. Aged sixteen Sue Townsend told me to be more than that. Be angry. Aged almost 26 - remain angry. And put down the credit card.
Adrian Mole has been around for many years. I read the original story a few years back and now had a great offer on this audio book. I loved the humour and voice of Adrian in the original series and hoped that an older Adrian had lost none of his honesty and adrianess.
I wasn’t disappointed, the narrator did a very good job and came across well as the star. Adrian is still the same loveable (?) character he was before, still having problems with his love life and dare I say profoundly in love with Pandora, who is now a labour MP. In many ways he hasn’t grown up at all. The world seems to have moved on, yet he still has all his teenage angst in tact. Except now he has two sons, each with a different women, neither of whom live with him.
Now Adrian, still an aspiring writer works in a book shop and is in the process of buying a modern flat in Rat Wharf. The story is incredibly funny at times, yet behind the laughter is a tragic tale that brings you down to earth in one of those tricky moments where you realise that it’s not nice to be laughing. Rising debts and a failure, like most of us, to take on more debt seem to be an epitaph to the noughties.
It’s the first audiobook I’ve listened to in a long while in full and I have to say this was ideal for an hour a day or so relaxing. Even the cat seemed to enjoy the voice and the story, although I think she fell asleep
I wasn’t disappointed, the narrator did a very good job and came across well as the star. Adrian is still the same loveable (?) character he was before, still having problems with his love life and dare I say profoundly in love with Pandora, who is now a labour MP. In many ways he hasn’t grown up at all. The world seems to have moved on, yet he still has all his teenage angst in tact. Except now he has two sons, each with a different women, neither of whom live with him.
Now Adrian, still an aspiring writer works in a book shop and is in the process of buying a modern flat in Rat Wharf. The story is incredibly funny at times, yet behind the laughter is a tragic tale that brings you down to earth in one of those tricky moments where you realise that it’s not nice to be laughing. Rising debts and a failure, like most of us, to take on more debt seem to be an epitaph to the noughties.
It’s the first audiobook I’ve listened to in a long while in full and I have to say this was ideal for an hour a day or so relaxing. Even the cat seemed to enjoy the voice and the story, although I think she fell asleep
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A return to form for Sue Townsend and one of my favourites of the Mole series. The backdrop of the Iraq war and the arc of Adrian going from supporter to understanding that his son is fighting in a senseless war is as funny and moving as I'd expect from an Adrian Mole book. The debt storyline is very of the time, when we were all having credit far beyond our earnings thrown at us by lenders. Adrian's relationship with his boss Mr Carlton-Hayes is lovely. Pandora, Tania and Rosie make less of an appearance than usual but Pauline and George are as funny and dysfunctional as ever.