By Robert Rankin
Robert Rankin truly is the master of ridiculously entertaining, hilariously funny tall tales. In this tale, Will Starling meets The Lad Himself, Huge Rune, and is set the task of solving the impossible, while thwarting the most evil, most encompassing and most devious plot of all time. All without paying for a single hotel room, and avoiding large killing machines with European accents.
Starling is a bit of a git, and his clashes with Barry were a bit of a mystery to me. If a sprout lodged in your ear is offering advice, wouldn't you at least pause long enough to listen to his theory, what with him being right in your brain and all? Although, if it was me, I'd be reaching for a long skewer as well, especially after hearing about Larry and what he got up to inside someone's noggin.
I liked this book; really enjoyed it. Except for one tiny little niggle. I'm used to Rankin's characters finishing an adventure with no sense of resolution or purpose, but I don't like that feeling myself, and the final few paragraphs would have had me throwing the book across the room in a sulk, if I hadn't been reading it on a rainy highway several hours from a room in which to throw it.
I suppose that's half the fun though...
Date finished: 22/10/12
Rating: 5 out of 5
Showing posts with label humour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humour. Show all posts
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Much Obliged, Jeeves
P.G. Wodehouse
0099706903
1971
I was expecting this to be a quick read, but found the formal language a bit of a shock and I had to slow down and think about a little more than the picture on the cover suggested.
That said, it didn't take long to adjust to the pace, and I found that I was able to really savour both the language and the story, rather than try to finish it and move onto the next one.
I felt that I was missing a lot of jokes and references to previous books, which was annoying, but the story itself was delightful. I don't think I'll actively hunt out the rest of the series, but would read them if they were handy.
Date finished: 03/02/09
Year Total: 5
0099706903
1971
I was expecting this to be a quick read, but found the formal language a bit of a shock and I had to slow down and think about a little more than the picture on the cover suggested.
That said, it didn't take long to adjust to the pace, and I found that I was able to really savour both the language and the story, rather than try to finish it and move onto the next one.
I felt that I was missing a lot of jokes and references to previous books, which was annoying, but the story itself was delightful. I don't think I'll actively hunt out the rest of the series, but would read them if they were handy.
Date finished: 03/02/09
Year Total: 5
Saturday, December 22, 2007
It's a Bloody Try Ya Useless Bastard
Paddy Sweeney
2002
0-9579559-1-X
Starting with two disallowed tries and a punch to the ref, this book epitomises the West Coast Bloke. From ducking shooting with prostitutes to punishing a guy more into the Junior team than he should be, this book outlines some debacles that wouldn't be out of place in real life. The blokes themselves, from Nugger to Knackerless to Echo Arse to Bull Tits, are hilarious caricatures of blokes that any kiwi either knows or can relate to.
However, I found that spelling mistakes throughout the book were quite distracting, and bits of the story were laid on a little thick, but this was a good, quick read that didn't require too much concentration.
Date Finished: 20/12/07
Year Total: 44
2002
0-9579559-1-X
Starting with two disallowed tries and a punch to the ref, this book epitomises the West Coast Bloke. From ducking shooting with prostitutes to punishing a guy more into the Junior team than he should be, this book outlines some debacles that wouldn't be out of place in real life. The blokes themselves, from Nugger to Knackerless to Echo Arse to Bull Tits, are hilarious caricatures of blokes that any kiwi either knows or can relate to.
However, I found that spelling mistakes throughout the book were quite distracting, and bits of the story were laid on a little thick, but this was a good, quick read that didn't require too much concentration.
Date Finished: 20/12/07
Year Total: 44
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
How To Be A Little Sod
Simon Brett
1992
ISBN 0 575 05916 8
"Well, here I am. And after the nine months I've just been through, this had better be good!"
So begins the story of a newborn baby, from day one to the end of the first year. The opening line suggests the rest of the story is going to be observant and funny, but by page 16 I decided that Baby isn't just a little snot, it's a little bastard with no sense of humour at all.
He and She, the parents, are to be punished and made miserable, although beyond producing such a nasty little shit, I'm not sure what they've done wrong.
I suppose parents might be able to identify with this book and find it funny, but being child-free I found it a real drag with little to keep it interesting. I have the two sequels, 'Little Sod's Next Step' and 'Not Another Little Sod' and although they are quick reads to boost my year total, I'm not going to bother.
Date Finished: 09/12/07
Year Total: 42
1992
ISBN 0 575 05916 8
"Well, here I am. And after the nine months I've just been through, this had better be good!"
So begins the story of a newborn baby, from day one to the end of the first year. The opening line suggests the rest of the story is going to be observant and funny, but by page 16 I decided that Baby isn't just a little snot, it's a little bastard with no sense of humour at all.
He and She, the parents, are to be punished and made miserable, although beyond producing such a nasty little shit, I'm not sure what they've done wrong.
I suppose parents might be able to identify with this book and find it funny, but being child-free I found it a real drag with little to keep it interesting. I have the two sequels, 'Little Sod's Next Step' and 'Not Another Little Sod' and although they are quick reads to boost my year total, I'm not going to bother.
Date Finished: 09/12/07
Year Total: 42
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The Well of Lost Plots
Jasper Fforde
2003
ISBN 0-340-82596-0
The third in the Thursday Next series. I wish I hadn't left it so long between readings, as these books carry on as one continuous story. That said, it was easy to pick up the threads once more, and get into the swing of things.
Thursday, hiding from Goliath Corporation, has taken up residence in a book in the Well of Lost Plots while studying to become a Jurisfiction agent and figure out how to remember her husband while a mindworm plays havoc with her memories.
On top of that, there is a major upgrade to the world of books approaching, and agents are suddenly dying in horribly suspicious circumstances, the book Thursday is living in is in danger of being demolished, and her dodo is nesting on the sofa.
Confusing, hilarious and wildly entertaining, I cannot recommend these books enough - if you love a little silliness, and can accept some upside-down ideas, you'll love this serious.
Date finished: 17/10/07
Year Total: 34
2003
ISBN 0-340-82596-0
The third in the Thursday Next series. I wish I hadn't left it so long between readings, as these books carry on as one continuous story. That said, it was easy to pick up the threads once more, and get into the swing of things.
Thursday, hiding from Goliath Corporation, has taken up residence in a book in the Well of Lost Plots while studying to become a Jurisfiction agent and figure out how to remember her husband while a mindworm plays havoc with her memories.
On top of that, there is a major upgrade to the world of books approaching, and agents are suddenly dying in horribly suspicious circumstances, the book Thursday is living in is in danger of being demolished, and her dodo is nesting on the sofa.
Confusing, hilarious and wildly entertaining, I cannot recommend these books enough - if you love a little silliness, and can accept some upside-down ideas, you'll love this serious.
Date finished: 17/10/07
Year Total: 34
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Lost In A Good Book
Jasper Fforde
2002
ISBN 0340 822 83 X
I read Fforde's first book (The Eyre Affair) last year and loved it, and decided to read the books in order. It turns out this is a good idea, as the sequel pick up right where the first book left off, and there are so many references to people and explanations from the first book that it would be almost impossible to understand as a stand-alone read.
Prequel-dependence aside, this book is so packed with startling everyday occurences, such as the tourist attraction of migrating mammoths, that the idea of jumping in and out of books can seem plausible, paving the way for Thursday's apprenticeship as an agent of jurisfiction, the literary protectors who work from inside the classics.
With Hades dead and Jack Schitt (definitely something to be said for the names of the characters - several short-lived personalities included Dedman, Walking, Cannon, Fodder and Chalk and Cheese) safely trapped in a copy of the Raven, Thursday intends to enjoy married life, but is dismayed to find that her husband has been eradicated - removed from the world as a toddler - and someone is trying to kill her.
Armed with a jar of lentils and a determined anger, Thursday is out to get her husband back - whatever the cost.
Book finished: 09/08/2007
Year Total: 23
2002
ISBN 0340 822 83 X
I read Fforde's first book (The Eyre Affair) last year and loved it, and decided to read the books in order. It turns out this is a good idea, as the sequel pick up right where the first book left off, and there are so many references to people and explanations from the first book that it would be almost impossible to understand as a stand-alone read.
Prequel-dependence aside, this book is so packed with startling everyday occurences, such as the tourist attraction of migrating mammoths, that the idea of jumping in and out of books can seem plausible, paving the way for Thursday's apprenticeship as an agent of jurisfiction, the literary protectors who work from inside the classics.
With Hades dead and Jack Schitt (definitely something to be said for the names of the characters - several short-lived personalities included Dedman, Walking, Cannon, Fodder and Chalk and Cheese) safely trapped in a copy of the Raven, Thursday intends to enjoy married life, but is dismayed to find that her husband has been eradicated - removed from the world as a toddler - and someone is trying to kill her.
Armed with a jar of lentils and a determined anger, Thursday is out to get her husband back - whatever the cost.
Book finished: 09/08/2007
Year Total: 23
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
A Cat Called Birmingham
Chris Pascoe2004
A non-fiction book about a mans cat. Not exactly a prize-winning topic but Brum is certainly not an average cat.
It's a tale of miracles - or at least the fact Brum made it to adulthood seems to be a miracle. The recounting of how Brum sets himself on fire multiple times, goes belly-flopping into ponds, off walls and onto moving cars is hilarious, as is the strange relationship between cat and toddler.
There are distractions though - imaginery holidays and tales of other, less interesting cats are less appealing, and at times downright irritating, but the pages devoted to Brum make it worthwhile.
Date Finished: 18/06/07
Year Total: 18
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The Da Vinci Mole
'Dr Ian Browne'
What is Dan Brown afraid of? Uh, probably nothing. But he should be.
Parodies of books rarely follow the original very closely - they caricature the main characters, and then wander off on a tangent of their own, but this one didn't. This one is so close that you could quite easily read it without having read the Da Vinci Code first. The characters are just as annoying and transparent, the action and mystery just as convoluted and ridiculous. Even the author is a thinly-veiled parody, which just made the book seem even funnier - it gives the entire thing the same edgy hysteria as jumping on sofas on national television does.
That said, I don't think I got the answers to the riddles at the back of the book (there was nothing mentioned at the beginning about a quiz!), although the contest is closed by now anyway. I did wonder if the contest itself was part of the parody, but I guess it doesn't matter.
A quick read, I found it hilarious.
Date Finished: 01/05/07
Year Total: 12
Friday, June 8, 2007
Thud!
Terry Pratchett
2005
Commander Vimes is one of my favourite characters on the Discworld, and seeing him in the role of doting dad is adorable and very nearly outshines the case Vimes find himself dealing with, which is the most politically-prickly he's ever had to deal with.
Trolls and dwarves have been sworn enemies longer than anyone can remember, and, according to both sides, for good reason (not quite the same reason, naturally). Now, things are stirring on both sides that could see a legend re-enacted in Vimes' own city, which could seriously interrupt the Commander's busy schedule. He begins an investigation, which meanders in seemingly random directions, the way the best cases do.
Something that struck me that was different about this D/W story was that there are a lot of memories from past books. It seemed a lot more personal, knowing the details of past events mentioned by the aging Watchmen. I like the idea of characters evolving and changing along with the city they patrol, although it did make me wonder about who is going to retire first.
Date Finished: 25/03/07
Year Total: 9
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