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In this rupturing funny tale of love, fatherhood,
Anglo-German relations and being in all the wrong places at all the
wrong times, Pel discovers that sometimes the things that drive you
crazy can be the things that keep you sane. |
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Blithe: I'm reading this really awesome book,
it's called 'Things My Had to share that:) Made me laugh! I'm not entirely sure what I expected this to be like. I know I wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I have. I started reading it in the bath, and there were constant waves as I giggled and chuckled my way through the first couple of chapters. If I were an out in the world kinda person then this book would be the type to make me look an arse on the bus when I burst out laughing, then glance around embarrassed and apologetically. It really is laugh out loud funny, and very few books manage that. The book is told through the eyes of Pel, father of two, boyfriend of German girlfriend of 6 years Ursula, with a job in IT and a couple of cool, philosophical friends. Pel isn't on the face of it a particularly likeable bloke, he's a bit of a prat, and is something of a clueless gimp when it comes to social etiquette, but he's harmless enough. The book is written in the first person, and is jam packed with asides and witticisms that make the book a joy to read. The dialogue between Pel and Ursula is perfect, and clearly a Dictaphone has been hidden around the writers home in order to record accurate arguments for the book. I have to admit the book, funny though it is, confirms all my deepest skepticism about love and relationships. Why anyone would choose to live with a person they have such unpleasant feelings about is beyond me. Whether it is Ursula, who thinks Pel is an idiot who has less sense than their youngest son, or Pel who doesn't even look at his girlfriend any more and instead experiences her presence, like a moon in her gravitational field. The thing is, so far they don't actually seem to like each other very much, let alone love each other. So yes, as a book it's funny as hell, but as a life I really wouldn't aspire to the example they set. It has certainly strengthened my resolve to remain single! I'm very much
looking forward to seeing Pel struggle onwards through the book, cluelessly
trying to unwind all of his former colleague's dodgy dealings. I really hope
that Ursual and Pel make peace, and learn some respect for each other rather
than the contempt they are currently showing. And I really, really hope that
we get to see more of the computer geeks in Pel's department, cause they made
me laugh! |
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This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. The blend of bitter realism, mixed with farcical set-pieces was a treat to read. The dialogue was sharp and witty, interspersed with goodly amounts of venom and hilarious asides. I've been raving all week about this to my friends, and will probably inflict it on one or more of them just so I can share the experience. I found myself reading extracts to Sarah, and typing passages to Chris. Poor them! Pel was a luckless hero, caught up in the office intrigue and politics by mere presence alone. As the problems keep piling up he juggles work and home with all the skill and dexterity of a blind, quadriplegic clown, failing in every respect. And he has a tiny penis. You can feel a twinge of sympathy for him...but just the smallest twinge, as most of his problems stem from his own inability to recognise his total lack of street smarts or knowledge about anything going on around him. It's a recipe for disaster. The dialogue alone is worth the read. It's expertly crafted, clearly from years of amalgamated, bitter, and ridiculous, arguments. I dare anyone to read this and not recognise just a little of their own bickering style. There were, of course, things I wasn't keen on. The minimal marital violence disturbed me. However much a couple fight, I personally think there's a line that shouldn't be crossed whether it's the man or the woman doing the hitting. When Ursula punched Pel I felt it crossed a line from fun to something more uncomfortable. Until that point the fighting seemed like sport, bantering back-and-forth with no real maliciousness. That sort of changed the feel for me. I was also a little disappointed by the way the book ended, which whilst giving the couple their first tender exchange also deprived the readers of a clear resolution. It was a writer's ending, not a reader's ending. Leaving the punters wanting more may seem like a crafty move, but it's a bit of a cheat when your reader has stuck with your characters through 400 pages not to give them a finish line to cross. With Pel having so many catastrophes built up it would have been nice to see at least one resolved. Even if it was done in the form of a epilogue. I certainly enjoyed myself during this book, and will be rushing out to buy any more novels by Mil Millington. If you get a chance to read this one, give it a go. If nothing else it'll tell you exactly what not to say if your significant other enquires about the state of their genitals!
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