Karl Pilkington

It's always great to spend some time with Karl Pilkington, whether it's television, podcast or book. More Moaning is the companion piece to the second series of The Moaning of Life, Karl's most recent production (almost a year ago now!) To be honest, I found the show was not as fresh as An Idiot Abroad, partly because it lacked Ricky and Steve and the dynamic they bring, but mostly because as Karl travels and experiences more 'mind-broadening', as he once put it, he's become more show more normal.

Consequently, it seems like he's trying harder to 'be Karl Pilkington' rather than reacting naturally, as he would have done in the halcyon days of An Idiot Abroad. Don't get me wrong, he's still riotously funny, but it seems like he's trying rather than just being funny. For example, in More Moaning there's a lot of rather dodgy puns throughout the text; at first it's endearing to know Karl is so amused by them but it gets a bit stale. The best laughs come from when we experience the old Karl, such as the anecdote about his 'hoarder' mum on page 263 or when he's talking straight-faced about the "local tribal electronic dance culture" in Mexico on page 81.

Whilst we're on the 'old' and 'new' Karl, it is interesting to note how much better his writing has become. He's always had a knack of getting his voice right on the page – his words sound like Karl, which is quite a feat – but the two Moaning of Life books are noticeably more eloquent and relaxed than his previous ones. Reading about – or watching – Karl react to things in different ways than he would have done, say, five years ago is very interesting for those of us who have been fans for a long time. In particular, the 'Art' section of More Moaning and in the TV show sees him (accidentally) make some rather astute observations. And in the section where he is no longer bald (page 76), it's adorable to see him so happy.

It's because Karl still retains our interest and has managed to remain funny whilst maturing as a person that I'm sad to hear he might be packing it in soon. I listened to a BBC radio interview with him some months back where he spoke quite earnestly about 'knocking it all on the head', now that he's 'paid off the mortgage'. It's partly because we lack such straight-talking people in our public sphere that I'd be sad to lose him (for example, in More Moaning Karl calls out inconvenient deliverymen, guilt-tripping charities and dodgy return policies) but mostly because he's still extremely funny and interesting. He's seen the world (whilst being paid for it), made a lot of money, made some great TV shows and got his increasingly well-written books onto the bestsellers lists, all whilst staying humble and honest and himself. And hilarious. Not bad for a bald Manc twonk.

And if it has all ended, it might be worth remembering Karl's thoughts on extinction, on page 331: "… the dinosaurs came and went, and one day it'll be our turn to move on. Who ever thought that Woolworths would close down? But it did, and life went on." show less

Probably the best of all of Karl Pilkington's books to date, The Further Adventures of An Idiot Abroad broadly covers the same events as the second season of the TV show An Idiot Abroad, wherein Karl ticks items off a 'bucket list' - the 'things to do before you die' stuff like swim with dolphins - in his own unique and hilarious style. But it also goes into greater depth than the show (you can never have too much of Karl interacting with Pascha, the Russian taxi driver), as Karl also muses show more on items on the bucket list that he didn't experience (meet the Pope, join the Mile High Club, etc.) and why he can't be doing with them.

I didn't like that it shoehorns the third season of the show (the three-part special with Warwick Davis) into just a few pages at the back, as surely that trip was substantial enough to warrant its own chapter, or maybe even its own (shorter) book. But that's my only gripe; the book is hilarious and I was practically crying with laughter at points, both from the book and from the scenes from the TV show which the book would remind me of. Though I find quite a few books funny or amusing, there are very few which actually have the ability to make me forget myself and just bawl uncontrollably with laughter. This is definitely one of them.

To be fair, Karl's grumpiness about some of the supposedly amazing things you have to do before you die is warranted, particularly when noting how some of these things are now just busy, soulless tourist traps. Some of the things on the list have lost what was special about them, by becoming special," he notes on page 292 in a rare moment of genuine eloquence. Because although Karl's stuff is mainly about the laughs, he also presents to us the reality of travelling and experiencing supposedly life-changing activities. In a way, Karl Pilkington is Bullshit Man, the superhero he came up with to "stop people talking shit". You realise that whilst you may think you want to do all this stuff yourself, in reality you - like Karl - probably just want to sit at home eating biscuits and having a cup of tea. And when you can have a book as good as this one to keep you company, is that such a bad thing?" show less

Yes, I'm sure there can be plenty of nice moments when you have a child, but there's another side to everything. Hearing a baby laugh might be a lovely thing, but if I was woken up in the middle of the night by my baby laughing to itself, it would bloody terrify me." (pg. 131).

Another great offering from Karl Pilkington, who is as hilarious and absorbing as ever. Initially, I was worried that the material wouldn't be fresh as I have seen the television series that complements the book (or show more rather, the book complements the show). But the book was great, going into a bit more depth than the show was able to, and even the bits I knew were still funny.

I also think Karl might be getting smarter, or at least more eloquent in presenting his ideas to his readers/listeners/viewers. He writes well; the book is a breeze and a joy to read. It is also very well-presented, with illustrations that complement the text. The section on 'Happiness' is particularly good, demonstrating Karl's greater open-mindedness and self-awareness whilst still remaining extremely funny. He also seems to be able to quickly strike up a rapport with the people he meets, and comes across as a thoroughly likeable bloke. He's also always trying to save various animals, whether it is the goat in Mexico or Tony the turtle in Japan. If you're a Karl fan, you'll love it, and if you're not (yet), this is as good a place as any to start, aside from the TV show itself." show less

People say that when you buy someone a present, you should buy them something they wouldn't buy for themselves. The first time I experienced this was when my Auntie Nora gave me a T-shirt for my eighth birthday with a black-and-white image of her face on the front of it." (pg. 137)

A very funny book, but probably only if you're already a fan of Karl. Dedicated fans will also have heard some of Karl's anecdotes in this book before, but there is still plenty to enjoy. The title comes from one show more new anecdote on page 128, where Karl is stung by 'some yob fish' from 'the rough part of the sea' in the Caribbean, and for me it is these animal-based stories which are the most amusing. It also seems like Karl acts as a magnet for other weird folk who he encounters on his travels, and he is surrounded by friends and family whose lives he remarks on in his inimitable style. For example, whilst on holiday in Madeira:

"Suzanne's [his girlfriend's] mam was having a go at her dad cos he didn't have a shirt on. She said he looks a mess and is embarrassed to be seen with him. It's their ruby anniversary tomorrow." (pg. 153)

Non-fans should listen to the podcasts or watch An Idiot Abroad before reading this. This is because when you read it with Karl's distinctive voice in your head, it makes it even funnier." show less