Stuart Standing

I realise that the last few books I’ve read have been fairly lengthy, weighty, intense or convoluted tomes. I only realised it when I read this light-hearted romp of a novel, which caricatures the life of a tiny village, Applevale, with ease. This story is just begging for somebody to make a TV series out of it! It’s an easy to read, undemanding tale full of fun and wit. Diverse characters and situations that we can all somehow relate to even if they are, perhaps, exaggerated, bordering show more on the absurd maybe, even if you haven’t actually lived in a small village! It’s a delight and just what I needed in these damp and gloomy, February days. Comic Fiction rules!

The main thrust of Stuart Standing’s Trouble in Applevale centres around a neighbours’ dispute regarding extensions, boundaries, and renegade builders. The main character is quirky, innovative and seems to be the bane of many folks’ lives! At times he is hilarious with his litany of infirmities and prejudices. His wife is the complete antithesis and is probably one of the more normal characters in the book! Thoroughly recommend for some light hearted upliftment. show less

As these days you can hardly pick up a newspaper without reading of clashes between neighbours over planning applications, boundary disputes and complaints about the noise, disruption and damage caused when the contested building works are being carried out, Stuart Standing’s hilarious novel, far from feeling fictional, carries a very recognisable ring of truth! Although each of the characters may be portrayed in a ‘larger than life’ way, they all feel instantly recognisable, as do the show more various scenarios described in the ongoing clashes as the work on the extension takes place. I loved the author’s rather zany, humorous writing (including his ‘poetry’ and advertising copy!) as well as his keen observations of human behaviour and interactions, none of which ever felt too far-removed from feeling credible! There were so many moments when I found myself smiling inwardly as this battle between neighbours unfolded, with some of his descriptions causing me to laugh out loud, so I can thoroughly recommend this novel as an antidote to all the doom and gloom in the world right now … although maybe it’s one to be avoided if your new neighbours are planning an extension! show less

This is one of those books that looks cosy on the surface but has a sly, mischievous streak underneath. It’s set in a village that feels familiar enough to be comforting, yet just odd enough to keep you slightly off balance. That tension between quaint charm and quiet chaos is where the book finds its personality.
It is full of eccentric personalities, and Standing clearly enjoys letting them bounce off each other. The comedy isn’t loud; it’s observational, rooted in the way small show more communities magnify tiny drama This book honeslt, is a charming, slightly oddball village mystery with a lot of personality. The pleasure comes from spending time in Applevale and watching its residents collide in amusing ways. It’s the kind of book you read for atmosphere and character rather than adrenaline.
Thank you so much, i really enjoyed and definitely reccomended! ^^ show less

I received a copy of this book as part of Library Thing Early Reviewers.

This is one of those books where “quirky” is doing a lot of heavy lifting—and, to be fair, it mostly earns it. The writing style leans into that quirkiness with enthusiasm: shifting formats, interspersed asides, playful inserts (the game rules/descriptions were a particular highlight for me), and a general sense that the book is quite happy doing its own thing.

That said, it did take me a little while to settle into show more the style. It’s not what I would typically gravitate towards, and the heavy use (in my opinion-- but to be fair in my opinion exclamations should be used basically never) of exclamation marks gave the prose a slightly heightened tone that didn’t always land for me. Once I adjusted, I could appreciate the humour and the oddball energy, but I never quite fully clicked with it.

The story itself—a village thrown into chaos by new neighbours and an extension—has a very recognisable, almost exaggeratedly familiar feel. The characters are eccentric in that distinctly small-community way, where everyone is just believable enough to feel like someone you might have encountered… but turned up a notch.

At around 200 pages, it’s a quick, undemanding read, and I can absolutely see why it would appeal to readers looking for something light, humorous, and a bit different. For me, it was enjoyable in parts and interesting in its approach, even if it didn’t entirely land as a whole. show less