David Nobbs (1935–2015)

Reginald Perrin is going through something of a mid-life crisis. Sick of the minutiae of his job at Sunshine Desserts, he is driven to desperate measures, and decides to steal a giant lorry shaped like a jelly, fake his own death, and start a new life. This book – the first in a series of three – tells of Reggie’s adventures as he tries to find a meaning to this life.

The very first line – “When Reginald Iolanthe Perrin set out for work on the Thursday morning, he had no intention show more of calling his mother-in-law a hippopotamus” – gave me a clue that this book was going to be funny, and somewhat surreal. What I didn’t expect was that it would actually be tinged with melancholy too. It’s easy to sympathise with Reggie’s frustration at his colleagues and his job, although the measures he took to find something more to live for were admittedly drastic and ridiculous.

Nobbs balances the melancholy out with lots of laughter though. During the first part of the book, I was amused on several occasions, but not enough to make me really laugh. However, then came the scene describing the funniest dinner party I have ever read about, which actually gave me a stomach ache from laughing so hard.

The book takes a bizarre turn towards the end, and and while it was supposed to be satirical, it didn’t strike quite the right note with me, because it was just TOO unbelievable. However, I did enjoy it overall, and certainly intend to read the next two books in the series. show less

The Legacy of Reginald Perrin - David Nobbs **

I am a massive fan of the Reggie Perrin books having been first introduced to them through the TV series. Originally written as a trio of books between 1975 & 1978, it seems that the Author decided to bring back some of his most famous creations nearly 20 years later. Anyone looking forward to once again reading Reggie’s brilliant and witty conversations will be disappointed as he does not feature directly in the book at all. In fact the exact show more opposite as Reginald Iolanthe Perrin has been killed, slain by a falling advertisement board during a storm. As his friends and family gather to once again say their final goodbyes it is announced that true to character he has left a little surprise in store for them. A large sum of money has been bequeathed to his nearest and dearest, but in order to claim their stakes they must prove that they have do something totally absurd, and the act(s) must be approved by Reggie’s solicitor. Soon a plan is hatched that involves all the beneficiaries working together, but can the motley bunch pull it off?

What did I like?

A difficult one. I suppose there was a sense of familiarity with a number of the characters, almost a sense of relief that there was life for them after the novels, and also a sense of completion knowing how Reggie lived out his final days.

What didn’t I like?

It’s strange that after loving the other Reggie books that I really struggled to enjoy this one. The plot and dialogue was very repetitive, with characters reiterating what was said them in the sentence before and the different characters following the same storylines. Now and again this may be humorous, but after the first few dozen times it really wore thin. The worst part for me though was the characterisation, compared to the other novels they all just seemed a shadow of themselves, their actions all formulaic and forced. It was almost as if they have had their personalities sucked from them, where once they were bright and bubbly, now they seem borderline suicidal. The storyline itself was fairly weak with a lot of the subplots just rehashed versions of the other books. I really don’t know what possessed Nobbs to add this book to the Perrin cannon and although I am sure than some people may enjoy it, it just wasn’t for me.

Would I recommend?

I can’t bring myself to say yes. It wouldn’t be a fair introduction to the author as much of the plot hinges on the previous novels and it would take away a lot of their brilliance if this was read first. I suppose if you are a bit of a completist and want to read all the authors works then you could seek it out. Personally I wish I had left it alone and remembered all the characters as they were at the end of ‘The Better World of Reginald Perrin’. show less

This novel covers the first 18 years of the life of Henry Pratt from his birth to his doing his National Service in the British Army.

Born into poverty in 1935 in the fictional Sheffield mining suburb of Thurmarsh, Henry is short-sighted, ungainly and un-athletic. When his parents die when he is a young boy Henry is passed around various relatives and is educated in various school environments ranging from local primary and grammar schools alongside local youths to two years at a fee-paying show more all boys boarding school mixing with the sons of well-to-do toffs where because of his working-class roots he is a complete fish out of water. Henry hasn't exactly been been dealt a very favourable hand of cards but he is first and foremost stoic.

David Nobbs was one of British television's most successful comedy series scriptwriters and his credits include 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' and 'A Bit of a Do', programmes from my childhood.

A lot of the dialogue is written with a Yorkshire accent and I found it a quirky and mildly amusing evocation of Yorkshire life during a certain period of British history. Despite the book's blurb describing it as being "noisily funny" I cannot in all honesty say that I ever actually laughed out loud but I did read it with a fixed smile on my face which is no bad thing. Consequently I found it something of an unexpected surprise and will be looking out for the next book in the series. show less

A bittersweet romance that makes you laugh out loud - this book was a joy from start to finish.
Alan is a fifty-five year old bachelor and philosophy don; Ange is a twenty-four year old office temp and darts groupie - what might this disparate pairing have in common? To start off with, not a lot, but when they chat on the train, Alan is spurred (uncharacteristicly) to ask her out and they click - well sort of!
Ange drags Alan to the world darts championship, he takes her to Rome, and they set show more about getting to know each other. She helps Alan to loosen up and enjoy the moment, he helps her to ask the right questions in life - surely it can't last - can it? A classic contemporary Pygmalion - touching, thoughtful and very very funny. show less