The Better World of Reginald Perrin - David Nobbs ****

This is the third book in the brilliant David Nobb’s trilogy featuring the man on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown, the one and only Reginald Perrin. Many people will be familiar with the brilliant tv series starring Leonard Rossitor, and thankfully the scriptwriters stayed very close to the novels.

What is it about?

Reggie Perrin is a man that is never satisfied in life, just when he feels he has achieved contentment his feet start to itch and new plans develop in his head. Undoubtedly this is a man on the edge, where you feel that just one more push could send him toppling over into the abyss. In the previous two novels we have seen him fake his own death, remarry his wife under his new assumed identity, work at a pig farm and set up a business selling useless goods. Having made his fortune Reggie once again becomes tired with the monotony of sitting back and relaxing and decides to open a commune for the middle aged & middle class. The idea is that he will help the customers find a more loving way of life. However, will his ‘Stay as long as you like, pay as much as you like’ motto be his downfall? Once again we are in the company of Reggie’s former workmates and family members that we have grown to love.

What did I like?

It is brilliant the way that Nobb’s has created such individual characters, each have their own unique mannerisms and catchphrases and at times you can almost second guess what they are going to say. The writing is warm and the comedy at times laugh out loud funny, with more than a hint of intelligence beneath (especially the psychology interviews). We can all recognise portions of ourselves in many of the character’s traits and that is what makes it so readable, Nobb’s gives us opportunity to laugh at our own misgivings.

What didn’t I like?

Although I still thought this book was brilliant, it was hard to give it maximum stars in comparison with its predecessors. At times I felt as if the storyline was a little bit rehashed from previous ideas and it could have been made 50 pages shorter. I wouldn’t say that Nobbs was running out of new themes but I do think he ended the Perrin books at the right time (although there is another called ‘The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, written after Reggie dies).

Would I recommend?

Definitely. Although only as a completion of the Perrin books, because it refers often to past events and I think that if you had not read the trilogy in order you would miss out on a few of the storylines. I loved these books so much it almost feels as if I have lost a friend in the closing of the last chapter. Not very often I reread books, but I will with these in the future. ( )