A Top Gear Christmas by Top Gear

A quick rundown… It’s the Big Book of Top Gear with a distinctly Christmas theme.

Strengths: It’s Top Gear. It’s funny.

Weaknesses: Hard to get excited by Christmas when it’s February and hot.

Why I read it: 1. The comic was in the Top Gear Live programme. 2. I always enjoy these Top Gear books, they’re funny.

Pages: 128

Published: 2011

Publisher: BBC Books

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: The Big Book of Top Gear

 

The Top Gear ‘big books’ are always funny for both young and old TG fans (the annuals, in my opinion, are much better suited to youngsters, but more about that at a later date). I eagerly await each year’s ‘big book’ but disappointingly I couldn’t find one for 2011. Lo and behold, in the Top Gear Live programme there was a comic, with the tantalising phrase, ‘if you want to know more, get A Top Gear Christmas‘. Like the good little lemming I am, I immediately jumped online to buy it. Unfortunately, my parcel spent Christmas in transit and I received it in time for New Year.

What’s it like reading a Christmas book just after Christmas? Before I can answer that, I need to state that it’s rather difficult reading about cold, snow, fires and scarves when it’s 40°C outside and you’re sweltering in shorts. So in fact, the Christmas theme didn’t really seem to bother me quite as much as it could have. The Christmas carols (rejigged to relate to Top Gear) were a bit flat for me, but younger readers may delight in changing the words! The index was very witty and funny (one of the few indexes I have ever read from top to bottom), as was the characterisation of the three presenters, which could be categorised as:

• Jeremy: tall, loud and likes blowing things up
• James: slow and talks about boring things
• Richard: only eats certain foods, likes fashion

Whether that’s true or not is another thing! But it’s wittily done and would be a good book to read on Christmas afternoon or on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s not quite as funny as the previous books, but I think that’s because the Christmas theme limits the topics somewhat.

An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington

A quick rundown… The book to accompany the TV series – Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send Karl, who thrives on familiar surroundings (and food) to the Seven Wonders of the World.

Strengths: Karl’s facts at the end of each section are good, as well as the parts that weren’t shown in the series.

Weaknesses: Pictures are hard to see at times on the ebook version.

Why I read it: I loved the TV series.

Pages: 144 (ebook)

Published: 2010

Publisher: Canongate Books

Setting: India, Brazil, China, Egypt, Mexico, Jordan, Israel, Peru

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: watch the TV show! Or try Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor (yes, that one) and Charley Boorman

I didn’t realise there was a book in addition to the TV series until I saw it on Kobo (although I should have expected it, considering that nearly every TV series has accompanying merchandise these days). The TV series played in Australia on a low key digital channel and gradually increased in hype through word of mouth. Yes, this series is good. It appears to be the brainwave of Ricky Gervais (of The Office) and Stephen Merchant, who decided that it would be incredibly funny to send their friend, fellow comedian Karl Pilkington around the world. Why is that so funny? You see, Karl is a homebody. He likes the familiar – language he can understand, food that he can identify and a ready supply of Monster Munch (some kind of flavoured corn chips according to Wikipedia). Karl does not like surprise, nor does he want to adventure into the unknown.

The book features regular dialogue between Karl, Ricky and Stephen – usually the latter two teasing Karl and getting him to perform something he would have never considered on his own – Mexican wrestling or eating bugs are just two examples. Karl usually does what they tell him, but not without having a whinge about how he’d rather be watching telly at home (probably with some Monster Munch). The book covers what is seen in the TV series and much more. Here, we get to reflect on Karl’s feelings and he really comes across as much more intelligent than portrayed in the show. Sure he’s blunt, but Karl is also very funny with a dry sense of humour. While Karl is no Michael Palin (and he makes several references to this), there are interesting facts at the end of each section of each country. It’s not a comprehensive travel guide, but a unique glimpse at life on the road – both good and bad. Karl does include commentary on the different toilets and bathrooms he encounters in addition to unique foods. A word of warning that some may find his bluntness offensive at times, but this book shines through Karl’s reactions to his experiences.

This is by no means award winning prose, but it’s a fun book that will have you laughing. I read it while on holiday and suggest you do the same.

Starter for Ten by David Nicholls

A quick rundown… A slightly geeky boy’s first year at university – girls, booze and living away from home. You can imagine what happens next.

Strengths: Nicholls has the nerdy boy thing down pat.

Weaknesses: Sometimes Brian can be cringeworthy.

Why I read it: Adored One Day.

Pages: 352

Published: 2003

Publisher: Villard

Setting: England

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Bachelor Kisses by Nick Earls

Despite the title, this is not a book about dinner parties or working as a waiter. ‘Starter for ten’ refers to the game show University Challenge, of which Brian the protagonist is a little bit of a fan of. By the author of the acclaimed (and now slightly dodgy movie) book One Day, David Nicholls tells us the tale of Brian, a truly awkward teenager going to university in the 80s. Brian, brought up by his mother after his dad died, thinks he’s not too bad – he loves Kate Bush, has some pretty cool clothes and is sure he’s going to get somewhere with the girls at university where he’s reading English Literature. Unfortunately, he’s also kind of geeky and has the innate ability to create some situations that despite Brian’s best efforts are cringeworthy in a squeamish way.

Nicholls starts each chapter with a question and answer that would come from a University Challenge show. These kind of relate to the theme of the chapter as well as being a good trivia source. Despite Brian’s best intentions, he only scrapes onto his university’s team by default – and is caught between two girls, the gorgeously rich Alice and the tough Rebecca. This is kind of a stereotypical subplot, but it has some hilarious moments that you can’t help but snigger at.

While Brian’s awkwardness is charming at first, it does start to wear thin as it gets him into more and more trouble, with some scenes reading as more slapstick than Nick Hornby-esque fiction. Nicholls does realise this and while the ending is not life-changing, it does give a more realistic picture of Brian’s immaturity.

A very fast read, but a good one. I would recommend this for travel except for the fact you could laugh at some very inopportune moments!

Where Does it Hurt? By Max Pemberton

In a nutshell… The junior doctor is back – now with one year’s knowledge, he’s working out on the street.

Strengths: Honest and emotive.

Weaknesses: Not as much humour (difficult given the setting)

Why I read it: Loved Trust Me, I’m a Junior Doctor

Pages: 304

Published: 2009

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Setting: England

Rating: 9 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Bodies by Jed Mercurio

Max Pemberton is a talented writer and a very good doctor from what I read. Here in his second book (his third has just been released in the UK), he leaves the hospital where he did his initial training to work on the streets, looking after the homeless, mentally ill and substance dependent. While this doesn’t provide as much of an opportunity for humour as the initial book, there are still some very funny moments (bin diving for designer shirts) as well as some very poignant and sad ones. It’s an excellent insight into the life of working with people who are forced to live on the fringes of society.

This was a fast and easy read – probably because I was so interested in finding out what happened to each of the character – Sister Stein, the stern nurse at the drug dependency clinic; Patrick, who will restore your belief in the human spirit and Max’s former flatmates. The darker side of the book deals with topics not discussed very often – drug dependency in pregnancy, people who prefer life with drugs, those who battle mental illness and those that live on the streets. I found this a good insight into what patients may be experiencing. There were sad points and high points – just like life itself.

One question I do have is why Max left after one year – was his contract up? Did he prefer work in the hospital?

A great story and I eagerly await his third book!

Don’t Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs… She Thinks I’m a Piano Player in a Whorehouse by Paul Carter

In a nutshell… The adventures of working on the oil rigs.

Strengths: A light read and very funny.

Weaknesses: Some might find the swearing a bit much.

Why I read it: My mum gave it to me.

Pages: 204

Published: 2006 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Setting: Anywhere there’s an oil rig!

Rating: 8 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Charley Boorman’s travel adventure books (eg. Long Way Round, By Any Means)

My mother laughed uproariously throughout this book, then thrust it into my hands and said, ‘You must read this’. When she saw that I was planning to read it on the train, she was worried. ‘You might laugh too much’.

There are some hilarious points to this book, one of them involving a clever monkey and a key, others involving boyish hijinks on an oil rig. There are serious points too (such as what accidents can happen on a rig) but Carter makes this a light-hearted, fun read. Following the oil action around the world, he comes into contact with remote tribes, guns and what being stuck on a rig for a long period of time can do to you – such as becoming friends with spiders. He also experiences the traveller’s worst nightmare – dysentery at 30 000 feet. There are other serious points, such as the downside to relationships when you’re stuck in a remote area of the world and accidents in the Aussie Outback.

For those who are worried that the vagaries of oil rigging may be beyond their knowledge, Carter provides a helpful diagram and brief explanations – not that you need it, because the laughter is pouring out just like, dare I say it, an oil strike!

This is a simple, fast read – perfect for standing out in a crowd because everyone will be wondering what on earth you’re laughing about.

Note: a shortened version of this review was originally published in The West Australian in July 2011.

Hospital Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous

I made the mistake of reading this while I was on call. And yes, I do work in a hospital. While my experience of working 24/7 was not quite as bad as the unnamed doctor, there are a lot of things that ring true in this book. Written in conjunction with numerous hospital staff, this book tells the story of a truly horrible 24 hours in the Emergency Department. While all of these things do happen, hopefully they don’t happen in a single (double) shift.

This book is incredibly funny and yet incredibly sad. From the propofol and sux (suxamethonium, both anaesthetics) races – wrong, but oh so funny to the nurses hiding the chocolates, this will have you laughing and crying. People really do take up residence in the ED waiting room, the place usually has several drunks sleeping it off and others do shoot up just outside. There are also the traumas that just cannot be saved and the unexpected deaths when it all looked so medically simple.

The book also catches the feelings of the staff – from feeling useless at a trauma, exhilaration after a successful resuscitation and annoyance at the abuse of the system as well as the ‘four hour rule’ (i.e. in and out of ED in four hours or less, it’s the source of a lot of talk currently in Australia). I don’t know if some of the sexual things go down but the tiredness and the snaffling of food, any food is all real.

This is a great look at what goes on in the ED from the doctor’s perspective – it is moving and funny. The procedures are explained simply (and correctly, one of my issues with some fiction books) and it’s a light, quick read.

My only issue was that my ebook copy has a big black blank for the cover, disappointing as the cover is pretty good.

Read this if: you’re after an insider’s perspective on life in the ED without actually having to work there.

9 out of 10.

Preincarnate by Shaun Micallef

This is Shaun Micallef’s (The Leading Australian Comedian of the Entire Cosmos) first novella, linking such matters as Jack the Ripper, Tom Cruise, time travel, Freemasons, space travel and Matthew Reilly all together in one reasonable size book. It is not for the faint hearted, nor those who simply don’t ‘get’ Micallef. (I’m not talking about Talking About Your Generation but if you simply do not see the wisdom of David McGahan’s world around him, Dr Miracle and futility of Panadol now Panadol Rapid is available, you don’t need this book. You probably would prefer Dave Hughes or Good News Week).

Preincarnate is based on the past, present and future all at once in some sort of time continuum, which may be linked to Buddhism, Dr Who or none of the above. We have poor Alexander Pruitt who is repeatedly sucked into a time ripple and his attempted saviour who is probably the Rector of St Ives. The Rector travels to an ossuary in Paris, meets Tom Cruise in LA and tries to stop the evil Doctor Moray. Doctor Moray is involved with Oliver and Richard Cromwell, Queen Victoria, HG Wells and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to name a few. Will Alexander be removed to a single time period? What about the mysterious Una?

Take Preincarnate as it presents and try not to overanalyse. I think this is a book that would benefit from a second read (just in case you missed the badgers). The illustrations remind me of something out of a UK Magazine Annual and definitely add to the book pages (okay, and a moment to ponder). Shaun Micallef is a very witty writer and I can’t wait to see his next book. If you simply can’t finish this book, please at least read the back pages of Suggested Reading and Future Titles – these are hilarious. (Ancient Map Folding or Gas Pressure Readings in Adelaide, June –July 1934 anyone?)

I read this as an ebook, and could not put it down. The only bug bear was flipping to the foot notes (a link would have been nice).

Read it if: you are a willing participant of Shaun Micallef’s world. We can only live in it.

8.5 out of 10.

Smithereens by Shaun Micallef

 

Yes, it does need to be that big. (Original 2004 cover)

Smithereens was originally published in 2004 and has been re-released this year. As a long time Micallef fan (from Full Frontal to The Micallef P(r)ogram(me) to Micallef Tonight), I am reviewing the original edition. The new edition does contain some changes though, noted by Micallef himself as well as some sections missing (such as the letter allegedly written by Jonathan Shier – wonder if anyone remembers him?) 

Shaun Micallef is a former lawyer turned comedian and self-proclaimed ‘Renaissance man’. (I say that tongue in cheek). I am a big fan of his dry, subtle humour; especially his play on words which I worry sometimes goes over the heads of those watching Talking ‘Bout Your Generation (humourous Australian game show). He is also the creator of such characters as Fabio, the most beautiful man in the cosmos; Nobby Doldrums, Milo Kerrigan, David McGahan, Roger Explosion (played by David McGahan), Dr Miracle and District Attorney Ferguson (also played by David McGahan) and Il Est Myron. He can also write too.

This book contains short works by Shaun, ranging from diary entries on the sets of his shows, to topics such as Sherlock Holmes and Australian painters. He has a brilliant knowledge and each word must be savoured so that you find all the double meanings. It also comes with a page of non-adhesive stickers. (When you think about it, the world is full of non-adhesive stickers).

My words alone will not to justice to this excellent collection and I resist the temptation to include the words ‘goaty creatures’ or ‘STAT!’. I am looking forward to his novel Preincarnate (available at a bookstore or Kobo eBooks – Micallef goodness must be shared).

Read it if: you enjoy obscure references and laughing hysterically on public transport.

9 out of 10.

The Big Book of Top Gear 2011

The Big Book of Top Gear is becoming somewhat of a Christmas tradition for me. It’s something to relax with after all the festivities and have a few laughs. Unfortunately for me, my 2010 was one long day so I couldn’t sit down with this until some time after. It was worth it though!

I’m never quite sure who this book is written for – teenage boys, younger boys or young men. I don’t think it’s written for the female Top Gear fan, but I didn’t find anything objectionable in it!

The book is written as a number of short articles, often poking fun at the Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow personas. For example, James as a DJ (completely unthinkable, would this be the Mozart Nightclub?), Richard writing an advice column (actually, semi-plausible) and Jeremy’s hyperbole service (highly likely). My favourite has to be the spoof National Geographic column, The Pacific Island of Oom. I also enjoy the comic style sections – I would definitely buy a Top Gear comic! There’s also some photo summaries of the Bolivia and Vietnam trips, a bit about the Stig and some bits about cars that could contain factual information. Or perhaps not.

Can you imagine this club?

Not from That’s Life magazine. Really. I think.

See where Jules Verne got his inspiration from?

My favourite ‘article’ in the book

 

I don’t think this was quite as funny as last year’s annual (perhaps something to do with the disruption of Australian Top Gear viewing pleasure due to commercial networks showing it) but it’s still very, very good.

Read it if: You love Top Gear. Or even know a little bit about it. It’s not about cars.

8.5 out of 10.

The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do

 

(Image from Goodreads)

Australians probably know Anh Do as a comedian and/or the star of the movie Footy Legends. What they probably don’t know is how Anh got to be one of Australia’s truly funny blokes.

Anh and his family are from Vietnam and survived a harrowing boat journey (multiple raids by pirates, dehydration, loss of life) to get to Australia (via a refugee camp in Malaysia). Anh was only two at the time, but the story of the trip is edge-of-your-seat kind of stuff. When they finally made it to Australia, the Do family were so thankful for everything (they were given jeans- a sign of wealth in Vietnam) that when Anh’s little brother, Khoa, was mistaken for a girl and given a dress to wear, the family accepted it with pleasure. (From the photos, Khoa made a very cute little girl). It’s that thankfulness to the country that took them in that continues on as a feature of the story as well as the sense of family. Anh’s family often have extended family or friends come to stay with them as they get on their feet, despite the family working exceptionally hard on their sewing business. They were never too busy to help someone out, despite being poor themselves (Anh had to pretend he had lost or forgotten his schoolbooks- he simply couldn’t afford to buy them at all).

Anh’s story reminds us we need to be thankful for what he have- he is so kind, buying his mother a house or working to afford braces for his sister, who was ashamed about her smile. With the current media headlines about ‘boat people’, we need to remember that they have thoughts, feelings and can be a great asset to this country, like Anh and his family.

A great, funny, emotional memoir. Well done Anh.

9 out of 10.