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ciphertextx's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the funniest fucking books I have ever read in my entire life. In fact, I don't know if I've ever laughed this hard reading a book. How can something that - with all comedy taken away - is so serious and kind of sad be so hilarious?
I've wanted to read this for a little while, I've owned a copy for at least a few months, but I'd never pulled the title out of my box that decides what book I'm reading next. I was talking to a colleague at work literally today about books, and I asked him what his favourite was. Without hesitation, he said "Adrian Mole" and I was like "wait, you know Adrian Mole?" and we had a discussion in which he tried to tell me why I would enjoy it, but he couldn't because he kept trying to quote parts before laughing hysterically. So I read this whole book today (it's only about 300 pages) for Victor!
Adrian Mole is absolutely hilarious. He's sassy, honest, indignant, dramatic, a bit pompous in a really endearing and silly way. He says a lot of things that another person might say if they're attempting to be funny, but Adrian is just 100% serious. If it weren't for all of this, the story would probably be quite a bit more depressing than it was. Because the plot of this year of Adrian's life is basically his parents divorcing and meeting new people (but also Adrian's dad turning to drink, losing his job, letting the house fall into disrepair, getting the electricity cut off, etc), him meeting and caring for an old man who lives alone in squalor with his dog, him being bullied by this guy who keeps taking his money, him worrying obsessively about his acne, and him pining over this girl he likes.
The plot itself...I couldn't care less. I just wanted to see what Adrian had to say about it all. Like, his opinion matters so much not just because he's the main character, but because his thoughts are always downright entertaining. I have a hundred and one quotes I could share with you guys. It's hard to choose just a few, because they're all so great. Here are some quotes, followed by further evidence of his drama.
"Just measured my thing. It has grown one centimetre. Might be needing it soon."
"I was wracked with sexuality."
"As I write Mr and Mrs Ball are canoeing on the loch. They must be on drugs."
"If my mother doesn't come home soon I will end up deprived and maladjusted. I am already neglected."
"My nipples have swollen!!"
"My fellow pupils are nothing but Philistines and Morons!"
"I am seriously thinking of giving up everything and running away to become a tramp."
And now, some of my favourite weird and funny things, in no particular order!
After the incident with his nipples swelling (a normal part of puberty for teenage boys), Adrian tells his teacher he can't do PE classes because of his swollen nipples. He's very serious about this. On the same note, he also dramatically feels like he's dying after having his tonsils removed, and he refuses to leave the hospital for several days. At some point, Adrian shop-lifts something and feels so terribly guilty about it that he calls the Samaritans (a UK charity that offers anyone in emotional distress support). On a school trip, the kids drive the coach driver to the point of Extreme Rage, and Adrian is too shaken up to write about it, but then in his next entry he describes himself as having "nerves of steel". He refers to his normal teenage acne as a "disability", because he's extra.
There are other really weird or funny things dotted throughout, such as some racist in a grocery store only buying rhubarb (because it's the only fruit that's actually English in the store) and comparing said rhubarb to a penis by describing it as "phallic". Lucas' wife running away to live her best lesbian life, which led to Lucas getting together with Adrian's mum, who calls him "Bimbo".
The narrative voice is so dry yet serious that literally every tiny thing is funny, even if it's really not. It's all in the wording. "They got on all right at first but then Bert remembered he was a communist."
If you want a laugh and you can handle the time-accurate offensive terminology and language, this book will do it. I don't know what else to say about it. This book was funny, which took away from how dark and heavy it might have been at times. Very unique!
I've wanted to read this for a little while, I've owned a copy for at least a few months, but I'd never pulled the title out of my box that decides what book I'm reading next. I was talking to a colleague at work literally today about books, and I asked him what his favourite was. Without hesitation, he said "Adrian Mole" and I was like "wait, you know Adrian Mole?" and we had a discussion in which he tried to tell me why I would enjoy it, but he couldn't because he kept trying to quote parts before laughing hysterically. So I read this whole book today (it's only about 300 pages) for Victor!
Adrian Mole is absolutely hilarious. He's sassy, honest, indignant, dramatic, a bit pompous in a really endearing and silly way. He says a lot of things that another person might say if they're attempting to be funny, but Adrian is just 100% serious. If it weren't for all of this, the story would probably be quite a bit more depressing than it was. Because the plot of this year of Adrian's life is basically his parents divorcing and meeting new people (but also Adrian's dad turning to drink, losing his job, letting the house fall into disrepair, getting the electricity cut off, etc), him meeting and caring for an old man who lives alone in squalor with his dog, him being bullied by this guy who keeps taking his money, him worrying obsessively about his acne, and him pining over this girl he likes.
The plot itself...I couldn't care less. I just wanted to see what Adrian had to say about it all. Like, his opinion matters so much not just because he's the main character, but because his thoughts are always downright entertaining. I have a hundred and one quotes I could share with you guys. It's hard to choose just a few, because they're all so great. Here are some quotes, followed by further evidence of his drama.
"Just measured my thing. It has grown one centimetre. Might be needing it soon."
"I was wracked with sexuality."
"As I write Mr and Mrs Ball are canoeing on the loch. They must be on drugs."
"If my mother doesn't come home soon I will end up deprived and maladjusted. I am already neglected."
"My nipples have swollen!!"
"My fellow pupils are nothing but Philistines and Morons!"
"I am seriously thinking of giving up everything and running away to become a tramp."
And now, some of my favourite weird and funny things, in no particular order!
After the incident with his nipples swelling (a normal part of puberty for teenage boys), Adrian tells his teacher he can't do PE classes because of his swollen nipples. He's very serious about this. On the same note, he also dramatically feels like he's dying after having his tonsils removed, and he refuses to leave the hospital for several days. At some point, Adrian shop-lifts something and feels so terribly guilty about it that he calls the Samaritans (a UK charity that offers anyone in emotional distress support). On a school trip, the kids drive the coach driver to the point of Extreme Rage, and Adrian is too shaken up to write about it, but then in his next entry he describes himself as having "nerves of steel". He refers to his normal teenage acne as a "disability", because he's extra.
There are other really weird or funny things dotted throughout, such as some racist in a grocery store only buying rhubarb (because it's the only fruit that's actually English in the store) and comparing said rhubarb to a penis by describing it as "phallic". Lucas' wife running away to live her best lesbian life, which led to Lucas getting together with Adrian's mum, who calls him "Bimbo".
The narrative voice is so dry yet serious that literally every tiny thing is funny, even if it's really not. It's all in the wording. "They got on all right at first but then Bert remembered he was a communist."
If you want a laugh and you can handle the time-accurate offensive terminology and language, this book will do it. I don't know what else to say about it. This book was funny, which took away from how dark and heavy it might have been at times. Very unique!
roosuyttendaele's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
olivia_holmes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dieuwkemonica's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
siobhangrace14's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
paroof's review against another edition
4.0
Hilarious, heartfelt, and honest look at a life, including his dysfunctional family (aren't they all?), through the eyes of adolescent Adrian. It's a funny story, but it's more than just fluff. Highly recommended.
storysteph's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so. I sought this book out because I watched a video where a dude bought one of those "color by the yard" things, where you just buy a bunch of books that are the same color for purely decorative reasons (I'll spare you my rant on that), but he actually read the books. One of them was The Adrian Mole Diaries, and YouTube Guy was raving about how great it actually was. So of course, I had to find out for myself
And it's good! I enjoyed it! But here's the thing: it's very, very dated. So many cultural references (hot pink leg warmers, VCRs being a new thing) and people (hmph. *Thatcher*) that were straight out of the early 80s, and I was able to catch pretty much all of them because I was a very young but still present part of the early 80s myself. The book even includes a reference dictionary at the end, cleverly disguised as a letter from Aiden's American friend Hamish asking for explanations of things he didn't understand in Aiden's story. Despite all this, though, I would hesitate to refer it to anyone born in the 21st century. The humor is there in spades, but only if you have the right frame of reference to catch it. You don't *need* a strong grasp of cultural and political happenings in England in 1982 to follow the action and jokes, but it helps. I dunno, man. I enjoyed it, at any rate.
And it's good! I enjoyed it! But here's the thing: it's very, very dated. So many cultural references (hot pink leg warmers, VCRs being a new thing) and people (hmph. *Thatcher*) that were straight out of the early 80s, and I was able to catch pretty much all of them because I was a very young but still present part of the early 80s myself. The book even includes a reference dictionary at the end, cleverly disguised as a letter from Aiden's American friend Hamish asking for explanations of things he didn't understand in Aiden's story. Despite all this, though, I would hesitate to refer it to anyone born in the 21st century. The humor is there in spades, but only if you have the right frame of reference to catch it. You don't *need* a strong grasp of cultural and political happenings in England in 1982 to follow the action and jokes, but it helps. I dunno, man. I enjoyed it, at any rate.
blairsatellite's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
branomir's review against another edition
4.0
Hilarious and a little sad at the same time. I remember reading bits and pieces when I was young and even though the book is marketed as young adult, I do believe it is actually more fun to read as an adult as you now recognise the pretentiousness of the teen you once were. Points where I might have agreed with Adrian at age 13 myself now had me laughing out loud. He's such a lovable goof, my favourite bits were when he was completely unaware of his own inabillities or his infinite humble bragging. Great fun to read, I might pick up the other ones at one point or another.