Without further ado – I love this quirky little book! Its gentle, understated humour had me chuckling and chortling like one of those horrible laughing toys we used to give our kids. As I do a lot of my reading on the loo I’m sure the neighbours must be totally mystified by the sounds coming from my house. But I care not! I’m still in Barsetshire and I’m still smiling.
Now, for some facts. ‘My Barsetshire Diary’ is written by Lord David Prosser [yes he is a real lord] and is set somewhere in England or Wales. All of the characters are based on real people living ordinary lives. Nothing terrible or scurrilous happens. There is no gossip. There are no shocking scandals. In fact all the events in the book are so ordinary that you would think the book must be boring, yet it is anything but boring because Lord Prosser finds the comic in the everyday and carries us along for the ride.
The style of this book reminds me of those stand-up comedians who make us laugh because they show us the funny side of our own lives. Of course Lord Prosser lives the life of those to the manor born but his humour shows us that ‘they’ are no different to ‘us’. We all have the same sorts of problems and we all have the same sorts of foibles. This is human scale humour at its best.
I would have to rate this little gem 11/10.
Authors' favourite books
NANO 2012
February 25th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
I have to say it’s not often a writer gets a review like this without having begged on their knees before a friendly relative. THANK YOU for making my week.
More Barsetshire Diary is also out now and the second book The Queen’s Envoy which tells of my days before retirement hit. Though of course the tales of my derring-do have never actually passed the truth test.
Thanks again for a lovely concise review,
David
February 25th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
I have read The Queen’s Envoy. What a hoot! Whether any or all of the adventures actually happened becomes irrelevant as we wander the world and watch Lord David save the day in his understated manner. Great fun from a delightful gentleman.
Blessings,
Normandie
February 26th, 2012 at 12:18 am
Do you think his humor and stories ‘translate’ for a U.S. reader? Sometimes humor travels with great difficulty.
February 26th, 2012 at 7:47 am
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Every word in this review is true. Lord David’s books are gems — I have read all three — and are not to be missed by anyone who appreciates a good story, wit, good fun, and a kind approach to life and people. The humor travels very well — people laughed over these books in three continents — and I can guarantee that it will carry you away from your daily trouble and give you a welcome break. Enjoy!
February 26th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Thank you all
And you deserved every word Lord Prosser!
@ Candy. I think you would love this because the writing is so exquisite.
I’m off to find The Queen’s Envoy!