the Booker Book [Hardcover]

With tongue firmly embedded in cheek, Simon Brett tells the tale of one writer's foolproof plan to win the Booker Prize.

This delightful story takes the form of a biography on Geraldine Buyers; unknown author of one faintly acclaimed novel. In her quest for recognition, Geraldine sets forth to win the Booker Prize. Her logic is sound and her plan destined for success. She will write her brilliant and original new novel involving a beautiful young girl persecuted by two cruel stepsisters in the style of the current Booker Prize-winner. Unfortunately for Geraldine, but to the continual enjoyment of the reader, her manuscript is never quite finished before the next winner is announced, leaving her no choice but to begin her novel again, and again and again.........

Although set in the publishing world, this book is so wonderfully written that everybody will enjoy it. The humour is sharp and addictive, (I've read the book countless times and still laugh out loud!) The only possible critique of this marvellously funny book is the 'over the top' naivety of Geraldine's biographer. Supposedly a woman of the eighties, she is a frightening and not very funny version of Adrian Mole.

On the whole, Simon Brett's 'The Booker Book' is a successful and hilarious novel with well thought out characters who work together to create a strong base for the life and pitfalls of our heroine. My advice? Buy it, enjoy it, but don't be surprised if Geraldine lives in your life for longer than it takes to read her story. She is unbelievably self centred, remarkably untalented and yet somehow, her numerous encounters with disaster endear her to the reader. As E.F. Benson wrote of Lucia, "Don't get angry with her, just richly enjoy her."

This delightful story takes the form of a biography on Geraldine Buyers; unknown author of one faintly acclaimed novel. In her quest for recognition, Geraldine sets forth to win the Booker Prize. Her logic is sound and her plan destined for success. She will write her brilliant and original new novel involving a beautiful young girl persecuted by two cruel stepsisters in the style of the current Booker Prizewinner. Unfortunately for Geraldine, but to the continual enjoyment of the reader, her manuscript is never quite finished before the next winner is announced, leaving her no choice but to begin her novel again, and again and again.........

Reading the trials and traumas of Geraldine Buyers, you get the unsettling feeling that she was somehow 'dropped' from an intellectually superior world into our bewildering jungle of lesser mortals. She is unbelievably self centred, remarkably untalented and yet somehow, her numerous encounters with disaster endear her to the reader. As E.F. Benson wrote of Lucia, "Don't get angry with her, just richly enjoy her."

Although set in the publishing world, this book is so wonderfully written that everybody will enjoy it. The humour is sharp and addictive, (I've read the book countless times and still laugh out loud!) The only possible critique of this marvellously funny book is the 'over the top' naivety of Geraldine's biographer. Supposedly a woman of the eighties, she is a frightening and not very funny version of Adrian Mole.

On the whole, Simon Brett's 'The Booker Book' is a successful and hilarious novel with well thought out characters who work together to create a strong base for the life and pitfalls of our heroine. My advice? Buy it, enjoy it, but don't be surprised if Geraldine lives in your life for longer than it takes to read her story......