Paul Slippery is 49 and 5 months, and this is his diary in the lead-up to the great day. He lives with his long-suffering wife and three difficult teenage boys in Wimbledon, a figure of fun and pity. To compound his problems, he hears that the soap-opera radio part he has played for 25 years is to be killed off. Oh yes, and he can't remember when he last had sex. A cross between Helen Fielding and Sue Townsend, FORTYSOMETHING holds a funny, painful mirror up for the male fortysomething.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
A long-running soap opera star is about to be axed. And there ends the similarity with The Killing of Sister George. Nigel Williams' latest novel is set firmly in family land, where Paul Slippery, the forty-nine-and-a-half-year-old radio voice of Dr Esmond Pennebaker, has a working wife, Estelle, and three GCSE to degree level sons, named Ruarighy, Jakob and Edwin. Paul is undergoing some mid-life crisis, doesn't understand his wife's newfound independence, doesn't understand the shenanigans going on at the BBC, doesn't understand the intricate goings-on of his teenage sons, representatives of another species, and can't seem to remember when he last had sex. Although Williams throws in a lot more sex, and an Asian woman, much of Fortysomething belongs to a dated white middle-class sitcom world invented by Carla Lane, where the sexes and the generations are divided by mutual ignorance and incomprehension, and brought together only by a shared dependence on Waitrose food. Williams piles on plot after plot, and there's a good deal of comic misunderstanding, but the novel's humour derives mainly from its journal form, with Slippery seizing every available (and unavailable) moment to scribble his diary like some latterday Samuel Richardson heroine. Fast, furious, and even funny--for fortysomethings.--Alan Stewart
Nigel Williams was born in Cheshire in 1948, grew up in north London where his father was headmaster of a grammar school, and went to Oriel College, Oxford. He has written a number of novels, including most famously THE WIMBLEDON POISONER, which wasturned into a highy successful TV series starring Robert Lindsay. He lives in Putney.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
FREE shipping within United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speedsSeller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780140292701
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Fortysomething This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780140292701
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Seller Inventory # rev8384195321
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Ammareal, Morangis, France
Softcover. Condition: Bon. Ammareal reverse jusqu'à 15% du prix net de cet article à des organisations caritatives. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Book Condition: Used, Good. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this item's net price to charity organizations. Seller Inventory # F-667-031
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Infinity Books Japan, Tokyo, TKY, Japan
Paperback. A long-running soap opera star is about to be axed. And there ends the simi larity with The Killing of Sister George. Nigel Williams' latest novel is s et firmly in family land, where Paul Slippery, the forty-nine-and-a-half-ye ar-old radio voice of Dr Esmond Pennebaker, has a working wife, Estelle, an d three GCSE to degree level sons, named Ruarighy, Jakob and Edwin. Paul is undergoing some mid-life crisis, doesn't understand his wife's newfound in dependence, doesn't understand the shenanigans going on at the BBC, doesn't understand the intricate goings-on of his teenage sons, representatives of another species, and can't seem to remember when he last had sex. Although Williams throws in a lot more sex, and an Asian woman, much of Fortysometh ing belongs to a dated white middle-class sitcom world invented by Carla La ne, where the sexes and the generations are divided by mutual ignorance and incomprehension, and brought together only by a shared dependence on Waitr ose food. Williams piles on plot after plot, and there's a good deal of com ic misunderstanding, but the novel's humour derives mainly from its journal form, with Slippery seizing every available (and unavailable) moment to sc ribble his diary like some latterday Samuel Richardson heroine. Fast, furio us, and even funny--for fortysomethings. Seller Inventory # RWARE0000011618
Quantity: 1 available