THE BOY IN THE DRESS/MR STINK/BILLIONAIRE BOY.

Today I'm bringing you three books by comedian, actor and children's author DAVID WALLIAMS. Borrowed from a friend, the synopsis of each book can be found by clicking on its title.

THE BOY IN THE DRESS. 

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1: No hugging}: Dennis was different.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 98}: The fabric felt so unfamiliar next to his skin - all silky and smooth.

MY THOUGHTS: Though aimed at children nine plus I know of some parents who question the age appropriateness of some of the content of this novel. For myself, I felt the book (a first for Walliams) had great child appeal and was essentially innocent enough. My only real criticism being the ending which didn't sit at all well with me given the message that prevailed throughout the rest of the book.

A tale of what it is to feel you do not fit in, a story of what it is to feel you are different. Humorous and yet moving. With mum no longer on the scene this is the story of the twelve year old Dennis , his big brother, John, and their lorry driver dad. 

Though not without some characters verging on the stereotypical (Raj, the Asian shopkeeper, Dennis' dad, the fat lorry driver) it was a refreshing change to have a lone parent who happens to be male instead of the usual female. And with the patka wearing Darvesh and his football mad mum (not to mention the football playing, fashion loving Dennis himself) this is a novel full of wonderfully diverse characters which no doubt (helped by Quentin Blake's illustrations) gave rise to Walliams being regarded as the new Roald Dahl in some circles. 


MR STINK.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1: Scratch 'N' Sniff}: Mr Stink stank.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 175}:  As if it wasn't enough that he was having a bath in a pond, Mr Stink had to share it with his dog too.

MY THOUGHTS: The story of how the Crumb (or as Mrs Crumb insists on pronouncing it Croooome) family finds its life changed when daughter Chloe meets the somewhat fragrant tramp, Mr Stink. This is the second book to be published by the author and is by far my favourite of the three I read.

A truly funny and yet oddly touching story. Though totally different in every way imaginable I  somehow couldn't help but think of Mr Stink as being a somewhat less than hygienic Mary Poppins/Nanny McPhee type of character who appeared to a child when needed most.

And yet not altogether a fluffy read. Dealing with issues such as sibling favouritism, prejudice, homelessness and, to a slightly lesser extent, bullying as it does it is also a deeply moral tale albeit one that should be easily understood by its youngest readers.

BILLIONAIRE BOY.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1: Meet Joe Spud}:  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a million pounds?

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 149}: The butler nodded and the waiters lifted the silver covers to reveal three packets of Salt n' Vinegar crisps. 

MY THOUGHTS: The third book to be published and what a disappointment it was.

The tale of Joe Spud whose father has worked his way up from the bottom (excuse the pun) working in a loo roll factory to become a billionaire entrepreneur who revolutionised toilet roll by inventing Freshbum', a toilet roll that is dry on one side and moist on the other.

OK, so Billionaire Boy, essentially a book about how money cannot buy friendship/happiness, is hardly a story without a moral agenda but I felt there there was something inherently cruel and mocking about it that just didn't sit well with me. And whilst I personally found references to topless models, adult magazines and plastic surgery to be inappropriate for the younger reader (like The Boy In The Dress and Mr Stink it is recommended for those nine and older) on the other hand I also thought it rather juvenile for the older reader. Full of toilet humour and silly lists (including Mrs Trafe's weekly school lunch menu of ('Macaroni Snot', 'Toe-nail Ice cream', Dandruff Risotto' etc) to me Walliams took overly silly to a whole new level.

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PS Apologies that there is no Media Monday post today (I've been suffering with vertigo). Services will resume to normal as soon as possible.