Diary of a Somebody

Product Information

Without doubt it should win next year's Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for the best comic novel, even if my own novel is in contention as well -- Jonathan Coe Glorious. Funny and ingenious * The Times * He has a knack for playing with language but his poems are accessible, witty and touching . Part tender love story, part suburban murder mystery, part scathing description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is a unique, original and hilarious novel.

Interspersed with the hilarious, parodic poems that have made his name on Twitter, Diary of a Somebody follows the misadventures of the poet, sometime Casanova and expert procrastinator as he variously pursues love, fame and an unfortunately missing rival. A welcome reminder of the joy to be had when you put yourself in the hands of someone who knows their way round both a joke and a bittersweet narrative . A beautifully written story, peppered with poems that enhance and advance the story, rather than distract. Part tender love story, part murder mystery, part coruscating description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is the most original novel you will read this or any year.But can Brian’s poetry save him from Toby Salt, his arch nemesis in the Poetry Group and potential rival suitor to Brian’s new poetic inspiration, Liz?

I spent the book with an irritating feeling that I'd read something previously with a similar tone, but never identifed what it was. A combination of traditional story peppered with pithy poems about love, life, music through the ages and family dynamics. This deserves to become a classic, not just in the genre “poetic novel” or comedy, but in 21st century fiction full stop.

He has also published a collection of football poetry, 50 Ways to Score a Goal (Macmillan, 2021), and his acclaimed poem Refugees (Palazzo, 2019) has been made into an illustrated book for children.