Mannen Som Glömde Sin Fru (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Started reading this book in April 14 and finished it yesterday (Nov 14). That final push was motivated by a desire to de-clutter my bedside table. It is very rare that I abandon a novel before the end so one way or another it had to be finished. Why did the book make me feel like it was a chore to finish...? Probably Vaughan, a bland, irritating middle aged man who has forgotten his long suffering wife. If I had believed in her as a character at any point I imagine she would be delighted to forget him! But alas she was as flat and beige as him. It was far too long, all the characters annoyed me and lacked authenticity. The premise was good but the plot boring. The comedy writing however was very good and several times I laughed out loud. John O'Farrell is obviously a fantastic comic and a very funny guy. Well, this is quite fun and sometimes seriously romantic, sometimes nicely Brit-self-deprecating (admitting to finding M at Barleycove mainly by hacking her GMail). However, would it not have been more fun still without the sometimes rather massive holes in the plot (Mr Amnesia conveniently remembering exactly where M keeps her passport - a passport he would not have needed to know she'd left since, remember, he also remembers the password for her GMail) and the annoying inability to let go of a joke when it crops up (the gourmet dog in chapter 23). Also, jokes do not improve when they are explained (Linda confusing humanities with humans, chapter 4).There is a third star for this book though for the truly big idea behind it: If we wanted to start again, what would it take? The idea that Vaughan was stuck in a vicious circle, then self-rebooted, realised that this was a rare case of getting a second chance and managed to not blow it is positively romantic - and a courageous decision by the author as the vook would have stood greater chances of being judged serious lit if Vaughan had blown it. Thamks for the hope, Mr O'Farrell.
What do You think about Mannen Som Glömde Sin Fru (2012)?
Very funny and also very poignant in places. I really enjoyed this book.
—Angel
Very thought provoking and funny, an easy read - loved it!
—Proepel
