Diary of a Somebody Book Reviews

Anne's Book Rating 4/5

I really wanted to give 3.5 but settled on 4. My reaction to the book changed more than once as I read it. Lighthearted enjoyment at the start, somewhat boring in the middle but a bit more pace and interest towards the end. The basic idea is a diary entry each day for a year, accompanied by a poem on as many days as the character can manage. As with the overall novel, I had a mixed reaction to the poetry; some I felt was a clever adaptation of the subject and form of well-known verse but others seemed just annoying. The characters tended to be stereotypical but not out of place in the overall style of the book. I would recommend it for a fun, relaxing read.

T.K's Book Rating 2/5

The synopsis of Bilston’s somewhat esoteric ‘diary’ sounded most promising; Brian, as the protagonist, has endured life-changing encounters with failure in both his personal and professional lives, and intends to begin the new year with optimistic vigour; expectations soared as I zealously anticipated an adventure incorporating poetry and a murder-mystery. Alas! My experience was -to some extent, shrouded in clouds of disenchantment as the relentless -albeit at times admirable witticisms, became in some measure quite tiresome with the eternal lack of variation in tone and pace. Thus, the appraisal task was endured by limiting reading sessions to two months at a time; any attempt to extend this challenge served merely to lull me into text-surfing to avoid sleep-inducing monotony. I am left wondering whether he is assuming the role of bumbling buffoon or an eccentric mastermind in disguise; I fear the former, as donning the mask of self-elected, egotistic social media poet, he then attempts to venture into the realm of mystery prose, where he sadly meanders mindlessly before entering the vault of vacuous jawing. I perceive it as a disorganised series of poorly presented events disguised as a mystery; the more I read, the more I was reminded of Blackadder and Mr. Bean. In short, after the first six months, the book’s downward spiral appears to be synonymous with Brian’s increasing self-deprecation prior to his descent into depression; presenting as a dysfunctional adolescent, he repeatedly fails to cope with issues of divorce, redundancy, rivalry connected to his penmanship inaptitude and his need to be reaffirmed and admired both as a person and for his self-perceived skills. I consider this attempt at novel script to be far inferior to similar publications such as the diaries of Adrian Mole and Bridget Jones. Nevertheless, there are positive elements such as when his manipulation of wit and mimicry soars, vitalising and enthusing before suddenly plummeting to the depths of anaesthetising. It is, without doubt, an entertaining foray into the eccentricities of life at its most banal, sprinkled with pearlescent flashes of genius. Notably, the entries of April 26th: ‘Shakespeare’s Exam Paper’; ‘May 10th: ‘Mrs Nostradamus’ and May 16th: ‘My Favourite Words’, to name but a few. These provided lucid, distracting episodes of respite from the multitudinous forces of pervading melancholia which silently and stealthily entices the reader into a state of sheer lethargy. By way of contrast, his robust, magical ability to incorporate vast atoms of knowledge into rhythmic contortions of superficiality propels the reader into an engagement of efficacy and genuine partnership -surely the ambition of every author. Writing poetry -regardless of style, is intensely personal and thus unique, providing some considerable insight into one’s state of mind at any one time. Hence, I conclude that the bass line of this book portrays melancholia, low self-worth, social awkwardness, an inability to form attachments and subsequently commit to relationships, all enveloped within a fear of personal and professional rejection.

Just Add Coffee's Book Rating 5/5

I really enjoyed this book. A well timed read, in the gloom of January it brought a bit of laughter. I found myself feeling a little sorry for the struggling poet who really just wanted success and recognition but rarely got either and found everyday life tricky to deal with. However, in the end things turned around for him. The book made me laugh a lot, story interspersed with funny poems. In fact, after reading the book I bought Bilston's book of poems too, You took the last bus home. I would definitely recommend both books to bring some cheer to a gloomy January.

Anita's book Rating 5/5

It took me a little while to get into the diary style of the book but enjoyed it when I did. His writing was witty and funny and I loved the poems. Initially found the character very frustrating at all the inactivity/poor life choices he made but he won my sympathy and I was rooting for him in the end.