Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more.
{"itemData":[{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":7.19,"ASIN":"0099460866","isPreorder":0},{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":6.74,"ASIN":"0099460858","isPreorder":0},{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":5.59,"ASIN":"184983136X","isPreorder":0}],"shippingId":"0099460866::xZam8pWMEZHlBEspGdid6%2B4auqy%2FbcQ%2BeGs0R0t4tkvT8rl7QApLhhmT9RybBZBtBWmoMPBkz3WzoEXyQXaF4%2BDQEwvMxL2w,0099460858::KQYN0%2BTKFVLeZmHtZ%2BS5UM1rUUEv%2BWsTJM7Vw6KSn5NvbtapJbymcK%2BHBt4w%2FKfPsPOqELZDZT7%2B5BlhBFsU6JScjTfypB6G,184983136X::%2BX8MhNQtbjO1YS5OfI2JYsWbUzbTB2S2z%2BA0Zi1%2FAJzFIBRIAa%2FWEaVCl5a0xA8goLXtkxPEZRAu02m1Dv4dNHTaw73BFHSF","sprites":{"addToWishlist":["wl_one","wl_two","wl_three"],"addToCart":["s_addToCart","s_addBothToCart","s_add3ToCart"],"preorder":["s_preorderThis","s_preorderBoth","s_preorderAll3"]},"currenyCode":"GBP","shippingDetails":{"xz":"same","yz":"same","xy":"same","xyz":"same"},"tags":["x","y","z"],"strings":{"addToWishlist":[null,null,null],"addToCart":["Add to Basket","Add both to Basket","Add all three to Cart"],"showDetailsDefault":"Show availability and delivery details","shippingError":"An error occurred, please try again","hideDetailsDefault":"Hide availability and delivery details","priceLabel":["Price:","Price For Both:","Price For All Three:"],"preorder":["Pre-order this item","Pre-order both items","Pre-order all three items"]}}
"Packed with brilliant observations and sharp one-liners, but it is also a surprising look at the nuts and bolts of comedy" (The Times )
"Eloquence and wit ...shine from this gently peculiar story ... an absolute gem" (Metro )
"Watson is a gifted comic writer unafraid to juggle material many comic writers wouldn't touch... an intelligent, humane and desperately funny tale" (Independent on Sunday )
Book Description
Young stand-up comedian Mark Watson takes us on a clever romp through the dubious world of the lookalike business, where no one is as they seem.
'A Light-Hearted Look at Murder' is a readable, entertaining novel, written by master of under-stated comedy, Mark Watson. It tells two stories, one of which follows Alexandra, a disenfranchised twenty-something, who is discovering that life after university doesn't quite live up to its billing. In an attempt to add some substance to her life, she volunteers for a 'write to a convict' scheme. Before long she has struck up correspondence with a German prisoner, Andreas, who sends her his memoirs. Andreas' life story makes up the novel's second narrative.
The thread dealing with Andreas' life at university and his improbable career as a Hitler impersonator is by far the stronger of the two storylines. I found the sections involving Alex to be weak. They seemed to be little more than filler, used to pad out the novel between the more intersting tale of how Andreas ended up in prison. The characters in both narratives, though quirky, were two-dimensional, and felt like rejects from a Jonathan Coe novel. If you haven't read Coe's far superior What a Carve Up! (Penguin Celebrations) then I suggest you start there. To make matters worse, Watson's blurb writers have done him no favours. Their claims of 'seriously dangerous lookalikes', suggests sinister skulduggery that just isn't there.
There are some very funny moments in this book, most notably, when Andreas, Bingo calling dressed as the Fuhrer, undergoes something of a crisis. Not only is this section hilarious, it is an incisive look at the boundaries of acceptable comedy, and examines the hypocrisy of the chattering classes.... Unfortunately, sections of this depth were few and far between and overall though it was pleasant enough to read, I found that 'ALHLAM' rather lacking in substance.Read more ›
I bought this book as I am a big fan of Mark Watsons stand up. I enjoyed the book and by no means was it a chore to get through. On reading this book of his alone I would say he is a better stand up than writer. I think that is fair. It was a good read but I was a little unconvinced.
I bought this book after one of Mark's comedy shows and didn't read it for a while. When I did though, I couldn't put it down! I absolutely loved it! I really enjoyed Mark's writing style and thought the story was enticing, imaginative and creative. I would definitely recommend this book and I'm going to order some of his other books. Well done Mark!
