- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan (4 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0230709699
- ISBN-13: 978-0230709690
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 654,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Publishing News
'Fascinating to read this sort of book from a male point of view and one can wince and sympathise.'
Herald
'...frank and wonderfully comic memoir. Smart and witty, you won't want to put it down.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm a big fan of Mark's previous books but this really made me question his talent as a writer. I find it hard to believe that this is a true portrayal of his romantic life. Had this been catalogued under fiction, it would have been less objectionable.
In comparison with his previous books, this is dull and very tiresome.
In comparison with his previous books, this is dull and very tiresome.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I know I'm writing this is a few years after this book was published but interested as I am about the male psyche I thought I'd give it a go. The author Mark Barrowcliffe writes about his extensive romantic escapades from his teenage years until he finally meets his wife. The one thing which jumps out immediately is how unlikeable the author is and I've read loads of lads' lit/blokey stuff in the past so I'm aware of the genre. He comes across as arrogant/picky and to be completely frank a bit of a bully in relationships, there's also a large element of one of Alan Partridge's favourite sayings 'needless to say I had the last laugh'. I just can't understand how he managed to woo an enormous selection of women into his bed as he's extremely self-deprecating too and isn't even subtle about it.
That said, it was fairly readable and extremely voyeuristic which I fully admit is my guilty pleasure. It just makes me glad that I'm no longer in the dating game - well for the time being anyway.
That said, it was fairly readable and extremely voyeuristic which I fully admit is my guilty pleasure. It just makes me glad that I'm no longer in the dating game - well for the time being anyway.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I couldn't quite understand the concept behind this book. In Barrowcliffe's dedication he says that the story is of interest because it is so 'topical' and representative of modern love and sex, but if the story is so commonplace, who is it of interest to? The blurb asks you to decide '40 girlfriends, does that make him a stud or a loser?' Get that, readers? FORTY girlfriends! Phwooar! Read all about it in nauseating detail you filthy voyeur!
I will lay my cards on the table with this review- although a fair amount younger than the author it seems highly unlikely (or impossible) I will match his number of romances by the time I hit 40, so if I sound bitter then I hold my hands up. Out of all my male friends I only know of one who, at 35 is approaching the number of partners Barrowcliffe had, so I just don't buy it that this sort of behaviour is normal. Most men these days marry at around age 30, rather than Barrowcliffe's 40.
Putting aside the concept, is it a good read? Barrowcliffe seems to have a split personality that is difficult to sympathise with. He's obviously a cocky, arrogant and confident man and that's why he's been so successful in attracting women, but at the same time he seems curiously self-loathing. That's probably quite common in many men, but makes for an eye-gougingly infuriating experience. It reads like 'Ho ho, ...dirty anecdote, sweeping generalisation about men and women, ...judgmental snarking, joke, ...oh dear I'm really a mess who is just looking for real luurve, readers!.'
Fundamentally, who cares? Why should I care if Mr Smug got laid a lot, but shock horror found the whole thing a bit empty and wanted to settle down with a nice girl? Isn't that just growing up? Barrowcliffe isn't a good enough writer to make the anecdotes worthwhile - although he does a bit of self-deprecation, you can tell that he really thinks highly of himself. And not much of others.
Fortunately the author ends up with a respectable wife who (I notice) hasn't had 40 boyfriends. While I don't want to be evil and wish for the failure of a marriage just to prove someone wrong (although it's not beyond me to do so) - one does wonder, (a bit like what happened to Howard Stern after Private Parts) that the book's fairytale ending of 'I'm a bit of a rogue but look I love my wife' isn't tempting fate a bit.
So if you're the kind of half-man who is a bit intimidated by bed-busting tales of smug sexual conquest, avoid and read someone like Pete May, who, (unlike Barrowcliffe) seems eminently likeable and who also writes 'who cares' autobiographical novels about his problems (in his case, having to rent lots of different properties rather than have lots of sex).
As for whether the stories in Mr Wrong are true or not, that misses the point, are they really that unbelievable, or just depressingly all-too real? Barrowcliffe had his cake and ate it. You can pay him money to read how he did it. Fortunately I borrowed my copy from a friend.
I will lay my cards on the table with this review- although a fair amount younger than the author it seems highly unlikely (or impossible) I will match his number of romances by the time I hit 40, so if I sound bitter then I hold my hands up. Out of all my male friends I only know of one who, at 35 is approaching the number of partners Barrowcliffe had, so I just don't buy it that this sort of behaviour is normal. Most men these days marry at around age 30, rather than Barrowcliffe's 40.
Putting aside the concept, is it a good read? Barrowcliffe seems to have a split personality that is difficult to sympathise with. He's obviously a cocky, arrogant and confident man and that's why he's been so successful in attracting women, but at the same time he seems curiously self-loathing. That's probably quite common in many men, but makes for an eye-gougingly infuriating experience. It reads like 'Ho ho, ...dirty anecdote, sweeping generalisation about men and women, ...judgmental snarking, joke, ...oh dear I'm really a mess who is just looking for real luurve, readers!.'
Fundamentally, who cares? Why should I care if Mr Smug got laid a lot, but shock horror found the whole thing a bit empty and wanted to settle down with a nice girl? Isn't that just growing up? Barrowcliffe isn't a good enough writer to make the anecdotes worthwhile - although he does a bit of self-deprecation, you can tell that he really thinks highly of himself. And not much of others.
Fortunately the author ends up with a respectable wife who (I notice) hasn't had 40 boyfriends. While I don't want to be evil and wish for the failure of a marriage just to prove someone wrong (although it's not beyond me to do so) - one does wonder, (a bit like what happened to Howard Stern after Private Parts) that the book's fairytale ending of 'I'm a bit of a rogue but look I love my wife' isn't tempting fate a bit.
So if you're the kind of half-man who is a bit intimidated by bed-busting tales of smug sexual conquest, avoid and read someone like Pete May, who, (unlike Barrowcliffe) seems eminently likeable and who also writes 'who cares' autobiographical novels about his problems (in his case, having to rent lots of different properties rather than have lots of sex).
As for whether the stories in Mr Wrong are true or not, that misses the point, are they really that unbelievable, or just depressingly all-too real? Barrowcliffe had his cake and ate it. You can pay him money to read how he did it. Fortunately I borrowed my copy from a friend.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not Grown Up? Then Stay Away.
A return to form for Mark Barrowcliffe, who left me outside looking in with his last tale of a youth spent playing Dungeons and Dragons. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by AK 1957-05
Very very funny and it's true
Anyone who doubts the truth of Mark's antics in Mr Wrong is mistaken. I know this because I was unfortunate enough to witness many of the events directly, as I had the challenging... Read more
Published on 16 May 2009 by Jeremy Handel
Honest, hilarious and hard to put down
This is a essential reading for anyone who's gone out for a romantic dinner looking forward to breakfast and woken up with egg on their face. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by D. Sainty
die laughing
this is an absolutely brilliant book describing the real-life love-life of the writer stroke by stroke. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Ms. Flora Smith
Hilarious as always
I thought this book was brilliant and, as always with Barrowcliffe's books, very funny.
If you don't like this, then you don't like men, really. This is what they're like. Read more
If you don't like this, then you don't like men, really. This is what they're like. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by Charlie Frog
Rubbish
I thought it would be funny and heartfelt - not a ego driven ramble... let's just be thankful that all those women escaped!!
Published on 20 Oct 2008 by a reader
Not great
I really expected a lot from this book, but Mark Barrowcliffe comes across as extremely smug, and without many redeeming features. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2008 by A. Hobbs
Funny and moving
I loved 'The Elfish Gene' - Barrowcliffe's memoir about playing Dungeons and Dragons - and was keen to see what he'd write about next. Read more
Published on 7 July 2008 by Paul99
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