68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to read, witty and subversive, 30 July 2007
On the surface a light-hearted comedy, but beneath the superficialities lurk darker themes.
Dr Alfred Jones, a fisheries scientist, is low down the pecking order of a civil service office where bullying is the norm. Furthermore, he can no longer avoid the painful truth that his wife cares more about her career and bank balance than she does about him.
When he is instructed to assist in introducing salmon to the Yemen, a scheme which appears doomed to failure, it feels to Fred like one more burden, heavier than most. But as things progress, he learns about faith, overcoming obstacles, and love.
The story is told in a series of emails, diary entries, and interview transcripts. Torday has mastered this deceptively simple method, it adds immediacy, and results in a lightness of touch and to-the-point style reminiscent of (but so much better than) Bridget Jones's diary.
In his protrait of our leaders, the irony tips over into cynicism, (accurately reflecting public opinion I would say). The prime minister is somewhat delusional, neither bright enough nor sufficiently honest with himself to recognise the limits to his power. His director of communications is even worse. No means are too vile to justify the end of furthering his boss's reign.
Although there is a certain flippant tone to the whole book, (the Jihadis are particularly clichéd), Torday's depiction of traditional Arab and Islamic culture is very respectful.
A good summer read, unexpectedly rewarding.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Funny, surprising, but a little bit weak, 4 July 2007
This is comedy satire is about Dr Alfred Jones, who finds himself reluctantly mixed up in a project to bring salmon to the Highlands of the Yemen. This project changes his life and British politics forever. The book boasts a range of quirky and realistic characters, which are all affected by Fred's involvement in the Salmon project. This novel is both cleverly humorous and thought provoking, and uses a deliciously random and peculiar idea to make a point on the subject of faith and loyalty. Having said this, I found it, at moments, a little weak and transparent, though still enjoyable.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An old fashioned British comedy, 19 July 2007
This book reminded of those classic Elstree film comedies from the fifties. In my minds eye the main character, Professor Jones, was Ian Carmichael. At first a little starchy but as the book/film proceeds a mellower side of his character starts to appear. The `villain of the piece', Peter Maxwell, was Terry-Thomas, all obsequious charm and full of deceit. It's that sort of book - a traditional old-fashioned British comedy. This is despite the unusual method in which the story is told, by means of emails, letters, diary entries, reports and newspaper articles. At first this seemed a little off-putting but I soon got used to it and overall it worked well, although I wouldn't like to read many books written in this style.
I enjoyed this book then, although I must admit that the ending is a bit flat and left me feeling a little disappointed.
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