Rita fell down the stairs at twenty-two minutes past midnight.' Robin Cooper, author of the TIMEWASTER LETTERS and RETURN OF THE TIMEWASTER LETTERS, turns his hand to diary writing in this hilarious new novel. All the absurdity, bad luck and boundless optimism of his previous books are here, as we discover the man behind the letters. The year starts badly for Robin, losing his job for sending so many letters in work time, and for his wife Rita, who sprains her ankle (yet again). But Robin has a cunning plan - his marrying of the crossword and sudoku into his devilish 'crossoku', which might just make their fortune . . . In the tradition of Adrian Mole and A DIARY OF A NOBODY, this is a hilarious and strangely heartwarming story of a great British comic character.
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Addictive . . . This is Mole's diary style given a deft and thoroughly imaginative update (Metro )
The serial timewaster catalogues his completely absurd and amusing life in his debut novel (Heat )
The serial timewaster catalogues his completely absurd and amusing life in his debut novel (Heat )
Book Description
The brilliantly funny debut novel by 'Robin Cooper', star of the bestselling Timewaster books
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book because I had already read The Timewaster Letters and Return of the Timewaster Letters, both of which are hilarious. I also had the great good fortune to catch some of the Radio Four serialisation of this book with Paul Whitehouse as Robin Cooper, and it had me in stitches.
The book is a lovely thing. It starts where the Timewaster Letters finishes, with Robin being sacked from his job for writing letters on company time. It follows his trials and tribulations through the year, attempting to get a new job, exchanging visits with his Swiss German pen friend Gunther, and dealing with his mother's fling with an explorer called Gerald.
I thought it was a little weaker than the letters books, mainly because it was the serious replies in the letters books that made them so sublimely funny and you don't really get any of that counterpoint here. It is however, well worth reading and in places had me absolutely crying with laughter.
The episodes with Smithie the wood pigeon were particularly wonderful and turn into one of the key themes of the book, along with Gunther and his mysterious 'house handles'. I also loved that we got to meet more of the other characters in Robin's surreal world, his wife, Rita, his friend Tony and Millie the tramp to name but a few.
I hope there are more diaries to come, and this was well worth the investment.
The book is a lovely thing. It starts where the Timewaster Letters finishes, with Robin being sacked from his job for writing letters on company time. It follows his trials and tribulations through the year, attempting to get a new job, exchanging visits with his Swiss German pen friend Gunther, and dealing with his mother's fling with an explorer called Gerald.
I thought it was a little weaker than the letters books, mainly because it was the serious replies in the letters books that made them so sublimely funny and you don't really get any of that counterpoint here. It is however, well worth reading and in places had me absolutely crying with laughter.
The episodes with Smithie the wood pigeon were particularly wonderful and turn into one of the key themes of the book, along with Gunther and his mysterious 'house handles'. I also loved that we got to meet more of the other characters in Robin's surreal world, his wife, Rita, his friend Tony and Millie the tramp to name but a few.
I hope there are more diaries to come, and this was well worth the investment.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In this book we get inside the head of Robin Cooper for one year in his life- a Man with strange ideas and obsessions. A Man who makes lists of the contents of his shed. A Man who counts the greenfly in his bin at work (some dead some alive) and then puts them in an envelope to take home to feed the bird he keeps secretly in his loft.
I found this book special because even though many of the hilarious inventive comic ideas in it are quite eccentric, odd and unusual (I've successfully resisted the word 'quirky' here), it maintained reality and remained truthful to the character throughout. For me this made it even funnier and gave it depth and I found myself growing fonder of Robin as the book progressed.
The book cleverly weaves in and out of many different story threads, each leaving the reader wanting to find out more. As well as being hilarious it is also a warm and very sweet book which I heartily recommend for you to buy. Then buy another copy for each room of the house.
I found this book special because even though many of the hilarious inventive comic ideas in it are quite eccentric, odd and unusual (I've successfully resisted the word 'quirky' here), it maintained reality and remained truthful to the character throughout. For me this made it even funnier and gave it depth and I found myself growing fonder of Robin as the book progressed.
The book cleverly weaves in and out of many different story threads, each leaving the reader wanting to find out more. As well as being hilarious it is also a warm and very sweet book which I heartily recommend for you to buy. Then buy another copy for each room of the house.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Bookbot
Format:Hardcover
Deserving of six stars out of five if not seven, The Timewaster Diaries is a wonderfully funny, sweet and likable story of failed inventions, broken ankles and very cheap beer. Like the best of the comic diary genre countless jokes are laid out and pay off wonderfully over the twelve months. Would make a great present for anyone with a shed or anyone who enjoys laughing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
timewasters diaries
A present bought for a friend, though i have read robin cooper books before and thounght them very funny.
Published on 12 Sep 2010 by Mrs. S. J. Sutcliffe
2.0 out of 5 stars
I now feel cheated
First of all I loved the Timewaster Letters and gave it as a present to several people (who also loved it). Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2010 by Stu_cj
5.0 out of 5 stars
Adrian Mole and London Call Girl, eat your hearts out
The best diary since The Diary of Adrian Mole was the Diary of a London Call Girl. Until Robin Cooper came along. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Mr. Charles A. Budd
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ripped off idea...
but at least it was a good idea they ripped off. I didn't bother finishing this as I have read 'Diary Of a Nobody' and it felt like I was just reading an updated version. Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by V
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very, very funny
Funny, surreal, silly - what's best of all is the straight-laced replies from companies and societies who don't know they're being sent up. A cracking read.
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by CJ
2.0 out of 5 stars
Silly but diverting
For the most part, I found the Timewaster Diaries to be a mildly diverting, occasionally humourous read. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2009 by Carolyn O'brien
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like an old friend
This book became like an old friend for me. I didn't want it to end because it provided some really light entertainment. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2009 by Mr. Peter Steward
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was OK
Having just finished this book, I don't feel the same as most of the reviewers here about it. I found it OK. It was an easy read, and one you could pick up and put down. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2009 by Sally Pearson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Im a timewaster too
The Time waster Diaries: A Year in the Life of Robin Cooper
I spent a couple hours a night reading this book in my shed with 5 toffee s per night , and i loved every page. Read more
I spent a couple hours a night reading this book in my shed with 5 toffee s per night , and i loved every page. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2008 by a Stockdale
5.0 out of 5 stars
I wish himself look with the book
I loved the The Timewaster Letters and Return of the Timewaster Letters. Read and re-read them many times. Loved them. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2008 by Jim Pie
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