The Timewaster Letters [Paperback]

I'm not sure how Robin Cooper gets his ideas for potential products but his proposals were brilliant - a book for children on the bedtime activities of William Stanley Jr, a venus fly trap for birds - how these companies didn't send someone around to have this guy locked up is beyond me. Their replies are all very measured and calm, but you just know the recipient was slightly concerned about Robin. Robin pulls every stunt off with style.

I challenge you to buy this book and not laugh, especially if you've written a letter to a big company, been fobbed off and wanted to get your own back.

It rarely happens that you read a book that makes you laugh out loud again and again but each time I read these letters they get funnier and funnier. It is the small quirky details he puts into them that are the best parts. I have already purchased several books for family members and friends. If you like laugh-out-loud humour I would definitely recommend this book!

I laughed so hard I almost cried. I got odd looks on the bus, but I didn't care. Some of this book is just hilarious - e.g. in particular the scarecrows made of beef - and then the fact that these were actually meant to be made of "beel". But nearly every page was brilliant. As a publisher myself, the letters to and from publishers and the madcap children's book ideas particularly appealed.

There are other similar books, from the US - these aren't as funny, and the one I read seemed to be a lot more repetitive and far less interesting. This is the one you should buy - now.

the letters veer between stream of consciousness (where i found my self grinning like an idiot as i wondered what cooper would come up with next), and short, sharp, spit-the-coffee-across-starbucks laugh out loud moments.

my advice to those thinking of buying the book would be this;

don't: read it whilst ingesting food / drinks (see above)
do; be prepared to have people move away from you on public transport as you snort and giggle at ideas like 'waspard' (wasp mustard).

do; buy five copies as you'll want to give one to all your friends.
don't; be surprised if your friends aren't talking to you because you're late because you wanted to finish the book so much.

anyway - i loved it and hope this review will help others enjoy the mental, laugh out loud silliness of Cooper.

yannik.

I've literally just finished reading this and I have to say that it is one of the funniest books I've ever read. There are so many amazing pages of pure comedy hidden in this book, just the fact that all these people replied to what can only be classed as some of the most ridiculous leeters in history is beyond me. If you're looking for something to lighten your day that you can delve into now and again for a quick laugh, then this is the book for you.