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Thrift
A failing secondary school. A selection of confused teenagers. A play doomed for disaster. A distinctly below average teacher.
Being a successful teacher is difficult, especially when you are not overly keen on doing any actual work.
Still, the narrator of Thrift is undeterred as he lies and cheats his way through the Christmas term, hoping that he can save his career, and perhaps even earn himself a thoroughly undeserved promotion.
Being a successful teacher is difficult, especially when you are not overly keen on doing any actual work.
Still, the narrator of Thrift is undeterred as he lies and cheats his way through the Christmas term, hoping that he can save his career, and perhaps even earn himself a thoroughly undeserved promotion.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2011
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Phil Church
5 books167 followersPhil Church was born in Hertfordshire. He went to university in Nottingham and studied archaeology, after which he worked as a field archaeologist for three years. He has had various other jobs such as working in a bookshop and proofreading. He currently teaches secondary English near Cambridge. Thrift is his first book. It is a story about a failing teacher (hopefully not based on himself). Robbery, Murder and Cups of Tea is a crime/humour novella published in December 2013. It tells the story of a chaotic murder hunt in an English village.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 15, 2013
To be or like not to be.
There are plenty of stories about great fictional teachers, from Mr. Chips to Albus Dumbledore; inspiring tales of educators who work tirelessly to pass their knowledge on to their bright, young, eager students.
This is not one of those stories.
Here's a tale about a bored and burned-out teacher who does little to inspire his apathetic students. True, he derives little inspiration from the students themselves. They'd rather be listening to music, texting and eating sweets than listening to Victorian poetry and learning about Shakespeare.
"If Shakespeare is so great, why is he dead?" asks one girl.
And the school administration provides no support. They're only interested in looking good in the newspaper and in front of visiting inspectors. In fact, the Headmaster firmly believes that Hamlet is a comedy.
The best strategy seems to be lie low, don't attract attention to yourself and do as little work as possible.
The teacher in this book tries to do exactly that, yet somehow, he has been pegged to direct this year's school play. He wastes no time putting a student in charge of the production, then skips off to the pub, returning to rehearsals as little as humanly possible. It may be time to pay the piper, however, as the night of the play draws near, and he discovers that the students are planning a performance that's a lot like Hamlet, only it's an all-action, musical extravaganza.
In addition to the "coming dramatic fiasco" plot, there are more delights to enjoy, as the teacher (if he had a name, I somehow missed it...) and his flatmate, Malcolm, attempt a variety of money-making schemes. Their stint as a crime-solving duo is particularly memorable, as is the plan to photograph a mythical panther that has been "haunting" the neighborhood.
This book probably isn't for everyone. The humor is dry, black and droll.
I loved it!
If you're a fan of British humor and have a fondness for slackers who want to get ahead with as little work as possible, this title might be right up your alley.
Phil Church was once a Goodreads author. He stuck me with moderating his group, The Humour Club - http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5... - before taking off for parts unknown.
So, cheers, mate! You'd better be hard at work on your next book, and not just sitting in a pub somewhere!
There are plenty of stories about great fictional teachers, from Mr. Chips to Albus Dumbledore; inspiring tales of educators who work tirelessly to pass their knowledge on to their bright, young, eager students.
This is not one of those stories.
Here's a tale about a bored and burned-out teacher who does little to inspire his apathetic students. True, he derives little inspiration from the students themselves. They'd rather be listening to music, texting and eating sweets than listening to Victorian poetry and learning about Shakespeare.
"If Shakespeare is so great, why is he dead?" asks one girl.
And the school administration provides no support. They're only interested in looking good in the newspaper and in front of visiting inspectors. In fact, the Headmaster firmly believes that Hamlet is a comedy.
The best strategy seems to be lie low, don't attract attention to yourself and do as little work as possible.
The teacher in this book tries to do exactly that, yet somehow, he has been pegged to direct this year's school play. He wastes no time putting a student in charge of the production, then skips off to the pub, returning to rehearsals as little as humanly possible. It may be time to pay the piper, however, as the night of the play draws near, and he discovers that the students are planning a performance that's a lot like Hamlet, only it's an all-action, musical extravaganza.
In addition to the "coming dramatic fiasco" plot, there are more delights to enjoy, as the teacher (if he had a name, I somehow missed it...) and his flatmate, Malcolm, attempt a variety of money-making schemes. Their stint as a crime-solving duo is particularly memorable, as is the plan to photograph a mythical panther that has been "haunting" the neighborhood.
This book probably isn't for everyone. The humor is dry, black and droll.
I loved it!
If you're a fan of British humor and have a fondness for slackers who want to get ahead with as little work as possible, this title might be right up your alley.
Phil Church was once a Goodreads author. He stuck me with moderating his group, The Humour Club - http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5... - before taking off for parts unknown.
So, cheers, mate! You'd better be hard at work on your next book, and not just sitting in a pub somewhere!
August 29, 2012
Mostly, I really liked this. I did actually laugh out loud at a couple of bits - unusual for me when reading a book. At first I thought it was like a sort of modern day Lucky Jim, but then I realised it was more like reading several episodes of Peep Show or Mitchell & Webb sketches. I thought it lost its way a little bit in the middle (ie, got a bit TOO outlandish) but that was only a brief falter. I loved the mockery of such daft phrases as 'independent learning' (for letting the pupils just get on with it, unsupervised) and the use of the word 'journey' for anything other than a physical removal from place A to place B (a personal loathe!). I know nothing of current teaching practices or the problems teachers face these days, but I am sure it's a magnificent send-up of both.
If your taste in humour is observational rather than slapstick you'll like this, though there is a bit of the latter, too. Most of it is very well written and reads smoothly, which is of prime importance, of course. Oh, and I very much liked the abrupt ending. Nice one, Mr Church!
If your taste in humour is observational rather than slapstick you'll like this, though there is a bit of the latter, too. Most of it is very well written and reads smoothly, which is of prime importance, of course. Oh, and I very much liked the abrupt ending. Nice one, Mr Church!
September 22, 2011
Phil Church’s debut novel `Thrift’ is a superbly original comedy centring on the misadventures of a failing and exhausted English teacher at an upper school running in equal measures on incompetence, and expert posturing.
His love life is nonexistent, ingeniously self-sabotaged from post to wire, and his friendship circle consists of one: his sometime employed best friend with whom he shares a tumbledown cottage in a socially comatose village, where the only source of entertainment is going down the local and baiting the eccentric regulars.
Stricken by personal shortcomings, and surrounded by ineptitude, Church’s main character is the ultimate lovable loser; irresistibly lacklustre and prone to such constant misadventure, that the book careens him from social knife-edge to professional precipice in a series of brilliantly crafted flukes and failures that eventually take him over the edge, and all the way back to square one none the wiser and twice as tired.
As well as being an earnestly fun read, the book has one very strong selling point: most people have been to school. It’s a shared experience that makes everything in Church’s novel feel like home. The plot keeps enough going on to be a great page turner, and there are no implausible twists or ridiculous gimmicks; the narrative runs smoothly and with great comedic pace, deliberate, but immensely fun.
Church writes with sober insight into his characters for the majority of the novel, however we are offered rare and lovingly observed moments of depth along the way. Descriptive detail is spare and effective, breezily framing the narrative with homely turns of phrase; seasonal, astute and frequently nostalgic, he has scene setting down pat from registration to home time.
Thrift is a fresh and satisfying comedy anxiously shadowed by leering catastrophe, and while never being unnecessarily cruel, Church weaves a modern day parable where nobody learns their lesson, and nobody does their homework.
Buy it for the truly ludicrous price of £2.29 and read it on your computer or Kindle.
His love life is nonexistent, ingeniously self-sabotaged from post to wire, and his friendship circle consists of one: his sometime employed best friend with whom he shares a tumbledown cottage in a socially comatose village, where the only source of entertainment is going down the local and baiting the eccentric regulars.
Stricken by personal shortcomings, and surrounded by ineptitude, Church’s main character is the ultimate lovable loser; irresistibly lacklustre and prone to such constant misadventure, that the book careens him from social knife-edge to professional precipice in a series of brilliantly crafted flukes and failures that eventually take him over the edge, and all the way back to square one none the wiser and twice as tired.
As well as being an earnestly fun read, the book has one very strong selling point: most people have been to school. It’s a shared experience that makes everything in Church’s novel feel like home. The plot keeps enough going on to be a great page turner, and there are no implausible twists or ridiculous gimmicks; the narrative runs smoothly and with great comedic pace, deliberate, but immensely fun.
Church writes with sober insight into his characters for the majority of the novel, however we are offered rare and lovingly observed moments of depth along the way. Descriptive detail is spare and effective, breezily framing the narrative with homely turns of phrase; seasonal, astute and frequently nostalgic, he has scene setting down pat from registration to home time.
Thrift is a fresh and satisfying comedy anxiously shadowed by leering catastrophe, and while never being unnecessarily cruel, Church weaves a modern day parable where nobody learns their lesson, and nobody does their homework.
Buy it for the truly ludicrous price of £2.29 and read it on your computer or Kindle.
July 17, 2012
A failing secondary school. A selection of confused teenagers. A play doomed for disaster. A distinctly below average teacher.
Being a successful teacher is difficult, especially when you are not overly keen on doing any actual work.
Still, the narrator of Thrift is undeterred as he lies and cheats his way through the Christmas term, hoping that he can save his career, and perhaps even earn himself a thoroughly undeserved promotion. (Author description)
Thrift is a humorous look at the every day life of a teacher in a Secondary School in England. Mr Church’s writing is commendable and his tales amusing, exaggerating all the traits that are bad in teachers (yes we really do eat too many cakes and biscuits!). I liked the way Mr Church didn’t rely just on the school antics, but wove a real life for his protagonist, showing us how he interacts with his family and friends. As an ex-teacher I found it hilarious and engaging, but wonder if the book translates as well to those who are not in, or were in, the profession. It should do and I certainly hope it does. 4*
Being a successful teacher is difficult, especially when you are not overly keen on doing any actual work.
Still, the narrator of Thrift is undeterred as he lies and cheats his way through the Christmas term, hoping that he can save his career, and perhaps even earn himself a thoroughly undeserved promotion. (Author description)
Thrift is a humorous look at the every day life of a teacher in a Secondary School in England. Mr Church’s writing is commendable and his tales amusing, exaggerating all the traits that are bad in teachers (yes we really do eat too many cakes and biscuits!). I liked the way Mr Church didn’t rely just on the school antics, but wove a real life for his protagonist, showing us how he interacts with his family and friends. As an ex-teacher I found it hilarious and engaging, but wonder if the book translates as well to those who are not in, or were in, the profession. It should do and I certainly hope it does. 4*
September 8, 2012
I don't normally go for comedy books but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It is the story of a hopeless teacher in a seemingly hopeless school and it is very funny.
The author creates a fun and engaging cast, including a biscuit-loving deputy head, a teacher who cries at any opportunity and Malcolm, the narrator's lazy housemate. The narrator himself is a teacher with no control whatsoever of his classes and part of the fun of the book is watching him blag his way through school life and appear to be a model teacher. Useless he may be, but we cannot help but root for him. This is a testament to the author that he has created such a likeable character.
It may not be a fully realistic portrayal of school life (or then again it may well be in some schools!) but I was quite happy to suspend my disbelief and go along with the plot. A giggle is never far away and the author is clearly comfortable writing comically. Recommended.
The author creates a fun and engaging cast, including a biscuit-loving deputy head, a teacher who cries at any opportunity and Malcolm, the narrator's lazy housemate. The narrator himself is a teacher with no control whatsoever of his classes and part of the fun of the book is watching him blag his way through school life and appear to be a model teacher. Useless he may be, but we cannot help but root for him. This is a testament to the author that he has created such a likeable character.
It may not be a fully realistic portrayal of school life (or then again it may well be in some schools!) but I was quite happy to suspend my disbelief and go along with the plot. A giggle is never far away and the author is clearly comfortable writing comically. Recommended.
June 9, 2023
I'm giving this one four stars not because it's great literature, but because it's been such good fun to read and made me laugh so much!
July 11, 2012
What happens when a preposterously lazy English teacher gets picked to direct the school play? Absolutely nothing. Thrift by Phil Church chronicles the semi-comical encounters of one teacher’s attempt to squeak by on minimal effort and false pretense in a school system where apathy is the norm from students, teachers, and administrators alike.
The amazing thing about this book is how much effort the narrator puts into being lazy. While the characterization may be excellent on that point, it also serves as the book’s downfall. The protagonist spends a lot of time drinking coffee and munching biscuits (cookies to those of us in the United States). He also makes a habit about of avoiding conflict with his students to the detriment of classroom discipline. Some motivation is provided for his actions upon learning his father and brother are much more successful than him, and his fun-loving mother has made herself emotionally unavailable. It’s natural for readers to want to see an emotional progression from the main character, but the lackadaisical teacher at the heart of this book makes no such journey.
Certain aspects of the plot ring true. Phil Church does an outstanding job capturing the inanity of classroom discussions that often go awry. But just when the reader thinks the man doesn’t have a clue, hints are given that he has developed the awareness to read students’ body language and he comes up with an interactive pre-reading assignment for Lord of the Flies. As a fellow educator, I could definitely relate to the notion that some of the most ineffective teachers are often the ones picked for promotion due factors that have little to do with being committed to education.
Other aspects of the plot are seemingly random, yet related to establishing the aimlessness of the main character, not to mention the roommate’s seemingly random departure toward the end. His inability to ward off a potential love interest is in keeping with his passive personality, and the landlady at the local pub also finds him attractive (in a creepy way). Despite all that lady love, his character never comes across as particularly handsome or charismatic. A brief stint as a private investigator, bachelor party supervisor, and best man at his brother’s wedding had the potential to deepen the plot, but unfortunately did not circle back to fully shedding light into why he’s such a lazy bum.
A minor character named Rab added a delightful literary depth to the story since he acted as the voice of public opinion toward teachers. In true passive fashion the narrator never stands up for himself or his profession, which isn’t surprising, but utterly a let-down for the story. The desire to want to be successful is inherent in all of us, but along the way that drive often gets distorted in the most heartbreaking ways.
A sequel appears to be in the works and it is my hope that the author can do more to justify his protagonist’s sluggish propensities in addition to clarifying what exactly it is that the character wants, even if that want is truly just to skate by.
JeriWB.com
The amazing thing about this book is how much effort the narrator puts into being lazy. While the characterization may be excellent on that point, it also serves as the book’s downfall. The protagonist spends a lot of time drinking coffee and munching biscuits (cookies to those of us in the United States). He also makes a habit about of avoiding conflict with his students to the detriment of classroom discipline. Some motivation is provided for his actions upon learning his father and brother are much more successful than him, and his fun-loving mother has made herself emotionally unavailable. It’s natural for readers to want to see an emotional progression from the main character, but the lackadaisical teacher at the heart of this book makes no such journey.
Certain aspects of the plot ring true. Phil Church does an outstanding job capturing the inanity of classroom discussions that often go awry. But just when the reader thinks the man doesn’t have a clue, hints are given that he has developed the awareness to read students’ body language and he comes up with an interactive pre-reading assignment for Lord of the Flies. As a fellow educator, I could definitely relate to the notion that some of the most ineffective teachers are often the ones picked for promotion due factors that have little to do with being committed to education.
Other aspects of the plot are seemingly random, yet related to establishing the aimlessness of the main character, not to mention the roommate’s seemingly random departure toward the end. His inability to ward off a potential love interest is in keeping with his passive personality, and the landlady at the local pub also finds him attractive (in a creepy way). Despite all that lady love, his character never comes across as particularly handsome or charismatic. A brief stint as a private investigator, bachelor party supervisor, and best man at his brother’s wedding had the potential to deepen the plot, but unfortunately did not circle back to fully shedding light into why he’s such a lazy bum.
A minor character named Rab added a delightful literary depth to the story since he acted as the voice of public opinion toward teachers. In true passive fashion the narrator never stands up for himself or his profession, which isn’t surprising, but utterly a let-down for the story. The desire to want to be successful is inherent in all of us, but along the way that drive often gets distorted in the most heartbreaking ways.
A sequel appears to be in the works and it is my hope that the author can do more to justify his protagonist’s sluggish propensities in addition to clarifying what exactly it is that the character wants, even if that want is truly just to skate by.
JeriWB.com
May 29, 2012
To all of my teachers, I’m sorry! It’s not that long since I left school, and I have certificates to prove that, and although we weren’t quite as difficult in my day, we had our moments! Thrift brought so many memories flooding back of the ‘best days of my life’ that I found it hard to imagine this as any other school than mine.
I was reading this outside, basking in the sun, iPod on and only realised I’d laughed out loud when my neighbour, who was washing his car, stuck his head round the wall to see what all the hilarity was about. So much of the book is all the more funny because it rings so true.
The parents out there will probably worry that their children could be under the care of teachers like this - apathetic, mildly neurotic, demotivated people whose only supports are caffeine, sugar and alcohol.
Even if it doesn’t remind you of your own school days, it will remind you of people you’ve encountered and those exasperating moments where you feel like the only one with any sense of reality. You could take the overall perspective and apply it to almost any workplace where there are tiers of authority, from teaching to nursing to corporate environments. Thinking about it like that, I might be over-analysing, but you have to laugh that people are people whatever the age or location and just as exasperating.
You might think the inadequacies are brought to the surface in the pressure cooker of a failing school, but Mr Church shows us through glimpses at personal lives that’s not so. Sometimes people just really aren’t very good at life. Regardless of intelligence, some people are just better at getting things wrong than right. To add insult to injury, some people are unlucky as well as ill equipped. In this case the bad luck is apparently a lifelong thing. Ineptitude though could be induced and not inherent, or so you think here. Does he attract disaster or does he unconsciously engineer it? Or am I engaging in transference?
Written in the first person, Thrift combines cutting wit and observation with a voice of bitter experience in a quick and entertaining read. This is a great character novel where you find yourself rooting for the lead, not necessarily to succeed so much as not get found out. Great debut – hurry up and write some more!
I was reading this outside, basking in the sun, iPod on and only realised I’d laughed out loud when my neighbour, who was washing his car, stuck his head round the wall to see what all the hilarity was about. So much of the book is all the more funny because it rings so true.
The parents out there will probably worry that their children could be under the care of teachers like this - apathetic, mildly neurotic, demotivated people whose only supports are caffeine, sugar and alcohol.
Even if it doesn’t remind you of your own school days, it will remind you of people you’ve encountered and those exasperating moments where you feel like the only one with any sense of reality. You could take the overall perspective and apply it to almost any workplace where there are tiers of authority, from teaching to nursing to corporate environments. Thinking about it like that, I might be over-analysing, but you have to laugh that people are people whatever the age or location and just as exasperating.
You might think the inadequacies are brought to the surface in the pressure cooker of a failing school, but Mr Church shows us through glimpses at personal lives that’s not so. Sometimes people just really aren’t very good at life. Regardless of intelligence, some people are just better at getting things wrong than right. To add insult to injury, some people are unlucky as well as ill equipped. In this case the bad luck is apparently a lifelong thing. Ineptitude though could be induced and not inherent, or so you think here. Does he attract disaster or does he unconsciously engineer it? Or am I engaging in transference?
Written in the first person, Thrift combines cutting wit and observation with a voice of bitter experience in a quick and entertaining read. This is a great character novel where you find yourself rooting for the lead, not necessarily to succeed so much as not get found out. Great debut – hurry up and write some more!
April 27, 2012
'Thrift' written by Phil Church is an extremely comic contemporary fiction about a failing English teacher. The novel is set in one of the British schools where the readers follow day to day activities of teachers and their students.
I was fortunate enough to get the book for free when the author was giving it away while marketing it on Twitter. I was so glad that I read it.
I found myself laughing while reading it. The story mocks the British state education system which is taken too seriously in today’s world by some individuals.
The main character’s life seemed to be filled with his attempts of trying to make his students understand Shakespeare while enjoying a quiet one down the local with his roommate Malcolm. At the same time he is trying to figure out how to increase the cash flow with the least amount of effort. An English teacher’s love life pretty much does not exist apart from a few escapes from daunting his dates with Angela.
The story unfolds extremely well showing a well grasped narrative. It engaged me enough to realize that I enjoyed the company of Malcolm who is trying to make his life more exciting but similarly to the main character who is unable to succeed. The teachers are taking day to day tasks seriously and students are still the same as they would be in a real school environment - unproblematic and misled.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a fresh and satisfying comedy with unexpected twists. In the author's reality, the main character doesn't care about the way he deals with his students and they don't care about their grades. Everyone is trying to enjoy life as it goes apart from the other teachers in the school.
I was fortunate enough to get the book for free when the author was giving it away while marketing it on Twitter. I was so glad that I read it.
I found myself laughing while reading it. The story mocks the British state education system which is taken too seriously in today’s world by some individuals.
The main character’s life seemed to be filled with his attempts of trying to make his students understand Shakespeare while enjoying a quiet one down the local with his roommate Malcolm. At the same time he is trying to figure out how to increase the cash flow with the least amount of effort. An English teacher’s love life pretty much does not exist apart from a few escapes from daunting his dates with Angela.
The story unfolds extremely well showing a well grasped narrative. It engaged me enough to realize that I enjoyed the company of Malcolm who is trying to make his life more exciting but similarly to the main character who is unable to succeed. The teachers are taking day to day tasks seriously and students are still the same as they would be in a real school environment - unproblematic and misled.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a fresh and satisfying comedy with unexpected twists. In the author's reality, the main character doesn't care about the way he deals with his students and they don't care about their grades. Everyone is trying to enjoy life as it goes apart from the other teachers in the school.
April 19, 2012
I read this in a couple of sittings on my mobile phone (don't have a Kindle yet!). It was an easy read with some very vivid characters. I have to say, the C4 TV series "Teachers" is a favourite of mine, and I saw a lot of that similar, self-debasing humour in "Thrift". But that's not meant as a criticism. Phil Church's school is slightly less surreal than the one featured in "Teachers", which makes me think that, in a slightly less exaggerated way, many secondary schools are similar to "Thrift". The pupils are likeable and funny, and use the kind of speech that us older people stereotype them with. The main character is jaded, doesn't really care for his job, and through various extra-curricular adventures, we are presented with somebody who hasn't really been equipped with the skills necessary for living in society, let alone somebody who is teaching our kids how to become equipped with the same skills. He reminded me of one of my friends, and bizarrely, the teacher's house-mate reminded me of myself ...
Hmm.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Hmm.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
September 16, 2012
Clever and genuinely funny:
I'm so glad I bought this book as its entertainment value is way above its modest price. I've worked supporting special needs students in three inner city schools and, though the book is written from a humorous perspective, there is absolutely nothing in here that I would consider to be exaggerated. I love Phil Church's droll presentation, that ranges from very laid back ironic to full on hilarious. Couple that with excellent observations of the main characters, the failed teacher who seems to fall on his feet and his sidekick, the hapless Malcolm, and you have the ingredients of an engagingly funny novel that is impossible to put aside till the last page. I was especially impressed with the exploration, through the narrator's character, of how someone who has been belittled and put upon from birth, but upon whom impossibly high standards are placed, can simply stop trying, yet through doing so can gain the freedom to please themselves.
Altogether a pleasing, witty, genuinely funny book.
I'm so glad I bought this book as its entertainment value is way above its modest price. I've worked supporting special needs students in three inner city schools and, though the book is written from a humorous perspective, there is absolutely nothing in here that I would consider to be exaggerated. I love Phil Church's droll presentation, that ranges from very laid back ironic to full on hilarious. Couple that with excellent observations of the main characters, the failed teacher who seems to fall on his feet and his sidekick, the hapless Malcolm, and you have the ingredients of an engagingly funny novel that is impossible to put aside till the last page. I was especially impressed with the exploration, through the narrator's character, of how someone who has been belittled and put upon from birth, but upon whom impossibly high standards are placed, can simply stop trying, yet through doing so can gain the freedom to please themselves.
Altogether a pleasing, witty, genuinely funny book.
March 21, 2013
"An enjoyably dark indictment of modern education"
I came across Thrift thanks to the joys of social networking, and am glad I spent what is, let's be honest, not a lot of money for what is a thoroughly enjoyable first novel from author Phil Church.
I'm close enough to my high school past to remember the apathy with which some students strode around and now have teaching friends to regale me with what life is like from behind the staff room door.
Thrift takes us with what could be depressing accuracy through one teacher's own attempts to stumble his way in a hungover daze through various inspections, interviews, near-collisions with parents and staff, and avoiding the scrutiny and derision of his academically hapless yet socially infinitely more knowlegeable students.
Thrift reminds me of an educational Men Behaving Badly. A man with long dead and buried aspirations and a dead-end housemate that matches his current achievements falls through life narrowly avoiding catastrophe after catastrophe. And it is at times just as dryly humourous, sad and occasionally dark.
I came across Thrift thanks to the joys of social networking, and am glad I spent what is, let's be honest, not a lot of money for what is a thoroughly enjoyable first novel from author Phil Church.
I'm close enough to my high school past to remember the apathy with which some students strode around and now have teaching friends to regale me with what life is like from behind the staff room door.
Thrift takes us with what could be depressing accuracy through one teacher's own attempts to stumble his way in a hungover daze through various inspections, interviews, near-collisions with parents and staff, and avoiding the scrutiny and derision of his academically hapless yet socially infinitely more knowlegeable students.
Thrift reminds me of an educational Men Behaving Badly. A man with long dead and buried aspirations and a dead-end housemate that matches his current achievements falls through life narrowly avoiding catastrophe after catastrophe. And it is at times just as dryly humourous, sad and occasionally dark.
November 4, 2013
"You`re not very good teacher, are you, sir?"
The word "thrift" means "economy" and "prosperity". But economy of what? Energy or emotions. And what means prosperity in this context.
Just look at our hero - secondary school teacher who comes to a specific state of complete apathy to his students in particular and school system in general. Herewith hoping to save his career and even get a promotion. His only entertainment - hike to the nearest pub with his friend.
So what do we have? In the first chapter he held a copy of Shrek to show his students "instead of having to read through this boring old poetry" - as he said himself. In the final chapters his students stage "Hamlet" practically without his intervention. What this means? Find out when read to the end. Actually it is the most honest book about school system and the place of a teacher in our world. Exellent British humor with a touch of little sadness. Very strong debut.
"So you`re a teacher"
"That`s right"
"Wow that must be so rewarding"
The word "thrift" means "economy" and "prosperity". But economy of what? Energy or emotions. And what means prosperity in this context.
Just look at our hero - secondary school teacher who comes to a specific state of complete apathy to his students in particular and school system in general. Herewith hoping to save his career and even get a promotion. His only entertainment - hike to the nearest pub with his friend.
So what do we have? In the first chapter he held a copy of Shrek to show his students "instead of having to read through this boring old poetry" - as he said himself. In the final chapters his students stage "Hamlet" practically without his intervention. What this means? Find out when read to the end. Actually it is the most honest book about school system and the place of a teacher in our world. Exellent British humor with a touch of little sadness. Very strong debut.
"So you`re a teacher"
"That`s right"
"Wow that must be so rewarding"
October 5, 2012
Comparison to Lucky Jim, Billy Liar, Frank Spencer, Men Behaving Badly, and so on by reviewers show that Phil Church has managed to achieve an eclectic comedy audience (certainly varied in age). It is not surprising that many readers make TV comparisons or suggest filmic possibilities since this is somewhat episodic rather than plot-driven narrative. For me it wasn't laugh-out-loud stuff but the amusement was maintained most of the way through. As many readers point out, this is a good first book.
The observation, characters and dialogue clearly show the author's teaching background although it is to be hoped that the main character's instructional technique is not true to life.
There are weaknesses that sometimes take the tale a shade too far towards the surreal but with a comic book that's not disastrous and probably emulates life as well. This is also a book for the biscuit fan – many favourites get a mention.
The observation, characters and dialogue clearly show the author's teaching background although it is to be hoped that the main character's instructional technique is not true to life.
There are weaknesses that sometimes take the tale a shade too far towards the surreal but with a comic book that's not disastrous and probably emulates life as well. This is also a book for the biscuit fan – many favourites get a mention.
October 27, 2012
I honestly can't remember the last time a book made me laugh so hard. Church has created a flawed yet ultimately so relatable and loveable character in his hapless, nameless teacher that despite the ridiculousness of the situations he finds himself in, you can't help but get sucked in to the madness.
Yet you also sense there is a bit of social commentary going on here as, despite the Herculean efforts the teacher goes through to get himself into and then out of trouble, everyone else - from the students, to the parents, to the locals at the pub, to the school administration - is just as hopeless, though naively so, as opposed to 'sociopathic' as the teacher labels himself near the end. But the point is that they all enable each other in their mediocrity. While you may cringe at the overwhelming density of everyone involved, it's all the more hilarious because of the seeds of truth within.
Anyway - a great read and well worth a recommendation.
Yet you also sense there is a bit of social commentary going on here as, despite the Herculean efforts the teacher goes through to get himself into and then out of trouble, everyone else - from the students, to the parents, to the locals at the pub, to the school administration - is just as hopeless, though naively so, as opposed to 'sociopathic' as the teacher labels himself near the end. But the point is that they all enable each other in their mediocrity. While you may cringe at the overwhelming density of everyone involved, it's all the more hilarious because of the seeds of truth within.
Anyway - a great read and well worth a recommendation.
November 20, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading this book as I had read previous, great reviews and I was not disappointed. I found the lives of the 'grown ups' humorously depressing. This book really did make me laugh out loud and I struggled to put it down. I disturbingly found myself saying 'innit' a lot after reading it (which is worrying) and shows how I absorbed it all! The Mr Stevens incident and the Christmas play, among many others, had me properly giggling as I was right there in the moment which shows the mastery of the writing. The ending was abrupt, which was a shame, but just shows that I could have read another, good few pages of Phil Church's writing. A definite 'must read' book that I will be recommending to friends especially those of the teacher variety! I can only hope there is more to come from this author and pray his writing is not wholly based on real experiences! A definite giggle inducer :)
April 7, 2013
I still can't figure out why the title of this book is Thrift -- if there was an explanation, I missed it. Thrift is about a teacher stuck in a highschool filled with underachievers and a headmaster with expectations that far exceed what might be delivered. Despite being uninterested in his job and basically unmotivated to do almost anything, the protagonist manages to land on his feet time and again. At the core of the story is his selection to run the school play -- the Headmaster hopes for some light Shakespeare but he selects Hamlet and then leaves his students to the production.
The thing about Thrift is that it is funny. It made me snort, chuckle, and read passages out loud to my husband. The humour is unmistakably British -- very much a mashup of Adrian Mole and Shaun of the Dead -- and it tickles me, but it isn't for everyone.
Overall, I enjoyed Thrift despite a few uneven chapters, and I do hope Church continues to write because I'll happily buy his next book.
The thing about Thrift is that it is funny. It made me snort, chuckle, and read passages out loud to my husband. The humour is unmistakably British -- very much a mashup of Adrian Mole and Shaun of the Dead -- and it tickles me, but it isn't for everyone.
Overall, I enjoyed Thrift despite a few uneven chapters, and I do hope Church continues to write because I'll happily buy his next book.
June 14, 2012
I was initially grabbed by the infinite possibilities that the blurb suggested and Thrift did not disappoint. Its comic element is so effective due to its accuracy. The caricature of a bad attitude teacherand a narcissistic, shallow management team versus a realistically portrayed (oh yes!) gaggle of teenage schoolchildren makes for hilarious and all too possible reading.
The quality of Church's writing is such that its fluidity is seamless and challenges you to even notice the words on the page. I was guided directly into the smells and mayhem of a secondary classroom. I have found myself relating anecdotes from Thrift for a good fortnight. I couldn't recommend this more to while away an enjoyable few hours.
Well done Phil Church
The quality of Church's writing is such that its fluidity is seamless and challenges you to even notice the words on the page. I was guided directly into the smells and mayhem of a secondary classroom. I have found myself relating anecdotes from Thrift for a good fortnight. I couldn't recommend this more to while away an enjoyable few hours.
Well done Phil Church
June 10, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel. There are few little editing issues, but they did not spoil my enjoyment of the story (you might want to change tact to tack, though, Phil). The humour is subtle and had me smiling rather than laughing, but it's a good, relaxing companion that can be put down and picked up as the time available allows. Thanks, Phil - it's been just what I needed for the last couple of (very busy) weeks.
I changed the rating today (10 June). I scored it at 4 to begin with, but I've upped it to 5 now I've realised what an impression this book made on me. It kind of sneaks into the back of your mind and stays there.
I changed the rating today (10 June). I scored it at 4 to begin with, but I've upped it to 5 now I've realised what an impression this book made on me. It kind of sneaks into the back of your mind and stays there.
August 28, 2012
"Such unexpected generosity meant that within half an hour most of the twenty or so teachers who had made it to the event were veering from ‘tipsy’ to ‘quite drunk���."
It's a profession everyone has some experience with, teaching. I chuckled my way through this in an hour or two and thought it quite an interesting take!
"I had never played golf before. This was obvious to the other players as my first practice shot sliced off the end of the club and struck Malcolm in the shoulder."
I'd find it difficult to look some former teachers of mine in the eye these days, but of course they are all very Human and I think that's shown here "well funny".
It's a profession everyone has some experience with, teaching. I chuckled my way through this in an hour or two and thought it quite an interesting take!
"I had never played golf before. This was obvious to the other players as my first practice shot sliced off the end of the club and struck Malcolm in the shoulder."
I'd find it difficult to look some former teachers of mine in the eye these days, but of course they are all very Human and I think that's shown here "well funny".
December 18, 2013
Taken at the surface level this is a funny story about a useless secondary school teacher who seeks promotion by cheating, bribing the children and generally bunking off as often as he can. I sincerely hope this is fiction! It’s fine at a light-hearted level but if you go into the story you don’t find any sympathetic characters so if that matters to you, you’ll not get on so well with this.
I note that the author is a teacher. Not a teacher of English, I hope. Another reviewer has already pointed out the mass of ‘was sat’ and ‘was stood’ errors and there’s also some rather iffy syntax in places. Good for a light-hearted frothy read but it’s not literature.
I note that the author is a teacher. Not a teacher of English, I hope. Another reviewer has already pointed out the mass of ‘was sat’ and ‘was stood’ errors and there’s also some rather iffy syntax in places. Good for a light-hearted frothy read but it’s not literature.
October 31, 2012
This is a cracking book! I laughed from the very first to the very last page. The teenage dialogue is spot on. Each new chapter had me laughing in anticipation and it never disappointed. It reminded me of a sort of Thin Blue Line meets Waterloo Road meets Bottom. I would imagine if you happen to be a teacher, then you will find this book even more amusing. I hope Phil's next books are just as funny and daft as this one! I honestly have not laughed so much at a book since the last time I re-read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy.
February 24, 2013
I laughed out loud quite a few times although I didn't appreciate the attitude of this nameless teacher, especially to the bullied student.
Good to know that he's aware of his mental and personal issues although a sociopath actually enjoys inventing crisis for himself to purposely attract the centre of the attention (either people's pities for or disgusts to him) rather than simply turns the faults on others to get away from guilts. This teacher's fortunes were all by accident.
Enjoyed Phil Church's witty written style. Highly recommended. Can't wait for his next book.
Good to know that he's aware of his mental and personal issues although a sociopath actually enjoys inventing crisis for himself to purposely attract the centre of the attention (either people's pities for or disgusts to him) rather than simply turns the faults on others to get away from guilts. This teacher's fortunes were all by accident.
Enjoyed Phil Church's witty written style. Highly recommended. Can't wait for his next book.
February 15, 2014
This is a story of the misadventures of an inadequate teacher, as the sub-title says. It's a funny and clever romp through the life of our uninspired and unmotivated central character as he gets himself into all sorts of right spots caused by his general lack of hard work.
Author Phil Church should be proud of himself for making such an incompetent and downright idle character so endearing! The lacklustre 'lessons' and each bumbling step he takes in his home life just make him funnier.
Not my usual choice of genre, but a really enjoyable read which I highly recommend.
Author Phil Church should be proud of himself for making such an incompetent and downright idle character so endearing! The lacklustre 'lessons' and each bumbling step he takes in his home life just make him funnier.
Not my usual choice of genre, but a really enjoyable read which I highly recommend.
February 1, 2013
I enjoyed reading this. A nice drift through life, trying to avoid anything work related. Some funny moments (a teacher may find more!) and a light hearted view on life. There is not much bad to say, only it is a drift and no fast hitting action! No bad thing here as action would have seemed out of place... Slow and steady wins the race. A good debut!
March 6, 2013
Very, very entertaining! As a former educator myself, reading about a very lazy teacher really cracked me up. I have never met a teacher like him. Also, his roommate was a hoot, along with all the characters at the pub. Thrift is an easy, fun read. I could't wait to find out how the school play turned out!
September 2, 2015
not convinced. shallow and I didn't relate to it at all. report says must do better. characters needed developing much more and relationships were cliches that didn't actually go anywhere. classroom scenes where this shambles of a teacher "got away with it" were ridiculous and totally unbelievable. this book was a real disappointment
April 19, 2012
This book was not for me. I found the characters annoying and the situations utterly unrealistic. The way in which the events unfolded were poorly constructed. There were some scenes that I could imagine happening, but as a whole the story did nothing to transport me in to it's reality.
March 8, 2013
With the title of Thrift, I really had no clue what to expect. What I got was a funny story about a slacker teacher just trying not to get fired at a mediocre English academy. There were a few slow parts, but most of it was just fun fluff.
March 12, 2015
As a teacher, every page of this book rings true. I couldn't put it down, I was laughing through every chapter. I'll recommend it to all of my teacher friends, and all of our sympathizers. Now I'll either read this book again, or search for another book just like it.
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