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Otley
Otley
189 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Martin Waddell
478 books96 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_W...
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 28, 2018
In 1969 the wife and I emigrated to New Zealand, sailing on the SS Canberra (the famous "Great White Wale of the Falkland War). Too much time on our hands meant we went to the cinema lots. One of the films was Otley. We enjoyed it so much we must have watched it at least 5 or 6 times. A couple of years later I saw a copy of the novel, so obviously bought it. and read it. Some 40+ years afterwards I have re-read the book (I have been unable to find a DVD of the film I regret to say).
Whilst there is much variation between film and book both are very funny as petty-thief and ad hoc antique dealer Otley gets mixed up in high espionage with some four different sets of people, who merge and mix as time goes by, all after him to extract information from him that he doesn't actually have. Written in the first person the dialogue is very good and very funny.
I have spent too much time of late reading dry academic tomes and this book gave me the light relief and amusement that I needed. My only regret with the book is that it does not have the hilarious driving licence test scene that the film has - that was the main reason I sat in the Canberra's cinema so many times to watch the film.
Whilst there is much variation between film and book both are very funny as petty-thief and ad hoc antique dealer Otley gets mixed up in high espionage with some four different sets of people, who merge and mix as time goes by, all after him to extract information from him that he doesn't actually have. Written in the first person the dialogue is very good and very funny.
I have spent too much time of late reading dry academic tomes and this book gave me the light relief and amusement that I needed. My only regret with the book is that it does not have the hilarious driving licence test scene that the film has - that was the main reason I sat in the Canberra's cinema so many times to watch the film.
July 2, 2017
Twisting plot concerning small time antiques thief who gets embroiled in espionage and counter espionage. This is a book which spins perhaps an over-sized cast of despots a little too quickly and although well written, doesn't quite do enough to grab and arrest the attention. A tongue in cheek, anti-establishment flavour root it in the time in which it was written. Not a problem, but despite a light, readable feel, the parts don't all add up to an entirely enjoyable whole.
One of those rare occasions when I prefer the film.
One of those rare occasions when I prefer the film.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews