69 for 1 by Alan Coren

by Alan Coren

Recently returned from the dead, Alan Coren finds that the world has changed little in his children still turn to Winston Churchill to save them from school dinners; Clark Gable snuggles—as ever—against the bristly chest of his lover Errol Flynn (despite having been captured on video by the entire British delegation of a Hong Kong sales conference); and hysterectomies throughout continue to be performed by enthusiastic poulterers. As for Coren himself, despite bearing the distinguished rank of full colonel in the Confederate Air Force, he remains plagued by recurrent nightmares that his membership of the P.G. Wodehouse Society has been poached by a Polish imposter in spats. England’s best-loved humorist finds time to explain why Cannon & Ball have relaunched themselves as Pride & Prejudice; to work out that if J.K. Rowling had put all her Harry Potter income on Archer’s Folly in the 3.15 at Haydock Park she would be richer than Bill Gates; and to reveal exactly why he took Princess Michael of Kent to see the smuttiest statue in London.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, 21st Century

Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll ask a nice simple question to start with: Do you consider yourself to be English?

If you said yes, then you will love this book. I have read lots of books that claim to hold a view of the world that is quintessentially English, and not one of them comes close to the truth that is held within these pages. If you said no, then read this book to help understand just how our minds’ work (‘nuff said).

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it almost unbearably sad to know Alan Coren would be taken from us so soon after this release. I no longer find him as roll-on-the-floor hilarious as I did when I was a tyke, but he remains one of my most admired writers for his sheer ability to churn out humorous columns based on the merest wisp of inspiration. Certain crutch words of his writing - 'gummed', 'homunculus', 'I trust I do not have to draw pictures' - will be forever Cricklewood.

[Tom Loock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any collection or anthology, 69 for 1 has some highlights and some pieces that do not work for me.

But - and it's a big BUT - with Alan Coren there are always more good & great pieces than weak ones AND when he's good, he's really good.

[Philip Whiteland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Coren is my hero. There, I've said it! I've loved his work for decades and he never failed to make me laugh. This last collection of his stories had me giggling at times but I have to admit that this isn't necessarily his best work. Having said that, even his less than best work is streets ahead of most humorists and always will be. It's so sad that we won't see any more from him.

[Chris Crowley · Rating 2 out of 5]

69 short observations about life in a very dry and grumpy style. A little uni-dimensional for my tastes - something to dip into and read a couple of stories (most are only 2 pages) rather than endure it in its entirety.

[Gareth Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of Coren's pieces for the Times from the 00s. Some are excellent, others strangely dull. Collected together there are probably too many, too similar and the London focus is a little tiring. Worth dipping into, especially if you enjoyed Punch in the 1970s.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoyed Alan Coren's writing in "Punch" and his contribution in The News Quiz, so it was lovely to read his humour again in this collection of short pieces on many and varied topics. Great fun!

[Malcolm]

What a great wit Coren was. Thank goodness for collections like these that will preserve his genius.

[Jimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't really get Alan Coren, humour too obvious for me. Like his daughter Victoria on TV though, very witty.

[Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on the Kindle daily deal. There are some very amusing articles, but also some that you just skim through. Worth the read though.