The Box Lady and Other Pesticles

Warming Up #2

by Richard Herring

Richard Herring has been writing a daily blog since November 25th, 2002, over ten years of consecutive entries. In this second volume of these writings we follow Richard as he adjusts to moving home and becoming single. He's confused, bemused, hopeless at pretty much everything and a little bit lonely and things aren't being made any better by a neighbour continually demanding that he gives her all of his boxes.

This book contains five months of blogs starting in June 2003, but also retrospective insights and information that seemed too personal or intrusive at the time as the Richard of 2012 looks back as his younger and equally foolish self. You'll meet Pavla with her poster campaign to find a lost love, the Swedish Cliff Richard, Andrew Collins before he got his extra 'g' and other assorted pesticles, including, of course the Box Lady herself. It's hilarious and slightly tragic in equal measure, but let's face it, so is writing a blog for so very long.

Genres: Comedy, Humor, Nonfiction, Biography

ebook

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because I was so impressed by Richard Herring having written a blog entry every day since 25th November 2002. I enjoy diary style books so thought I might enjoy this and I did. It has little scenes from his everyday life and much that we can empathise with (and some things we can’t, having not written a stage show about the penis). Herring has commented with hindsight on some of the blog entries, so that his older self is evaluating his younger self. This added dimension makes the book great rather than just good. I think this is one of the joys of keeping a diary, having your consciousness pinned down like a dead butterfly, to come back to later, when you think you’ll be different but might actually be the same.
I accidentally read this second book of blog entries before the first one. The first is called Bye Bye Balham, so if you are new to Herring it might be best to start with the first one, although I don’t think it matters much, I just hate reading books out of order but I was half way through before I realised. It does say “Warming Up Vol 2” clearly on the cover of this book but it also says “cock” so I think I was distracted. I’ve since bought “Bye Bye Balham” which also says “cock” on the cover, which means that 75% of books written by Herring have “cock” on the cover.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first volume of the printed version of Warming Up, "Bye Bye Balham" seemed to have a narrative. I was concerned that this book may not have.
I need not have worried. The original entries are usually very funny, and the addition of comments by the author that help contextualise what was going on in his life at this time really help. Richard is naturally funny, and although this book shows a time in his life where he was directionless and lonely, it is still a very entertaining read.
Yes, the original material is all available for free on Herring's website, but the additional comments make this version all the more worthwhile - from the amusing introduction to the final, wistful "perhaps the only pesticle in this book is me".
More please!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaah. No, not aah.

[MacDara Conroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun compendium of Richard Herring's daily blog posts, plus bonus commentary with eight years of hindsight. I hope he gets around to putting out more of these at some point.

[Keren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent follow up to 'Bye Bye Balham'. A must read for fans.