If You're Reading This, I'm Already Dead

by Andrew Nicoll

Otto Witte was once many things. But now, sitting in his caravan, drinking what’s left of his coffee (dust), listening to the Allies rain their bombs on his city, he is simply scared. And so he’s decided to write the story of his life.

It is an extraordinary story, a story about how, with the help of his friends (and a camel), an acrobat of Hamburg became the King of Albania, and fell in love along the way.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Historical, Comedy

422 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Born in Dundee, Andrew Nicoll has lived all his life within the same few streets by the sea. Once a forester, now a journalist, Nicoll has covered the Scottish Parliament for 'The Sun' for the past ten years. A poet and short story writer before he turned novelist, Nicoll has published numerous stories and poems over the years. His first novel, 'The Good Mayor,' was written during eighteen months of commuting to work by rail. Published by Black & White in the U.K., by Harper Collins in Australia, and by Bantam in the Unites States (September 09), 'The Good Mayor' has been sold to 17 nations and translated into 13 languages. Andrew Nicoll was awarded the Saltire Prize for the First Book of the Year in 2009, and is working to complete a new novel.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the face of it, this appears to be a really silly tale involving a circus troupe with a camel in tow, who travel to Albania, where Otto the acrobat will claim to be their King.

That said however, it was in turn, both funny and sad and in fact some of the dialogue was quite hilarious. I found the last few chapters in particular quite breathless in their pace, and found the book hard to put down at that point. This is unlike anything that I have read before, but all the more enjoyable for that. Well done Andrew!

[Elena Papadopol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aproape 3,5 stelute :)

In toata povestea asta fantastica, greu de crezut si foarte amuzanta, sunt presarate si multe constatari triste despre absurditatea razboiului si a conditiei umane.
Mi-a amintit mult de stilul intalnit in O serie de evenimente nefericite de Lemony Snicket, dar adaptat pentru adulti.

"[...] Ma indoiesc ca oamenii pot trai savurand viata clipa de clipa. Nu sta in firea noastra. De-abia putem face fata vietii insesi, daramite sa inmagazinam tot ce traim, ca pe o rola de film infinita. Nimeni nu are un cap suficient de mare ca sa incapa in el toate aiurelile astea."

"Stim noi doi foarte bine cum sta treaba cu moda, nu? Stim unde se ajunge cand lucrurile o iau pe panta asta. Stim ce se intampla cand principiile bine inradacinate sunt lasate deoparte pentru ca si ceilalti fac la fel. Stim ce se intampla cand este dintr-odata acceptabil sa furi pentru ca toti ceilalti fura, cand este in regula sa arunci cu pietre in ferestrele oamenilor pentru ca si ceilalti arunca cu pietre, cand n-are nimic daca esti bataus, cand e in regula sa nu spui nimic pentru ca toti ceilalti tac. Stii unde duc toate astea? Stii unde. La un om batran care o sa fie aruncat in aer cu tot cu rulota lui amarata."

[Dragos C Butuzea · Rating 3 out of 5]

un linghișpir funny

când e vorba de umor, cărțile sunt ca oamenii - fie au prea mult și nu-ți trezesc decât scăpări rușinoase din cauza hohotelor, fie au prea puțin, și e rândul lor să se scape pe ei de triști ce sunt.

în cazul de față, scriitorul scoțian andrew nicoll - acesta e cel mai recent roman al său, primul însă tradus în românește - reușește să îmbine umorul de bună calitate, cu o scriitură geamănă, ba chiar cu meditații „grele“ despre război, politică, love.

eu urăsc circul, dar am acceptat că personajul principal, otto witte, e un circar (umblător pe sârmă) și mi-a devenit chiar simpatic - el e cel care scrie, un moș andropauzat și speriat de bombele celui de-al doilea război mondial care cad prin jur ca frunzele toamna. șade el ascuns într-o baracă lihnit și-și scrie aventura vieții sale. iată-ne deci posedând două perspective temporale - care se tot învârt ca un linghișpir - prezentul războiului și trecutul tinereții și aventurii.

deci avem un ghiuj ex-circar care scrie despre el aventura lui din tinerețe. care fu - ce credeți? - aceea de a deveni regele albaniei (chiar și pentru scurt timp). semănând el cu pretendentul la tronul albaniei, ca emiluț al nostru cu cuza, iată-l însoțit de câțiva prieteni căutând albania să-i ocupe tronul.

picarisme carevasăzică, cu mustăți și belle epoque de kakanie, c-o cămilă alături, cu un înghițitor sexy de săbii, cu un cititor orb de gânduri, cu fiica lui, plus o curviștină. până-n albanie. și să te ții aventuri!

e multă ironie, auto-ironie în carte, și urmezi cu plăcere gașca impostoare - în chip de alai regal - parcă ești în alexandre dumas. desigur că există și clipe când acțiunea ți se cam flendură pe sub ochi, dar scriitorul - oare cine andrew nicoll sau ghiujul gata-gata să moară sub bombele lui hitler (căci în ziua de azi doar morții mai au libertate de opinie (p.68) - face niște compromisuri și nu mai arde gazul.

iată trei chestii înțelepte din carte.

metaforă despre viața noastră irosită:
E ca și cum ne-am petrece toată viața în sala de așteptare a unei gări, bând ceașcă după ceașcă de cafea, mereu cu aceiași oameni, plimbând ziarul de la unul la altul, făcând tot ce ne stă în putință ca să se scurgă timpul mai repede, în vreme ce afară oamenii trec buluc - fete drăgălașe și bărbați inteligenți, eroi și oameni de știință, genii și oameni simpli, cu miile. Nu-i întâlnim niciodată, nu le vorbim niciodată și nu le auzim poveștile. Noi stăm în sala de așteptare, cu aceiași oameni și același ziar, așteptând să sune clopoțelul și să dăm fuga pe peron și, poate de vreo zece ori într-o viață de om, să ne uităm cum un tren trage în gară, să trăim ceva memorabil înainte de a ne întoarce în sala de așteptare. (p.104)

Curajul e ca un mușchi - așa e și iubirea, de altfel -, și cu cât îl antrenăm mai mult, cu atât devine mai puternic. Dacă nu este folosit, se atrofiază. (p.145)

În spatele lui „nu încă“ poți să te ascunzi bine mersi. Nu Încă este o țară care se întinde până foarte, foarte departe, chiar și când micuțul ghișeu al vămii de la granița cu Republica lui Chiar Acum e la o aruncătură de băț. (p.285)

nu știu dacă andrew nicoll a făcut creative writing, dar îi reușește un roman cu de toate - aventură, meditație, istorie, descrieri, ironii - dintre care eu am apreciat cel mai mult umorul.

iar mesajul cărții?

e unul luminos, plin de optimism - hai să ne trăim viața și să pornim în aventură cât suntem tineri, cu atât mai mult dacă suntem picaro.

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ο Ότο λοιπόν,ένας γεράκος που επέλεξε να μείνει στο τροχόσπιτό του αντί να πάει στο καταφύγιο και ίσως να γλιτώσει από τους βομβαρδισμούς,περιμένοντας το τέλος που όλο και πλησιάζει,αποφασίζει να αφήσει πίσω του μια χειρόγραφη φανταστική(ή μήπως πραγματική?)ιστορία,κληρονομιά σε όποιον τον βρει μετά θάνατον.
Κωμικοτραγικές καταστάσεις,απίστευτοι τύποι,άφθονο χιούμορ-άλλοτε καυστικό,άλλοτε πικρό,άλλοτε αθώο και σχεδόν παιδιάστικο,αλλά και μεγάλες αλήθειες,αποτελούν τον κορμό της.
Από τα λίγα βιβλία που έπιασα χωρίς να έχω ιδέα τι θα συναντήσω,και το απόλαυσα στο έπακρο. 5⭐

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Χαριτωμένο βιβλίο το δίχως άλλο.
Πολύ καλή και ευφυής μετάφραση.
Σοφή αλλαγή του τίτλου (Ένας τσιρκολάνος, μία καμήλα και 4.000.000 ερωτήσεις) γιατί ο μέσος Έλλην αναγνώστης θα τρόμαζε με τον πρωτότυπο.
Ευφάνταστες περιγραφές, δηλητηριώδη πολιτικά σχόλια, η σοφία του γήρατος δια στόματος αφηγητή και άλλα πολλά.
Τότε λοιπόν τί έλειπε από το βιβλίο;
Χμ, μυστήριο! Αυτό αναρωτιόμουν κι εγώ. Ενώ θα έπρεπε να κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον, πολύ εύκολα το άφηνες και με σχετική δυσκολία το ξανάπιανες.
Παραθέτω την πολύ πρωτότυπη περιγραφή του σιδηροδρομικού σταθμού της Βουδαπέστης :
"Φαντάσου μια αίθουσα συναυλιών, μια όπερα, τη μεγαλύτερη και πιο φανταχτερή όπερα που έχεις δει ποτέ στη ζωή σου...Και τώρα φαντάσου πως αυτή η όπερα βγήκε έξω ένα βράδυ και γνώρισε την εντυπωσιακότερη γαμήλια τούρτα που έχει δει ποτέ κανείς...Και μετά φαντάσου πως η όπερα και η τούρτα χόρεψαν ολονυχτίς, μίλησαν και γέλασαν και πέρασαν καταπληκτικά, όπως είναι φυσικό να περάσουν μια όπερα και μια τούρτα και μετά, εννιά μήνες αργότερα, γεννήθηκε ο Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός της Βουδαπέστης. Τέτοιο μέρος ήταν" (σελ. 53).

Παραθέτω ένα άξιο σκέψης απόσπασμα :
"Όταν έρχεται μια κοπέλα και σου λέει Οι μπουρμπουλήθρες [της σαμπάνιας] ανεβαίνουν στη μύτη κι εσύ το βρίσκεις ανόητο και βαρετό, όταν εκείνη γελάει με την πρωτόγνωρη απόλαυση που της χαρίζει αυτό το πράγμα κι εσύ όχι, όταν δεν μπορείς να μοιραστείς μαζί της τη διασκέδαση μιας θαυμάσιας καινούργιας εμπειρίας, αυτό, φίλε μου, σημαίνει ότι έχει μπει κιόλας ένα καρφί στο φέρετρό σου. Όταν ένα παιδί γελάει με ένα μπαλόνι ή κλαίει όταν το μπαλόνι σκάει, ενώ εσύ όχι, αυτό είναι κι άλλο καρφί. Και, άκου μου που σου λέω, υπάρχουν μόνο δεκατρία καρφιά στο φέρετρο. Κοίτα μην τα ξοδέψεις πολύ γρήγορα" (σελ. 119).

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Όταν διάβασα στο οπισθόφυλλο την ενδιαφέρουσα περιγραφή της υπόθεσης του βιβλίου, ήξερα ότι θα ήταν το επόμενο που θα διάβαζα. Η περιγραφή σε προδιαθέτει για ένα ελαφρύ και χιουμοριστικό ανάγνωσμα, αλλά αυτή είναι η μισή αλήθεια. Είναι ένα βιβλίο που έχει πολύ καλό ρυθμό και φεύγει εύκολα. Έχει επίσης χιούμορ και περιπέτεια, αλλά και σχολιασμούς που ναι φιλοσοφημένοι και σε βάζουν σε διαδικασία σκέψης. Γενικώς είναι ένα βιβλίο που σε διασκεδάζει, αλλά και σου δίνει τροφή για σκέψη. Αυτός ο συνδυασμός για μένα προσωπικά είναι που κάνει ένα βιβλίο αξιομνημόνευτο και φυσικά το προτείνω σε όλους σας.

[Lari Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very silly book. In the best possible way. It doesn’t take itself or its subject seriously at all, and given that it’s set during a WWII bombing raid, and tells the story of the run up to WWI, managing to be daft without also being flippant and off-putting is a neat trick. In fact the whole book is about a neat trick. It’s the story (the apparently true story) of a German circus acrobat who successfully, if briefly, passed himself off as the King of Albania. It’s got blind professors, incontinent camels, mysterious spies, ridiculous moustaches and over-the-top costumes. And it really only works because of the author’s pitch perfect tone. The voice of Otto the acrobat is just wonderful. It’s very funny, very convincing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and my only criticisms would be that every woman is defined by her sexual availability, and that the plot ended with a very obvious reveal and then a slight anticlimax – but then, what attempt to become king doesn’t end in anticlimax?

[Yiota Vasileiou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Πιο εφάνταστος τίτλος πεθαίνεις λέμε!!! Και πιο εφάνταστη ιστορία για να λέμε και "του στραβού το δίκιο"! Οι λάτρεις των βιβλίων του Γιούνας Γιούνασον (Εκατοντάχρονος, Αναλφάβητη, Άντερς), είναι σίγουρο ότι θα το αγαπήσουν πολύ. Για όλους τους άλλους, τι να πω... είσαστε άμουσοι. ( :-Ρ ). Ο πρωτότυπος τίτλος του βιβλίου είναι "If you are reading this I'm already dead" (Αν το διαβάζεις αυτό, τότε είμαι ήδη νεκρός), αλλά αν ρωτάτε εμένα, ελληνικός είναι μακράν καλύτερος.

Ο Τσιρκολάνος είναι ένα βιβλίο διαφορετικό από κάθε πλευρά. Ιδιαίτερο χιούμορ, χαρακτήρες καρικατούρες, ανατρεπτική ιστορία (για να τραβάς τα μαλλιά σου), επικά ψέματα (τύφλα να έχει ο Βαρώνος Μυνχάουζεν), περιγραφές τ��ίρκουλο και σκηνές απείρου κάλλους! Κι όλα αυτά με φόντο την βομβαρδισμένη Βούδα... ή την Πέστη -θα σας γελάσω, δεν μας το ξεκαθάρισαν ποτέ αυτό. Χαχαχαχα!!!

Η ιστορία τοποθετείται στις αρχές του 1900, όταν ο ακροβάτης Ότο μαζί με τους συναδέλφους του στο τσίρκο, τον καθηγητή Αλμπέρτο και την κόρη του Σάρα, τον Μαξ και την Τίφτι αποφασίζουν να "πιάσουν την καλή" στήνοντας το πιο εξωφρενικό κόλπο. Η ιδέα είναι η εξής: Ο Ότο να πάρει την θέση του βασιλιά της Αλβανίας (με τον οποία μοιάζουν σαν 2 σταγόνες νερό) και κατά συνέπεια την κυριαρχία πάνω σε ένα ολόκληρο κράτος! Το τι θα συμβεί στη συνέχεια δεν το χωρά ανθρώπου νους! Οι τραγελαφικές περιπέτειες της αλλοπρόσαλλης αυτής παρέας, θα κάνουν τα μάτια σας να δακρύσουν από το γέλιο μα και από την συγκίνηση (ε καλά... όχι και τόσο από συγκίνηση...).

Διαβάστε το να ανοίξει η ψυχή σας!

Από μένα 8,5/10!

Καλές αναγνώσεις

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a ridiculous book and a lot of fun to read. Through the manuscript we are told two stories, that of the old Otto Witte writing in the middle of an air raid and that of his younger self off on a ridiculous adventure. The structure plays to my love of story-telling and what a story!

"A story that needs a drum roll and trumpets. It needs girls with feathers in their hair and spangled tights. It needs coloured lights and velvet curtains."

The double narrative lends itself to both comedy and some more sombre and reflective moments.

"By God, I was fit then. Still am. I bet I could still do it now.

As it turns out, and for the record, I couldn't do it now. I had a go and it didn't work out entirely to plan"


" I caught sight of myself reflected in the glass and I knew it was me, of course, and yet I hardly recognised myself. I'm an old man... It's not the face I wore in the circus."

And the old man never leaves the room. It would be easy in such a narrative to leave him behind and get on with the story, but we don't. The novel remains always two stories, we don't leave Otto alone in his caravan and it makes the book the better for it.

"If You're Reading This, I'm Already Dead" falls just shy of five stars for me as it is occasionally too blunt for my taste and a little too male-centric.

4 stars Maybe this review doesn't do it justice. "I'm going to tear this up and start again."

[Aristodemos Ioannou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I've read this book in Greek, which is my native language. I remember the first few pages I've read, I just couldn't stop myself from laughing! Its a nice read, and the plot seems to flow pretty well, at least at first. At one time, I just skipped a few pages without reading them, becasue Mr. Nicoll was just saying too much. "Get on with the story, you write some good stuff over here". But he couldn't hear me, and that is why I kept on reading. And then, the last quarter of the story, just thrilling, fantastic, fast pacing, good old writing. Thanks!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOOD SILLY BOOK. HEDONISM.
Good length between re reads too

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prima dată când am văzut cartea asta în librărie a fost pentru că titlul mi-a atras atenţia, era şi greu să nu o facă, apoi am citit rezumatul de pe pe spate şi mi s-a părut interesant. Noroc cu reducerile de pe Libris, că altfel nu cred că mi-o luam pre curând.
Cartea este scrisă în forma unui jurnal, într-un fel. Cel care spune povestea este Otto Witte, un bătrân care stă în rulota lui şi îşi aşteaptă moartea, care este sigur că se va întâmpla curând deoarece el trăieşte în perioada celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial. Dar nu vrea să moară fără să lase nimic în urmă, aşa că se decide să scrie povestea despre cum el, fost acrobat de Hamburg, a reuşit în tinereţe să ajungă regele Albaniei.
Cartea nu a fost exact ce mă aşteptam să fie, şi voi explica asta imediat, fără spoilere. Voi zice mai întâi că mi-a plăcut, a fost o carte foarte drăguţă şi amuzantă, dar în care am găsit şi câteva citate foarte frumoase. Chiar nu mă aşteptam să găsesc astfel de pasaje într-o carte destul de caraghioasă de altfel. Acum, să revin la ceea ce ziceam mai devreme. A fost cumva diferit de ce mă aşteptam eu să fie în primul rând pentru că la un moment dat rămăsesem cu senzaţia că întreaga poveste seamănă de fapt cu un basm, ceea ce şi e din anumite puncte de vedere. Adică, la final mie îmi vine greu să cred că aşa ceva s-ar putea petrece într-adevăr, ceea ce nu mi se întâmplă prea des atunci când citesc o carte.
Partea care mi s-a părut mie cea mai interesantă a fost faptul că am descoperit la un moment dat că povestea e bazată oarecum pe fapte reale. Şi nu mă refer la circarul care ajunge rege, ci la faptul că acest Otto Witte chiar a existat şi el chiar spunea povestea asta, e drept poate puţin diferit faţă de cum e prezentată în carte. Dar mie chestia asta tot mi s-a părut interesantă. În cele din urmă nu se ştie dacă ceea ce povestea el era adevărat sau nu, dar asta e cu totul altă poveste.
Acum, despre personaje. Mie chiar mi-au plăcut toţi cei din grupul lui Otto, ceilalţi membri ai circului care pleacă cu el în aventura asta, cât şi unii dintre cei care le devin prieteni pe parcurs. Preferatul meu e clar Max, o persoană aşa specială ca el mi-ar plăcea şi mie să întâlnesc.
În cele din urmă, chiar mi-a plăcut destul de mult, mă bucur că am reuşti să mi-o cumpăr şi să citesc şi o recomand dacă vreţi să citiţi ceva uşor şi amuzant, cu nişte personaje foarte simpatice.

[Stil de scriitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recenzia pe blog:

https://literarybook.wordpress.com/20...

[Μαρια Κουλουρη · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα διαφορετικό βιβλίο όσον αφορά στην υπόθεση, στο στήσιμό της και στον τρόπο γραφής του συγγραφέα.Ένα βιβλίο με ιδιότυπο χιούμορ, με ήρωες καρικατούρες, με διαλόγους καυχησιάρικους και εικόνες αυτές ενός τσίρκου. Κάτι που δεν απέχει τόσο από την πραγματική ζωή μας, την καθημερινότητά μας .
Το βιβλίο ξεκινά με τον ήρωα να θυμάται την ιστορία του. Μέχρι τέλους δεν καταλαβαίνει ο αναγνώστης αν είναι πραγματική η ιστορία ή απλά μια μυθοπλασία ενός γέρου φοβισμένου και μόνου σε μια βομβαρδισμένη Γερμανία την εποχή μετά την απόβαση των συμμάχων στη Νορμανδία. Ο ήρωας μη γνωρίζοντας αν η ζωή του θα διακοπεί βίαια, ζητά να ''συστηθεί'' στα μάτια μας και να αφήσει ένα ξέχωρο όνομα πίσω του! Να αφήσει το αποτύπωμά του, να επιβεβαιωθεί για το πέρασμά του πάνω στη γη. Η μοναξιά, ο φόβος και το πλησίασμα στα γηρατειά, περνούν με το ιδιότυπο χιούμορ αβίαστα στον αναγνώστη.

Με έναν τρόπο συγκλονιστικό σ΄ένα απόσπασμα του βιβλίου, αποτυπώνεται ο φόβος του ο μεγάλος . Ο φόβος για την τύχη του χειρογράφου του, που θυμίζει έντονα τις ανησυχίες ενός πνευματικού ανθρώπου για το έργο του, τις ανησυχίες ενός συγγραφέα για το μυθιστόρημά του.
Ξεχωριστό βιβλίο.. καιρό είχα να διαβάσω κάτι το διαφορετικό.

[Christoforos Mourougiannis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολυ καλο , (παν)εξυπνο και αναλαφρο βιβλιο με δραση (που κοβεται πολλες φορες με τον συνεχη σχολιασμο του αφηγητη-συγγραφεα), μια αναλαφρη προταση... Αν δεν ειχε καποια σημεια με "φλυαριες" του αφηγητη θα ηταν αριστο!

[Kristin Remedios · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been several years since I have read Andrew Nicoll's book but it has always stuck in my mind as one of the most entertaining reading I have done in a long time. I particularly loved Otto's self-deprecating manner of ruminating with the reader about his chaotic life and the ridiculously precarious situation he finds himself in.

The first few chapters reel you in with the quirky Otto making several futile attempts to put the record straight, writing about his life as bombs drop around him, and how he came so badly undone. You cannot help yourself but pray he makes it out of there!

A terrific tale, seemingly silly, riddled with engaging but flawed characters. It is a lighthearted read with deeper lessons to be told about not wasting your time on earth.

I was certain this would be turned into a Hollywood blockbuster in the style of The Grand Budapest Hotel but it hasn't happened yet...Nicole Kidman/Reese Witherspoon - are you reading this?

So well done Andrew Nicoll!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so the only way I can make this book work is as the hallucinogenic rantings of a first person narrator who is a pathological liar and fantasist, who believes all women are tits and ass. Which is what I think it probably is.
In that way, it has bits in it of philosophical musings that are nicely put. I can take those bits and enjoy.
The rest of it is sexist piffle that is repetitive to the point of tedium.
It could have been a really interesting farce.
I like obnoxious characters, but they do need something *more*. This was a soldier having a wet dream in a post modern, meta kind of novel.
It didn’t really work for me. That’s a pity because I liked the premise and it was a brilliant idea for a novel that fell flat because the women never got the chance to have agency - even against a pathological liar.
But I guess the form of the novel mitigated against this, the more’s the pity.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every minute of this book. It was gorgeously preposterous while managing to include some very astute observations on life. I enjoyed the writing and I loved Otto's character and voice.

Given how crazy the story was, it was a surprise to discover Otto was a real person, who claimed he had been crowned King of Albania. I'd love to know whether the story in the book bore any resemblance to the story told by the real Otto.

I read one review which was indignant at the way Albania was portrayed in this novel - but that's the whole point. Otto was probably a fantasist who made it all up, and the tale of his adventures is gloriously over-the-top. The Albania in the novel is no more real than Ruritania, and all the more fun for it.

A great romp.

[Danielle Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It pulled me in. It pulled me in like clickbait and boy I loved it, although it took me two and a half weeks to finish.

The writing: left me breathless, wanting more, and fully understanding everything even though its sentences were structured like this one and probably as long, if not longer.

The story: Holy heck that is a story. That is one, good story. I loved the double storylines and the haste evident in Otto's words to get the story over with, while at the same time indulging over mundane details and unsurprisingly having a good time writing his story while waiting to be bombed.

Overall: Definitely would recommend.

[Rebecca Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books you read when you don't want to think and just want to enjoy the ride. It's not going to blow your mind, and is a little predictable in some places, but it definitely has heart. It didn't bore me; in fact, I genuinely didn't know whether Otto was going to live or die at the end. It's funny, suspenseful, heartfelt, and utterly ridiculous. Worth a read if you like those kinds of books.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you don't like mucho-exaggerating, hilarious, formula-bending unreliable narrators who can actually tell a good story, then this isn't the book for you.

But if you DO like to read mucho-exaggerating, hilarious, formula-bending unreliable narrators who can actually tell a good story, you might want to give this a whirl!

The story could have been slimmed down by the editor, but an okay enough read.

[Sara Krivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastical in its own way!

Funny, with fantastic elements,... funny and funny. Haha I've found this book very entertaining indeed. Even though it is a little lengthy for what one would think, it is in no way tiresome. You can never tell what's coming next, even though you know the chief thing of the story: he becomes a king sooner or later. How that happens tho! Hahaha
Very good and recommended! (:

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

maybe random books from the op shop are not it. again with the i am man i am amazing all girls love me i simply cannot help but cheat i did all this stuff because i am cool and amazing and literally only i could have done it. and then the ending was a full cop out like two sentences completely defeating what the book had been building towards all along.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun book. Reminiscent of Jonas Jonasson. Loved it but didn't give an ending to 3 of the characters, who were in the story from the start... Would love to know what happened to ALL of them. I do recommend reading.

[Cristina Pana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Știi sentimentul acela pe care îl ai când cineva te minte fără rușine? Si el știe ca tu Știi ca te minte, dar nu se oprește și continuă minciuna că și cum este adevărul adevărat. Cam asa am avut eu sentimentul tot timpul în care am citit povestea asta.
Mda...

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok. This book was really awful. I was hopeful it would improve. I usually give a book five chapters to redeem itself, but this one didn't. Don't waste your time with this one. It started out poorly and just continued that way.

[Sharada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Roald Dahl for grown-ups. Quirky and lots of fun.

[Peter Trebilcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy to read and funny book.

[Janavito · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing that should be appreciated from this book is how Andrew Nicoll wrote a truthful experience in real life then he hooked it up with jokes so the sentences appear neat.

[Evridiki Amanatidou · Rating 1 out of 5]

Βρήκα την αφήγηση άνευρη, με κούρασε ως ανάγνωσμα.