The Delegates' Choice

Mobile Library Mystery #3

by Ian Sansom

Israel Armstrong, one of literature's most unlikely detectives, returns for more crime solving adventure in this hilarious third novel from the Mobile Library series.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Ireland, Books About Books, Humor, Crime, British Literature

289 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2008

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are not only laugh out loud funny but also very unique. They are mysteries where not even the criminals are bad. The crimes are not even really crimes and there is certainly no violence.

In this installment, Israel and Ted are back in England to attend a mobile librarians' conference with their mobile library van. Unfortunately, it gets stolen and sold to Travellers (gypsies). Hilarity ensues!

As an American, I did have to google a few terms like potain and craythur. It really is a fun read.

[Lemar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Israel Armstrong, more heroically mediocre than he knows, hits the road from Northern Ireland to England with his odd couple partner Ted. Ian Sansom has a breezy and ver funny style making this series enjoyable in a way comparable to P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Bertie.

Sansom gently but accurately describes what it's like to live in a new city. As he continues to adjust to the move from London to Northern Ireland "Israel still found it hard to believe that he had ended up here in the first place and the longer he stayed the less he believed it, the more he felt like merely a vestigial presence in his own life."

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the worst books I've ever read. If you enjoy eavesdropping on clipped, mindless conversation between two men with little personality and no reason for existing, then this is the book for you.

[JC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sansome is one of my favorite writers--if Alexander McCall Smith had a malicious bone in his body, he might write the kind of mysteries Sansome writes. The story line in this book rambles a bit as the mobile library bus and its handlers "gang aft agley"; but the scene in the ersatz Irish pub in London, operated by a former Tumdrum acquaintance, is worth the price of the book by itself.

The humor in the Mobile Library series ranges from sly satire to all-out moments of farce that remind me of the Marx Brothers; and his depiction of rural Northern Ireland and its denizens is both funny and instructive. The fact that Israel, the main character, is himself just as self-deluding (if not more so) than the cranks, eccentrics and humbugs who surround him lends an extra layer of humor, but it also leavens the satire with a bit of sweetness and some pathos, as Israel, the most well-meaning of "wise fools", stumbles through a life he never planned but struggles to do his best at.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Israel Armstrong is my favorite Jewish, mobile librarian--a total fish out of water in Northern Ireland. Since moving to Northern Ireland, Israel has been in culture shock. After leaving London for life in rural Ireland, he has been longing to return to England to visit his family, to see his friends, to eat the foods he misses, and, most of all, to reunite with his girlfriend, Gloria. A golden opportunity presents itself when Israel and his mobile library partner, Ted Carson, are assigned to take the mobile library to the Mobile Meet--an annual mobile library convention being held in England. When Israel and a reluctant Ted cross into England in their rust bucket, chaos ensues and Israel discovers that, in truth, you really can't go home again.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are marketed as a mystery series. And I guess each one has a little mystery at its core, but really they're more of a hilarious fish-out-of-water series. In this one, we focus in on Israel and Ted, which suited me perfectly, as their relationship is my favorite part of these hilarious, readable books. Also, we finally get to meet some of Israel's friends and family in London, and the way they interact with him answers tons of questions about how he came to be the passive, bumbling, lovable fool he is.
The best review I can give? I laughed out loud (a lot) while reading this.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things manage to get even worse for our Israel in this entry in the Mobile Library Mystery series, leaving a pretty beaten down adventurer at the end. That's all good, though, now that he's hit rock bottom I know that this reader is curious to see where he goes from here. The only problem I have with these books is that I read them so quickly... then wait and wait for the next to be published.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are all about the character--poor hapless Israel Armstrong---and not at all about the supposed mystery. The sequence of events hurtle out of his control and I feel a bemused can't-look-away sympathy for his ineptitude and the intense discrepency between who he thinks he is and who he is. Meanwhile, I love it.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Israel Armstrong is an unlikely hero, and this series is comprised of unlikely but delightful mysteries. Although the mystery plays second fiddle to an odd but intensely likable people and communities in Northern Ireland. And no talk of The Troubles, which is an unexpected and welcome surprise. This is one of my fave series, and I highly recommend it for a funny, fast read.

[Trudy Nye · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping for more. The characters in this book were basically irritating.

[T. C. C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have fallen in love with the characters of this series, but doing so makes me feel almost as abused as the primary protagonist—a transplant Londoner, vegetarian, Jewish, luckless fellow named Israel. Is he too nice of a guy for his own good? Is he simply hanging around with the wrong crowd in his new environs of Tumdrum, Northern Ireland? Or are the Northern Irish really as curmudgeonly and anti-social as the author has created them to be?

This book—the third in the series—focuses on the relationship between Israel and the ex-boxer, shaved-headed, perpetually grouchy co-worker on the death-defying Old Bentley van mobile library, which the two drive around catering to Tumdrum’s quirky citizens. Ted, like every character in this series of books, is an over-the-top mockery of offensive cultural tropes. I think of Ted as the Northern Irish version of The Simpson cartoon character Willie the surly Scottish custodian of Springfield’s grade school. Ted is perpetually using malapropisms or simply erroneously mispronouncing words and phrases; colorfully swearing left and right; disbelieving that anyone but himself can be right about any subject, and spending most of his time perfecting his exasperated abuse of Israel, who wimpily takes any and all abuse thrown at him.

As much as I realize the comic value of these characters’ stridently offensive and/or pathetic personalities, being that this is the third book in the series, a reader sort of wishes that these folks would grow and develop some empathy and respect for one another. But alas, apparently the author’s theory is that characters are supposedly more humorous when they are stuck in the retardation of their own delinquency.

I am also coming to recognize that these books reflect the most minor form of “mystery” as is possible to be classified, as there is hardly any “mystery” to be solved, and if there is, there is hardly any sleuthing or deduction to be had behind the quests at hand. The main point of the comedic series is dragging these characters through as much painful frisson dialogue and circumstantial crises as is possible for the plot in each book.

To credit, Israel *does* have an emotional revelation in the second-to-last-chapter of this book—an uncharacteristically poignant passage of writing in which Israel comes to the extremely late revelation that the relationship with his infamously absent “girlfriend”…is over. (Thanks to the author for *finally* putting us out of our misery.)

Will I read the fourth and final book in the series? …Yes, because I am a glutton for punishment.

[Una (EX) precaria tra i libri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Israel Armstrong è un protagonista un po’ anomalo, una sorta di antieroe: bibliotecario vegetariano per metà ebreo e per metà irlandese, sovrappeso, che approda in quel di Tundrum, Irlanda del Nord, direttamente da Londra. Come se non fosse abbastanza scioccante il cambio di luogo, lingua e abitudini… appena arrivato scopre che la biblioteca nella quale era convinto di lavorare è stata chiusa e il suo posto di lavoro… semplicemente non c’è più.

Le premesse sono interessanti, infatti avevo comperato il libro perché ci sono tutti gli elementi per una storia spassosa. Purtroppo non è stato così: la lettura di questo libro è stata lunga e travagliata. Credevo fosse un problema mio, poca concentrazione, pagine lette e rilette più volte per recuperare il filo… poi ho dato un’occhiata in rete e ho trovato altri blog in cui i recensori ammettono di non essere riusciti a decollare con la lettura. Anche per quanto riguarda i personaggi ho trovato più di qualcuno che ammette di esserne irritato… io li ho proprio odiati.

Più di tutti ho odiato Israel… è proprio il tipo di persona che non sopporto, di quelli che si piangono addosso, in certi momenti pedante, fastidioso, antipatico.

Gli irlandesi vengono dipinti al limite dell’offensivo: sono oltremodo rozzi, hanno cattive abitudini, ciascuno di loro sembra una macchietta.

Quella che si prospettava come una lettura leggera e un po’ bizzarra, in realtà è diventata surreale e sopra le righe, ma anche monotona e ripetitiva… ogni volta che Armstrong incontra un nuovo personaggio e/o deve risolvere qualcosa l’iter è più o meno lo stesso: incomprensioni linguistico-culturali, “rognamenti” e autocommiserazione da parte di Israel fino alla parziale soluzione del problema, in qualche modo inspiegabile e comunque mai per meriti suoi.

[Marilyn Fontane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Book Stops Here by Ian Sansom is a British (well, northern Ireland) humorous "mystery." Unfortunately for me the comedy is more Mr. Bean than Fawlty Towers; there is just too much verbal slap-stick. Israel Armstrong and Ted Carson are two mobile librarians who go to London to an annual conference for book van librarians, and have their ancient, classic, falling-apart book van stolen. They search and eventually find the van, which a gypsy family has repainted and redecorated. Ted had planned to enter his van in the Concours d'Elegance, which (redecorated) it loses, but it does win the Delegate's Choice. Israel, on the other hand, was hoping for a loss to enable them to buy a swank new van. Israel was also hoping to return to his home in London, but the city has changed, his girlfriend Gloria has gone, and his mother is the same as she was. He is happy to return to rural northern Ireland with Ted.
Too, too silly. I skimmed parts of the frequent lengthy "humorous" dialogues on every topic except the plotline. I used to think I liked British humor.

[Jule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I wonder how people come up with ideas for novels... I mean, who wakes up one morning and thinks, "I am going to write a series about a Jewish Englishman who is a mobile librarian in Northern Ireland and his Northern Irish grumpy colleague? Apparently, Ian Sansom did, and for what it is worth, it was a pretty good idea. I mean, sure, I did not learn anything substantial from this novel, but it sure was fun to read due to its sheer absurdity. Israel and Ted are unlikely, but wonderful protagonists and their voices and realistic and endearing. There was also a nice balance in the accent between making it a characteristic and leaving it understandable. Even though the plot was predictable over all, the book was fun enough to maybe pick up the other installments of the series.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il mistero si infittisce sempre di più! Gloria, la fidanza del nostro Israel, è misteriosamente scomparsa, non risponde alle chiamate e di lei nessuno sembra saperne qualcosa.
Ma ovviamente non è finita, perchè anche il Bibliobus terminato l'incontro con gli altri bibliotecari itineranti a Liverpool, appena rientrato nella capitale evapora!
E da qui comincerà un viaggio surreale alla ricerca del furgoncino che lo riporterà alla fine nuovamente a Londra dove si renderà conto che tutto è cambiato l'ennesima volta...

[Harron68 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lite British vernacular humor. I was hooked by title and premise, unfortunately. My local library has 4 of the author's books and they know what to buy and what not to . . . right? Nope! It's located in the mystery section, but why I can't imagine. Plot involves the theft of their bookmobile, but that doesn't happen until the halfway mark of the story, and the "case" is solved quickly.
I say if you like lite British farces, yammering between an introvert Brit and a loud, feisty Ulster man, this is your cuppa. It wasn't mine, 2 stars and that feels generous.

[Mark Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-paced. Interesting characters in an amusing plot. Despite the general lightness of the story, there are numerous well-written reflections on what one finds, internal and external, when one returns home after a prolonged absence.
BTW, don't be misled by the cover into thinking this is a mystery in the common genre sense of the term. It is an enjoyable read but there isn't much clue finding and/or detection.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, not so much a mystery as an adventure, with a disappointingly depressing ending. But it does have several funny scenes. And in chapter one, Israel is despairing of mobile library customers who come to the library, and instead of asking for the classics and great literature, instead ask for car manuals, celebrity memoirs, and "pastel-covered Irish, English, and American chick lit by the tonne, the half-tonne, the bushel and the hot steaming shovel load." As a retired librarian, I laughed and laughed over this one.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this one. I hate when people are unjustly treated unfairly because they don't fight back. The protagonist is an unassuming, unsure librarian being strung along by his girlfriend, dismissed and abused by everyone around him. In previous books, it wasn't as bad but now he's gone home and he's ridiculed by his family and friends as well. The madcap adventures across England in pursuit of a van are a humorous distraction though.

[Emanuela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Questa serie va sempre più peggiorando, questo volume è ancor più noioso degli altri, la trama molto lenta e prolissa, il protagonista sempre esasperante, gli altri personaggi tutti odiosi, non se ne salva nessuno. Ma ormai manca soltanto un libro alla fine della serie e sicuramente lo leggerò, speriamo che almeno torni ai livelli del primo.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - The mobile library "mystery" series continues to be more of a fish-out-of-water / buddy-cop-errr-make-that-buddy-librarian series. Fun twisting romp with a beating heart that is searching for a home to call its own.

Two quick highlights:

"Eileen believed passionately in what you might call the trickle-down theory of literature; according to her, the reading of Booker Prize-winning novels by Tumdrum's library-borrowing elite would lead inevitably and inexorably to the raising of social and cultural values among the populace at large. Even a mere passing acquaintance with someone who had read, say, Ian McEwan or Salman Rushdie could potentially save a local young person from a meaningless and empty life of cruising around town in a souped-up hot hatch and binge-drinking at weekends, and might possibly lead them instead into joining a book group, and drinking Chardonnay, and learning to appreciate the finer points of the very best of metropolitan and middle-brow fiction."

"The library is the coal face of contemporary knowledge management."

[Amit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Garden variety British humor that was funny in the 1960s, but is frankly depressing now. I renewed this from the library, because it's very hard for me to give up on a book. But frankly, in the last four-five pages, where it stops trying to be funny, it's better.

[Merrill Medansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the funniest volume in this series. The dialogue is clever and engaging, and I like the introduction of Israel's mother into the cast of characters.
I'm struggling to find book #4 though our library system - can't get enough of this series.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series, but I feel like I need to read the next installment immediately after this one. The ending was interesting, just very very open.

[B Moignard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down. It's laugh out loud funny, sofa shaking comedy at its best.

[Samuel Langer · Rating 4 out of 5]

LEAST FAVORITE ONE

[Ruth Brumby · Rating 2 out of 5]

To light and silly for me and I'm never sure about quoting wrong views in order to mock them - it sometimes has the wrong effect.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure if the homophobia and racism are supposed to be a learning experience for one of the characters, but I just don't want to read it.

[Tambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book 3rd book in series I loved it.

[Nina Granlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauska.