Chapter and Verse

by Colin Bateman

Book by Colin Bateman

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Novels, Mystery

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Colin Bateman was a journalist in Northern Ireland before becoming a full-time writer. His first novel, Divorcing Jack, won the Betty Trask Prize, and all his novels have been critically acclaimed. He wrote the screenplays for the feature films of Divorcing Jack, Crossmaheart and Wild About Harry. He lives in Northern Ireland with his family.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Bateman fare with this being laugh out loud funny at times, but also predictable in other places. A failing literary author and his agent finally have a best-seller on their hands… there's only one small problem they have had an actress posing as the writer for PR purposes or ages! 6 out of 12.

2012 read

[Mike Vines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bateman writes with knife edge honesty and humor. There is a plot that runs the gamut of the publishing/author relationship and leaves scars, real and mental, but happily non-fatal. Hard to find heroes here but where is the fun in that? Highly recommended!

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK. About a failing writer, the publishing world and book sensation. I didn't find it as funny as I was meant to. The main character was awful and I suppose was meant to be funny, but why would anyone fall in love with him? Probably won't read another Bateman.

[Yaz Gleadhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a really good book. The ending could have been slighty better but still I enjoyed reading it!

[JL Salty · Rating 4 out of 5]

R - language, sex.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best £1.99 I’ve spent in a secondhand bookshop in a long while. Exactly what it says on the cover; ‘Hard, Fast and Funny’.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a few of Colin Bateman's books - the genre is comedy crime and they are usually very witty and good fun, with an engaging narrative as well. However, although I enjoyed this book, it's not one of his best and I note that it's one of his earlier ones, so this may be why.

I liked the storyline - literary novelist writes trashy novel under a female pseudonym, then when it's picked up by a publisher and becomes the next big thing, has to hire a woman to impersonate him. As an author myself, I appreciated the satire revolving around being an author, the fickleness of the publishing world and the emphasis of marketability over quality. I felt, though, that the plot, which had the potential to be really funny, just became sillier and more unbelievable as the story went on. Ivan, the protagonist, is such an unlikable loser that he becomes annoying. Bateman's characters are usually unlikable losers but they also have the redeeming quality of being funny. But although Ivan delivers the occasional amusing one-liner I didn't generally find him funny.

Having said that, though, the story still kept me interested to the extent that I had to keep reading to find out what Ivan's next calamity was going to be. I found Donna, the prison escapee and author impersonator, a much more intriguing character than Ivan. And it has to be said, that Ivan comes to some realisations during the course of the narrative and emerges at the end a slightly more likable character.

[Stephanie Augustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good a read that I polished this off in one day. My first experience of Bateman and a good introduction at that. Published in 2003, the characters of Ivan Connor and his agent Campbell Foster are very much similar to Californication's Hank Moody and Charlie Runkle; and thus, equally endearing.



However, taken into consideration it's British setting and that it was out BEFORE Californication, this book remains enjoyable, a fast plot, quick laughs and Ivan's wild imagination making even the most dramatic scenes eg funeral humourous and light-hearted.



Donna's character is also enjoyable to imagine and her exchanges with Connor are so spot-on I wished they were real.



But most of all, the drunken scenes - on dandelion wine, hello? - gives this book its 5th star.



But most of all,

[Suncan Stone]

Well, I enjoyed it, but it is not a must read... I guess it is one of those that if you are standing in front of a bookshelf full of easy reading, and your have finished reading all of your favourite authors, this one would be a good one to try out.. It will make the hours spent reading it whizz past, provide you with a few chuckles, grab you once or twice so that you just have to read the next chapter, but you will probably not be talking to your grandchildren about it... Oh yes, otherwise it is about a writer and a cunning plan :)

[Shirley Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This witty, fast-paced story centres around writer Ivan Connor and the many problems life throws at him. Ivan's career is at rock bottom, he's having to live with his mum because his marriage has broken down and he manages to pick up the wrong kid from school.

This is a wonderful story, beautifully written with several laugh out loud moments. For anyone interested in the world of publishing, it's a must-read. I loved it.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising good read; light and easy, witty and funny, with serious overtones toward the end of the book. I found the main character to be unbendable and brittle at times, even toward the end, after sort of selling out his ideals to Hollywood and attitudes toward the publishing industry, but all in all enjoyable.

[Morgen Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a writer myself, I hoped I wouldn't be disappointed reading this book about an author and I certainly wasn't.

It was hilarious following the ups and downs of the publishing business, especially the relationship between Ivan and his agent and the dramas that befall them.

Brilliantly narrated by Michael Wade, the characters are fantastically scripted and brought to life.

[John O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. This book has lots of trills and fun as Ivan Connor (an author) desperately tries to regain his life and does so in a series of accidents and unruly manipulations of a young lady recently escaped from prison.

This is a Helter skelter which he might not be able to get off of alive.

A really good read.

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up cheap on a whim, this was a pleasant surprise - even though I think I was expecting a Chris Brookmyre novel! This was similar to a Nick Hornby or Tony Parsons, but taking itself a mite less seriously. There were laugh-out-loud moments of wit, and there were brow-furrowing moments where I felt I'd missed something, but overall it was a pleasant, funny and light little read.

[Kaelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a $3 book in a bin at the grocery store I used to work at... maybe I was doing a lot of blow that night, but it was just splendid! For a drug-store paper back, I was blown away. It's clever and witty and hilarious... not deep, but a great light read.

[Katie Grainger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that Chapter and Verse was a really good book. Ivan is a great character who is easy to love to hate. The black comedy of the book makes it a real page turner. If you liked this then read Mystery Man which is also excellent.

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant plot and very funny dialogue. I can see how the main character annoys some people but if you just accept him for the complete plonker that he is you'll enjoy it more. Anyway, how many books do we choose to read because the protagonist is so sensible and normal? Great stuff.

[Sediqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author just has a really odd sense of humour.

[Michael Bolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

His worst. Just bad.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have discovered this author a little late but like the style

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Farcical and hilarious.

[Lee]

Ivan Connor the protaganist just irritated me too much. His dislocation from reality was too OTT for me. Gave up after 50 pages.

[Lizzie Blueyondercouk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very easy to read book, very amusing in places, ideal for on the beach if you dont have to concentrate much and the far fetched plot and ensuing love story is pretty predictable.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wild ride by Colin Bateman. Not the usual Dan Starkey or Mystery Man novel, but once you get to chapter 4, your hooked by the twists and turns.

[Martin Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. A worthwhile read for anyone, but aspiring and established authors will have more than a few nods at this comic expose of publishing.

[Jodie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too bad, I enjoy Colin Bateman's humour but this one went on a bit when the author's (in the story) imagination went in to over drive. But on the whole an enjoyable, fun read.

[Conrad Toft · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK. But nothing to write home about. An easy read.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I missed this humour and enjoyed the tone of this one a lot.