Annabel vs the Internet: The time I infiltrated Google HQ and other adventures

by Annabel Port

Annabel Port has found herself in some bizarre and, let’s say, diverse situations. She’s sneaked around Google HQ in search of ball pools. She’s exhibited her own conceptual art at the Tate Modern (unofficially). She’s been a real-life shop mannequin at Mulberry. There were the attempts to overthrow Prince Andrew and befriend Vladimir Putin, as well as become an erotic-fiction writer, a self-help guru and immortal. “BUT WHY?” you might ask. “I mean, befriending Putin makes sense, but who’d want to write erotic fiction?!” The answer is Annabel’s spent the bulk of her professional life working as a radio presenter, and some time ago, her co-presenter, Geoff Lloyd, grew concerned that she was slipping into a premature old age – although he mostly just wanted to make amusing radio. So, the challenges began, and Annabel transformed into someone more daring than she’d ever imagined. Annabel vs the Internet is a hilarious, off-kilter and entirely true collection of Annabel’s favourite stories from these challenges that’ll leave you marvelling at the kindness of strangers and dumbfounded by Annabel’s audacity.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2018

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you will enjoy most if you know who Annabel Port is. If not, a lot of it will probably go over your head.
Personally, I enjoyed revisiting some of the ridiculous challenges Annabel undertook during her stint at Absolute Radio with Geoff Lloyd. Her writing style is engaging and I found I could almost hear her voice as I was reading. There are some made-up Q&As in the book too, adding a little insight into Annabel's untidy flat and her motivation for continuing with the challenges.

The book was published by Unbound, a crowd-funding platform for people to get their books published. They were also responsible for The Good Immigrant, which I would heartily recommend. As a contributor to Annabel's book, I got my name in the back and a hand-written letter from Annabel herself (on Basildon Bond notepaper, of course) and I am thrilled by this.

[Philip Begg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for fans of the radio show/podcast ! For everyone else, I think if you're aware of the idea of the challenges you should still get a good laugh out it !

It was great reading the stories I heard on the show again and getting to read the ones that I missed! It made me nostalgic for the old show's segments!

There is a lot of 4 star reviews from the people who crowdfunded the book haha I think I'm going to cross their names out of my copy ! Plus, for Jane's one star, I'm going to write her name in just to cross it out!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved hearing these on the radio and I'm so glad they are preserved for future generations in book form. Had a good giggle throughout and will definitely be rereading in the future.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I backed this on Unbound. It's a collection of short stories (I suppose) about the challenges Annabel used to do for the Absolute Radio show with Geoff Lloyd. It's a nice easy read and in many places absolutely hilarious.

[Maria Dellaporta · Rating 1 out of 5]

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

What absolute drivel! I know the author thinks she is hilarious but really she is just annoying. The premise of the book is interesting enough but the execution is awful. Why did I read it then? Well, I started it and I thought it would get better. Also, I have a book challenge to finish and have I mentioned I was hoping it would get better. I was wrong. Maybe I read it all at once. Maybe if I read only one challenge at the time it would feel different. Or maybe it simply sucks. Do not waste your time on this book. Read something else.

Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering an introvert myself - hats off to Annabel for actually doing these crazy challenges and stepping out of the comfort zone, only to find out that interaction with people almost never turns out as horrible as previously imagined :) This book is incredibly funny, starting with the challenges themselves, seeing how Annabel chooses to tackle them - and then the execution. Really a great, pleasurable read. (One might even say it inspires you to be more brave in your daily life haha).

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly funny and wonderful for Annabel, who I’ve listened to for over a decade on the radio and podcasts, to branch out into the literary world. Keep conquering, Port!

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Boring and, for me, certainly not the amusing book it was written up to be.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud and just good fun. Annabel’s voice rings true in each and every story.

[Petra Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this book a while ago as a freebie and had all but forgotten about it. And when I started reading, it wasn't until I was a couple of chapters into the book before I twigged that the "Annabel" in this book was Annabel from Absolute Radio and then it all made sense (or rather, nonsense). It revisits some of the mad challenges Annabel was given by fellow presenter Geoff and they range from hilarious to cringeworthy, with sometimes surprising results. I cannot help but admire Annabel for doing these things, I would have died! I like the lighthearted way of her writing and how she describes how she gets into and then wriggles out of tricky and bizarre situations. But I admit this book is not for everybody and if you have never come across the related radio show it might not make a lot of sense. Anyway, it it funny and entertaining if you know the background, but afraid not more than 3 stars from me.