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Fing
The jaw-achingly funny children’s book from No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams – a deliciously daft Tall Story of a child who had everything, but still wanted more. Illustrated by artistic genius, Tony Ross.
Meet the Meeks!
Myrtle Meek has everything she could possibly want. But everything isn’t enough. She wants more, more, MORE! When Myrtle declares she wants a FING, there’s only one problem… What is a FING?
Mr and Mrs Meek will do anything to keep their darling daughter happy, even visit the spooky library vaults to delve into the dusty pages of the mysterious Monsterpedia. Their desperate quest leads to the depths of the jungliest jungle where the rarest creatures can be found. But will they ever find a FING?
An explosively funny, totally surreal Tall Story about two perfectly nice parents and their unbelievably monstrous daughter from the phenomenal bestselling author David Walliams.
Meet the Meeks!
Myrtle Meek has everything she could possibly want. But everything isn’t enough. She wants more, more, MORE! When Myrtle declares she wants a FING, there’s only one problem… What is a FING?
Mr and Mrs Meek will do anything to keep their darling daughter happy, even visit the spooky library vaults to delve into the dusty pages of the mysterious Monsterpedia. Their desperate quest leads to the depths of the jungliest jungle where the rarest creatures can be found. But will they ever find a FING?
An explosively funny, totally surreal Tall Story about two perfectly nice parents and their unbelievably monstrous daughter from the phenomenal bestselling author David Walliams.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
459 people are currently reading
2574 people want to read
About the author
David Walliams
232 books3,409 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
David Walliams is an actor and writer best known for his work with Matt Lucas in the multi-award-winning sketch show Little Britain. His debut children's novel, The Boy in the Dress, was published in 2008 to unanimous critical acclaim and he has since developed a reputation as a natural successor to Roald Dahl.
David Walliams is an actor and writer best known for his work with Matt Lucas in the multi-award-winning sketch show Little Britain. His debut children's novel, The Boy in the Dress, was published in 2008 to unanimous critical acclaim and he has since developed a reputation as a natural successor to Roald Dahl.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews
March 7, 2019
Elongated 'World's Worst Child' tale, not a strong Walliams story.
From the first, I had the feeling this was one of the WWC series, expanded. This was the first time my son has bought a Walliams' on day of publication, as he's such a fan of every other by the author (we've only missed out Awful Auntie). It's taken around 10 nights for me to read it to him, and he's enjoyed it.
So this review is not from his perspective - an 8 year old will love this: bum/poo jokes, lots of noises and silly creatures, things being destroyed, lists. It's also half the length of most of Walliams' recent novels, but still with regular Tony Ross sketches, so does speed along. No, it's great for the target market.
But as an experienced reader and librarian, it's pretty weak I'm afraid. This is the author's first novel with no hero/heroine. As Myrtle is a World's Worst Child in all but book title, she's actually also a minor character for most of the book. Spoiled by her librarian parents (oh what a terrible example they set for my profession!), she's a stereotype of an indulged brat with no personality anyway - nobody will be dressing up as her next World Book Day.
And Mr and Mrs Meek themselves are spineless simpering cliches, calling each other 'Mother' and 'Father'. There's nothing to them and they don't grow or do anything of note throughout the entire book.
(***** SMALL SPOILER AHEAD *****)
The story itself is ridiculously simple: brat wants 'Fing' as pet. Parents acquiesce. Parents find said potentially destructive pet. (SPOILER!!) Destruction occurs. A World's Worst Children-like 'serves-you-right ending for spoilt brat' also occurs.
(***** END OF PLOT SPOILER *****)
While my son found this entertaining, and I did enjoy some moments (list of unusual creatures in the MONSTERPEDIA being one), it just didn't feel as though it had been created with much love or care as some of the author's others clearly were. Even Fing himself has no character - he's an eating/pooing being, no emotion besides a lot of 'grrrr'ing. So I didn't care for the girl, her parents, the pet - there's no 'enemy' or battle... it really is just a reject from World's Worst Children or one made longer.
We spotted our beloved Raj twice (once as a graphic on a bus, and once Walliams shoehorns him in, even saying he's done it to place the beloved newsagent in the story). Always a highlight, but certainly not enough to help raise this up from 'meh' rating to the bestselling status it will instantly earn without the merit of Walliams' previous heartfelt and genuinely funny inventions.
For ages 7-11.
From the first, I had the feeling this was one of the WWC series, expanded. This was the first time my son has bought a Walliams' on day of publication, as he's such a fan of every other by the author (we've only missed out Awful Auntie). It's taken around 10 nights for me to read it to him, and he's enjoyed it.
So this review is not from his perspective - an 8 year old will love this: bum/poo jokes, lots of noises and silly creatures, things being destroyed, lists. It's also half the length of most of Walliams' recent novels, but still with regular Tony Ross sketches, so does speed along. No, it's great for the target market.
But as an experienced reader and librarian, it's pretty weak I'm afraid. This is the author's first novel with no hero/heroine. As Myrtle is a World's Worst Child in all but book title, she's actually also a minor character for most of the book. Spoiled by her librarian parents (oh what a terrible example they set for my profession!), she's a stereotype of an indulged brat with no personality anyway - nobody will be dressing up as her next World Book Day.
And Mr and Mrs Meek themselves are spineless simpering cliches, calling each other 'Mother' and 'Father'. There's nothing to them and they don't grow or do anything of note throughout the entire book.
(***** SMALL SPOILER AHEAD *****)
The story itself is ridiculously simple: brat wants 'Fing' as pet. Parents acquiesce. Parents find said potentially destructive pet. (SPOILER!!) Destruction occurs. A World's Worst Children-like 'serves-you-right ending for spoilt brat' also occurs.
(***** END OF PLOT SPOILER *****)
While my son found this entertaining, and I did enjoy some moments (list of unusual creatures in the MONSTERPEDIA being one), it just didn't feel as though it had been created with much love or care as some of the author's others clearly were. Even Fing himself has no character - he's an eating/pooing being, no emotion besides a lot of 'grrrr'ing. So I didn't care for the girl, her parents, the pet - there's no 'enemy' or battle... it really is just a reject from World's Worst Children or one made longer.
We spotted our beloved Raj twice (once as a graphic on a bus, and once Walliams shoehorns him in, even saying he's done it to place the beloved newsagent in the story). Always a highlight, but certainly not enough to help raise this up from 'meh' rating to the bestselling status it will instantly earn without the merit of Walliams' previous heartfelt and genuinely funny inventions.
For ages 7-11.
August 20, 2019
I can definitely understand why my 10 year old cousin loved this book as much as he did. For me, it wasn’t as good as The Ice Monster which I read towards the end of last year. However, it was fun and super easy read!
March 30, 2019
This book was so disappointing. The plot in this book was senseless and lazy, and nothing like his other books. Every third line is some form of onomatopoeia which was totally overused throughout. Walliams is compared to Ronald Dahl all the time, but aside from both being British, writing children’s stories, and having a knack for using invented words that’s where the similarities end. I read this as a read aloud to my class and couldn’t wait to finish it. He will need to pick up how game on the next one!
December 16, 2020
Baiss gabals. Bet kapitālas beigas.
March 1, 2019
Half an idea for a story, badly executed. "The next Roald Dahl"? Ridiculous. Dahl would have made this 200+ "page" monstrosity ⅓ of a chapter. Disappointed.
March 6, 2019
Lives up to its description- an explosively funny tale
March 3, 2019
Oh my what can i say, first even david walliams i read and its been thrilling , loved everu bit and im excited to resd more
March 7, 2019
Read it because it featured a librarian (2) but couldn't wait to finish it. Usual toilet humour and formula although is a moral at the end
March 22, 2019
AMAZING
February 7, 2023
4.5 / 5
Todas las novelas infantiles de este autor son una joya. En esta ocasión nos trae una divertida historia sobre los peligros de darle a los niños todo lo que piden sin importar las consecuencias. Maravillosa.
Todas las novelas infantiles de este autor son una joya. En esta ocasión nos trae una divertida historia sobre los peligros de darle a los niños todo lo que piden sin importar las consecuencias. Maravillosa.
February 28, 2019
love this book
March 31, 2019
Enjoyed reading this my son. It is very Roald Dahl-esque and was enjoyable, however, it could have been significantly shorter and it felt that he was trying too hard by the end. The constant asterisks throughout the story were also off-putting for me as a reader and for my son as a listener.
I did like the onomatopoeia throughout and it allowed my son to get involved with the reading as well. Overall it is a fun read for parents and kids.
I did like the onomatopoeia throughout and it allowed my son to get involved with the reading as well. Overall it is a fun read for parents and kids.
January 29, 2020
I think that this was the weakest David Walliams's book I read so far.
June 8, 2020
A little bit of.... everything.
Hilarious. David Walliams at his best.
Read this book in just over an hour.
Perfect!!!
Hilarious. David Walliams at his best.
Read this book in just over an hour.
Perfect!!!
November 11, 2021
My first Walliams book and probably my last too. I’m so not in the age group for this one but I do read most of the books I do get for the library.
.
In the same vein as Tom Gates and Captain Underpants… with written text but also much pictures… and humor that’s awesome for kids from 9 years old to ?
.
I found some things to be kinda funny but otherwise I just found the book being mostly too much. But then again this book isn’t for me but for kids.
.
I love the end though. Perfect ending.
.
In the same vein as Tom Gates and Captain Underpants… with written text but also much pictures… and humor that’s awesome for kids from 9 years old to ?
.
I found some things to be kinda funny but otherwise I just found the book being mostly too much. But then again this book isn’t for me but for kids.
.
I love the end though. Perfect ending.
February 13, 2021
Pravi roman za razmažene klince, ponajviše razmažene jedince. Pazite da ne završite i kao Mrvičina Mirta u najdubljoj, najmračnijoj, najprašumskijoj prašumi. Tamo gdje je čudovištima i mjesto.
July 30, 2023
Zijn er kinderen die (nog) niet graag lezen, dan is David Walliams wat mij betreft de way to go. In de bieb raadde ik Fing (Dinges) graag aan met bijna altijd mooie succes verhalen.
In de traditie van Roald Dahl is dit boek - over een meisje dat altijd maar ‘more more moreeee’ wil totdat ze op een dag een gruwelijk monster aan haar collectie wil toevoegen - zo heerlijk luguber en sarcastisch en ik heb echt een paar keer hardop moeten lachen.
Ik las dit boek al eerder in de Nederlandse vertaling maar luisterde deze keer audioboek, voorgelezen door David Walliams en een complete cast vergezeld door muziek en soundeffects, en dat was eigenlijk nog leuker.
Tipje hoor! Audioboek is te vinden op Storytel. 🎧
In de traditie van Roald Dahl is dit boek - over een meisje dat altijd maar ‘more more moreeee’ wil totdat ze op een dag een gruwelijk monster aan haar collectie wil toevoegen - zo heerlijk luguber en sarcastisch en ik heb echt een paar keer hardop moeten lachen.
Ik las dit boek al eerder in de Nederlandse vertaling maar luisterde deze keer audioboek, voorgelezen door David Walliams en een complete cast vergezeld door muziek en soundeffects, en dat was eigenlijk nog leuker.
Tipje hoor! Audioboek is te vinden op Storytel. 🎧
February 21, 2019
Fantastic Illustrations by Tony Ross.
I am an avid reader of David Walliams books.
I love his sense of humour, brilliant narration and his unique way of storytelling including the funny footnotes
Adventure starts with the parents quest to find Fing for their demanding kid and how it leads them on a terrifying and troublesome journey. I love the peaceful and happy ending. The author takes the readers with his amazing creativity to a different level of imagination.
In this book, I loved the part where the author lists out the alphabetical order of toys, names of strange terrifying animals and the chaos in the supermarket.
I am an avid reader of David Walliams books.
I love his sense of humour, brilliant narration and his unique way of storytelling including the funny footnotes
Adventure starts with the parents quest to find Fing for their demanding kid and how it leads them on a terrifying and troublesome journey. I love the peaceful and happy ending. The author takes the readers with his amazing creativity to a different level of imagination.
In this book, I loved the part where the author lists out the alphabetical order of toys, names of strange terrifying animals and the chaos in the supermarket.
December 18, 2019
First David Walliams book I’ve read. His books are extremely popular with our primary students. Perhaps this was the wrong one for me to try first. Was seriously underwhelmed, and found the characters and storyline irritating. The persistent awfulness of the child, Myrtle, and the relentless humour of all things gross and yucky was tiring.
Not keen to try another .
Not keen to try another .
May 20, 2019
I've no real problem with Walliams' whole 'rip off Dahl' effort (let's face it Dahl isn't gonna be writing any more of his own), it's just that based on this book he isn't actually all that great at it.
November 18, 2019
Listened to the audiobook via BookBeat UK!
David Walliams is hands down, one of the best audiobook narrators out there. Right away, I was hooked into his latest middle-grade read about a girl called Myrtle Meek, who really wants everything and anything and one such day, she demands to her parents to go out and get her a 'Fing' which really is a fluffy ball monster with one fat eye which loves to eat and destroy all in its path. This story did remind me of some of Roald Dahl's writing (that has been mentioned in another review here) but towards the end, I couldn't stop laughing regarding what happens to Myrtle. Such a fun listen!
David Walliams is hands down, one of the best audiobook narrators out there. Right away, I was hooked into his latest middle-grade read about a girl called Myrtle Meek, who really wants everything and anything and one such day, she demands to her parents to go out and get her a 'Fing' which really is a fluffy ball monster with one fat eye which loves to eat and destroy all in its path. This story did remind me of some of Roald Dahl's writing (that has been mentioned in another review here) but towards the end, I couldn't stop laughing regarding what happens to Myrtle. Such a fun listen!
February 17, 2022
Yes I’m 17.
Yes I still loved this book.
Despite me being perhaps half a decade too old for this book I found it so enjoyable and funny.
Me and my nine year old sister had Greta debates about very important details such as: is the girls name Myrtle pronounced Mir-it-Al (my idea) or mur-tul ( her idea). I think she’s right. I’m too stubborn to admit that though.
However old you are, you will love this book. Guaranteed.
Yes I still loved this book.
Despite me being perhaps half a decade too old for this book I found it so enjoyable and funny.
Me and my nine year old sister had Greta debates about very important details such as: is the girls name Myrtle pronounced Mir-it-Al (my idea) or mur-tul ( her idea). I think she’s right. I’m too stubborn to admit that though.
However old you are, you will love this book. Guaranteed.
May 1, 2024
Mettetevi nei panni del vostro bambino interiore, o leggete questa cofa con un bambino di età effettivamente inferiore diciamo ai 10 anni. Le cose particolarmente scorrette e schifose saranno le più divertenti. Ironia, scherzi e un decisivo lieto fine (per noi, se non per la odiosa protagonista). Cosa volere di più?
September 24, 2024
Slap her or llik her. Or slap her so hard she sied. I’m talking about The most annoying book ever from the worst author ever. I actually thought this was gonna be beter but this was straight up the worst he’s even written. There was so less Raj and literally no Her Majesty the Queen. David should be punished. If you agree, like (not begging)
2.5 ⭐️
p.s. read word no. 4 of the first line and the last of the second line backwards.
2.5 ⭐️
p.s. read word no. 4 of the first line and the last of the second line backwards.
August 31, 2021
Za prečítanie stojí, ale určite nepatrí k autorovým topkám ako (pre nás) Malý milionár či Babka Gaunerka. Záver je celkom poučný a Niešo je vlastne Bubák, ktorého by sa deti mali báť, ked neposlúchajú. Pri knihe sa zabavíte a narazíte na klasický autorov "aj" fekálny humor :)
October 19, 2024
Fing was very funny but alot of David walliams books are funny though I thought this one was the funniest one I've read.
November 17, 2024
Druga :) Dječak daje 4/5 😅
January 26, 2025
characters: Mr Meek, Mrs Meek and Mrytle Meek
Mrytle is a girl with everything she needs like a jar of albert einsteins burp and even a painting of thin air to name like 1% of her collection and toys. Mrytle is a girl that is so rude to her parents like ylling at the top of her lungs and swearing. one day Mrytle asks her dad Mr Meek to give her a fing. the parents didnt know what a fing is and rushed to the library when her daughter was at school. they searched and searched until they gave up. then Mrs Meek tells Mr meek about the door to the olden books. they go in and find a book called the monsterpedia. in the book they see the fing and gets information that the fing lives in the deepest darkest jungliest jungle and loves custard cream cookies. which no choice left Mr Meek chose going to find a fing rather than getting cooked by her daughter. when mr meek arrived at the jungle, he searched and searched and looked even in caves. Then Mr Meek gets a trap to kidnap the fing. when he was waiting he got distracted for 2 seconds and the fing ate the custard cream chocolate and di not fall for the trap. Mr Meed found a trail and followed it. there he saw a fing and got bitten. eh ran to a river hoping it would let go if it touches the water and things didnt go as planned. he was met with another monster and then another one until he saw the deadliest one. the helephant!!!!!! It grabbed mr meek's bottom and flew outer space. suddenly it dropped mr meek and he dived down like a falcon and then knew that he had a fing on his hand. he blew into its mouth and it started to inflate. they didnt land safely as if sadly exhaled and when he reached hopme he saw another fing. he then knew that it waws in the pet store for half price. then the fing popped out of mr meek hand and started to wreck everything. after a few hours of chasing it they were able to lock it in a shed. but it bursted out flew started to flee. they chas4ed it again tirelessly and their for once kicked it but got her leg bitten. her daughter was stuck and the fing flew back to the jungle. little did the meek's know that her daughter was now known as a monster as she was filled with mud and looked like one. when they found out they were relieved and were able to find peace and quiet.
Mrytle is a girl with everything she needs like a jar of albert einsteins burp and even a painting of thin air to name like 1% of her collection and toys. Mrytle is a girl that is so rude to her parents like ylling at the top of her lungs and swearing. one day Mrytle asks her dad Mr Meek to give her a fing. the parents didnt know what a fing is and rushed to the library when her daughter was at school. they searched and searched until they gave up. then Mrs Meek tells Mr meek about the door to the olden books. they go in and find a book called the monsterpedia. in the book they see the fing and gets information that the fing lives in the deepest darkest jungliest jungle and loves custard cream cookies. which no choice left Mr Meek chose going to find a fing rather than getting cooked by her daughter. when mr meek arrived at the jungle, he searched and searched and looked even in caves. Then Mr Meek gets a trap to kidnap the fing. when he was waiting he got distracted for 2 seconds and the fing ate the custard cream chocolate and di not fall for the trap. Mr Meed found a trail and followed it. there he saw a fing and got bitten. eh ran to a river hoping it would let go if it touches the water and things didnt go as planned. he was met with another monster and then another one until he saw the deadliest one. the helephant!!!!!! It grabbed mr meek's bottom and flew outer space. suddenly it dropped mr meek and he dived down like a falcon and then knew that he had a fing on his hand. he blew into its mouth and it started to inflate. they didnt land safely as if sadly exhaled and when he reached hopme he saw another fing. he then knew that it waws in the pet store for half price. then the fing popped out of mr meek hand and started to wreck everything. after a few hours of chasing it they were able to lock it in a shed. but it bursted out flew started to flee. they chas4ed it again tirelessly and their for once kicked it but got her leg bitten. her daughter was stuck and the fing flew back to the jungle. little did the meek's know that her daughter was now known as a monster as she was filled with mud and looked like one. when they found out they were relieved and were able to find peace and quiet.
August 8, 2021
I liked this book and although I haven´t read David Walliams in awhile I still really enjoyed this book. I found the characters extremely interesting and funny. I would recommend if you want a few laughs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews