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Seasonal Suicide Notes
Christmas round robins from a grumpy old man - For some years, the biographer Roger Lewis has been entertaining his friends with a letter at Christmas, in which he records details of the joys and frustrations of his life as it is actually lived. Here for the first time is a book-length version of this 'cult classic', a hilarious collection of diaries and memoirs - highlights of which include a trip up the Amazon River with countless ants and Maureen Lipman; his eldest son Tristan training to be a juggler at Zippos Circus ("Frankly, where did Magdalen College, Oxford, ever get me, eh?"); the mystery of the stolen kettle at Age Concern; the humiliation of not being invited to the premiere of his very own movie at Cannes; and the way the Dell call-centre people in Bombay keep thinking he's a woman...With his sharp eye for folly, his malice - and the unexpected shafts of humanity in spite of his chronic ill temper - Roger Lewis is the Evelyn Waugh of the 21st century. These addictive and paradoxically life-enhancing Seasonal Suicide Notes have the makings of a lasting comic masterpiece.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 19, 2011
I got this thinking it would be like David Sedaris' brilliant "Santaland Diaries" and would be a good read for the airport/plane on holiday this year - well all I can say is thank god I brought other books with me! This was a real stinker for many reasons.
The book is divided up into years starting in 2004 and then every year is broken down into months where Lewis talks about what "hilarious" things happened to him in that month.
Lewis talks about how his 1200 page autobiography of Peter Sellers was so much more complex than the film was (fair, given nobody would sit through a 20 hour film) but goes on and on about this for pages. He moans about how his work is underappreciated, how nobody likes him, how little his books sell, and how much he deserves fame and wealth for his book on Sellers and a similarly long and inaccessible book on Anthony Burgess.
And that's what really gets me - the tone. It's this whiny, annoying whinge throughout about how he deserves fame for his work coupled with the sniping at colleagues and "the London literary clique" which he goes to great pains to stress he's not a part of. He goes on about how he's not invited to parties in London but when he is invited to The Times party he makes a point of saying that he stayed home and watched "The Bill". Then he's invited to a magazine party and he stays home to watch "Eastenders". And so on, etc. I think he wants the reader to think he's a cool outsider? It's a bit grasping given he complains yet again about how little he earns and deserves millions for his work. Would a literary outlaw be so tedious?
The completely uninteresting and upper-middle-class worries (good school for the kids, money for expensive holidays), coupled with Lewis' repellent tone of bitterness make this a totally unfunny book for anyone unless you come from a similar socio-economic background. Really disappointing but I'd hate for anyone to be stuck with this for a holiday read given there are much better books out there. The other books I took with me which I highly recommend are "War" by Sebastian Junger, "The Ghost" by Robert Harris, and "Hearts in Atlantis" by Stephen King.
I ended up leaving this in the sick bag on the plane, where it belongs.
The book is divided up into years starting in 2004 and then every year is broken down into months where Lewis talks about what "hilarious" things happened to him in that month.
Lewis talks about how his 1200 page autobiography of Peter Sellers was so much more complex than the film was (fair, given nobody would sit through a 20 hour film) but goes on and on about this for pages. He moans about how his work is underappreciated, how nobody likes him, how little his books sell, and how much he deserves fame and wealth for his book on Sellers and a similarly long and inaccessible book on Anthony Burgess.
And that's what really gets me - the tone. It's this whiny, annoying whinge throughout about how he deserves fame for his work coupled with the sniping at colleagues and "the London literary clique" which he goes to great pains to stress he's not a part of. He goes on about how he's not invited to parties in London but when he is invited to The Times party he makes a point of saying that he stayed home and watched "The Bill". Then he's invited to a magazine party and he stays home to watch "Eastenders". And so on, etc. I think he wants the reader to think he's a cool outsider? It's a bit grasping given he complains yet again about how little he earns and deserves millions for his work. Would a literary outlaw be so tedious?
The completely uninteresting and upper-middle-class worries (good school for the kids, money for expensive holidays), coupled with Lewis' repellent tone of bitterness make this a totally unfunny book for anyone unless you come from a similar socio-economic background. Really disappointing but I'd hate for anyone to be stuck with this for a holiday read given there are much better books out there. The other books I took with me which I highly recommend are "War" by Sebastian Junger, "The Ghost" by Robert Harris, and "Hearts in Atlantis" by Stephen King.
I ended up leaving this in the sick bag on the plane, where it belongs.
October 3, 2020
I should have hated this. So much bile, self-aggrandisement, anti-pc revelry, but no. Lewis has a hilarious way with words, and moments of pathos, insight and self knowledge muddy the water. Very good indeed.
August 2, 2011
Roger Lewis seems to have been heavily influenced by the likes of John Osbourne, Harry Pinter and Anthony Burgess. He's angry, real angry. Angry and uninteresting.
April 10, 2012
Far too many obscure references to unknown (to me) people and TV shows...
December 29, 2024
Very disappointing! At first I thought, how wonderful - a fellow Welsh person who hates Christmas! I felt misled! This book is self-indulgent, tedious, and quite frankly boring. It's ironic that the author claims to be filled with distaste for the stars, whilst desperately name dropping anyone and everyone he has ever worked with, heard of, written about, used the same toilet as, bla bla bla! Some of his comments - fat shaming, agism, disability/racial discrinatory remarks, sneerings about certain universities, and general arrogance about those who he deems beneath him - are quite frankly sad.These references are not shockingly funny, which I'm sure was the desired effect, neither were they particularly offensive to me - old hat springs to mind/E.Powell. These anecdotes merely conjure up images of a "gent" in a golf club, talking tripe about their amazing achievements in life, whilst fumbling for change to pay for their house wine in tired out shoes, discontinued from Clarkes the decade before. If you can give banter, you can take the banter I say... I found such references,a means of clutching at straws to prevent the reader from falling asleep between pages. So I guess they had some purpose!
The best part about the book was the end, and I appreciated the photographs of the sons, who look fab! I would have liked to have read more about the real Roger Lewis, who I'm sure is interesting and quite possibly nice when the surface has been scratched away. Come on, Rog, you can do better than this! Drop the pomp and be yourself, the proud Welshman that you should be! If you are going to moan about Christmas, then do so with fervour! Plus, for the record, not all of us Welsh women are *fat and ugly. I'm sure that Margaret Thomas of Machen was at least blessed with beautiful ankles and such!
*A word likely to get you a metaphorical slap across the chops from many ladies if heard in a 10 mile radius 🤔
The best part about the book was the end, and I appreciated the photographs of the sons, who look fab! I would have liked to have read more about the real Roger Lewis, who I'm sure is interesting and quite possibly nice when the surface has been scratched away. Come on, Rog, you can do better than this! Drop the pomp and be yourself, the proud Welshman that you should be! If you are going to moan about Christmas, then do so with fervour! Plus, for the record, not all of us Welsh women are *fat and ugly. I'm sure that Margaret Thomas of Machen was at least blessed with beautiful ankles and such!
*A word likely to get you a metaphorical slap across the chops from many ladies if heard in a 10 mile radius 🤔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2023
I first read this outrageously funny book about 10 years ago when as a family we were going through h a tough time. The daily encounter with its sheer energy and the highly accomplished literary skills got me through, and I have since read most of his works, including his masterly reviews in the press.
I return regularly to the Suicide Notes to tune in with his joyous outrage. I owe Dr Lewis much gratitude for his high comedic gifts and in other works for his original insights into, for example, Peter Sellers and Anthony Burgess.
I hope his health after recent traumas iis now more stable and that his other planned publications come to fruition. His a treasure to be cherished.
I return regularly to the Suicide Notes to tune in with his joyous outrage. I owe Dr Lewis much gratitude for his high comedic gifts and in other works for his original insights into, for example, Peter Sellers and Anthony Burgess.
I hope his health after recent traumas iis now more stable and that his other planned publications come to fruition. His a treasure to be cherished.
March 22, 2024
Full of complaining drivel. It gets one star as it helped me go to sleep many nights.
April 3, 2014
This book has phases. You find it ridiculously biased at first and hate the man for his sheer guts. 100 fats jokes later you begin to get his psyche i feel :P
It is so refreshing to see a man who shows the finger to the self
appointed thought police of today. And he does it with superb swag.
The book itself is a moody free flowing stream of roger lewis's thoughts and bitter take on things. Glad to read from someone who is as dark and funny as me lol
A book which you can hate and love at the same time. A book which you can laugh at and laugh with :)
It is so refreshing to see a man who shows the finger to the self
appointed thought police of today. And he does it with superb swag.
The book itself is a moody free flowing stream of roger lewis's thoughts and bitter take on things. Glad to read from someone who is as dark and funny as me lol
A book which you can hate and love at the same time. A book which you can laugh at and laugh with :)
February 3, 2012
I loved this as it suited my sarcastic sense of humour. There were moments when I laughed out loud and moments when I cringed in horror, possibly because Dr Lewis says things which you may think yourself but would possibly not vocalise let alone print. Self pitying and self deprecating and generally mean spirited towards anyone who isn't a clown or member of the Crossroads. Please buy his books so the poor man can put his heating on;-)
March 31, 2016
Sorry, but this made me laugh out loud many times (although I felt I shouldn't), so perhaps it's wisest not to read it on public transport. It is delightfully un-PC. Lewis claims to scorn the London literati but clearly follows them closely while fuming in rural Worcestershire. He is rude about everyone except his wife, and the Welsh might be offended although he does have the good grace to poke fun at himself.
A thoroughly enjoyable and scurrilous read.
A thoroughly enjoyable and scurrilous read.
January 15, 2010
My husband read this book before me and was regularly laughing out loud, so I was a bit disappointed when I came to read it and the same didn't happen to me. Having said that, it is wonderfully funny in places and Lewis's often cruel but on the money observations about life make a great read.
February 3, 2012
Absolutely hilarious in parts, found my self laughing out loud. He has a sense of humour I Understood completely. One has to wonder whether its rather horrible for me to hope there's a 'Seasonal Suicides Part 2'!
January 3, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - you need to have the the right sense of humour to fully appreciate and enjoy - a good read.
January 23, 2013
A refreshing antidote to the upbeat Christmas round robin. Roger Lewis' body is falling to pieces as is the world around him
April 18, 2020
Only briefly does he emerge from the 'wallow' To be avoided. Appalling, really: poor, bitter, diappointed man.
February 15, 2018
Absolutely hilarious!
dnf
February 19, 2018My Uncle lent me this book along with the message that if I liked it he would have it back and give it a second chance but if I didn't I was to get rid of it.
My first impressions were not positive. The title alone made me think I wouldn't enjoy this, especially if it was an indication of the sense of humour in this book.
I made it 75 pages through when I DNF'd it. I'm impressed I even made it that far - I wanted to give up during the Author's Note. If it's your type of human, I'm glad you like it. To be, the author did not come across as humorous at all. He came across as a very hateful person. But this is my point of view. If you're interested in the book I'd say look at some positive reviews and see if they share your humour. As for me, I will never try this book or author again.
My first impressions were not positive. The title alone made me think I wouldn't enjoy this, especially if it was an indication of the sense of humour in this book.
I made it 75 pages through when I DNF'd it. I'm impressed I even made it that far - I wanted to give up during the Author's Note. If it's your type of human, I'm glad you like it. To be, the author did not come across as humorous at all. He came across as a very hateful person. But this is my point of view. If you're interested in the book I'd say look at some positive reviews and see if they share your humour. As for me, I will never try this book or author again.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews