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Don't Try This at Home
For Charlie, it probably all started at school with Simon Lowenstein. When the register was called at school, Simon Lowenstein wouldn't answer to his own name, so Charlie would answer for him. Ever since then, Charlie has, occasionally, answered for other people. So, when a beautiful woman he's never met before approaches him with her hand outstretched, asking him if he's Matthew, he can't help but say yes. And, after all, who wouldn't? But this simple deception and a small work-related incident - an ageing gangster died in the filming of a practical joke for the TV show Charlie works on - both conspire to make Charlie realise that being himself might not be so bad. That is if he ever gets the chance again...
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First published October 6, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2012
I was casting around for English novelists specialising in contemporary humorous fiction and stumbled across Paul Reizin after following endless web links. As someone whose own book is garnering excellent reviews (buffs nails) within this genre (Song In The Wrong Key, since you ask), I was keen to see what my peers were up to. Turns out there are surprisingly few of us. Mil Millington was the only other one I could find outside the Hornby/Nicholls mainstream and, like Reizin, his most recent offerings were not that recent. When ordering Reizin's book (only available second hand) I also took a punt on one of Millington's and started reading his first. Sadly, it was so unappealing, I didn't get beyond the first 50 pages. So things didn't bode well when I started Reizin's.
Well, compared to Millington, Reizin is a genius. This is not to damn with faint praise, though. Reizin can really write. He's highly intelligent, well read, worldly and undoubtedly witty. Funny? Occasionally, albeit rarely laugh out loud. That said, I don't think he's necessarily striving for that kind of response.
In brief, this is about the TV producer of a crappy candid camera type show, one of whose pranks backfires when a 'mark' subsequently dies exposing him to the murderous wrath of his gangster grandson. The protagonist, Charles, has a predilection for lying about his identity, first in evidence when he is mistaken for someone's blind date in a bar and decides not to let on. As the story progresses, he lies again to escape the clutches of his gangster nemesis, whilst ingratiating himself with a slightly odd bunch of folk in the west country.
It's nicely plotted and Charles is an interesting character with an amusing take on the vapidity of TV, relationships and bachelorhood. My main gripe is that he's neither likeable nor sympathetic, and I think if you're going to share a journey with a protagonist, you need to connect with him/her along the way. Charle's acidic quips are occasionally funny, but reveal a shallow, one dimensional character. Without warmth or heart, the book is essentially a diverting riff on contemporary life. Certainly worth the effort, but it could have been a real winner.
Well, compared to Millington, Reizin is a genius. This is not to damn with faint praise, though. Reizin can really write. He's highly intelligent, well read, worldly and undoubtedly witty. Funny? Occasionally, albeit rarely laugh out loud. That said, I don't think he's necessarily striving for that kind of response.
In brief, this is about the TV producer of a crappy candid camera type show, one of whose pranks backfires when a 'mark' subsequently dies exposing him to the murderous wrath of his gangster grandson. The protagonist, Charles, has a predilection for lying about his identity, first in evidence when he is mistaken for someone's blind date in a bar and decides not to let on. As the story progresses, he lies again to escape the clutches of his gangster nemesis, whilst ingratiating himself with a slightly odd bunch of folk in the west country.
It's nicely plotted and Charles is an interesting character with an amusing take on the vapidity of TV, relationships and bachelorhood. My main gripe is that he's neither likeable nor sympathetic, and I think if you're going to share a journey with a protagonist, you need to connect with him/her along the way. Charle's acidic quips are occasionally funny, but reveal a shallow, one dimensional character. Without warmth or heart, the book is essentially a diverting riff on contemporary life. Certainly worth the effort, but it could have been a real winner.
November 8, 2017
Quite funny. Especially at the end when our hero tries maniac to talk out of killing him by offering him a role in TV. (7/10)
December 17, 2012
No point reviewing this as literature.... this is just another light hearted romp with plenty of laughs per page - almost getting too annoying for its own good.
Starts with a premise as Charlie - producer of trash tv - pretends to be someone else on the off chance when a beautiful woman comes into a bar on a blind date.
Then he kills the head of a local mafiso family in an ill timed prank with a turkey. This upsets the family and they come after him for revenge.
He is also being staked on the telephone by an anonymous caller who communicates yes/no through the buttons on the phone.
He goes abroad with an ex girlfriend and her fella and then on return, pretends to be someone else again to avoid the gangster - getting into a car marked for someone else.
Then it just goes on and on - he spends time with this family as an imposter and gets away with it. as the person he is supposed to be is pretending to be somone else anyway, with a view to fiddling the blokes father out of his rare book collection.
Then there is a standoff when the gangster catching up with them and they end up friends.
So - the story is a collection of events designed with no thought of reality simply to make to the book chunder along for laughs.
It works quite well and placing the book somewhere between dumping hilary (didnt like) and fiends re-united (loved).
Starts with a premise as Charlie - producer of trash tv - pretends to be someone else on the off chance when a beautiful woman comes into a bar on a blind date.
Then he kills the head of a local mafiso family in an ill timed prank with a turkey. This upsets the family and they come after him for revenge.
He is also being staked on the telephone by an anonymous caller who communicates yes/no through the buttons on the phone.
He goes abroad with an ex girlfriend and her fella and then on return, pretends to be someone else again to avoid the gangster - getting into a car marked for someone else.
Then it just goes on and on - he spends time with this family as an imposter and gets away with it. as the person he is supposed to be is pretending to be somone else anyway, with a view to fiddling the blokes father out of his rare book collection.
Then there is a standoff when the gangster catching up with them and they end up friends.
So - the story is a collection of events designed with no thought of reality simply to make to the book chunder along for laughs.
It works quite well and placing the book somewhere between dumping hilary (didnt like) and fiends re-united (loved).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2017
I’m not really sure what to make of this book. On the one hand all the characters are supremely unlikeable but the plot had me interested. It was a bit lads mag but I don’t necessarily hate that about it. I read it at work which is why it took so long but it was interesting enough to combat all the distractions. I’ll say it was okay and leave it at that.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews