Diary of a Somebody

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It records his comic and dysfunctional relationships with his ex-wife, her new boyfriend, his son, ex brother in law, members of his poetry and book clubs, prospective new girlfriend and finally the police. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Meanwhile Dylan’s football team keeps being beaten 0–11, as he stands disconsolately on the wing waiting vainly to receive the ball. I still ADORED the poems, and any mention of the cat, and of course the celebration of custard creams.

This was an interesting, semi-autobiographical novel by one of my favourite poets, Brian Bilston, based on the author's purported diary for a year.

This is the humdrum, unglamorous side of poetry that is often hidden from ordinary members of the public. Sophie acquires a dynamic partner, the paragon of all virtues, a man whose success does not stop him from doing good deeds and who inspires Brian’s son with motivational quotes. Diary of a Somebody is peppered with the kind of brilliant and original poems that Twitter followers of Brian Bilston have come to know and love.

The narrator Brian is a total nerd, he doesn't have a clue about anything, but he is a genius at playing with words. Or it may be a novel that starts out as comic before turning altogether darker, such as JG Farrell’s Troubles.Subtle doesn't work for him so his tentative friendship with Liz, a woman he (literally) dreams about, is a bit slow to get off the ground. Part tender love story, part suburban murder mystery, part coruscating description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is a unique, original and hilarious novel. His son Dylan has twigged that Brian is possibly depressed and in need of help (“he made reference to my sobbing and the repeated banging of my head on the table”). His ex-wife has taken up with a new man, a motivational speaker and indefatigable charity fundraiser to boot; he seems to constantly disappoint his long-suffering son; and at work he is drowning in a sea of spreadsheets and management jargon.

Part tender love story, part murder mystery, part coruscating description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is the most original novel you will read this or any year. A combination of traditional story peppered with pithy poems about love, life, music through the ages and family dynamics. Given the ref to Sue Townsend at the end, I wondered whether it was Adrian Mole, but it's SO long since I read that I don't remember. However, by the middle of the book the too-clever-by-half poems and incessant painting of Brian as a hapless Some mother's do 'ave 'em sad-sack began to pall.

But can Brian’s poetry save him from Toby Salt, his arch nemesis in the Poetry Group and potential rival suitor to Brian’s new poetic inspiration, Liz? If you want a bit of light hearted relief from the world around you, then Brian Bilston is your man. Picador, 2021), and his novel Diary of a Somebody (Picador, 2019) was shortlisted for the Costa first novel award. The poems form the first part of the entries in Brian's diary over the course of a year of numerous ups and downs for him. The main character Brian, actually was a bit of a male version Bridget Jones, except Bridget was likeable.