Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 I mean to say August 26, 2008
I didn't buy this on the strength of VGL so perhaps that's why i was not at all disappointed by this wonderfully zany tale of disparate people and worlds colliding. The characters are no doubt farcical: Bunny and Blair, conjoined twins cut apart at 33, outcasts, desperate to fit in, desperate to get laid; Ludmila, desperate for her love and her own life with a spunky attitude and a potty mouth. The plot builds up slowly to a satisfying finale with all the main characters together in a room (with disastrous consequences). Great storytelling, I mean to say.
 Not Bad, But Not Vernon. July 24, 2008
At first I thought I'd missed the point of this story because I'd started it on a long-haul flight, and so was mentally not at 100%. That I didn't finish the book on said flight says something about this book methinks.
There are two very distinct plotlines - one following formerly conjoined twins (Gordon and Blair..!) who have been de-institutionalised and are trying to come to terms with the outside world and their sudden ability to interact with it separately; and the other about a very poor family living in a very poor, war-torn region of Eastern Europe trying to survive starvation, war and corrupt officialdom. These plots only link very late in the book, and not particularly satisfyingly - books with last page punch lines are not my cup of tea.
The dialogue of the Eastern Euros is jarring at first, but enjoyable. It does, however, feel like Everything Is Illuminated was the inspiration for this style. The dialogue between the twins to me is the writing of an Australian who knows sort of how two English lads may speak. It just didn't work for me. The relationship of co-dependence, love and hatred is very well written though.
I certainly didn't dislike this novel, but I also wasn't particularly interested in seeing what happened with the main characters, and wasn't making time to read more, just picking the book up at slow points through my week.
Not Vernon GL but worth a read May 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
My simple analysis for this read is :
Vernon GL = 10 (at least) irresitably genuine belly laugh moments
Ludmilla = 1 (the fart line :-)
The ending is rushed culminating in a unfulfilling and dissapointing final chapter, I got the feeling DBC was bored and wanted it done. Overall though I think defintely worth a read to enjoy the brilliant characterisations and dialogue, both of which shine.
Keep going DBC - I'll be looking forward to your next work.
 Do not purchase on strength of Vernon God Little March 10, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Captivating, Sharp and Hilarious. That was Vernon God Little - this is not Ludmila's Broken English. The book takes so long to get anywhere, and even if you skip a chapter or two, you can still pick up the story and fill in the gaps yourself. There are some good lines here that hint at the wit of the former DBC Pierre in his Vernon God Little 'days' - but that's as far as it goes.
If it wasn't for a, (I stop just short of saying gruelling), search through horribly contrived characters for VGL glory, then I can honestly say that I and many others would not have finished this book.
 Really enjoyable November 13, 2007
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book was a surprise to me. I have not read the previous book. I ejoyed it and thought the author had a pretty good insight into the individuals. It was certainly different to what I have read before, and interesting. I shall definitly look for DBC Pierres first book.
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