The Wilt Inheritance by Tom Sharpe

Background

The Wilt series of books, by Tom Sharpe, first sore the light of day back in 1976 with this, the latest instalment, published last year (2011) The original was even made into a TV / Movie staring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.

Wilt is a down trodden lecture, who has a life of torment guaranteed by his overbearing wife and terrible quadruplet daughters (think  St Trinian's), and if this wasn’t enough he seems to have to cope with one misadventure after another and the surrounding fallout.

Synopsis

Stuck in a job he doesn't really want, but can't afford to lose, as nominal Head of the Communications Department at Fenland University, Wilt is still subject to the whims of others, both in and outside of work. 

The demands of his snobbish wife Eva and the mammoth school fees of his despicable quadruplet daughters cause him the biggest headaches... apart from the hangovers, that is. 

When his wife finds him a summer job teaching history to the gun-toting idiot son of a lusty local aristocrat, Wilt is not amused and as circumstances unravel, and the summer goes on, things move from bad to worst … if that was at all possible.

Review

I can honestly say this book was a pleasant surprise to me, a complete departure to the sort of thing I would normally ready, but never the less, I ended up enjoying it.

The book is an easy read and moves a long at a pace sufficient to keep you interested with a plot that is neither complex nor overbearing and although Wilt is the main charter, the multi-point-of-view telling of the story works well in its advantage. 

I would not describe the comedy as laugh-out-loud humour, more like snigger to oneself, and it works in the same way as a 1950s British Ealing comedy: without causing offence.

I would not describe the books in terms of not being able to put it down, but at the same time found myself finishing it over a weekend, so its more of a sneak up and enjoy me sort of read with the main character, Wilt, being very believable, all in all a thumbs up from me.

Rating

I give this book 7.5 out of 10, an easy read that made my smile.


WW

Legacy by James Steel

Synopsis

Alex Devereux is a former Major in the British armed services and is now hardened mercenary, who is recruited to raise a private army and attack a diamond mine in Africa – and in doing so, comes face to face with an ancient prophecy with earth-shattering implications. Working for a diamond cartel and operating outside of international law, Alex comes face-to-face with the Dark Heart Prophecy. Past and present collide - but can Alex redeem himself and prevent the prophecy from coming true

In 1501 - A medieval Knight encounters an object of awesome power - The Nubian Deathstone. Filled with terrifying visions of what the future might bring, he embarks on a quest to discover its secret.

In 1941 - Himmler orders an elite SS Officer on an expedition to resolve the centuries-old enigma, but his discovery will have dire consequences.

Review

I read this book as the plot sounded like it would be right up my street, a bit of action adventure to read while away for a weekends R&R, but I was to be sorely disappointed.

The book starts out well but soon seems to loose its way, with jumps across multiple timelines and subplots without any real thought or control, building the subplot just to get to a point where it is rushed and discarded like yesterdays trash.

The book seems to loose sight of who is the main character and as a result I lost interest in how they faired, which is never good.

One good area of this book is that Steel is very good with the set pieces, the action and battle sequences are very well constructed, but in this case, the substance that links them seams to get lost during the journey

I did not enjoy this book and would only recommend it to those who want to read it for the previously mentioned set pieces.

Rating

I give this book 2 out of 10, lowest score to date

WW