SPOILER ALERT: Has to be the best 1st line ever "the deer had been kicking the shit out of the hedgerows again". Your turns of phrase, metaphors and similes in the first chapter are breathtakingly brilliant. I esp loved Iggys extra legs, insurectionary deer, nihilistic buck, not unprone to sarcastic bickering, foliage living its best unfettered off grid life, antipathy for notions of punctuality, ice like glass on abandoned pub floors, puddles in translucent sleeping bags and of course how The Meat Tree got his name (genius)!
Bloody hell. You are effing brilliant. I thought about not reading the chapter until your book comes out but once I started, I couldn’t stop. It was like being on a conveyor belt of pleasure and I couldn’t get off until IT stopped. Can’t wait to hop back on again!
Dear Tom, I've made a pre-order but I haven't read this latest post here - will take it to bed for a good read since I've just set fire to my oven by leaving a bone handled knife in the tray with my lasagne - flames suddenly burst up - heater's off, spouse out, doors open, best place is bed after lighting all the incense sticks I could find and feeding some banana to my nightly Possum on the verandah. Poor knife without handle, must be 90 years old at least, now lying in sink, a shadow of former glory from Grandmother. Bother. Hope everyone stampedes Blackwells. I'm sure they will. Best wishes, Suzanne, Down Under.
Thanks so much, Suzanne! I don't blame you if you don't read it and wait for the book instead as - let's face it - that's a much nicer way to do it. Best wishes for the recovery of the oven!
50 years ago, about the only things that had expiration dates were refrigerated foods and drugs. The "expiration date" has become the marketing genius of all time. Even water expires according to the bottlers. Next these clowns will be putting expiration dates on books and music. Love the first pic. The story too.
Brilliant Tom. I can't wait to read the whole thing. And...
... as soon as you mentioned parents from Greece, I laughed out loud. Knew what was coming. Your writing reminds me of, the genius of, Bob Mortimer - particularly on Would I Lie To You. Effortlessly spinning a yarn.
SPOILER ALERT! I pre-ordered and I can't read this cuz I want to savor the book as virginal as possible. But do want to thank you for the signed copy and free shipping to the middle of nowhere USA!
I am torn between reading the first chapter and waiting for the book…
It’s kind of like when I got an advance, unmastered, copy of Grand Prix by TFX. I played it a lot. Then when the album came out I bought it and I already knew all the songs. The mastering really did make an incredible difference, and maybe there’ll be a parallel between pixels and ink?
Tom, I absolutely devoured this and now cannot wait for September. Pre-ordered and thanks in advance for signing it. Wishing you huge success to make up for all the previous publishing nightmares.
I pre-ordered your book from Blackwells, great deal on the free shipping. Thanks in advance for your autograph.
What a wonderfully weird couple Carl and Eric are, their relationship reminds me of my husband and I, only without the eight thumbs and the fir. I can’t wait to read more about them.
SPOILER ALERT: Has to be the best 1st line ever "the deer had been kicking the shit out of the hedgerows again". Your turns of phrase, metaphors and similes in the first chapter are breathtakingly brilliant. I esp loved Iggys extra legs, insurectionary deer, nihilistic buck, not unprone to sarcastic bickering, foliage living its best unfettered off grid life, antipathy for notions of punctuality, ice like glass on abandoned pub floors, puddles in translucent sleeping bags and of course how The Meat Tree got his name (genius)!
I will never hear Dimitri any way but The Meat Tree again.
Snap!
You’re very kind. Thank you.
Tom, there is not a sentence here that anyone else could have written.
Thanks Russell. Not even the one about the dhansak?
Bloody hell. You are effing brilliant. I thought about not reading the chapter until your book comes out but once I started, I couldn’t stop. It was like being on a conveyor belt of pleasure and I couldn’t get off until IT stopped. Can’t wait to hop back on again!
Dear Tom, I've made a pre-order but I haven't read this latest post here - will take it to bed for a good read since I've just set fire to my oven by leaving a bone handled knife in the tray with my lasagne - flames suddenly burst up - heater's off, spouse out, doors open, best place is bed after lighting all the incense sticks I could find and feeding some banana to my nightly Possum on the verandah. Poor knife without handle, must be 90 years old at least, now lying in sink, a shadow of former glory from Grandmother. Bother. Hope everyone stampedes Blackwells. I'm sure they will. Best wishes, Suzanne, Down Under.
Thanks so much, Suzanne! I don't blame you if you don't read it and wait for the book instead as - let's face it - that's a much nicer way to do it. Best wishes for the recovery of the oven!
50 years ago, about the only things that had expiration dates were refrigerated foods and drugs. The "expiration date" has become the marketing genius of all time. Even water expires according to the bottlers. Next these clowns will be putting expiration dates on books and music. Love the first pic. The story too.
I’ve ordered the book! This chapter was a lovely foretaste. I can’t wait to learn more about Carl.
Thanks Judy!
Brilliant Tom. I can't wait to read the whole thing. And...
... as soon as you mentioned parents from Greece, I laughed out loud. Knew what was coming. Your writing reminds me of, the genius of, Bob Mortimer - particularly on Would I Lie To You. Effortlessly spinning a yarn.
I'm now forced - have no choice but - to provide a link to the funniest thing that has ever happened on TV: https://youtu.be/H0WiwB1Cjbg?si=IYsgaixNse73EUBV
Oh this is going to be good. I use a fifty-page test for most books, waived here because I am already irretrievably in.
So nice to hear! Thank you!
Your style of humor is eccentric in the best British tradition.
This is wonderful news, especially after all the previous publishing shall-we-say “kerfuffle” (other more damning phrases come to mind…)
Pre-ordered!!
Thank you so much!
SPOILER ALERT! I pre-ordered and I can't read this cuz I want to savor the book as virginal as possible. But do want to thank you for the signed copy and free shipping to the middle of nowhere USA!
Thanks for pre-ordering, Kathey!
I am torn between reading the first chapter and waiting for the book…
It’s kind of like when I got an advance, unmastered, copy of Grand Prix by TFX. I played it a lot. Then when the album came out I bought it and I already knew all the songs. The mastering really did make an incredible difference, and maybe there’ll be a parallel between pixels and ink?
I know exactly what you mean! I’d wait for the book if I were you.
I had to print it out to read it…much better…
Wonderful writing well done
Love the descriptions of the deer
Thanks Sharon!
Tom, I absolutely devoured this and now cannot wait for September. Pre-ordered and thanks in advance for signing it. Wishing you huge success to make up for all the previous publishing nightmares.
So nice to hear you enjoyed it, Elaine. Thank you!
I pre-ordered your book from Blackwells, great deal on the free shipping. Thanks in advance for your autograph.
What a wonderfully weird couple Carl and Eric are, their relationship reminds me of my husband and I, only without the eight thumbs and the fir. I can’t wait to read more about them.
Have pre ordered at Blackwells 😊
It’s been a long wait since all the previous publishing💩
Thanks Janet! And sorry about the delay.
No worries! Not your fault 😊