Cover Image: The Becket List

The Becket List

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I had a lot of fun and it made me laugh out loud. It's well written and kept my attention.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Was this review helpful?

Pub date October 1 2020
The becket list by Henry Beckett.
Nonfiction witty humour

My review this book is lovely it’s full of illustrations drawing by Toni husband. This book made me laugh its full of everyday saying a two z of problems. This book. Will be great as a Christmas present as well for your dad you brother you grandfather they it enjoy. You can read it at breakfast with you family before you start the day. It’s a great book that take you mind of everyday lives that going ahead at the moment and it make you laugh The becket list is the a two z of problems it’s not a serious book it’s more like toilet talk book that I drive you mad of laughter with funny sayings from hotdogs school bus station . Plus beautiful drawings in the book that make you laugh as well. I loved the book.

Was this review helpful?

If you need to rant, get hold of this book.

If you need to listen to someone rant about everything and anything, get hold of this book.

If you are curious about nagging husbands (yes, not all nagging muggles are the wives, like the author's wife), get hold of this book.

Yes, life is not fair. But no, if you need to rant about everything under the earth and over your imagination, rant together with the author.

I just wish this collection was more humorous, short and accurate with a bit of doodles here and there.

Well, that's all the rant I have about this book.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy.

Was this review helpful?

I find these types of books, with short passages on a wide variety of topics, are perfect for commuting or to read a couple of pages a day, maybe while you're tackling a thicker, more difficult novel. I recently read one of the books by the people behind "No Such Things As A Fish".

The idea of a "first world problems list" is appealing and there were quite a few relatable passages that made me chuckle. However, I have to admit some things caught me by surprise. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but it sometimes seemed too aggressive. There's too many "all caps" and exclamation marks, which takes away from the feeling of funny relatability and makes you feel uneasy or like you're being berated.

I also thought some topics were pushing it a bit. I understand being annoyed about planned obsolescence, or people who yell on the phone in public; I don't get the outrage at the fact that kids' playgrounds have rubber mats so when they fall down they don't crack their heads? There are some throwaway lines that left me confused, like the one about older white English men being discriminated upon by train inspectors. I never know if it's a subtle joke I'm not getting or if the author is really "going there."

All in all, it made me feel like I'm not the intended audience for this book. My father or grandfather would probably be a more adequate demographic for it.

Was this review helpful?

A compilation of a lot if fancy words and items that are explained in a funny way by author. It is full of words arranged alphabetically. These are explained in short paragraphs by author dissecting their inherent sarcasm and various edges of a particular word. It can have different meanings for different people.
Cartoons are funny and there are a lots of them.
What I found that due to its directory type format it is hard to read in a go. It is also hard to read fast.
But as a complete package with cartoons you can enjoy this different sort of book.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy Of this book via netgalley!

there were some really good parts of this book...I could relate to the reloading the dishwasher for no good reason one! A lot of the humour of this book is British based and I think would be more appreciated by individuals with an extensive knowledge of the British way :)

Was this review helpful?

A fun read perfect for relaxing escaping the real world.Hysterically funny ,grouchy A book to dip in and out of.Will be recommending.#netgalley#reddoor

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

In a time when everything is up in the air where we are living in unusual times this book is great to dip in and out of. It also reminds you of things we used to moan about constantly and probably took for granted. I also learn't a few things. I didn't know people who walk along checking their phones are 'Smombies'. This would make a great Christmas gift or just something to cheer someone up.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
As an American, I didn't understand some of the more European aspects mentioned in this book but I do find books written by authors from across the pond pretty funny. In order to enjoy this book, you have to have a sense of humor and be read for some "grouchiness". I could relate and agree with a lot of his 1st world problems.

Was this review helpful?

It's a weird thing, being a humble book reviewer, and getting a book that seems destined for the Christmas novelty/gift/can'tbearsedtogiveaproperpresent book market to review in June. But this is June, and this is a novelty///… book and make no mistake. But it's actually a likeable one. In defining copious First World Problems, and in a generally friendly but SOMETIMES FREAKISHLY SHOUTING FOR LITTLE REASON way, our author provides for a sort of Grumpy Old Man book, and the regret he was never invited to that particular stage is writ large. Sorry, LARGE.

Thoughts encountered while reading it could be split into two categories, the positive and the negative. Oh, and a third, the miraculous, that only those of us of a certain age would think – "But How Is It That Tony Husband Is Still Alive And Working??!!"

Some of the positive, in chronological order:-
I loved the Lucky Cat in the generic Asian food establishment "doing its cod-Nazi salute"
Oh, good, he got the bagpipes quip in (if not the answer that it might have been Mark Twain but mentioning the banjo)
"Cats who refuse expensive cat food that was their favourite until you bought in bulk". Nuff said.
Blimey, he knows of Nouvelle Vague the band

Some of the negative, in chronological order:-
I don't think there are jungles in Patagonia
OMG, is he an Arsehole fan??
"Hollywood gum??" Never heard of it
Bit rum there on hen dos – I've performed for enough to know they're fine
And while you're at it, leave off Gatwick Airport. At least it's not Heathrow

On the whole, if you can stand a monologue given a lock-in on the set of Room 101, the TV show where you can whinge for Britain about trifles like hipster beards, BBQs, and unnecessary fripperies of life in general – why, you'll have everything to complain about but this. It's by definition a little hectoring, and in its use of phrases such as "am I alone in thinking…?" a bit Daily Telegraph-readery, but I found more favour with this than many such gift titles.

Was this review helpful?

I was at the end of the Bs and had to stop. I hadn’t laughed once at these angry old man rants, but had cringed at the offensiveness.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a funny, topical treatment of things that annoy or perplex us in the first world countries. Botox, acronyms, fellow travelers, piercings, bad spray tans and many other modern entities are skewered by Becket. An amusing read.

Was this review helpful?