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Barcelona Plates
by
Alexei Sayle
A septuagenarian contract killer, a chronic hypochondriac, two zombie-creating comedians, a good samaritan and a man called Barnaby who drives a small white car. These are just a few of the inhabitants of Alexei Sayle's world; a world where life can at times be cool and dark, or blood-hot and violent - but always served up with a twist.
Published
(first published 2000)
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Sure to make you laugh
This is a collection of short stories, all of which have either a sinister or an amusing twist in the tail. For some, the twist is both sinister and amusing. The stories demonstrate a great deal imagination and variety. If you want to read yet another version of how Princess Diana died, or how an old soldier could get a deathly kick out of his twilight years, just pick up this book and have a read.
I can’t think of any of my friends to whom I would not recommend this delight...more
This is a collection of short stories, all of which have either a sinister or an amusing twist in the tail. For some, the twist is both sinister and amusing. The stories demonstrate a great deal imagination and variety. If you want to read yet another version of how Princess Diana died, or how an old soldier could get a deathly kick out of his twilight years, just pick up this book and have a read.
I can’t think of any of my friends to whom I would not recommend this delight...more
One of the other reviewers felt unsure about how this book would be received "over the pond." His suspicion was right on.
I'm an American teaching English in Kuwait (this review was written in 2004). My British flatmate lent me this book. When I read the glowing recommendation from author Douglas Adams on the back, I figured it couldn't miss. Yet I have to admit, though I read it cover to cover, I found very little that really grabbed me.
Having tramped around London and a few other cities in Engl...more
I'm an American teaching English in Kuwait (this review was written in 2004). My British flatmate lent me this book. When I read the glowing recommendation from author Douglas Adams on the back, I figured it couldn't miss. Yet I have to admit, though I read it cover to cover, I found very little that really grabbed me.
Having tramped around London and a few other cities in Engl...more
I was brimming with excitement about reading this one, but you have to read two short stories into the book to be able to gage Sayles depiction of the dissolute and non-plussed and their rise and fall. The namesake Barca Plates was quite flat but I could get the idea. The story of the Liverpool Pensioner cum Chechen Gangster is a superb gem (perhaps reflecting where Alexei commands ultimate writing strength) and Ant and Dec do Voodoo (I don't know it actual name - apologies) is hilarious. There...more
You will smile, Alexei's communist anti establishment leanings clearly show, whilst of course being firmly in with his Oxbrigde mates. This book is a great introduction to his dark, cynical humour.
I've read evrything he's written, This series of shorts is well worth the money.
My Indie reviews are on my blog.
http://www.jeremypoole.net/blog.html
I've read evrything he's written, This series of shorts is well worth the money.
My Indie reviews are on my blog.
http://www.jeremypoole.net/blog.html
I read this after "The Dog Catcher", and I thought that maybe I had now learnt his "trick" when it comes to writing short stories, so that I would no longer be surprised. But there were some stories which just seemed to come out of nowhere and take my breath away. I finished this book days ago and the last story still haunts me.
Short stories: Some surreal, some harrowing, some hilarious, some odd until the very last sentence.
A good collection of short stories, some more interesting than others.
I love this book. Best book of short stories ever.
Some great short stories, comic and emotional
Surreal and funny short stories.
Very uneven but some of the stories were hilarious.
Funny, very dark though
Generally preferring nonfiction, I recently re-read this genius collection of short stories and was reminded about how gosh darn magnificent fiction can be sometimes.
Fall about funny! A great read.
flippin veh funny!
May 13, 2013
Rhys Thomas
added it
May 08, 2013
Leyton Robinson
marked it as to-read
Apr 16, 2013
Karen Kazaryan
marked it as to-read
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“Pete couldn't believe how sanctimonious somebody could be just because they'd once had a soldering iron stuck up their arse.”
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