One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite (Jack Samsonite, #1)

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One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite (Jack Samsonite #1)

by Tom Clempson (Goodreads Author)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 121 ratings · 22 reviews

Our hero?
Jack Samsonite
His mission?
1) pass his GCSEs
2) get the girl (to notice he exists)
3) survive the week without a serious face punching
Good thing he’s got a plan. Well, half a plan…

In the last seven days, Sam, aka Jack Samsonite, has fallen for a girl, is plagued by raging teenage lusts and very nearly gets killed by an extremely unlikely cause.

Very funny, and pretty...more

Paperback, 407 pages

Published June 2nd 2011 by Atom Books

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Oct 12, 2012 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this book and thought it was going to be a lot tamer than it was, but I have to say, even though I was a little freaked out by Jack's perverted ways and bus-boners, I really enjoyed this book and thought it extremely funny.
First off, I like the writing. Obviously I had to if I liked this book. It was sort of funny and endearing yet still so true to teenager opinions, if a writing style can be all of those things.
Especially Jack/Sam's description of Em, how he says she's weird looking, (a...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Rhys rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review was originally posted on ThirstforFiction.com

Introducing: Jack Samsonite, a nearly-16 British teenager. His mission: to pass his GCSEs, pull the girl of his dreams, and not get beaten up. Wish him luck.

Diary-style novels are always hard to review. Always. Take a look at the other reviews I have made of books like Spud and Adrian Mole – they’re short. It’s very hard to comment on a diary, for me at least. So I shall do my best with One Seriously Messed Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane...more

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May 31, 2011 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemporary

I first heard about this book in November 2010 at the Atom Blogger Party. All I really remember is thinking the title was incredibly long, that it was a boy's book, that at least one of the Atom people thought the author was pretty good looking, and that it was different from what Atom normally publishes because it isn't fantasy. I was intrigued as boy's books are generally pretty funny and it was new for Atom, but the words "Mndane and Uneventful" made me slightly doubtful. Either way, it wasn'...more I first heard about this book in November 2010 at the Atom Blogger Party. All I really remember is thinking the title was incredibly long, that it was a boy's book, that at least one of the Atom people thought the author was pretty good looking, and that it was different from what Atom normally publishes because it isn't fantasy. I was intrigued as boy's books are generally pretty funny and it was new for Atom, but the words "Mndane and Uneventful" made me slightly doubtful. Either way, it wasn't due out for another seven months, so after leaving, I promptly forgot about it.

One day not too long ago I was on Twitter and discovered I was following Tom Clempson, and after butting into a conversation he was having with some other of my Twitter friends about sparkly gadget pants (really, I'm serious), and many other off the wall conversations, I decided I must read his book because he is funny! If a book is marketted as funny and the author himself turns out to be pretty funny, well... there are pretty high chances the book will make me laugh. If not, seriously epic fail.

Then last week, I received a copy of One Seriously Messed-Up Week (OSMUW) after weeeeks of patiently waiting. Then got a little worried about reading. Tom Clempson is someone who is fairly active in the blogger world, he's "one of us", someone I kind of knew. And now I had to read his book. Like I always do with books by authors I have spoken to online more than once, I worried I wouldn't like it, and I hate the thought of giving one of us a negative review. So I worried for a day, couldn't put it off any longer, then started to read. I have one word for you. Wow!

Ok, so with a funny author, you would expect a fair few laughs. What I did not expect was to have a smile pretty much plastered on my face for most of the time I was reading. This book is really funny! There were moments when I was reading in a room full of family members and I would get strange looks while I was sat there laughing out loud for literally 20-30 seconds (it doesn't sound long, but when you're laughing, it's forever). There are too many lines in this book I thought should be mentioned, but I can't mention them all, and I can't possibly choose. Tom Clempson is a comic genius!

Jack is just awesome. He's a typical boy, but he's also adorable, and I spent half the time wishing I could adopt him. And he comes out with such brilliant lines. But a fair few times, I actually found I identified with him - when he wasn't being, you know, male. Especially with being scared of reading out in class yet not having the same problem when it came to acting. But we also had similar opinions! There was one instance where he's talking about teenage pregnancies, and I just thought "YES!", because he was saying exactly what I have always thought.

OSMUW is't just about the laughs, though. Hidden between all the giggles are some serious issues. Although mentioning some of them wouldn't be giving you major spoilers, I think it's better to dicover them through Jack's comic outlook on life, so I'll leave you to find these out.

There are some major twists! Ohhh, the twists! I wasn't expecting twists. I was expecting things would work out the way he wanted, or they wouldn't. But the twists!!! My mouth literally dropped open! Once I finished the book, I immediately wanted to pick it up again, to spot all the things I missed before. Oooh, it was so clever! And I really can't say much more other than once I closed the last pages of the book I literally sat there for ten minutes thinking "wow!" Seriously. I was in complete awe, and thinking back over the different parts of the book and winding myself up. Because these characters are just so real, the twists just blew me away. I am now absolutely itching for the sequel to find out what happens next, though unfortunately it hasn't been finished yet, so there's a while to wait.

If I had to criticise the book at all, it would be that perhaps it's a little too funny. Hold on, I'll explain. It's not the type of book I personally could read in one sitting. The funny is brilliant, but after a while, it was just a little too much. So I'd put it down, I'd chat to the family, I'd watch some TV, I'd go to the pub, then I'd pick it up again later and have no problems with it. I think I just like my funny to be peppered with some sad or angry, etc, without being sad and funny or angry and funny, if that makes sense? But it's only a tiny thing, really. As criticisms go, I don't think being too funny is really all that bad!

Seriously, a fantastic, brilliant book, that I can't gush about it enough! Now righup there with all my other favourites. I cannot give this book higher praise. You must read this book!(less)

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Apr 09, 2011 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

I want to say something before I go any further with this review: I didn't like school. I don't look back on my secondary school years with love. Actually, I prefer to pretend those years didn't exist (though, not my college years. I actually quite like those years). So, when I get books which are "Secondary/High School" book (no magic, vampires, mystery, horror), I usually stay away from them.

So, why haven't I ran away from this book screaming? Well, two reasons. First, I became friends with t...more I want to say something before I go any further with this review: I didn't like school. I don't look back on my secondary school years with love. Actually, I prefer to pretend those years didn't exist (though, not my college years. I actually quite like those years). So, when I get books which are "Secondary/High School" book (no magic, vampires, mystery, horror), I usually stay away from them.

So, why haven't I ran away from this book screaming? Well, two reasons. First, I became friends with the author, Tom Clempson, on twitter and after readng a really random tweet of his which made me burst into laughter, I thought the book would be brilliant. And second, Rhys from Thirst For Fiction read and praised the book VERY HIGHLY on Twitter and his GoodReads. Over the past few months, I have discovered that Rhys and I have very similar taste in books and seeing his reaction to Jack Samsonite, I had high hopes.

So, the book. Our hero - Jack Samsonite - has a mission. First, to pass his GCSEs. Second, to win the girl of his dreams (who barely knows he exists!). And third, to survive the week without getting his face punched in. Well, the good thing he has a plan... well, I say plan, it's kinda half of a plan... well, I say half a plan, what I mean is...

Now, I feel very lucky. Atom Books (the UK publishers) have sent this to me and a few other bloggers this book TWO MONTHS before its published and in bookshops (it's out in early June 2011). So, yeah, I had to get excited. And when Atom say it's like Adrian Mole meets the Inbewteeners (I haven't read or seen either of these - PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!!), so of course, high hopes.

Now, can I say this? This book has one of the longest (and maybe stupidest) titles known to man or beast - One Seriously Messed Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane & Uneventful Life of JACK SAMSONITE (can you say that in one breath?) - barring, maybe, Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Crackling Stump (which is featured in The Tales of Beedle The Bard by JK Rowling). But it sounds like something a teenager would call his essay.

It is crude. The language and the jokes are crude - very teenage boy - so some people may not like it. So, if you get easily offended, you might not want to read this book. Also, I found it odd to read it. I read it in chucks rather than in one huge go or reading it on the correct days (some of you must do this. Read Monday on Monday, read Tuesday on Tuesday, read Wednesday on Wednesday, etc). But I think I did this because I didn't like school much.

With all that said, this was one of the funniest books I have read in a while. And with the introduction written after the week's event (so you know VAGUELY where it was going to end, although no idea HOW), it had moments of thriller-type books in there. But it is a comedy book, and there were things I laughed and other times I cringed and remembered the other kids in my class (who were either cooler than I was or people who made life not pleasant) doing or saying thpse things. So, very close to the bone, but funny. Very funny. Keep your eyes peeled on this author, chaps! (less)

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Jun 15, 2011 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

In fact, I found this book surprisingly tamer than the Inbetweeners, which is a good thing, because I really don't think it should be compared as they are both different and originally brilliant in their own ways. I actually thought Jack reminded me more of a cooler, more modern Adrian Mole and a character I probably would have wanted to hang out with a school.

Our hero of the book Sam Taylor, who has renamed himself Jack Samsonite for his school project has three aims for the week. Firstly he...more In fact, I found this book surprisingly tamer than the Inbetweeners, which is a good thing, because I really don't think it should be compared as they are both different and originally brilliant in their own ways. I actually thought Jack reminded me more of a cooler, more modern Adrian Mole and a character I probably would have wanted to hang out with a school.

Our hero of the book Sam Taylor, who has renamed himself Jack Samsonite for his school project has three aims for the week. Firstly he needs to study to pass his GSCE's which are coming up soon. Secondly, he really wants to go out with the girl of dreams - Eleanor Wade - a girl he spends many an hour day dreaming about. Lastly he wants to survive the week without getting his head kicked in by the nastiest bully in the area. What do you think his chances are of achieving all three in a week?

I always wondered what went on in a teenage boy's head. Well I don't want to now,as being a 40 year old mother of two, that would be just wrong. However I did when I was a teenager myself and I still find the brains of most males intriguing. Thankfully Tom Clempson has come to my rescue and lifted the lid on this foreign land. It seems to me that my first suspicions are correct and for a major part of their thinking time, sex is on the brain. However, they are more endearing than that and I feel I have rather a soft spot for Jack after reading his story. He is quite appalled that some of the girls he knows aren't as pure as he had believed and he suffers with the same anxieties as many girls do. He worries about his friends, his school work and being bullied too. He is actually a rather sweet character.

I felt like I had been sent back in time to my own teenage years, reliving all the angst of good grades and first relationships and it was quite lovely to take the road trip back. The language in the book is not for those who cringe at swear words. Personally it didn't bother me at all and I giggled like a school girl. Although I was glad to find it did not contain my least favourite swear word that does actually make me want to slap people when they say it. At least I think it didn't, unless I have learnt to glaze over that word. I know you will want to know what that word is, so lets just say it rhymes with hunt!

There were parts of this book that had me in hysterics and led to unusual conversations with my husband which covered such subjects as methodology of urinal usage. Don't ask, you just need to read the book to figure out what I mean.

I have just two tiny little niggles with the book. Sorry Tom! One was the title - its so long and when people would ask me about the book, my old brain would struggle to remember the exact title, so please can the next book have a shorter title? Secondly, I was slightly confused with a couple of the people Jack referred to in the story, that I didn't imagine a teenager of today would know. The 'Margaret Thatcher' reference made me stumble a little as I knew the teenagers of my generations would know who she was,(because, yes I am that old) but I am not sure that the teenagers of today would. However, after discussing this with my husband, he was under the impression that they would and that Mrs T may be viewed as a bit of legend amongst the teenage boy brigade, especially as she has focused quite a lot on Top Gear (essential teenage boy viewing). So it looks like I was wrong and Tom was right, according to my husband (fountain of all knowledge). Just goes to show how differently women view the world to men.

Like I said though, they are both really minor niggles and apart from that I thought the book was absolutely brilliant. The ending surprised me, as a bit of twist is sneakily put in. I do like a surprise ending. I really do think that Tom Clempson has a great writing career ahead of him.
(less)

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Mar 30, 2011 Bungle Midnight Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars

Funniest book I have read this year!! Laughed so much I got some strange looks from friends and family.

Our hero?
Jack Samsonite
His mission?
1) pass his GCSEs
2) get the girl (to notice he exists)
3) survive the week without a serious face punching
Good thing he’s got a plan. Well, half a plan…

I really enjoyed this book!! From start to finish! This book took me out of my comfort zone, I don’t usually like books that are diary based but this book is so much more than that! Sam aka Jack is writing down...more

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May 31, 2011 Amy Plum added it

I laughed until I cried so many times while reading this hilarious debut novel by my fellow Atom author, Tom Clempson. My husband kept looking at me weirdly as I snorted and guffawed my way through the book, until finally I broke down and read him a passage. We both had tears in our eyes as I tried to make it through without hyperventilating.

It's gross (in an inside-a-15-year-old-boy's-head way). It's touching. It's really really funny. I was cheering for Sam/Jack the whole way through, as he t...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-and-young-adult, favorites

I picked this up because I saw it was marketed at boys, and I am always curious to see what books there are for teenage boys which aren't fantasy - and I thought it was excellent. I wasn't really sure what to expect, as I knew I probably wasn't the intended audience, but the lead character, Jack/Sam, was written so well and realistically that I spent half the book thinking "that is so true!" and the other half laughing. The everyday scenarios, such as Jack/Sam being a drifter between two groups...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Issy Britton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: interesting-endings

This book was absolutely fantastic. Funny, witty banter that really had me engaged. I wasn't quite sure where the story was going to be quite honest until the note-swapping part. The mcdonalds car park section really was fantastic, I absolutely loved it (but felt really bad for jack at the same time). The ending was actually quite shocking and I really didn't see it coming - at all. Even so it was a great way to end the book. Words don't describe how much I recommend this to those who love the i...more

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Jun 07, 2012 HG rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-humour

My first attempt to go beyond the established humour authors almost stopped in the first chapter. However, one I got over the “nob” shock factor, the story of sixteen year old Sam showed potential. I laughed at different episodes and think it would have reasonable appeal to a teenage (male) audience. It is light weight, but I found the premise of Sam writing a story (as Jack Samsonite about his week) for his English teacher and yet including a twist in the end, appealing. It has some of the iron...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own-print, read-in-2011, favorites, british-author

Our hero Sam (or Jack as he has decided to call himself) is writing a diary for a week as a school project. His goals for the week are to study for his exams, get the girl and to avoid being beaten up but that's going to be a lot more complicated than it sounds.

I don't even know where to start with this review - sometimes you come across a book that is just so much fun to read that you don't want it to end and One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Sams...more Our hero Sam (or Jack as he has decided to call himself) is writing a diary for a week as a school project. His goals for the week are to study for his exams, get the girl and to avoid being beaten up but that's going to be a lot more complicated than it sounds.

I don't even know where to start with this review - sometimes you come across a book that is just so much fun to read that you don't want it to end and One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite (hereafter referred to as OSMUW) is one of those books. I can't tell you how excited I am that there is going to be a sequel (although I believe we'll have to wait until 2013 to read it unfortunately). I have to mention that title - it has to be the longest book title I've ever come across but it suits the story perfectly and I love it.

Jack is a fairly typical 15 year old boy, he isn't one of the popular crowd but he isn't one of the geeks either and he flits between several different school cliques. I'm not going to tell you what he gets up to in his week - you're going to have to read the book for yourself if you want to find out. What I will tell you is that Jack reminded me of a less geeky Adrian Mole and I've not read a book that made me laugh as much as this one in a long time. In fact I completely embarrassed myself by snorting with laughter when I was reading OSMUW on a train. I just couldn't stop myself - I mean who knew choosing which urinal to use was such an exact science!

I have quite obviously never been a teenage boy but it was easy to relate to Jack, he faced a lot of the same kind of problems at school as I did and his character is very realistic. If you have ever wanted to know what goes on in a teenage boy's head then you need to read this book - it explains a lot! I don't think a page goes by that won't have you laughing but the story deals with some serious issues along with the humor. The twist at the end completely shocked me and as soon as I finished reading I had to go back and read the beginning again because it was so cleverly written.

I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone, if you have ever been a teenager you will be able to identify with Jack. I'm sure teenage boys will love the story but it will definitely appeal to girls too. My only warning would be that if you don't like crude humor and are easily offended by swearing then this might not be for you but as long as you don't take it too seriously I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did. OSMUW is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what Tom Clempson comes up with next!(less)

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Apr 28, 2013 Josh Evans rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I loved this book so much because it was interesting and well written. I like it when books make you laugh in the worst situations, that have something I call emotionally conveyed humour. This is humour that is made possible by someone's emotions, so it only really appears in first person. John Green does this well, and so does Tom Clempson. I saw the second book in Waterstone's, but I think it may be better as a standalone book, because it ends so well.

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Aug 19, 2011 Brandon Grove rated it 5 of 5 stars

i went to the same school as him but in a different building as our school had two buildings but it was a great read and really funny but i think people on the bus thought i was mental as i was sat there laughing so much at nothing but a book but really a good read and would recommend it to any young adult.

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Jul 03, 2011 Olivia J rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was so good that I can’t put a description into words. You just need to read it. I could not stop laughing and finally felt like for once an author really successfully wrote and mastered the mind of a teenager.

Best book I have read in a long time.

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Jun 07, 2011 Hayley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-owned

One Seriously Messed-Up Week is an ideal read for older fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid for its similar wry humour and inclination for misadventure.

Written in the form of an English assignment, it details the adventures of a charismatic British teenager as he attempts to thwart the bad guy and get the girl, managing to be just so darn likable in the process.

While the teen boy subject matter has been compared to the TV show Inbetweeners, Jack Samsonite stands apart in that he's not nearly as repel...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011

I absolutely adore this book, it has such a great narrative. Jack is such a normal boy and like normal girls. It make me laugh out loud and just was charming to read. Such a great contempory novel! I can't wait to read more!

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Apr 02, 2013 Leo E-M rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that I can not put down I have still not finished it but so far it is really great reading about someone else's life instead of my own

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Apr 23, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemp-fiction

Such a brilliantly rude, laugh out loud book. Bring on book 2. No - now. Bring it on now. I am overwhelmed with desire to read it. ps I am neither young nor male.

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Jun 19, 2011 Empire of Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant, fun little book. So many laughs right from the very first page. Just what I needed right now!! Cannot recommend enough. (full review coming soon!)

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Aug 24, 2011 Michaela rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the space of a week, Jack must find a way to get the girl he's adored for years whilst also getting himself out off the beating of his life.

This book was hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times even my cats were giving me funny looks. It's like an Adrian Mole book but more vulgar.

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May 07, 2012 Andrew Wilkins rated it 3 of 5 stars

Adrian mole with more laughs

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Feb 14, 2012 Bridget rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I enjoyed this light little read, but its definitely more aimed at guys than me :)

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Mar 20, 2012 Robyn Drummond rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cannot describe how much laughing I did throughout this book! I was sat with my boyfriend and I was basically reading it to him! Absolutely hilarious. Gave me a great insight into the mind of teenage boys. A bit late though! Haha.

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About Tom Clempson

Author of the Jack Samsonite books.
Sniffer of windows.
Father of two.
Husband of one.
Allergic to nuts.
Not allergic to pebbles.

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One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend in the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite (Jack Samsonite, #2)

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“Hi!'

The chirpy little voice greeted me with such energised enthusiasm it made me jump nearly a foot out of my seat. I turned around, expecting to see the usual cocky little Bezzer-in-training Tyler, who every once in a while enjoys pissing off as many people on the bus as possible, but to my surprise it was the scruffy little quiet Year 7 who sits at the front of the bus with his big orange hair bouncing around.

'Hello,' I replied dubiously. (You can't assume that a kid isn't intending to give you grief just because he has ginger hair, not these days. What is the world coming to?)” — 1 person liked it

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One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite (Jack Samsonite #1)

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