Hilarious

Appropriately enough got given this at the Galley Beggar Booker Prize night party. It's a madcap caper of Francis Plug trying to meet Booker Prize winning authors to get his book signed and glean advice for how to be a public author. It has some very funny moments, the surreal conversations between Francis and the authors, but as it goes on Francis become increasingly unhinged and/or drunk so it gets stressful rather than amusing! ( )

Deliciously silly. Francis Plug is an author. Or he’s trying to be one. Or at least he’d like to be one. And quite apart from the solitary rigours of writing, which typically leads to drink, Francis has concerns about the post-publication prospects of public performance. Which typically leads to drink. Francis’ concern is such that he’s decided to contribute to the alleviation of the public author plight by tracking down Booker Prize winners and tapping them for advice that he can pass along. But the only way he can get close to these authors is if he brings along a copy of their prize-winning novel and joins the queue for an autograph. It’s a nerve-racking quest, which typically leads to drink. And before he gets down to it, he’ll just have a wee drink or five to steady his nerves.

Paul Ewen’s creation, Francis Plug, is an everyman, if every man were a wannabe writer. He is a man of the earth — or at least he’s covered in earth due to his desultory employment as a gardener and infrequent change of clothes. Ewen imbues Plug with remarkable resilience and a disconcertingly surreal imagination. And he balances these two on the tip of a bottle of sauvignon blanc. You can’t help but love Francis and in the end feel that there, but the grace of whomever and a few litres of spirits, goes yourself.

Lots to like here and more to enjoy. Easy to recommend to friends. ( )

The literary scene is encountered by a dysfunctional character. Some amusing set, pieces but a bit repetitive. ( )