(there are so many covers so I’ve just selected two – I have the one on the right)
Why should I not publish my diary? I have often seen reminiscences of people I have never even heard of, and I fail to see–because I do not happen to be a “Somebody”–why my diary should not be interesting.
A true work of whimsy, The Diary of a Nobody caught me completely unawares. It came into my life while browsing The Book Shop (yes, from that one book) and the title intrigued me enough to buy it. After nights of reading it aloud, or being unable to because I was choking on laughter, I’m so glad I did.
The Diary of a Nobody is comprised of almost-daily entries by Charles Pooter, a clerk in London during the Victorian era, and is written as a satirical look at the experiences, troubles, and triumphs of English life and social classes. Charles Pooter is a man on a mission: a mission to be a diligent worker, a proper gentleman, and a good family man. In his effort to attain these standards, he is met with social kerfuffles, delightful (and less than so) dinner guests, and a variety of other things that ail a social existence.
Reading about the intricacies of daily life might sound dull, but it was interesting to see not only English life from that perspective, but English life in the Victorian age. I chuckled over Pooter’s son Lupin dropping “Guv.” into conversations and the pleasant surprise of seeing British terms I was already familiar with. In addition to the unique terms and topics, I found great enjoyment from Pooter’s sense of humor. Finding oneself to be hilarious is a gift that we seem to share, and I loved the way he congratulated himself on moments of particular wit. This is one of those moments: “I never was so immensely tickled by anything I had ever said before. I actually woke up twice during the night, and laughed till the bed shook.”
The Diary of a Nobody was an easy read with short chapters comprising of just a few pages each. It was convenient to pick up and put down, and although it felt drawn out toward the end, it was such a delight to read.
Personal rating: 7/10
Recommend? Yes
Re-read? Potentially
Time: 1:52