Hi, all:
For those of you who are looking for something different, non-seasonal, brief, and who appreciate an extremely dark sense of humour, I recommend this short read by John Dolan. But be warned. It isn’t for everyone.
Baking Bad: Notes from My Diary by John Dolan
“I need to spend some time reburying in the garden. Next door’s dog has dug up a foot.”
Thus begins a surreal journal the like of which (if you’re lucky) you have never encountered before.
Author John Dolan’s unnamed diarist plumbs the depths of black comedy in a way that might make your hair stand on end. Not recommended for the PC-aware or those with a weak stomach.
Contains helpful tips on cooking and on murdering people.
https://www.amazon.com/Baking-Bad-Notes-My-Diary-ebook/dp/B089R7BH7S/
About the author:
“Makes a living by travelling, talking a lot and sometimes writing stuff down. Galericulate author, polymath and occasional smarty-pants.”
John Dolan hails from a small town in the North-East of England. Before turning to writing, his career encompassed law and finance. He has run businesses in Europe, South and Central America, Africa and Asia. He and his wife Fiona currently divide their time between Thailand and the UK.
He is the author of the ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ mystery series and the ‘Children of Karma’ mystery trilogy.
My review:
I am a fan of John Dolan, and he is one of the few authors who can make me read genres I don’t usually read, and whom I trust implicitly. That doesn’t mean he cannot surprise me. Quite the opposite. His sense of humour can be very dark and sharp, and he (and his characters) know how to keep a poker face, which means that sometimes one doesn’t quite know when he (and they) are being serious. But mistaking their statements for jokes when they are told in earnest can be dangerous.
I love his two mystery series set in Thailand, his most recent novel (Land of Red Mist), but this book is one that has more in common with some of his shorter and darkly humorous writings, like Fun with Dick, The Ortford English Dictionary, or Jim Fosse’s Expense Claim.
As I did when I reviewed the Dictionary, I must warn readers that this is not a book for people looking for an easy and gentle read, and if taken too seriously, it is bound to offend most readers.
This is a very short book, and it takes the form of the diary notes of a character who is a bit peculiar. He likes to bake, but let’s say that he uses some unusual ingredients. (Don’t miss the recipes!) He is not terribly fond of pets, and although he claims to be looking for love, his methods are not the best. And his family…
He works at a laboratory specialised in animal testing, and to give you a taster of what this short read is like, this is what he says about it:
“Today marks my third anniversary of working at the lab. I believe I have found my vocation among the dead, the dying and the tortured.”
I found it extremely funny, but it is one of those books that as you read it you’re both, laughing and horrified at the kind of things that are making you laugh. You are thankful you haven’t met an individual like him in real life (hopefully!) but he is so blatant and has so few inhibitions that there is something appealing about him (as a fictional character, of course).
I recommend this book to people who appreciate a dark and extreme sense of humour, are not easily shocked, and are looking for a short but intense read. Be warned, though. The character is unredeemable, and this is not a morality play, but rather the opposite.
Thanks to the author for making me gasp and laugh out loud, thanks to all of you for reading, liking, and commenting, remember to share with anybody who might enjoy it, Happy 2023, and don’t forget to keep smiling!
