"Adrian Mole and The Weapons of Mass Destruction" by Sue Townsend - Book Review

Adrian is a familiar literary figure for many readers of a certain age. This is because he's very easy to sympathise with. A lot of his struggles, his questions and his experiences are ones we all face in our daily lives. Throughout the Adrian Mole series we have journeyed with him as he went through puberty, reached his adulthood, got himself into all sorts of trouble but always made it through, eventually."Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction" is written in the distinct style of the other novels. It's written in the form of a diary, overflowing with the comic talent Sue Townsend is known for.Adrian is working in a book shop. He's just bought a place, is struggling with his financial affairs, and his romantic life is as chaotic as ever. In his spare time, he's writing letters to Tony Blair, hoping the Prime Minister will assist him in his battle with the travel agency, and he's offering his advice to celebrities. He's got himself entangled with a rather scary lady called Marigold. It doesn't help that he actually finds himself attracted to Marigold's sister, Daisy...And through it all, the world is changing. And so are Adrian's views on the world, and many things he used to have a solid faith in.I found this to be an enjoyable read. There were a few times when I laughed out loud, especially at Adrian's infamous letters. I do admit that he's not always the most likeable character. He can be rude, petty, and downright irritating. Still, I can't help but want the best for him either. I guess it just illustrates we all have our good and less good sides.There were times when I took delight in the book just because Sue Townsend's political views were quite transparent, and delivered to the reader through Adrian's views and experiences. Or perhaps she was merely describing how the majority of British citizens felt during the whole weapons of mass destruction disaster and the war that followed. She has her finger right on the pulse of contemporary life.I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a page turner, and I have no doubt you will have a few good laughs along the way.According to the author's bio, Sue Townsend is one of Britain's bestselling authors. Her hugely successful novels include seven Adrian Mole books, "The Public Confessions of a Middle-Aged Woman (Aged 55 ¾)" and "Number Ten". She is also well known as a playwright. She lives in Leicester."Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction" was first published by Michael Joseph in 2004. The ISBN is 0-141-01588-8. dr seuss cat in hat book