Nomad
by Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons, and Steve Coogan
I don’t know how exactly I became such an Alan Partridge fan. I like Steve Coogan and especially his Trip series with Rob Brydon. I guess I just had a thirst for more Coogan and Alan Partridge was a deep well to drink from. The more I drank, the more I enjoyed it and the more I kept drinking. Sure, a fan would watch the TV shows, the specials, and maybe even the movie (they’re all great!). But now I’m reading MULTIPLE books on the character. Am I a sick man? Pretty soon I’ll listen to the podcast as well (which I hear is FANTASTIC, by the way).
I can imagine the audiobook of Nomad would add a new level to the book, but I’ve been with this character for so long that I can’t but hear his voice in my head as I’m reading. His first book I, Partridge was an “autobiography” of sorts, chronicling his life up until the events of 2011, and this follow up chronicles a journey, on foot, from his childhood home in Norwich to Dungeness. It follows the steps of his father as Alan tries to figure out why, years ago, he had applied for a position at a power plant and never followed through.
It’s all about Alan, of course, and his perspective and thoughts on his life, the events, the journey itself, his family and acquaintances, and his career. As one can imagine, it’s all sadly delusional, selfish and utterly hilarious. Like with his previous book, I’m amazed at how much funny stuff was crammed into each sentence. It’s almost as if every paragraph was crafted into a setup and a punchline. It’s really a masterclass in comedic writing.
I think people consider I, Partridge to be the better book, but I’m not so sure. I enjoyed Nomad so much. I love being with this character and laughing with him. I guess there’s no stopping now. Onto the next book!
