This was a book I stumbled across by complete accident. Pure chance. I happened upon a post by Bluemoose Books (publishers of the novel) were advertising the fact that it was about to be adapted into a television series for the BBC. It was alongside a photo of the author, who understandably looked very happy about the news. Without knowing anything else, I decided I was going to read this book. I was going to be one of the cool kids who said they read the book before the show came out.
This article comes following the news that the BBC are axing their Between the Covers series. Sales of Leonard and Hungry Paul rocketed after one of the guests chose it as their book of the week. News of Between the Covers is sad, especially for up and coming authors who could do with that sort of exposure.
The titular Leonard and Hungry Paul are thirty-somethings and close friends. Leonard’s father died in childbirth, and he grew up with a single mother. That same mother dies just before the start of the book, so Leonard now lives alone in the family home. He writes content for children’s encyclopaedias while someone else gets their name on the front cover despite Leonard doing most of the work.
Hungry Paul lives with his parents, while his older sister has already moved out and is soon to be married. He works part-time as a postman and usually does a couple of shifts a month, covering for the full-time posties when they call in sick. He has recently taken up judo, but is at his happiest when he’s doing absolutely nothing.
The two of them bond over board games and deep philosophical conversations. Outside of each other’s company, both men are socially awkward. But things could be about to change. Leonard has fallen head over heels for a woman at work. At the same time, Hungry Paul enters a competition where the winner gets ten grand.
I would describe this read as a delightfully cheerful palette cleanser. After reading a lot of horrors and thrillers and dystopias, it was a refreshing change of pace to read a book like this. I would liken it to Gavin and Stacey, and I mean that as a compliment. Just as in Gavin and Stacey, there are scenes in Leonard and Hungry Paul where little to nothing happens. For example, in G&S, there’s an entire five-minute scene dedicated to wearing oven gloves. In both instances, we don’t mind or even tend to notice. We seem to find ourselves so captivated by these characters that we just love spending time in their company. That’s exactly what Hession gives you in this book.
My Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
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