Every Sunday we are taking a look at the world of books. I read a lot and always want to share my opinions on what I read, so I thought it would be fun to write reviews. Today we are looking at a book by Alan Partridge that explores a lighthouse.

Alan Partridge: Big Beacon (2023)

Steve Coogan

Synopsis

n Big Beacon, Norwich’s favourite son and best broadcaster, Alan Partridge, triumphs against the odds. TWICE.

Using an innovative ‘dual narrative’ structure you sometimes see in films, Big Beacon tells the story of how Partridge heroically rebuilt his TV career, rising like a phoenix from the desolate wasteland of local radio to climb to the summit of Mount Primetime and regain the nationwide prominence his talent merits.

But then something quite unexpected and moving, because Big Beacon also tells the story of a selfless man, driven to restore an old lighthouse to its former glory, motivated by nothing more than respect for a quietly heroic old building that many take for granted, which some people think is a metaphor for Alan himself even though it’s not really for them to say.*

Leaving his old life behind and relocating to a small coastal village in Kent, Alan battles through adversity, wins the hearts and minds of a suspicious community, and ultimately shows himself to be a quite wonderful man.

* The two strands will run in tandem, their narrative arcs mirroring each other to make the parallels between the two stories abundantly clear to the less able reader.

– from Waterstones

Positive Points

I don’t like Alan Partridge, there I said it. However, whenever I start reading his books I change my mind and find myself laughing out loud for a lot of it. This book is incredibly funny and I decided to listen to this book in audio form for a change and it heightened the comedy. It was incredibly engaging, a bizarre yet fun story and hilarious with some fun characters. The fantastic thing about audio version is that he doesn’t break character once and that is what makes it so ridiculous.

Negative Points

If you do not like Alan Partridge you may not like this book

Overall Review

One of my favourite reads of the year, initially I was not sure but it just is so silly that it is hard not to like. Listen to the audiobook if you can.

Rating : ****’ 4.5 Stars