Book Review: My Boyfriend is a Twat

When I was just a young blogger, only knee high to a Google search, there were several blogs that I looked up to as examples of how grown up blogging was done.

In one such example having a boyfriend who is a twat and a large supply of red wine close at hand (in the garage via the kitchen) was clearly a recipe for a successful blog. I was not willing to go as far as getting myself a boyfriend but the wine sounded like a good idea. I continued to read and that is how I became familiar with the blog My Boyfriend is a Twat by Zoe McCarthy.

Zoe’s blog has now been turned in to a book with pages made out of paper and letters that form words which means it can be read with out the risk of RSI in your mouse hand. A few days ago she asked me to review this book.

Described as a mixture of ‘The Osbournes’, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ and ‘My Family’ Zoe’s book and award winning blog (three time winner of the Best European Blog Award) tells the story of her relationship with her boyfriend (aka: Quarsan, aka: The Twat) and the comical chaos that regularly accurse.

The book contains many funny stories about why life living with a Twat might be difficult even if it is highly amusing to an outsider. It’s impossible not to like the character of the Twat even though he has obviously coursed Zoe to pull her hair out on several occasions. It is this love/irritated-by relationship that makes the book so enjoyable and means men and women will both get something different out of reading it.

As someone who started reading Zoe’s blog quite late in it’s creation I feel that reading the book is like watching the flashback episode of your favourite TV show and discovering the back story that explains the characters motivations and development. I discovered the moving tale about Zoe and Quarsan’s first meeting, the betrayal that started the well known satellite story and the shocking revelation about whose idea it was to start the blog. It is all humorously written down with in the books pages (which are made of paper).

I could continue to talk about how good the book is but I do have one big problem with it (sorry Zoe). The book is described as, “The definitive guide to recognising, dealing and living with a complete and utter Twat,” and this worries me for one main reason. As I started to browse the books pages and read the story of the twat I started to find myself identifying with him. My attempts at cake baking have met with similar success, I have been known to put empty jars back in the fridge and on at least one occasion I have considered purchasing an inflatable Dalek. Could I be a twat as well? Am I a member of the brotherhood of the Twat?

Despite the identity crises this book has coursed me it is very enjoyable and I suggest picking up a copy from Amazon or your local book store.