About book The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir Who Got Trapped In An IKEA Wardrobe: A Novel (2013)
This book came highly recommended, described as an hilarious fantasy. I did not smile once while reading it and only managed not to grind down my teeth, thanks to the other passengers sharing the train wagon with me that day.A few days after reading that awful book, whose only merit lies in its shortness, I finally understood what the humour reminded me of and why I hated it so much. There's a very strong taste in this book of Borat, the supposedly hilariously funny movie about that Uzbek moustache-wearing and cliché-ridden character from the eponymous film. I recognized the same type of racism against anyone different, the same kind of disrespect and contempt for any and all characters, main or secondary, poor writing skills, etc. Needless to say that I hated that movie too and only barely managed to see it through, like I barely managed to finish that book.People who enjoyed it might try giving a chance to that book. People who did not should definitely steer clear of it.Side note: I read the book in the original French, I can't see how it could have been improved by being translated in any other languages, though the number of puns everywhere probably made that work even more painful. The biggest disappointment I have experienced in a long time from a book I was looking forward to reading. Lost in translation, perhaps. I read the English translation of this French author's best selling book. The humor consisted of specific word devices that, by the fourth time you read them, was like being hit over the head with a hammer. I knew the plot was going to be fanciful based on the description, but it came across as juvenile with too many bad jokes and asides. There is supposed to be message here of embracing opportunities that come your way and tolerance...but it was so drowned in icing that the cake lost its flavor. The best part? The title!
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Een aanrader als je "De 100-jarige die uit het raam klom" ook een fijn boek vond.
—Maurice
The best book I've read in ages. Light-hearted, fast-moving, well-written.
—Elizabeth
Klişelerle dolu zoraki bir anlatım. Tam bir hayal kırıklığı.
—netty610
It was a funny book. A lot of humor in it. Ha ha
—sisi