The Good, the Bad and the Little Bit Stupid
- Downloads：4904
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-17 10:51:15
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Marina Lewycka
- ISBN：0241430321
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
A LAUGH-OUT-LOUD NOVEL FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A SHORT HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRAINIAN
After walking out on his wife to shack up with 'Brexit Brenda' next door， George Pantis thinks he's got it made - especially when he wins millions on a Kosovan lottery he barely remembers entering。
Unfortunately， he can't access the money because he's forgotten his password。 What is he meant to tell all the forceful people who keep appearing at his doorstep desperate to know his mother's maiden name？
The situation is shadier than he thinks， and George is need of rescue。 But will his dysfunctional family be able to save him， and in the process， can they save each other？
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'Lewycka has carved out a reputation for tackling Big Topics with wit and humour' Radio Times
'Warmly funny' Daily Mail
'Her state-of-the-nation novel crackles with zingy one-liners and shrewd humour' Mail on Sunday
After walking out on his wife to shack up with 'Brexit Brenda' next door， George Pantis thinks he's got it made - especially when he wins millions on a Kosovan lottery he barely remembers entering。
Unfortunately， he can't access the money because he's forgotten his password。 What is he meant to tell all the forceful people who keep appearing at his doorstep desperate to know his mother's maiden name？
The situation is shadier than he thinks， and George is need of rescue。 But will his dysfunctional family be able to save him， and in the process， can they save each other？
______________________________________________________
'Lewycka has carved out a reputation for tackling Big Topics with wit and humour' Radio Times
'Warmly funny' Daily Mail
'Her state-of-the-nation novel crackles with zingy one-liners and shrewd humour' Mail on Sunday
Reviews
Liz
，
Started off really well then became ludicrous when they went to Albania。 It might make some people think more before giving away their bank details， though， one good thing that could come out of this book。
Katie。dorny
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A funny novel that became chaotic then purely unbelievable。 As Brexit rips apart a family， George the Randy pensioner discovers he is the winner of the Kosovan lottery。 Or is he？Add in Brexit Brenda his new paramour; illegal gangs and a bit of organ harvesting - and you have a idea of whatever this book was。Whilst some parts were funny; others were akin to a self righteous lecture with plot lines being blown way too far out of proportion。 Okay but not close to good。
Mila Milaya
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I had really high hopes from reading the blurb of this book。 A 79year old man who wins a huge sum of money on a Kosovan lottery that he doesn’t remember entering and refuses to believe it could be a scam。 He also leaves his wife for the next door neighbour。 The family need to band together to help him out and get him out of the pickles he continuously gets himself into。 I felt like that this was written to be similar to ‘The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared’ but done v I had really high hopes from reading the blurb of this book。 A 79year old man who wins a huge sum of money on a Kosovan lottery that he doesn’t remember entering and refuses to believe it could be a scam。 He also leaves his wife for the next door neighbour。 The family need to band together to help him out and get him out of the pickles he continuously gets himself into。 I felt like that this was written to be similar to ‘The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared’ but done very badly。 The book also just felt like a way for Lewycka to voice her opinions about Brexit。 Living in the UK I am literally sick to death about hearing for and against for leaving the EU and I think a lot of people feel the same。 I hated that it was all shoved down my throat and it was a much bigger focus throughout the book than the actual plot line。 It only had a couple of slightly humorous bits in it。 I can appreciate the fact that it is meant to be a funny book so making it massively realistic isn’t the main point， however， it had so many holes in it and it didn’t make too much sense and left many questions that never got answered。 A very disappointing read and couldn’t wait to finish it to just get it over with。 。。。more
Eli Goh
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I find several parts of the book illogical nevertheless it's a lighthearted and amusing piece to read。 The meaning of the book cover was only obvious towards the end of the story。 I find several parts of the book illogical nevertheless it's a lighthearted and amusing piece to read。 The meaning of the book cover was only obvious towards the end of the story。 。。。more
Darien McCormack
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Didn't laugh。 Given the subject matter， I was more horrified at one point。 Raised a smile sometimes at other times in the book。 I think the reason for reading this， is more about the engaging characters。 I was gripped with the story throughout。 Got a 4 because of the obsession with Brexit。 It is pivotal to the story， but so sick of the subject of Brexit。 Didn't laugh。 Given the subject matter， I was more horrified at one point。 Raised a smile sometimes at other times in the book。 I think the reason for reading this， is more about the engaging characters。 I was gripped with the story throughout。 Got a 4 because of the obsession with Brexit。 It is pivotal to the story， but so sick of the subject of Brexit。 。。。more
Rhiannon
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Farcical， and a frothy gloss over serious issues。 Characters are two-dimensional and narrative tone is too simplistic for me。 Maybe not my favourite as I’m sick of hearing about brexit！
Sadie Lewis
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Wonderful read， so full of life。 Marina Lewycka is one of my favourite authors， she always brings life to her characters。
Julie
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I didn't finish this one， gave up a few chapters in。 I didn't like any of the characters - they were all really annoying - and I just didn't care what happened to them。 I was disappointed as I'd really enjoyed A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and was looking forward to another entertaining read。 I didn't finish this one， gave up a few chapters in。 I didn't like any of the characters - they were all really annoying - and I just didn't care what happened to them。 I was disappointed as I'd really enjoyed A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and was looking forward to another entertaining read。 。。。more
Jo Hartley
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Started off ok with some laugh out loud moments but then it was just all too far fetched and I found myself skim reading to finish it so I could move on！ Find the authors books very much a hit or miss for me
Marya
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DNF @58%I picked this up knowing nothing about this author and this book。 The cover was the main reason I picked it and god， I hate being deceived by pretty covers！ My expectations were the bare minimum and yet this book somehow managed to disappoint me。 What I DID NOT like:The characters - not a single character was likeable and all had racist （and even sexist） undertones。 For example， we know that Brexit Brenda is supposed to be racist to reflect the society。 But then there are characters like DNF @58%I picked this up knowing nothing about this author and this book。 The cover was the main reason I picked it and god， I hate being deceived by pretty covers！ My expectations were the bare minimum and yet this book somehow managed to disappoint me。 What I DID NOT like:The characters - not a single character was likeable and all had racist （and even sexist） undertones。 For example， we know that Brexit Brenda is supposed to be racist to reflect the society。 But then there are characters like Sid who don't even say anything to perhaps dismiss the racist views of his parents - neither does the sister or Sid’s wife。 It is just bizarre to me that somehow （bare in mind that I only read 58%） no one addressed or questioned such things。 I know this is supposed to be some kind of political novel but。。。really？ You really couldn't provide a non-racist， non-sexist POV？ Or perhaps JUST one paragraph to comment on the blatant racism of the white character？ Maybe， these problems are resolved towards the end because as I said， I did not finish this。 After all， I didn't want to torture myself。The utter stupidity - the slow beginning meant that you spend more time with the idiocy of these characters。 I'm sorry but if my parents called me and said they won a lottery， I would be rushing to the bank for safety and of course， the money。 Sid warned his father ten times DESPITE knowing he has ZERO brain cells when it comes to technology！ What a wise idea！ *screams in sarcasm* Sid wanting to stay “neutral” between the so-called-separation （btw， it's blatant infidelity） was the most aggravating thing ever。 I ain't even going to comment on the sheer absurdity of the whole scam + kidney thing because a） I didn't get that far to read about the kidney thing and b） you probably already know how scam stories go。The social commentary - so， I have sort of touch on this， but I just wanted to say that all the issues are glossed over。 Everything from racism to toxic relationships is downplayed。 I was wondering the whole time that does that even count as social commentary？ Like what was the point of it？ Rather than focusing in-depth about these issues and the impacts， the author quickly moves to the mundane problems of some 70+ white-year-old man who hasn't grown out of miscommunication。 The humour - oh， God。 This book does the one thing I HATE in books and that is relying on dark humour to the extent it becomes “eye-rolly”。 If you enjoy white privilege people making racist and sexist remarks then perhaps the humour may work for you。 It。 Was。 Unbearable。 BTW， if I hear anything remotely similar to ‘immigrants are stealing our country’ one more time- it will be ugly。 I hate this book。 I hate it and I regret reading it。 One star for my commitment to enduring the 58%。 。。。more
Marles Henry
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Sometimes the title of the book says it all， and with this book there was no exception。 'The good， the bad and the little bit stupid' sounded fun， quirky， a little out there。 The good: the unpacking of relationships and characters such as Sid and Rosie who were actually quite delightful and lovely。 The bad: to me it was Brenda， and some of the plotlines that did not seem to be very strong and in need of more detail。 The little bit stupid: to be honest， the story in its entirety really seemed a l Sometimes the title of the book says it all， and with this book there was no exception。 'The good， the bad and the little bit stupid' sounded fun， quirky， a little out there。 The good: the unpacking of relationships and characters such as Sid and Rosie who were actually quite delightful and lovely。 The bad: to me it was Brenda， and some of the plotlines that did not seem to be very strong and in need of more detail。 The little bit stupid: to be honest， the story in its entirety really seemed a little bit ridiculous， but not in a funny sort of way。 George's absolute stupidity in placing the lives of Rosie and Brenda at risk is a great example of this。 Yes this was a light hearted book but I think that the seriousness of this part of the book was watered down a little too much， even for a quirky book。 It wasn't my cup of tea， but maybe something you enjoy if are a fan of Marina Lewycka's other books。 。。。more
Loosh
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This started out slow but picked up right at the very end。 However， I wished it was more interesting。
Tandy Davies
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It was interesting reading this book days after we officially left the EU。 Although comic， bordering on farcical at times- serious issues of identity， rigidity of attitude and the long term implications of Brexit are explored。
Jasmin Sore
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This was given to me by a friend for Christmas and not a book I would choose for myself but I did enjoy it。I found some of the characters a bit irritating especially George。 The storyline was a little far-fetched， and I thought the ending was a bit rushed and simplistic。 I have not read any other books by this author and by all accounts this is not one of her best。
Ann
，
I was disappointed in this book。 It seemed that Lewycka couldn't decide between writing about family conflicts or writing a farce so the resulting novel seemed to me to be a rather clumsy mix of the two。 I found the deliberate mistake of pronouncing the characters' surname Pantis as "Panties" really irritating rather than amusing and thought the entire farce section of the novel set abroad was poorly written。 There were some interesting sections and I did like the Sheffield setting which is why I was disappointed in this book。 It seemed that Lewycka couldn't decide between writing about family conflicts or writing a farce so the resulting novel seemed to me to be a rather clumsy mix of the two。 I found the deliberate mistake of pronouncing the characters' surname Pantis as "Panties" really irritating rather than amusing and thought the entire farce section of the novel set abroad was poorly written。 There were some interesting sections and I did like the Sheffield setting which is why I gave it 3 stars rather than just 2。 I wonder though， if Lewycka is resting on her reputation。Maybe she took too long to finish the book， because the theme of conflict within a relationship due to differences in attitudes to Brexit is no longer topical。 This book is， to an extent， a rehash of a story she has used before。 I'm pleased that I borrowed it from the library rather than buying a copy。 。。。more
Christine Dobson
，
An attempt at farcical humour based on some rather disturbing issues？
Diane Tait
，
DNF - I used to love Marina Lewycka books but the last two have become a little bit too silly。 Might be a good TV series but I couldn't sustain my interest for an entire book。 DNF - I used to love Marina Lewycka books but the last two have become a little bit too silly。 Might be a good TV series but I couldn't sustain my interest for an entire book。 。。。more
Tara Lewis
，
This had a raring good start but became more and more ridiculous， and not necessarily in a good way。 Satire is great but it got silly and the ending wasn't great。 This had a raring good start but became more and more ridiculous， and not necessarily in a good way。 Satire is great but it got silly and the ending wasn't great。 。。。more
Airi Forssell
，
I was disappointed。 This is my first Lewycka， but my expectations were high， since I'd seen how much attention her "tractor history" book had accumulated and how it was on sale， and posing on the top ten shelves， everywhere you looked。 The narration is enjoyable， and I rather like how the relations between protagonists are described and how they evolve。 What I did not buy were all the details that just didn't ring true: probability of post-menopausal pregnancy， unbelievably poor bank security in I was disappointed。 This is my first Lewycka， but my expectations were high， since I'd seen how much attention her "tractor history" book had accumulated and how it was on sale， and posing on the top ten shelves， everywhere you looked。 The narration is enjoyable， and I rather like how the relations between protagonists are described and how they evolve。 What I did not buy were all the details that just didn't ring true: probability of post-menopausal pregnancy， unbelievably poor bank security in UK in 2020， the whole business with the gangsters in a far away land。。。 Trying to avoid spoilers here。 This attempts to be a real life fiction with elements of adventure and crazyness， yet it feels somehow out of date。 。。。more
Mark Carey
，
I'm making an effort to finish this because I have liked her other books。 I generally like the 'mood' of her writing， there's a kindness to it。 Light hearted， a bit wacky， people being funny， annoying， hopeless and good but when the scene in this one about harvesting organs started I was horrified。 It's awful， as is sex slavery。 It doesn't work for me as a subject for humour。 I know there's a saying about everything being able to be joked about eventually but I can't enjoy having a rollicking sl I'm making an effort to finish this because I have liked her other books。 I generally like the 'mood' of her writing， there's a kindness to it。 Light hearted， a bit wacky， people being funny， annoying， hopeless and good but when the scene in this one about harvesting organs started I was horrified。 It's awful， as is sex slavery。 It doesn't work for me as a subject for humour。 I know there's a saying about everything being able to be joked about eventually but I can't enjoy having a rollicking slapstick laugh about this stuff， not yet。 。。。more
Jacqueline McNeil
，
What on Earth happened， Marina？ How did this become such a weak， contrived mess of lazy stereotyping and 1970s suburban humour？ What a crying shame from one usually so sparkling and such a joy to read。
Jane Blake
，
Didn’t really enjoy this one and was pleased when I got to the end
Magpie
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Melanie bookclub 2020
Jude Marshall
，
What a crazy， fascinating， entertaining novel！ Just suspend all logic and enjoy！
Runningrara
，
Fantastically funny family financial fraud farce。
Jill Schroeder
，
Disappointing， her Tractors and Caravans were fun but this was all over the place and too slapstick for me。
Missyd
，
Huge disappointment。 I so enjoyed short history of tractors。 Unfortunately seems the author is a one trick pony - it is essentially the same premise， stretched out to be novel size when it was barely worthy of a short story。 All the characters were just paper cut outs and the story was very repetitive in an obvious attempt to fill the pages。
Victoria
，
I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did The premise was really interesting it just didn't feel like it was carried out very well。 I was more annoyed than amused by this book。 The little bit stupid was more than a little I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did The premise was really interesting it just didn't feel like it was carried out very well。 I was more annoyed than amused by this book。 The little bit stupid was more than a little 。。。more
Steve Gillway
，
This book has got me wondering whether the whole Brexit divide will resurface after the pandemic。 Lewycka humourously shows how central and bitter the divide has been over the last few years and mines it for all its worth in this modern day parable。
Carolyn
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