The Adrian Mole Diaries: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 / The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole

Somehow, I managed to get through my reading life for the past 20 plus years without coming close to Adrian Mole. I find, in reading the original books, "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole: Age 13 ¾" and "Adrian Mole: Growing Pains," combined in THE ADRIAN MOLE DIARIES, that I had missed a lot. The good news is, that what was the topical satire of the 1980's is now a very sharp reminder of what life was like in the 1980's, especially in England, especially under the iron thumb of Mrs. Thatcher, when the marriage of Charles and Diana was the bright side and the Falklands, the odd excitement. Even better news, it is a universal, humane portrait of adolescence. Best news: it is knock down, tear inducing hilarious most of the time and touchingly effective the rest. Adrian Mole, the Everyman Townsend has turned into a media franchise in England, with a television series and sequels as he ages, is age 13 ¾ when he begins his diary, to which he confides his soul, opinions and daily events. He's working class in the Midlands, an only child of self-involved parents who will never get out of debt. Via dramatic irony (that aforementioned tear-inducing hilarity), Townsend records an England brought to its knees by a cumbersome national health plan (Adrian has to get his tonsils removed some 10 years after he was put on the list as needing the procedure), an impoverished public school system (4 students have to share one textbook) and supply side economics. This is tempered by the ageless comedy of adolescent ardor and obsession with bad skin. On top of this, Adrian has decided that he is an intellectual and, if nothing else, fulfills an ambitious reading plan even if he doesn't get everything, he boldly submits his poetry to the BBC and is thrilled with the rejection letters that are a terrific commentary of what poetry should be. The characters--and through them their society--are wonderfully, humanely drawn. The first book is excellently structured; the second becomes more episodic and topical. Together they take Adrian to age 16. I'm not sure that I want to read on in the series; I would like to think that somehow this unlikely charmer overcame everything going against him and prevails as an adult. I've heard otherwise. But I've also heard that the series continues the hilarity and worthwhile social criticism, so perhaps I will.

This is a VERY funny book, written with a great deal of poignancy and insight into the mind of a 13 year old boy. This in itself is surprising, seeing as how the author is NOT a 13 year old boy!We follow Adrian through the trials and tribulations of his parents' marital conflicts, the angst of unrequited love and the heady pleasures of then attaining that love, and all the usual issues with being a boy in school with teenage acne. A particularly funny scene is where the doctor assures Adrian that he is only suffering from acne, and that Lassa Fever is unlikely as he has not been to Africa recently. Adrian decides to get a paper round so that he can consult a private doctor in the future.I cannot receommend it highly enough - it is a wonderful pick me up book for a dull day!

I must first congratulate Sue Townsend on her remarkable acheivements with young Adrian Albert Mole. I have read The Secret Diary and The Growing Pains about 4 times each, but I never get tired or bored of it.Adrian is starts off as a 13 year old Intellectual, living in a house with his pathetic parents and his companion(the dog!) He has much to say about World Politics and Communism, and has a bitter-sweet imagination. As an Intellectual, he finds it difficult to live in a home where he is not noticed, and in a world where people kill themselves, and corruption ruled the world!He also has a thirst for Great English Literature, and he never turns away from it. After reading many Classic books: "Animal Farm, Wuthering Heights, etc" he decides that Poetry and novels is what he wants! He wants to become a poet, and submits numerous poems to the BBC, but they fail to get published, but young Mole is a fighter, and he never gives up!He lives life quite the same, until the treacle-haired love of his life turns up( Pandora Braithwaite). She is smart, gorgeous, and hilariously funny, as stated by A.Mole. But, as he grows older into maturity, he discovers that things will change, and turn very bitter and sweet. But, Mole will always turn out triumphant in the end!A must read!

I have decided to write a review as I am a young girl who has just finished reading both the secret diary and the grwoing pains and I think it would be useful to other children to see a review from their generations point of view...This book is hillarious, I could not put it down and I am actually currently reading the next one in line. I am 11 but I am quite an advanced reader and this could suit both advanced readers and more intermediate readers. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it is a moving diary of Adrian's that I am personally putting on my reading list for the next year who come into grade 6 as I was chosen to update it. In my library, although we have all the adrian mole diaries, they are never there. It was only out of pure luck i finally (after 2 weeks of hunting) managed to get "The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole" out. When look at the number of stamps that have been manically pressed on the inside to prove that you got the book out I stare in wonder. This copy had only been in the library for 2 months! To sum the whole thingup, it's a great laugh and great fun.

A compelling book, slightly wordy. Overall worth the time it takes to read, and deserves praise from anyone willing to read it!