Don't Point That Thing At Me Book 1: Book 1 Of The Mortdecai Trilogy
Don't Point That Thing At Me Book 1: Book 1 Of The Mortdecai Trilogy book cover

Don't Point That Thing At Me Book 1: Book 1 Of The Mortdecai Trilogy

Paperback – International Edition, July 29, 2014

Price
$19.55
Format
Paperback
Pages
176
Publisher
Viking
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0241970256
Dimensions
5 x 0.42 x 7.75 inches
Weight
4.5 ounces

Description

About the Author Kyril Bonfiglioli was born on the south coast of England in 1928 of an English mother and Italo-Slovene father. After studying at Oxford and five years in the army, he took up a career as an art dealer, like his eccentric creation Charlie Mortdecai. He lived in Oxford, Lancashire, Ireland and Jersey, where he died in 1985. He wrote the three Mortdecai novels, a fourth historical Mortdecai novel (about a distinguished ancestor), and left a fifth unpublished at his death.

Features & Highlights

  • Don't Point That Thing At Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli - Book 1 of the Mortdecai Trilogy, now a major motion picture starring Johnny Depp Introducing the Hon. Charlie Mortdecai, art dealer, aristocrat and assassin, in the first of the Mortdecai novels Portly art dealer and seasoned epicurean Charlie Mortdecai comes into possesion of a stolen Goya, the disappearance of which is causing a diplomatic ruction between Spain and its allies. Not that that matters to Charlie ... until compromising pictures of some British diplomats also come into his possession and start to muddy the waters. All he's trying to do is make a dishonest living, but various governments, secret organizations and an unbelievably nubile young German don't see it that way and pretty soon he's in great need of his thuggish manservant Jock to keep them all at bay ... and the Goya safe. First published in the 1970s, this hilarious novel is part Ian Fleming part P G Wodehouse. It is now a major motion picture starring Johnny Depp as Mortdecai, Ewan McGregor as Jock and Gwyneth Paltrow. 'A rare mixture of wit and imaginative unpleasantness' Julian Barnes 'You couldn't snuggle under the duvet with anything more disreputable and delightful' Stephen Fry 'The jokes are excellent, but the most horrible things keep happening... Funny and chilling' Sunday Telegraph Kyril Bonfiglioli was born on the south coast of England in 1928 of an English mother and Italo-Slovene father. After studying at Oxford and five years in the army, he took up a career as an art dealer, like his eccentric creation Charlie Mortdecai. He lived in Oxford, Lancashire, Ireland and Jersey, where he died in 1985. He wrote four Charlie Mortdecai novels, and a fifth historical Mortdecai novel (about a distinguished ancestor).

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(212)
★★★★
20%
(142)
★★★
15%
(106)
★★
7%
(50)
28%
(198)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Not as fun as I thought it would be

My impression of the character from what I'd heard was that he was kind of dandy/ne'er do well who ended up in unexpected dangerous situations. The beginning of the book re-enforced this impression. But it got dark really fast. I didn't expect Mortdecai to be so ruthless or for their to be so much blood.

It's my own fault for thinking the books were light and fun that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I could. However, I also felt at times the author didn't know what he wanted to do with Mortdecai. It jumps from descriptions of him as slightly dandiesh, to bits where he acts more like Special Forces. And even when he's making jokes about finery, people around him are described as being more vicious and ruthless than Jack the Ripper. It's a bit bizarre and I hope the author figured it out for the other books. I mean it starts with him surrounded by the finest art in a beautiful mansion and ends with him in a spider hole, and I think it implied at one point his butler cuts people up with knives.

My other pet peeve is that the character is memorable and fun to read about, but I did secretly want someone to just shoot him in the head. I don't love heroes that are simply indestructible and always have the upper-hand in every situation of the, "Hahaha, when I was 5 years old, I knew I would be weaponless in the British Museum facing you and your peanut allergy, so I hid a gun with peanut dipped bullets under this case and bought the museum to guarantee no one would move it ever."

So a fun read, but not as fun as I expected (or as fun as I think others think it is)
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Excellent seller!

Book as described. Excellent seller!