Book Review

Title: Dear Mr Kershaw: A Pensioner Writes

Author: Derek Philpott

Category: Humour/Music

My Rating: 5 Star

My Review:

I spotted this book on Gary’s Fiction is Food blog where the author, Derek Philpott was a guest on the Author Spotlight feature. You can read Gary’s post HERE.

Immediately, I was drawn in by Derek’s story and the unfolding hilarity which eventually became the book, Dear Mr Kershaw. In short, Derek and his friend Wilfred took it upon themselves to write a letter to a large number of pop stars pointing out the errors in their song lyrics.

It sounds like a magazine editor’s nightmare, however, in a fantastic twist of fate the pop stars began writing back! Eventually, Derek was being contacted by agents and managers wanting to know why their act hadn’t received a letter.

Dear Mr Kershaw is a compilation of the letters Derek and Wilfred sent out with the often hilarious replies they received.

Dear Level 42,

Re: Lessons In Love

My neighbour Wilf Turnbull and I heard your tuneful jingle on Bournemouth’s Wave FM yesterday and felt compelled to congratulate you on the novel medium, that of the pop charts, through which you have chosen to promote your new enterprise. If we have one criticism, Level 42, it is that we feel that your advertising slogan, ‘Could Be Better, Should Be Better,’ highlighting as it does the shortfalls of The Academy, is perhaps not such a good idea.

Hello Derek and Wilf,

In reply to your insightful letter to us, I have to hold my hands up and say you are quite right. The Academy is rubbish, sorry.

If we could be better we undoubtedly would, but there it is…!

From The Steve Miller Band, Iron Maiden, and The Human League right through to Right Said Fred and Yazz, no pop or rock star has been left untouched. The letters written by Derek are pure genius on their own, but the responses are fantastic.

This is the kind of book you can keep on hand and dip in and out of when you need a giggle. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down but I’m also pretty sure I’ll be dipping back in on occasion when I need cheering up.

Highly recommended if you are looking for something a bit different and a lot of fun.

BUY your copy of Dear Mr Kershaw from Amazon UK or Amazon US.

Blurb:

Bought to the printed page on the back of the cult internet sensation and an immensely successful Crowdfunding campaign contributed to by many of the artists involved, ‘’Dear Mr. Kershaw’’ is the result of 7 years’ surreal and quite bonkers work.

‘’Derek’’, with help from his friend ‘’Wilf’’, is a retired gent who back in 2008 set out on a bizarre crusade, writing good old-fashioned letters to pop and rock stars regarding lyrical inaccuracies and ambiguities in their most famous songs and often hilariously getting the wrong end of the stick. The letters are eminently publishable in their own right, mixing sharp wit, confusion and biscuits with trips to the shops and unarguable logic in relation to questioning the offending chart hits under scrutiny. What makes this book an essential purchase however is that, with the missives online for all to see on what was becoming a hugely popular website, the artists quite unexpectedly started to reply.

‘’Dear Mr. Kershaw’’ features over 65 of the best and funniest letters and responses from famous and legendary names spanning every reach of the pop, rock, metal, prog and punk spectrum, all relishing their involvement ‘’in character’’ and revealing their own in many cases hitherto unknown humorous sides. Amongst those to be saluted for their great sportsmanship are Noddy Holder, Billy Bragg, Was Not Was, The Stereo MCs, Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics, Saxon, Tom Robinson, Stiff Little Fingers, Rick Wakeman, Paul Heaton, Squeeze, Toyah, Howard Jones, The Divine Comedy, Kim Wilde, and of course the gentleman himself Mr Nik Kershaw Also includes 100 ‘’mini-letters’’ and Polymer Animal Popstars Highly recommended to anyone who likes music and laughing.

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