AIBU to be disappointed in David Walliams

[BufordTJustice]

For allowing the hate filled, fake news rag that is the Daily Mail to gain readership by offering a free cd of his children's books.

He gives me the absolute and utter creeps.
Literally makes my skin crawl.

Horrible man, poor writer. Books somewhat dull.

I have an inherent dislike and distrust of Walliams and I don't know why

He signed over his rights to the book/audio when he signed with the publisher. It's absolutely nothing to do with him what they do with it then.

I think his books are awful and he seems really false. Also, I get a bad feeling from him. Like something will come out in a few years time.

Another one here at censoring what children's books your kids read! Thank goodness mine didn't, I was free to read what I liked as a child without mum and dad throwing books away or refusing to let me read some.
Both mine love David Walliams, in fact youngest has his new Ice Monster (think that's what it's called) on his Christmas list.

All his campy “oooh matron” stuff is gross. I’m amazed he still gets airtime these days.

My bookworm DD has always refused to read his books. I don’t know why, and if she’d wanted to I wouldn’t have stopped her, but I’m not sad about her choice, he gives me the creeps too.

I don’t like his books either, sadly ds hasn’t just been given the new one for his birthday.

has*

ooh, is it the weekend edition or today?
BTW, I think the Guardian has sunk as low as the Mail but in its own way.

His books get so much hype but are actually dreadful, I was shocked after reading through a few that were given to my children as gifts, poor impersonation of roald Dahl at best, at worst actively offensive!

Censoring what our kids read?! Of course I'm allowed choose what my 2 and 4 year old read. Same as I censor what they watch on telly. And the "at least my son is reading" poster is implying that if kids aren't reading David Walliams they're not reading at all. My two love books and being read to.

My son absolutely adores David Walliams, I think that the books are clever and funny and I'm very happy for him to read them. Despite me being a highly prolific reader he isn't interested in reading and this gets him engaged with the stories and drive his imagination. It's only on here I hear people slagging his writing off. All the kids I know adore his books.

As a person, I am not a fan but I do think the books are great.

Yeah at age 2 and 4 that's a bit different, at that age you read to them. That age wouldn't really be suitable for David Walliams anyway.
I was more on about the posters happily declaring they chuck books away and ha ha their kids haven't noticed or that they won't let them read them in the first place.

The books helped DD to read more than horse stories. But she stopped after a couple as the style was just always the same, his stories while hit a sport, also do not vary that much.

But it helped her finding new genres and new authors.

I think he should have an influence how his stories are market. He owns the copyright most likely and therefore publishers can’t do everything without his consent.

hoki - there's a difference between choosing reading material for your kids, and actively throwing away stuff they've been bought/given. I don't think anyone here would advocate parents not being able to choose for their young children.

The issue people have alluded to is where the children have either expressed a preference for, or been given, Walliams books, and parents have then taken it upon themselves to dispose of them.

The fact that he compèred that hideous Presidents' Club meat market party did for me...

Also hate his books, just as I hated Little Britain. Cheap laughs by reinforcing damaging stereotypes. Fortunately my kids thinks the books are pretty shit too once they've read more than one.

I’m not sure, but don’t the rights belong to his publisher? In which case, the decision to authorise the Daily Fail giveaway rests with them (Harper Collins Audio?)

I can understand people being upset about someone promoting theFail, or any other right wing hack-rag. But do bear in mind that the shops which sell them are doing far more to enable distribution than a single author ever could. If you feel that strongly, boycott those shops and supermarkets, and tell them why you won’t shop there.

I 'censor' them in that when I'm browsing in the library or bookshop for books for DD (which I very much enjoy doing) I don't buy his books. We got one out of the library and as I read it to DD at bedtime I realised how very badly it was written, and then thankfully she said she wasn't enjoying it so that was the end of that.

His sentence construction is utterly appalling, I found it very difficult to read aloud and I wasn't about to let DD think that's how a sentence should be!

But as for the stuff she chooses herself, god knows what it's like!

The fact that he compèred that hideous Presidents' Club meat market party did for me...

Yep. We've never read his books and we won't be reading them after that.

The rights will belong to the publisher, yes (Harper Collins don't acquire books without audio rights) but I'd be astonished if the publisher had not sought his (agent's) consent before going ahead with this deal. There are lots of writers who refuse to have their books sold to the Mail, but there are others who are happy to as the received wisdom is that the Mail readership is still very much a book-buying one.. ie they skew to an older than average demographic.

FWIW the odious Paul Dacre was replaced earlier this year by Geordie Greig, previously editor of the MoS. The paper's stance on Brexit has noticeably shifted accordingly.

I don’t read these books at bedtime anymore as I don’t like them, they’re also not great for reading aloud anyway.

My son, however, usually (reluctantly) picks his reading matter dependant on having less than 200 pages or a footballer on the front cover and yet he’s 2/3 of the way through the ice monster at the mo’ and feeling extremely proud of himself.
Any books is better than no books.

He's like a Poundland Roald Dahl IMO.