To feel a bit ill about David Walliams?

[HelloYouTwo]

Apparently he’s made over £100m from his books.

There are so many better books out there than that pile of repetitive mildly racist, stereotype-laden junk that he peddles off the back of being a bit famous. I feel sorry for all the decent non-celeb authors out there.

News article if anyone interested:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/david-walliams-sitting-comfortably-in-100-million-book-club-gmp6bwm6b?shareToken=170904334320775f0850152088ce45a1

The point is not whether your kids have heard of him, the point is he was able to get second-rate (that’s being kind) work published and noticed and onto booksellers’ shelves because he’s famous. Not because he’s talented. And he’s able to keep pulling strings and getting promoted because it’s all a money-making juggernaut that everyone wants a piece of.

Second rate? How offensive to all the children that love them. Many kids love David Walliams books so he clearly has a talent.

People like different types of books, music, films etc. My daughter loves the singer Billie Eilish, I don't really like her music, that doesn't mean she's shit just that she's not to my taste. Tolerance and respect of others is what's needed, as usual. Some mumsnetter need to work on those.

the point is he was able to get second-rate (that’s being kind) work published and noticed

second rate in your opinion and lets be fair, you as an adult are not his target audience. Children are, and children seem to like his books.

My DS has no interest in reading generally but read all of DW's books and loved them.

CodenameVillanelle yes I’ll put Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates and all that other stuff where there’s more page than words into the same bin as DW.

But why? As far as I know, those authors aren’t famous for anything other than those books. Are they high literature? No. Do kids want to read them? Absolutely. Why? Because they are relatable and funny.

Maybe what you think is funny isnt what kids think Is funny. Just a thought.

YANBU.

It really irritates me when Walliams is compared to Roald Dahl. He's not anywhere near the brilliance of Roald Dahl. He also has some characters that are mean. That's it.

Walliams has a mean streak I find really unpleasant.

My DD loves him and is eagerly awaiting delivery of his newest book next week, which she saved up her pocket money for as soon as she knew it was coming out.

YABU.

My DC love them

Well he got my child with SEN reading and enjoying books you are so bitter about a childrens author it is sticking in your throat

I find the whole idea of famous people suddenly discovering a gift for authorship deeply depressing. Even my particualar “unlikely crush”
Richard Osman is getting in on the act, I am sorry to say.

Sets off my creep radar too @MoltoAgitato

Roald Dhal hated children so much he stretched. Them and turned them purple

I don’t like him, he sets off my creep radar. I appreciate that I have made an entirely helpful, pertinent and insightful contribution to your thread

I know what you mean. There is something about him thst makes me uneasy. Probably quite unfair, but it's just there.

Walliams will be getting at most 10% of the book sales value.

Book snobs would rather children's parents bought sophisticated, challenging books that look great on the shelf but have never been read.

The adult equivalent is buying all the Booker prize nominees and never reading any of them.

I don’t like him, he sets off my creep radar.

I'm glad it's not just me. I have to turn over whenever his face appears on tv.

Op you are being quite obnoxious. It is not for you to tell everyone else what they should like. You think the books are shit, that is only your opinion, millions of children would disagree.

I loved reading as a child, all kinds of books. My ds doesn't enjoy reading very much, I've tried him with loads of different books and he doesn't get into them. He has however read a few David Walliams books along with Diary of a Wimpy kid, Tom Gates.

Ds has no idea who David Walliams is as a celeb, there is no way anyone could force ds to read a book he didn't enjoy.

The boos appeal to children, end of story.

I think such books should be 'part of a well-balanced diet'. They're the literary equivalent of a Big Mac - easy to swallow and preferable to starvation/no reading at all.

But in the same way that most of us plug away with trying to get kids to eat a wider range of food and not be 'fussy eaters' - I think it's a good idea to widen children's reading.

Going to a children's library, if you have one near, is a great idea. Library assistants will be very happy to recommend books for children who enjoy humour.

It's down to content mills imo. It's never been easier to find a ghostwiter and pay them next to nothing than it is now. Most couldn't even dream of making minimum wage.

This is so British! I resent this person being successful and making money!

His books are loved by children, his intended audience! They actually read his books! You should be celebrating that fact not knocking him for having the audacity to be able to engage with young readers.

I dont like them. But I have watched reluctant readers introduced to the world of books through his stories, which have opened up so many possibilites for them. Watched children go home and their parents report back that they didn’t watch tv or play xbox all evening because they were so lost in the books.
That can only ever be a good thing.

I agree with the OP.
I also agree with the poster who said "creep radar"

to the people who are shrugging and saying "riches have nothing to do with quality, ever, get over it" - well I would make my peace with that point of view much more easily if it were more prevalent, or even reasonably well guaranteed, that useful, hardworking, skilled, talented people could make a decent living and have a decent life.

Ok, not everyone needs millions (although arguably if you have 3 children and live in the south east and need somewhere to live you need to be worth something like a million - never mind, we'll leave that for now). I wouldn't bedgrudge the millions to flashy pointless egotists if they were just an irrelevant sideshow, while teachers, nurses, carers, cleaners, nursery professionals, childcare professionals, lab technicians, ambulance drivers, musicians, skilled writers, secretaries, etc, all lived comfortably enough with good food, rewarding leisure and a holiday once a year.

BUT THEY DON'T

I'm fucking furious

Walliams is an arsehole. Little Britain was a hatey sack of unfunny shit.

His books are like a 2 finger salute to adults I think they are just naughty and rude enough to appeal to kids and that's ok he isn't writing for adults is he it is childish silly humour.

Book snobs would rather children's parents bought sophisticated, challenging books that look great on the shelf but have never been read.

Oh yes, I know one of those.

David Walliams always seems to crop up on threads of celebrities that people dislike.

Tom Fletcher must have made money from his books too, and I would bet my house his celebrity helped him get a book deal, yet he is an MN darling, so none of the same hate.

First book bought because of the publicity around them

All the following books because my kids love them. I am happy that my children love reading, and have access to as many books as they like.

You don't like him, don't buy his books, what's your issue?
I have tried other "celebrities" efforts, the ones I didn't like I didn't finish and never bought another from them. That's how it goes...

What I cannot stand is the "superior" attitude of petty and narrow minded individuals who claim their superior brain can only cope with a few selected authors and look down at the commoners enjoying themselves reading some "shit" work. Do you know what it really means? you are so far up your own backside and behind that you cannot comprehend that normally intelligent people can enjoy everything, from non-translated classics to chick lit.

None of my kids have the faintest idea who he is btw, they like the books.

Walliams is an arsehole. Little Britain was a hatey sack of unfunny shit

ok.. so.. don't watch it?