AIBU to think that Adrian Mole becomes really un likeable as he gets older

[Mydarlingsleepthief]

I’m re reading the Adrian Mole diaries, and had forgotten how well written and funny they are.

I’m up to the wilderness years when he’s in his 20’s and whereas he used to be pompous and arrogant but ultimately very likeable, he just seems bitter and uncaring now. I don’t think I picked up on this when I was younger and read them the first time round.

I think you’re right, but it’s a clever move by Sue Townsend in many ways. She showed how the qualities that could be endearing in a younger man could lose their appeal rapidly as an adult. It’s also quite tragicomic that Adrian still has the dreams he had as a teenager, but can’t quite accept that nothing will now come of them. He’s like a lot of people who believe, deep down, that they deserve a better life than the one they’ve got, and are resentful that it hasn’t happened.

Have you read the later books - particularly Weapons of Mass Destruction?

Love the Adrian Mole books, all of them. (Username homage as you can see!) Yes you're right he does change but I thought he just got more ridiculous really. Might reread again now you've reminded me.

Have you read The Queen and I? Also brilliant Townsend humour.

Yes I have read all of her books, but not for about 20 years so it’s like reading them with a fresh eye!

I read the books for the first time recently.

Adrian is uncaring and unlikable throughout. Anything he does is either to make a woman (usually Pandora) fall fir him (all of whom he is very judgmental of) or through a sense of duty rather, than because he wants to help.

They are funny but I'm not sure about well written, the constant interruptions with Adrian's own novel were quite tedious after the first few. Although I did download them all and read them within a week or two. And there are some inconsistencies within them which annoyed me. Still wish she'd completed the last instalment though.

I think he’s obnoxious and immature in his twenties but he is redeemed by parenthood in the later books.
Mole’s saving grace has always been his ability to care for the vulnerable- Bert Baxter in the early books.
I also don’t think the twenties ones quite hit the spot in terms of how he would really have lived. I read a review once that said it was wrong that he didn’t go to university and I think that’s true- given the expansion of higher education and his aspirations I think he would have found a place at an ex poly somewhere despite his low grades and taken himself very seriously as a student.
After that the books get back on track and him having gone to university wouldn’t have made as much difference to his employability as he would have expected so they could still have gone in the direction they did.

AdrianMole would be my Mastermind subject should I ever decide to try out

He's unlikeable in general. When Barry Kent writes his first novel, he tells Melvyn Bragg that 'Aiden Vole' represents everything he hates about modern Britain. Even his own mother calls him 'anally retentive'!

Oh gosh I completely disagree. Very very moving when he finds he is ill in the last book. I thought the later books were great reflections of the preoccupations of the era eg property development, debt etc. And all the great new/incidental characters that are characteristic of the books. If Adrian woke up and smelled the coffee, committed to his partner, got a sensible job and was super successful then there’d be nothing to read about!

@Coffeekisses Agreed. If there were a moral of the stories it would be 'check your aspirations; live in the real world'. Adrian Mole always wants what's just out of reach (unattainable, unavailable women, expensive city centre apartments, a novel published) and it's the main source of misery in his life.

I always saw him as a bit of a Mark Corrigan from Peep Show type. Likeable on the surface, but scratch the surface and he can be really quite unpleasant.

Complete aside: during lockdown, I would open the first DOAM on bad days at a random page and read the entry - always cheered me up.

Totally agree about Bert Baxter in the earlier books. His tenderness when bathing him and caring for him, albeit begrudgingly, is what endeared him to me. In the wilderness years there’s literally nothing good about his character.

God I love Adrian Mole, must dig out my old copies.
Anyone read Diary of a Nobody? Can't help thinking it must have been an influence on Sue Townsend.
Loved The Queen and I as well.
Stupid cowin dog

And yes definite parallels with Mark from the Peep
Show! Bloody love the Peep Show too!

@StillCoughingandLaughing

I think you’re right, but it’s a clever move by Sue Townsend in many ways. She showed how the qualities that could be endearing in a younger man could lose their appeal rapidly as an adult. It’s also quite tragicomic that Adrian still has the dreams he had as a teenager, but can’t quite accept that nothing will now come of them. He’s like a lot of people who believe, deep down, that they deserve a better life than the one they’ve got, and are resentful that it hasn’t happened.

Have you read the later books - particularly Weapons of Mass Destruction?

I agree with this, but loving the discussion! All the books are fantastic ... also the 'diary of Margaret roberts/Thatcher' in the back of one of them. The funniest books ever in my opinion.

My son is a reluctant reader, always has been. I gave him the first book 2 days ago and he hasn't put it down! 🙌 Take that Nintendo Switch.

He's a masterpiece of writing.

Throughout it all he DOES show persistent redeeming qualities. His favours for the elderly, his change of heart over the war after his son's friend is killed in Iraq, and how he helps his sister with her abortion.

All the while he's deluded, up himself, hopeless with women, and keeps making the same mistakes.

People don't actually change that much, so the way in which he ages is very realistic.

He's far better written than Bridget Jones.

Where did Nigel end up?

I agree with PP. He is a masterpiece of writing, one of my lifetime favourite characters.
I also think of Sue Townsend's version of the Royals anytime I think of them🤣
Am inspired to go dig out the books and reread.
A few years ago I got to see a stage production of the complete works. It translated so well to both stage and current era. Would love to see that again too.

I think the latter books are less about Adrian himself but a critique of aspects of the society of the times that they refer to. A not so hidden criticism of Tony Blair, for example.

Ok so I have just finished The Wilderness Years and he has redeemed himself in the latter half of the book .

Now to re-read The Cappuccino Years!

Ow I remember when I read these I had to stop because grown up Adrian was giving me the rage with his moodiness.

I skipped the wilderness years but loved the cappuccino years and the last books, I can’t remember what they were called. The prostate diaries maybe.
I also love Queen Camila, it’s such a funny but really touching book.

I know the first two books really well but the later ones far less so. I think he has an awful start to life really with parents who put him down and don’t demonstrate affection or support. The books are hilarious but the tragedy of them is that he is describing seriously poor parenting without any awareness of it. Older Adrian I think is partly a product of this. But he is always yearning for things he can’t achieve or have. His initial relationship with Pandora is probably the biggest exception to that, and you can understand why he finds it so hard to cope with her success later in life.

So Adrian has completely redeemed himself to me! Just finished Cappuccino Years, and his lovely relationship with his two sons has make me once more love him!