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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

David Walliams

294 replies

Navelgazers · 10/11/2022 10:21

He's on the wall of my child's school as author of the month. I just do not see the appeal - as I see it he got into writing easily, already being a celebrity, and found success as he used the same illustrator as Roald Dahl - Quentin Blake.

There have been threads in the past about him, and now this
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/10/david-walliams-recorded-derogatory-remarks-britains-got-talent-bgt-contestants

Basically, saying really offensive things about some BGT contestants, on mic. Of course they were going to be leaked.

OP posts:
Freddosforall · 10/11/2022 13:15

I think separating art from artist is fine if the artist is dead (especially as it's often the case that the person who inherited the copyright has different values...even if they are family). But if they're alive and you're basically buying their stuff which they profit from, then that's very different.

elizabethgaslight · 10/11/2022 13:20

You should not be encouraging your children to read his books just because they are sold in supermarkets and are easily accessible. Would you encourage meanness in your children? That's what these books are. Same for Roald Dahl - they might be classics but they are not appropriate

My kids have grown up to be nice people who read for pleasure. I didn't restrict them to only reading children's books written by decent people with morally appropriate messages. They are articulate and write well, but I didn't restrict them to well-written books. I mostly let them choose what they read, as long as it wasn't inappropriate for their age. It's hard enough to get children reading and enjoying books, without banning certain authors for being nasty IRL, writing stories we don't like, or even for not writing well enough.

I do agree with pps saying that celebrity authors get far too much attention, and are a lazy way for publishers to sell books, but people generally aren't damaged by reading about reprehensible or stereotyped characters, and poor quality writing is still enjoyable for lots of children, in the same way a lot of adults would much rather read romances or thrillers than literary fiction.

Reading is a lifelong pleasure, as well as an important skill, so I can't understand why people want to put so many obstacles in the way of children doing it.

RedToothBrush · 10/11/2022 13:21

Freddosforall · 10/11/2022 13:15

I think separating art from artist is fine if the artist is dead (especially as it's often the case that the person who inherited the copyright has different values...even if they are family). But if they're alive and you're basically buying their stuff which they profit from, then that's very different.

Tbf you can get books second hand very easily to avoid this though.

Having said that, in response to the idea that DW is the only writer who can inspire reluctant readers, if DW hadn't have been there another writer would have filled the gap.

I actually think the children's book market is firmly moving on from DW with other writers becoming popular in that age bracket.

oakleaffy · 10/11/2022 13:22

E. Nesbit
Classic kid’s stories.

Useyourfork · 10/11/2022 13:23

Navelgazers · 10/11/2022 10:31

Can anyone make some suggestions for other authors? I know she's old school but I really loved the Enchanted Wood by enid blyton when I was about 6.

Tom fletcher - not all his books but The Christmasaurus was great
Tracey Corderoy - Shifty Mcgifty and Slippery Sam
Alex T Smith - Mr Penguin series
Jeremy Strong - The Smallest Horse in the World, There’s a Viking in My School.

There are so many brilliant Authors

Soakitup37 · 10/11/2022 13:28

FlorettaB · 10/11/2022 10:37

If you judge children’s books by their authors’ personalities you’ll rule out a lot of classics.

Made me think never judge a book by its author 😂

LunaLoveLemon · 10/11/2022 13:37

Beanbagtrap · 10/11/2022 10:54

Are they smug? I imagine them to be smug.

@Beanbagtrap This actually made me laugh out loud.

CPL593H · 10/11/2022 13:38

For slightly older children who like history, books by Rosemary Sutcliff, Henry Treese and Geoffrey Trease are still classics. The last is particularly interesting as he deliberately turned his back on the "diet of classist and racist historical adventure" he had grown up reading and his writing, starting in the 1930s reflects this. He also wrote strong female characters.

Also a plea for Alan Garner and his magical worlds, I've never thought he gets quite the accolades he deserves.

mrBanks · 10/11/2022 13:38

I work in this area and for the most up to date recently published adventure stories I would recommend,
Lee Newbury - The Last FireFox
The Secret Wild - Alex Evelyn
The last bear and the lost whale - Hannah Gold
Small - Hannah Moffat
Libby books - jo Clarke
Looking For Emily - Fiona Longmuir
Oneyka and the academy of the Sun
Loki series by Louie Stowell - brilliant for boys
MG Leonard Trains series and Twitch and Spark - also v good for boys

CPL593H · 10/11/2022 13:40

oakleaffy · 10/11/2022 13:22

E. Nesbit
Classic kid’s stories.

A huge yes to this!

rosesandferns · 10/11/2022 13:41

Freddosforall · 10/11/2022 11:23

One problem is I walk around waterstones and there was so many lovely, good quality, well written, books, but they're all expensive. My local library has a dearth of good books, but plenty of David Walliams. I wish the good books made it into the libraries.

I agree, libraries have gone down the tube - at least where I live, I'm sure there are exceptions - in terms of the quality and selection they offer. It's such a shame as I have wonderful memories of local libraries as a child. I presume it's mainly down to years and years of chronic underfunding.

If you're happy with secondhand books though then you can build up a huge collection for a tiny fraction of what they would cost new, especially if you like older authors.

BlindMedusa · 10/11/2022 13:42

The Pongwiffy books by Kaye Umanski are a favourite from my childhood.
Harry and the Wrinklies by Alan Temperley (orphan boy sent to live with his great aunts who aren't sweet little old ladies but infact criminal masterminds)
The Goosebumps books R L Stein
Horrible Histories by Terry Deary
Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg - not actually a story but collection of poems.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole books by Sue Townsend as I got older.

Outside of the classics, the hobbit, the lion the witch and the wardrobe and Chronicles of Narnia. I started the Harry Potter books at 11, read the first 3 one summer holiday and like many waited in anguish for the next one to be released 😂 not much has changed as I now wait for ASOIF books to be released and each Phillipa Gregory book.

Sometimes the love of reading doesn't take hold with kids, if thats the case maybe get a book about something their interested in? Animals, dinosaurs, cars, space? FWIW my son loved the David Walliams books too.

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/11/2022 13:44

FlorettaB · 10/11/2022 10:32

Is anyone surprised that he made those comments? He’s always come across as a creepy, unpleasant man.

Agree - he's repulsive in every way, but it's still shocking (though as you say, not surprising) that he has said these vile things about people.

Someone mentioned that road dahl was unpleasant, too - which is true, but he did have talent, which is more than can be said for Walliams.

I've never understood his popularity - he makes my skin crawl, and his children's books are unoriginal and derivative. Poor man's Roald Dahl.

I’ve never understood how David Walliams and Matt Lucas still have careers. The blackface in Little Britain should have been enough to end them (2003-7) but then they made Come Fly With Me (2010-11) and did it again.

Coincidentally, we were just discussing this a couple of days ago. Even by the comparatively "unawake" standards of the time it was appalling! they are both arrogant and unfunny.

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/11/2022 13:45

*unwoke, not "unawake"

I swear that the autocarrot changed this between me proofreading prior to pressing the button, and it actually appearing on thread.

Chickenkeev · 10/11/2022 13:46

@YellowTreeHouse why do you have to seperate the art from the artist though? You don't have to, it's a personal choice. I spent about twenty years absolutely loving a certain artist, bought every CD, travelled to every gig he did over in this country etc. And then it came out that he had an a 'relationship' with a teenager, he would have been about 40 at the time. He came across like such a creep after reading about it (and that's being generous). I haven't listened to him once since. And i was obsessed previously. His behaviour put me right off the art.

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/11/2022 13:49

ItsRainingCatsAndDogsAgain · 10/11/2022 13:45

These links are worth repeating. There are many concerning stories about DW from within the industry.

FLIP!

I hadn't realised just how nasty he is. I was just going on my own visceral reaction to him ("CREEEEeeeeeeeeEEeeeeeeEEEEEeeeeepyyyyyYYYyyyyy")

AudaciousCockerel · 10/11/2022 13:49

elizabethgaslight · 10/11/2022 13:20

You should not be encouraging your children to read his books just because they are sold in supermarkets and are easily accessible. Would you encourage meanness in your children? That's what these books are. Same for Roald Dahl - they might be classics but they are not appropriate

My kids have grown up to be nice people who read for pleasure. I didn't restrict them to only reading children's books written by decent people with morally appropriate messages. They are articulate and write well, but I didn't restrict them to well-written books. I mostly let them choose what they read, as long as it wasn't inappropriate for their age. It's hard enough to get children reading and enjoying books, without banning certain authors for being nasty IRL, writing stories we don't like, or even for not writing well enough.

I do agree with pps saying that celebrity authors get far too much attention, and are a lazy way for publishers to sell books, but people generally aren't damaged by reading about reprehensible or stereotyped characters, and poor quality writing is still enjoyable for lots of children, in the same way a lot of adults would much rather read romances or thrillers than literary fiction.

Reading is a lifelong pleasure, as well as an important skill, so I can't understand why people want to put so many obstacles in the way of children doing it.

That's fantastic and I'm glad your children are lovely. However, the books are inappropriate in their subject matter.

Wheatandchaff · 10/11/2022 13:53

If you judge children’s books by their authors’ personalities you’ll rule out a lot of classics.

The difference is that the writers of the classics wont be profiteering from your book choices. Writers don’t have to be perfect but you also don’t have to hand over your money and massage the egos of the ones who have done things which don’t align with your values.

RishisProudMum · 10/11/2022 13:54

AudaciousCockerel · 10/11/2022 13:49

That's fantastic and I'm glad your children are lovely. However, the books are inappropriate in their subject matter.

Which ones and how so?

WrongWayApricot · 10/11/2022 13:57

I loved scribble boy, meteorite spoon and the other one I can't remember by Phillip Ridley. I didn't like Roald Dahl when I was a kid, James and the giant peach was okay. I have managed to not be made to read a david Walliams book yet, thankfully. His idea of humour on telly isn't mine, so I imagine I wouldn't enjoy his books.

Skinnermarink · 10/11/2022 13:59

They are inappropriate. Younger women are gold diggers and slags and stupid to boot. Older women are fat old harridans or crafty and evil. He really hates women.

AudaciousCockerel · 10/11/2022 13:59

RishisProudMum · 10/11/2022 13:54

Which ones and how so?

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/author-david-walliams-jack-monroe-18551788

Cadolz · 10/11/2022 14:01

If anybody is in the market for picture books for younger children, can I give a shout out to Jan Fearnley. Her books are great, her stories are great, her illustrations are great and she is great.

Goldpaw · 10/11/2022 14:01

This man gives me the creeps in a way that other famous men in the past have been creepy.

He makes my skin crawl.

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