Richard Osman’s new book

[KnickerlessParsons]

I was doing a small shop in our small and not very well equipped Sainsbury’s yesterday, minding my own business, when Richard Osman’s voice comes booming over the tannoy telling us about his new book and how we should all buy it, in store, right now.
Apart from the fact it was very intrusive on a quiet Monday afternoon, it was much louder than all the “can a grocery assistant please come to til 5” type announcements, and our Sainsbury’s doesn’t even sell books.
I really hope this isn’t some new marketing initiative by Sains - are we going to get announcement suggestions we try their courgettes, washing powder, bread….. whatever?
I’m not usually one to complain, but seriously considering a letter to HQ.

@KnickerlessParsons the tannoy thing would annoy me, too. My local supermarket plays music and I love it. I find myself singing along in the aisle, passing someone else pushing their trolley who is also singing along. This would be ruined if Osman piped up.
I actually quite like Richard Osman and find him interesting to listen to on The Rest is Entertainment podcast, but sadly I don’t like his books. (I tried, I really did. But one and a half was all I could manage).

Charity shops are permanently hoaching with them. Those and various titles in the Fifty Shades of Smut series.

I really like Richard on TV; but I don't think I'll bother with his books, from everything I hear of them.

I'm currently on holiday where they only have a small Sainsbury's - and it's so annoying seeing all of the generous Nectar offers ping up for products I would gladly buy, but which they don't actually sell there!

Makes a change from the endless Lee Child and Danielle Steel books I guess.

Not the point of the thread but I absolutely loved The Thursday Murder Club (first book). I haven't enjoyed the others as much, but there was a bit in one of them that actually made me cry...a first for me.

I don't mind if I'm now looked down on by other Mumsnetters!

I don't think the tannoy thing is worth complaining about.

Thursday Murder series is ok, bit overdramatic but light and entertaining. It doesn't make me inclined to read any of his others though. Even less if they're going to push it down our throats.

My Sainsburys does the richard Osman promos too, along with others as well like "3 for 2 on hobnobs in aisle 12" type thing. A shop is a commercial entity not an oasis of calm, I don't think you can really moan about them upselling stuff.

Can't believe you would actually complain about a supermarket promoting stuff. I seem to remember years ago tannoy was used all the time to promote stuff.

Stick some noise cancelling headphones on in future.

Sainsbury’s and the publisher will have agreed on the in store promo – it will be contracted. Series tend to have diminishing returns as the books go on, and since PRH operate on a blockbuster model, they will need to ensure it sells to meet that and to cover his enormous advance.

Promo is how bestsellers work.

It’s only unreasonable if it’s not the next Thursday Murder one!

Sex people

I normally judge the quality of a book by how soon after publication a pristine copy or copies arrives in my local chazza, especially if it's before one gets to the local library.

Richard Osman is a hugely talented popular author. He writes middlebrow page-turners that are far better than they need to be. It's disingenuous to suggest he has sold millions and millions of books worldwide, and has his first optioned and produced for film by Stephen Spielberg because he is a daytime TV presenter in the UK.

They are actually quite good and a lot of fun. Ignore the “I’m far too clever and superior for popular reading” show offs!

Why do people always feel the need to be reading something published today? We’ve got three thousand years of literature behind us. I can’t remember the last time I read a book published in my lifetime. I am working my way through Iris Murdoch, P G Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh at the moment. Sainsbury’s can stick Osman’s boring rubbish.

@UncleTed , I actually quite like Richard Osman and find him interesting to listen to on The Rest is Entertainment podcast, but sadly I don’t like his books. (I tried, I really did. But one and a half was all I could manage).

Same here. I read the first one, well, I listened to the audio version, and ten minutes later, I couldn't remember whodunit.
Then, because I do like his podcast, I bought the second. And quickly realized my error.

Does no-one remember how this all started when Jamie Oliver was shackled to Sainsbury’s in the 2000s? You couldn’t go in to buy some oven chips without hearing him extol the virtues of healthy eating. Then there was Davina McCall and her menopause ads - it’s hardly new. Annoying but I just shrug and buy more chocolate.

I can’t remember the last time I read a book published in my lifetime.

What a strange boast.

I have to admit, I couldn’t finish the first Thursday murder club book. I got quite confused about who everyone was because I wasn’t paying attention to the characters due to them all being so boring.

I struggled with the first one, found the characters confusing and got bored. I then watched the film with Helen Mirren etc and went back and read the book again and really enjoyed it as I could put a face to the characters.

I'm now on the 4th one in the series.

Tedious “cosy crime”, really really tedious.

One of the worst books I’ve ever read. Couldn’t make head or tail of it!

Agreed! @InQuiresandplaceswheretheysing I persevered through the first one thinking it might just be me. Got to the end and thought "what a waste of time!". I gave it to an elderly neighbour and would never buy another of his.

I tried to read the first book and it really was a load of old tripe. And he loves to talk so seriously about his writing process, as though he's bloomin' Tolstoy. Feck you and your cosy crime shite, ya lanky bore.

I read the first couple of his books but they were very very lightweight and went downhill very quickly.

I won't be buying any more.