Book Review of Bob Mortimer's The Satsuma Complex
I love watching Bob Mortimer on TV. He’s down-to-earth, real, and in these troubling times, one of the few who can still make me smile and laugh when there’s not much to feel positive about. That’s exactly what I was hoping for from The Satsuma Complex, winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction last year. I only picked it up after buying his second book, The Hotel Avocado, thinking I should start with the first! Not to be unkind, but I have to say it wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read. In fact, it only started to pick up about halfway through, but I stuck with it!
The Satsuma Complex is a blend of thriller and comedy featuring Gary, an unassuming, somewhat dishevelled solicitor who, clad in cheap suits, spends his time drinking and watching football at his local pub, or munching on the occasional doughnut. He has few real friends—mainly his elderly neighbour, Grace, who comes with her own poignant backstory about family troubles, and the squirrels he occasionally chats to in some of the book’s more whimsical moments.
The thriller element begins to unfold when a colleague he briefly met in the pub, Brendan, turns up dead. Gary finds out after he’s approached by two questionable “cops” who may or may not be imposters, and he becomes drawn into solving the mystery of what happened to Brendan. To make matters more intriguing, he’s become infatuated with Emily, a young woman he met on the same night at the pub. She’d been reading a book on the table, which Gary noticed called The Satsuma Complex. Driven partly by his feelings and concern for her and partly by curiosity, Gary sets out to find her, only to discover she’s mixed up with a very dodgy drug dealer.
It isn’t too far-fetched to see Gary as a reflection of Bob, who used to be a solicitor himself, yet I found the second half of the book, told more from Emily’s perspective, better. The characters have had a chance to emerge, and it’s touching, whimsical, and amusing, though it remains a bit far-fetched. The incident with the nettles, for example, takes some believing!
Mortimer’s unique humour does shine through, his writing as anyone who’s watched his and Paul Whitehouse’s Gone Fishing would expect. I hear him say in an interview that he does his writing while sitting in front of the telly; I think there is an argument for him focusing on his work a bit more! However, it’s a fun, light read—amusing and decent company for a cozy evening, but ultimately, it’s nothing more than a very lightweight page-turner.
Book Club Questions on Bob Mortimer's The Satsuma Complex
· Who was your favourite character, and why? Discuss what made this character stand out for you. Was it their personality, their actions, or perhaps something you could relate to?
· Which character did you have the most sympathy for, and why?
· Which aspects of the story did you find believable or unbelievable, and why? Consider the moments that felt realistic versus those that seemed exaggerated or far-fetched. How did these aspects impact your overall enjoyment of the book?
· What was the funniest part of the book? Share the moments that made you laugh the most. Was it Bob Mortimer’s unique humor, a particular scene, or the way a character behaved?
· If you had to be friends with any of the characters, who would you pick, and why?
· Do you think the book would be successful if you didn’t know who Bob Mortimer was and couldn’t “hear” his voice in the writing?
· If you had to assign a serious theme to the book, what would it be? Consider whether there’s a deeper message within the humour.
· How would you describe Bob Mortimer’s writing style? Is it any good? Discuss how Mortimer’s writing adds to or detracts from the book’s overall appeal.
· What do you think about the title The Satsuma Complex? Is it a good choice? Analyze the title. Does it represent the story well? What might it symbolize, and how does it fit with the themes and tone of the book?
· What do you anticipate happening to Gary if you haven’t read the next book? What do you think lies ahead for him in The Hotel Avocado?
· What did you think of the pacing of the book? Were there parts where you felt the plot dragged or moments that kept you on the edge of your seat?
· Have you read any other books like this one? Compare The Satsuma Complex to other books with a similar tone, genre, or style. What other authors or books would you link to Bob Mortimer’s work?
· Do you think the story would work as a TV series or movie? Who would you cast in the lead roles?
Book Club Questions on The Satsuma Complex (for if you haven't read the book)
· What is your view on celebrity authors? Do you think they have an unfair advantage in the publishing world, or do they bring something unique to their books?
· A comedy-thriller is an unusual combination of genres. Can you think of other books in this genre, and do you think the blend works?
· Do you think comedy books are better to read or listen to? Does humour have more impact in written form or as an audiobook?
· The Satsuma Complex deals with serious topics like domestic abuse, kidnapping, and murder, yet it is a comedy. What’s your view on this approach?
· If you had to choose a comedian to write a fiction book who would you choose and why?