Review: The Ladybird Book of The People Next Door

This may be a Ladybird book, but it most certainly isn't for children. Aimed at grown ups, this one is part of a series that offers a savage satire on the real world. In this instalment the series turns its focus to something that can often be confusing, frustrating and sometimes maddening. The people next door. On the whole, we all want to get along with our neighbours. That, however, does not account for the fact that often we find ourselves thrown together with people who have very different ideas on how to live than us. 

This book takes a look at some of the more annoying types of neighbours, such as elderly neighbours who make reports to the police about their neighbours doing things that aren't actually illegal, neighbours with small babies who live in flats and apartments with thin walls and untidy neighbours. Every type of annoying neighbour possible is listed and there are some other funny situations that poke fun at human nature. The prose is clever and brutal and provided me with a few laughs (especially the bit about the early 2000s DJ). 

Recommended.


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