Word Monkey

The final part of the author’s recollections about his own life, landscaped against the backdrop of novels and films - has arrived. As much as Film Freak and Paperboy were evocative, this final volume is a joyous celebration as much as it is sad.

Christopher Fowler though best known for his Bryant and May Peculiar Crimes Unit tales, was a bibliophile who co-managed a London based Film Marketing business, wrote horror and weird fiction, reviewed books and was basically a wonderful rampart in London’s literary scene.  This makes his diagnosis of terminal cancer in early 2020 all the more troubling. Instead of anger and resentment at why he had such little time left – he set off to conclude his life as he started it – with a celebration of books.

The title ‘word monkey’ is an allusion to what one of his early bosses unkindly referred to his career choice, in lieu of the term ‘writer’. Fowler never had an unkind word in his canon – instead he rejoiced at the world of books, and when faced with unkindness he would shrug it off, and laugh at the absurdity of it all. He barely touches upon the awards and plaudits that peppered his career nor reflect upon life’s great injustices – instead he focuses upon gratitude and modesty.

The magic of Word Monkey is that it can make you roar with laughter, smile in agreement as well as find your eyes are getting wet, all in the space of a single chapter. The recollections and absurdity of these recollections and observations are life affirming, as well as reflective. They also provide some context and comfort to not only his readers, but also to bibliophiles in general.

His nonfiction also included explorations of the so-called Forgotten Authors, a term that will never apply to him.

Remember, in the silence of the Library, no one can hear you read.

Highly recommended.