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Adrian Mole #4
Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years
Mole is back. The fourth novel in the massively popular Adrian Mole series, from internationally bestselling author Sue Townsend. Once again she lets us delve into the hilarious and touching life of a character adored by millions everywhere. Adrian Mole has at last reached physical maturity, but he can't help roaming the pages of his diary like an untamed adolescent. Finally given the heave-ho by Pandora, he seeks solace in the arms of Bianca, a qualified hydraulic engineer masquerading as a waitress. Between his dishwashing job and completing his epic novel, 'Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland', Adrian hopes that fame and fortune will not keep him waiting much longer.
182 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 1993
About the author
Sue Townsend
89 books900 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend was a British novelist, best known as the author of the Adrian Mole series of books. Her writing tended to combine comedy with social commentary, though she has written purely dramatic works as well. She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work.
Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend was a British novelist, best known as the author of the Adrian Mole series of books. Her writing tended to combine comedy with social commentary, though she has written purely dramatic works as well. She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
March 21, 2009
People have said here that they were fascinated and repulsed by the character, and wanted to avoid being like him at all costs. Well guess what, there are people like Adrian Mole out there, and I'm one of them--so close in fact that this book stopped being funny when I realised as I read on that I am becoming exactly like him ... or he is becoming exactly like me. Well, at least until I got to the part where someone called the novel he is working on, Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland, a parody. After that I had giggling fits every time a new passage from Flat Hills appeared, and in fact often when Adrian was just narrating his own life.
I'm turning 25 by the end of this year. Maybe I'll have a chance to let go of my own baggage and emerge a new man by then. A writing trip to Faxos sounds nice.
I'm turning 25 by the end of this year. Maybe I'll have a chance to let go of my own baggage and emerge a new man by then. A writing trip to Faxos sounds nice.
June 15, 2010
As I mentioned in my review of the first novel in this series, I love these books. I absolutely adore them.
That aside, I warn anybody who has read the first three and is about to delve into this one - aside from its humor, this is where the series gets more grown up and a little more realistic in Adrian's tragedies. On reading bits of it again this weekend I actually found it saddening more than funny - but that shouldn't put anybody off because I've read it several times and it's a funny, funny book. Adrian's obscene poetry to Pandora at the beginning of the book are so funny that for a while I wanted to call my band "Adrian's Poetry".
As per usual, the cultural references went over my head a little bit (I'm sixteen and Irish, so British modern history and politics aren't in my radar) but I do recall Adrian mentioning Freddie Mercury in October of 1991 (hmm...) so it is jammers with funny (or in the case of that one, unfortunate) cultural references, for all of you adults who are more read-up on that sort of thing or perhaps lived through it! It's not my favourite installment - not by a long shot. But it is a good book, and a book that nobody would regret reading.
November 3, 2023
urnebesni Adrijan Mol, falio mi je!
June 27, 2019
Αξίζει, και προσφέρει πολύ γέλιο!
Βαθμολογία: 4,6/5 ή 9,2/10.
Θα γίνει και εκτενής κριτική του βιβλίου.
Βαθμολογία: 4,6/5 ή 9,2/10.
Θα γίνει και εκτενής κριτική του βιβλίου.
February 1, 2008
I really read the book but this says audio. This is my favorite all time book. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Funny. A british nerds diary. what more can I say?
November 19, 2018
From BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime:
On New Year’s day 1991, a hangover is the least of Adrian’s problems. Pandora decides Adrian needs some professional help.
The third book in the exquisitely funny Adrian Mole series by Sue Townsend, one of our most celebrated comic writers. The Wilderness Years is read by Harry McEntire.
Following on from The Secret Diary and The Growing Pains, it is now 1991 and our diarist is 23.
Adrian is still infatuated with his childhood sweetheart Pandora and is living in her box room in Oxford. Already in possession of a husband and a boyfriend, and sick of his attentions, Pandora recommends a therapist to help Adrian move on.
Unfulfilled by his job at the Department of the Environment, Adrian’s aspirations to become a poet and author are undimmed. Whilst working on his first novel, ‘Lo! The Flat Hills of my Homeland’, he is plagued by the literary success of his old nemesis, Barry Kent.
Adrian struggles to understand why he is so unsuccessful with women but his perseverance eventually pays off. How the female brain works remains a mystery to him, however.
As he continues to battle valiantly with the slings and arrows that life throws at him, Adrian starts to feel less of an outsider and more at ease with himself.
Abridged by Sara Davies
Produced by Alexa Moore
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
On New Year’s day 1991, a hangover is the least of Adrian’s problems. Pandora decides Adrian needs some professional help.
The third book in the exquisitely funny Adrian Mole series by Sue Townsend, one of our most celebrated comic writers. The Wilderness Years is read by Harry McEntire.
Following on from The Secret Diary and The Growing Pains, it is now 1991 and our diarist is 23.
Adrian is still infatuated with his childhood sweetheart Pandora and is living in her box room in Oxford. Already in possession of a husband and a boyfriend, and sick of his attentions, Pandora recommends a therapist to help Adrian move on.
Unfulfilled by his job at the Department of the Environment, Adrian’s aspirations to become a poet and author are undimmed. Whilst working on his first novel, ‘Lo! The Flat Hills of my Homeland’, he is plagued by the literary success of his old nemesis, Barry Kent.
Adrian struggles to understand why he is so unsuccessful with women but his perseverance eventually pays off. How the female brain works remains a mystery to him, however.
As he continues to battle valiantly with the slings and arrows that life throws at him, Adrian starts to feel less of an outsider and more at ease with himself.
Abridged by Sara Davies
Produced by Alexa Moore
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
September 16, 2014
I reluctantly took this book to my Greek vacation this year. Reluctantly because in Greece, I just like to enjoy Greece with all my senses, at all times.
Suffice it to say I read almost a fifth of the book at the airport. Not being able to put down a book is a good sign for me. I laughed out loud in public several times reading it. Adrian is such a pretentious git. He is a pioneer hipster.
Unfortunately, I skipped several books between The Secret Diary... and this one, which was a gift. I plan to remedy that :)
Suffice it to say I read almost a fifth of the book at the airport. Not being able to put down a book is a good sign for me. I laughed out loud in public several times reading it. Adrian is such a pretentious git. He is a pioneer hipster.
Unfortunately, I skipped several books between The Secret Diary... and this one, which was a gift. I plan to remedy that :)
November 18, 2020
Back continuing one of my favourite series that never fails to make me laugh. Cynical and peculiar as ever, it was the pick me up I needed
June 1, 2014
Adrian Mole is back to his brilliant best in The Wilderness Years. The return to the original daily diary format is a welcome decision after a very experimental third instalment.
Following Adrian’s life in 1991-1992, the latest edition sees many changes in the life of our hero, aged 23 to 25. Picking up where the True Confessions left off, he is still in now-married Pandora’s box room. His parents have split and Bert Baxter, 100, continues to make demands of his time.
The decision to introduce a new love interest for Mole as one of the major plots works excellently. This time, it is Mole who completely misses Bianca’s clear-as-day invitations to ask her out which couldn’t be plainer to the reader. A funny and refreshing departure from his unrequited love of Pandora, and Townsend keeps us guessing as to whether he will cotton on and get the girl or suffer yet another comic tragedy.
Other significant plots include Mole seeing a therapist, frequent house moves and collapsing career at the government’s Department of Newts. The ongoing writing of his novel, w leads to more hilarious exchanges with John Tynsdale of the BBC, while the expansion of the Barry Kent writing storyline is absolutely fantastic.
Most of the veterans – Mum, Dad, Granny, Pandora, Baxter, Sharon Botts and Kent – are still around in smaller roles, while some brilliant new characters play a larger role in Mole’s relocated life. It’s a natural reflection of life and a route Townsend had to take eventually, and she does so seamlessly. She really makes the best if the old guard without interrupting the adoption of the newbies.
The Wilderness Years is the best Mole to date, and is absolutely on form with a fantastic writing voice, interesting plotting, brilliant characters and an opportunity to laugh at Mole’s countless misfortunes.
Following Adrian’s life in 1991-1992, the latest edition sees many changes in the life of our hero, aged 23 to 25. Picking up where the True Confessions left off, he is still in now-married Pandora’s box room. His parents have split and Bert Baxter, 100, continues to make demands of his time.
The decision to introduce a new love interest for Mole as one of the major plots works excellently. This time, it is Mole who completely misses Bianca’s clear-as-day invitations to ask her out which couldn’t be plainer to the reader. A funny and refreshing departure from his unrequited love of Pandora, and Townsend keeps us guessing as to whether he will cotton on and get the girl or suffer yet another comic tragedy.
Other significant plots include Mole seeing a therapist, frequent house moves and collapsing career at the government’s Department of Newts. The ongoing writing of his novel, w leads to more hilarious exchanges with John Tynsdale of the BBC, while the expansion of the Barry Kent writing storyline is absolutely fantastic.
Most of the veterans – Mum, Dad, Granny, Pandora, Baxter, Sharon Botts and Kent – are still around in smaller roles, while some brilliant new characters play a larger role in Mole’s relocated life. It’s a natural reflection of life and a route Townsend had to take eventually, and she does so seamlessly. She really makes the best if the old guard without interrupting the adoption of the newbies.
The Wilderness Years is the best Mole to date, and is absolutely on form with a fantastic writing voice, interesting plotting, brilliant characters and an opportunity to laugh at Mole’s countless misfortunes.
January 31, 2012
Adrian goes from ages 23 to 25 in this fourth entry in the series. From Leicester to Oxford to London to Greece, he's certainly taking some journeys.
There are times in the first two-thirds of the book that I find it hard to believe a person could be so obtuse. When I was that age, young men assumed that if you looked in their direction, you wanted nothing less than to have their babies; there's a girl here who does everything but jump him and he doesn't get it.
The last third of the story is redeemed by Adrian doing some much-needed growing up and finding a tiny, tiny bit of self-awareness. The reason I find the Mole books so hilarious is that I knew someone *exactly* like Adrian years ago (and that personality was precisely the reason I speak in the past tense - he got on my last nerve and I had to cut ties). Where my former friend never got beyond thinking he was the most intelligent person in any room (he, like Adrian, would have advised Graham Greene of grammatical errors in his novels), I can only hope that Adrian moves upward on the insight scale.
There are times in the first two-thirds of the book that I find it hard to believe a person could be so obtuse. When I was that age, young men assumed that if you looked in their direction, you wanted nothing less than to have their babies; there's a girl here who does everything but jump him and he doesn't get it.
The last third of the story is redeemed by Adrian doing some much-needed growing up and finding a tiny, tiny bit of self-awareness. The reason I find the Mole books so hilarious is that I knew someone *exactly* like Adrian years ago (and that personality was precisely the reason I speak in the past tense - he got on my last nerve and I had to cut ties). Where my former friend never got beyond thinking he was the most intelligent person in any room (he, like Adrian, would have advised Graham Greene of grammatical errors in his novels), I can only hope that Adrian moves upward on the insight scale.
March 13, 2019
Marking this as complete as it's going to be. I was reading it with my daughter but she's gone on a huge YA reading frenzy now and I don't think we'll finish this. He's a lot funnier as a teenager than as a slightly creepy older guy anyway.
May 16, 2019
Really, I think, if you enjoyed any Adrian Mole book, you'll enjoy them all. They're wonderfully funny and full of heart. I read this in one day - it was the very best of days!
January 5, 2024
Always loved Adrian Mole, but reading his diaries again as an older and uglier person makes me appreciate Townsend's genius so much more. Laugh-out-loud funny throughout.
November 9, 2015
The continued adventures of Adrian, who is now almost 24 years old. This time I found him on audible. But how will I underline all the funny bits to re-read and share with my fellow Adrian fans? (You know who you are!)
"I walked into her office with the self esteem of an anorexic aphid..."
Yes, the fun continues. But my vote is to read them, not listen to the audio version. What is next in the continuing adventures of the misfit, Adrian? More please!
"I walked into her office with the self esteem of an anorexic aphid..."
Yes, the fun continues. But my vote is to read them, not listen to the audio version. What is next in the continuing adventures of the misfit, Adrian? More please!
December 26, 2020
This installment is about Adrian's early 20s. He's moved away from Leicester and is now living and working in Oxford to be close to his childhood sweetheart, Pandora. This diary has loads of Adrian's hilarious relationship and work woes, among many other things. If you're looking for a book that'll make you chuckle and breath quickly through your nose from amusement a whole lot, give this one a shot!
September 5, 2016
He may no longer be an awkward teen, but that didn't stop me laughing out loud during this look at Adrian Mole's early adulthood. His constant bewilderment hasn't dampened with age and I just love how he constantly gets into sticky situations through no fault of his own. I was worried I wouldn't like this as much as his teenage diaries, but I needn't have as I still very much enjoyed it.
August 2, 2019
If you enjoyed the other books in this series, chances are you'll enjoy this one too. It's filled with the same kind of humour as the previous books, and is a great addition to the series. Even if sometimes I wanted to scream at Adrian to grow up and stop whining. Yes, he can be annoying at times, but he's an entertaining character, and reading his diaries hasn't failed to make me laugh yet.
November 24, 2020
After book #3 I was a bit reluctant to go on, but this series gained it's stride again in book #4. A wry and ironic sense of humor in the writing keeps the reader a big fan of Adrian, but he is so genuinely absurd that we don't love him too much.
February 15, 2017
My favourite comfort food reading; no matter how tough life gets, Adrian Mole and his obsessive, anally retentive compulsions are always there, and strangely comforting
July 9, 2023
The beginning of this book was funny but kind of brutal, as Adrian's cluelessness and poor decision-making reach new heights. I felt like the author needed to cut him a break, and eventually she did. The ending was quite nice. I enjoyed the theme of Adrian's terrible novel, which features a protagonist who's also writing a terrible novel, which features a protagonist who also decides to write a novel that might actually be the start of something not terrible.
Some funny passages:
Some funny passages:
On one hand, I am terrified of my unconscious and what it will reveal about me. On the other, I am looking forward to talking about myself non-stop for an hour without interruption, hesitation, or repetition.
I myself, have never watched a strip show. I wouldn't know how to arrange my facial features. Would I watch with studied indifference like TV detectives when they are forced to interview scumbag low-life in strip joints? Would I smile and laugh as those amused by the sight of a young woman taking off her clothes? Or would I swallow frequently, pant and google my eyes and reveal to onlookers that I am sexually excited? I fear the latter.
May 30, 2023
I spent most of this book thinking that this must be where I part ways with Mr Mole and I even contemplated DNFing it at a couple of points. Adrian in his early 20s is still a whining narcissist and as this was (sort of) endearing when he was 14, now it's only annoying and makes him a really unlikeable protagonist.
Something happened in the final quarter though and the turn was so radical and reading experience so much better that it basically saved the book for me.
Something happened in the final quarter though and the turn was so radical and reading experience so much better that it basically saved the book for me.
November 24, 2020
My Favorite book in the Series! I really love Adrain's on going Novel in this book and how it develops into a novel inside a novel. If you want to more you can check out my Adrian Mole The Wilderness Years Vlog
https://youtu.be/tOlBdP_Ewow
This Vlog cover The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole book 3 in the series and Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years book 4 in the series.
https://youtu.be/tOlBdP_Ewow
This Vlog cover The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole book 3 in the series and Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years book 4 in the series.
December 27, 2023
Adrian Mole continues to get in his own way in the fourth book in this series. Loved it!
August 14, 2023
I can't remember how many times exactly I've returned to this novel over the years. Adrian's novel within a novel within a novel always makes me laugh.
January 7, 2013
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As always, I greatly enjoyed reading this installment of the Adrian Mole chronicles – maybe even more so than the previous books. Unfortunately, I seemed to have skipped the third in the series, Adrian Mole: Minor to Major, reading the piece of crap teaser/compilation of unreleased essays, The True Stories of Adrian Albert Mole, instead. The mistake was mine alone; however, because I already requested this novel through ILL, I decided to go ahead and work my way through the book that I had in hand. I somewhat regret skipping the unread book as it seemed that there were important developments that I had missed. Having read all of the other books in the series, I was able to follow along without too many misunderstandings.
As the book (or diary) begins, Adrian is living with Pandora, his former junior high school girlfriend, along with her older lover and bisexual husband. He is still hopelessly in love with her, but her feelings have shifted and Pandora no longer looks at Adrian with affection. In fact, she is supremely annoyed with his advances and asks him to find another place to live. Twenty-three year old Adrian moves back in with his family, and he attempts to rebuild his life. Working at the Department of Environment, studying newts, Adrian feels that he has squandered his talents and opportunity in a meaningless job. He continues to pursue his ambition of becoming an author, working on his ridiculously juvenile, horribly written novel, Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland, in his spare time. After many missed signals and embarrassing oversights, Adrian develops a relationship with a cashier at the newspaper stand, Bianca. This relationship is also ruined when Bianca runs off with Adrian’s mother’s (much) younger husband. At the end of the novel, Adrian finds employment in a kitchen and develops an unlikely relationship with a statuesque African woman named Jo-Jo. Surprisingly, he appears to have matured over the course of the year (see also: he isn’t SUCH a douche – having been downgraded to dork, in my opinion). There is hope on the horizon for Mr. Mole, and I look forward to reading the next in the series. This time, I’ll attempt to get the right book!
I love Adrian because he is so misguided about his own talents and abilities. He has always been a pompous pseudointellectual, and this has never been so accurately displayed as when reading the novel that he has been working on. It is so deliciously awful that it has to be read to be believed. In addition, I love Sue Townsend’s humor and ability to make things “meta.” In this installment, former bully Barry Kent strikes it rich and becomes famous with the release of his bestselling novel, The Dork Diaries, featuring none other than a character named Adrian Vole.
It comes as no surprise that, once again, I recommend this series to lovers of YA and humor. Do yourself a favor before diving into this book, and read the previous books in the series, starting with The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾.
As always, I greatly enjoyed reading this installment of the Adrian Mole chronicles – maybe even more so than the previous books. Unfortunately, I seemed to have skipped the third in the series, Adrian Mole: Minor to Major, reading the piece of crap teaser/compilation of unreleased essays, The True Stories of Adrian Albert Mole, instead. The mistake was mine alone; however, because I already requested this novel through ILL, I decided to go ahead and work my way through the book that I had in hand. I somewhat regret skipping the unread book as it seemed that there were important developments that I had missed. Having read all of the other books in the series, I was able to follow along without too many misunderstandings.
As the book (or diary) begins, Adrian is living with Pandora, his former junior high school girlfriend, along with her older lover and bisexual husband. He is still hopelessly in love with her, but her feelings have shifted and Pandora no longer looks at Adrian with affection. In fact, she is supremely annoyed with his advances and asks him to find another place to live. Twenty-three year old Adrian moves back in with his family, and he attempts to rebuild his life. Working at the Department of Environment, studying newts, Adrian feels that he has squandered his talents and opportunity in a meaningless job. He continues to pursue his ambition of becoming an author, working on his ridiculously juvenile, horribly written novel, Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland, in his spare time. After many missed signals and embarrassing oversights, Adrian develops a relationship with a cashier at the newspaper stand, Bianca. This relationship is also ruined when Bianca runs off with Adrian’s mother’s (much) younger husband. At the end of the novel, Adrian finds employment in a kitchen and develops an unlikely relationship with a statuesque African woman named Jo-Jo. Surprisingly, he appears to have matured over the course of the year (see also: he isn’t SUCH a douche – having been downgraded to dork, in my opinion). There is hope on the horizon for Mr. Mole, and I look forward to reading the next in the series. This time, I’ll attempt to get the right book!
I love Adrian because he is so misguided about his own talents and abilities. He has always been a pompous pseudointellectual, and this has never been so accurately displayed as when reading the novel that he has been working on. It is so deliciously awful that it has to be read to be believed. In addition, I love Sue Townsend’s humor and ability to make things “meta.” In this installment, former bully Barry Kent strikes it rich and becomes famous with the release of his bestselling novel, The Dork Diaries, featuring none other than a character named Adrian Vole.
It comes as no surprise that, once again, I recommend this series to lovers of YA and humor. Do yourself a favor before diving into this book, and read the previous books in the series, starting with The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾.
May 10, 2015
adrian mole seems to have delusions of grandeur but then he has seen a therapist and she says he's fine. hahaha.
so in this book he's 23-25 and he eats a lot of bananas and is so so so stupid i can't even. like bianca obv likes him but he's too dumb to see.
oh he's writing a novel and we get to read this masterpiece (hahahahahahahaha).
also his family is insane and there's so much drama.
he moves to london and is good at chopping vegetables!
he also grows a beard.
the ending is good though.
the first 2 books in the series are my favourite so far but i'm curious to see what happens to adrian mole etc.
If you like adrian mole then you should try continuing with the series to see how his life turns out and just to laugh at his stupidity but if you're bored with the series then i totally understand.
also if you HAVEN'T read adrian mole then i suggest you read the first book and see if it interests you...it's a diary and it's about a teenage boy living in Leicester and it's REALLY funny because he is mad.
Happy Reading!
=)
p.s it was kinda scary reading it because he's in his 20s and i'm in my 20s now and it's like...JOBS? ADULTHOOD?! LIFE?! WHAT EVEN?!
so in this book he's 23-25 and he eats a lot of bananas and is so so so stupid i can't even. like bianca obv likes him but he's too dumb to see.
oh he's writing a novel and we get to read this masterpiece (hahahahahahahaha).
also his family is insane and there's so much drama.
he moves to london and is good at chopping vegetables!
he also grows a beard.
the ending is good though.
the first 2 books in the series are my favourite so far but i'm curious to see what happens to adrian mole etc.
If you like adrian mole then you should try continuing with the series to see how his life turns out and just to laugh at his stupidity but if you're bored with the series then i totally understand.
also if you HAVEN'T read adrian mole then i suggest you read the first book and see if it interests you...it's a diary and it's about a teenage boy living in Leicester and it's REALLY funny because he is mad.
Happy Reading!
=)
p.s it was kinda scary reading it because he's in his 20s and i'm in my 20s now and it's like...JOBS? ADULTHOOD?! LIFE?! WHAT EVEN?!
November 7, 2016
Hurrah Adrain is back!
The true Adrian has resurfaced after the horrible interlude that was 'True confessions'. Its disfunctional, funny and in some moments actually touching (in a non sexual way).
Just when Adrian gets on track with life he seems to go to pot and slide backwards but its a good story and has some great moments. If you gave up at #3 then you're missing out (and probably not reading this review).
November 25, 2020
Is this Adrian at his lowest ebb? His most anal? His most creatively frustrated? Like Larry David or Alan Partridge, even David Brent, he's one of those sad fictional males who endures so much that when he has any sort of minor victory, it seems monumental. The other joy is, as ever with these books, the diary form that captures all the real life crap we thought was important at the time.
December 31, 2013
It's been ages since I read the old Mole diaries but they still make me laugh out loud. Adrian is 23 and 3/4 , completely self absorbed, pretentious, annoying, and completely hysterical. Start with his first diary (13 and 3/4) and don't stop until you get to the prostrate years. Sue Townsend, where is our next installment??
September 22, 2019
Having read this book after 17 years from when I finished the previous book brought me back memories of following Adrian Mole as he grew up. He is in his early twenties now and struggling to become an adult, letting go of his past and create a change in his life. I loved it and looking forward to reading the next books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews