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GP’s diary of the absurd set to be surprise festive hit GP’s diary of the absurd set to be surprise festive hit
(about 2 months later)
After a long career as a Suffolk GP, Dr Philip Rhys Evans may well be astonished to find himself lined up as a surprise literary hit this winter. But a short book compiled by the now-retired doctor with his wife Christine detailing the funny, bizarre and poignant situations he has encountered over his many years in practice is now a novelty Christmas title attracting glowing reviews.After a long career as a Suffolk GP, Dr Philip Rhys Evans may well be astonished to find himself lined up as a surprise literary hit this winter. But a short book compiled by the now-retired doctor with his wife Christine detailing the funny, bizarre and poignant situations he has encountered over his many years in practice is now a novelty Christmas title attracting glowing reviews.
Dr Evans’ A Country Doctor’s Commonplace Book features a succession of anecdotes, letters and stories of unintended double meanings, and was picked up by the independent literary magazine Slightly Foxed to be published in a small print run for subscribers. Demand grew through word of mouth and the title was supplied to selected book shops, making it the latest in a tradition of unexpected seasonal successes.Dr Evans’ A Country Doctor’s Commonplace Book features a succession of anecdotes, letters and stories of unintended double meanings, and was picked up by the independent literary magazine Slightly Foxed to be published in a small print run for subscribers. Demand grew through word of mouth and the title was supplied to selected book shops, making it the latest in a tradition of unexpected seasonal successes.
The Spectator magazine’s critic, among others, found it “a delight”. “How many books have we seen like this that are very slightly more boring than they should be? This one isn’t,” he wrote.The Spectator magazine’s critic, among others, found it “a delight”. “How many books have we seen like this that are very slightly more boring than they should be? This one isn’t,” he wrote.
So, following in the unlikely footsteps of Schott’s Original Miscellany in 2001 and Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss’s 2003 study of grammatical errors, the doctor’s book has developed an appeal well beyond its predicted readership and is even starting to compete with its publisher’s surprise hit of 2016, Ysenda Maxtone Graham’s Terms & Conditions, about life in a girls’ boarding school.So, following in the unlikely footsteps of Schott’s Original Miscellany in 2001 and Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss’s 2003 study of grammatical errors, the doctor’s book has developed an appeal well beyond its predicted readership and is even starting to compete with its publisher’s surprise hit of 2016, Ysenda Maxtone Graham’s Terms & Conditions, about life in a girls’ boarding school.
Richard Humphreys, Waterstones’ non-fiction buyer, sees the annual sport of spotting an unusual Christmas bestseller as an enjoyable part of the business. “The novelty stocking-filler book has been a staple for Waterstones for well over a decade now: grammar, eccentric measurements and the odd etiquette of yesteryear, the quirky and miscellaneous can still dominate our bestseller lists at Christmas. It’s always a thrill to see which book takes off.”Richard Humphreys, Waterstones’ non-fiction buyer, sees the annual sport of spotting an unusual Christmas bestseller as an enjoyable part of the business. “The novelty stocking-filler book has been a staple for Waterstones for well over a decade now: grammar, eccentric measurements and the odd etiquette of yesteryear, the quirky and miscellaneous can still dominate our bestseller lists at Christmas. It’s always a thrill to see which book takes off.”
The doctor’s book is described as “a very personal look at the pleasures and eccentricities of English life from a well-read individual with a keen sense of humour and many decades of observing his fellow men and women in his work”. It focuses on the author’s many interests, including wine, cricket, poetry, Chekhov, PG Wodehouse and “the arcane goings-on of the Church of England”, often sourced from announcements in parish newsletters.The doctor’s book is described as “a very personal look at the pleasures and eccentricities of English life from a well-read individual with a keen sense of humour and many decades of observing his fellow men and women in his work”. It focuses on the author’s many interests, including wine, cricket, poetry, Chekhov, PG Wodehouse and “the arcane goings-on of the Church of England”, often sourced from announcements in parish newsletters.
“The response has been very encouraging,” said a spokesperson for Slightly Foxed. “When we published Terms & Conditions it was such a huge success for us that it almost sent the office into meltdown. So far the commonplace book might not be shooting out quite so fast, but it is doing very well.”“The response has been very encouraging,” said a spokesperson for Slightly Foxed. “When we published Terms & Conditions it was such a huge success for us that it almost sent the office into meltdown. So far the commonplace book might not be shooting out quite so fast, but it is doing very well.”
For his own part, Dr Evans intended the book as a slice of his life as an English country GP, which “exposes one to an extraordinary range of people and situations – always fascinating, sometimes absurd, often sad and poignant”.For his own part, Dr Evans intended the book as a slice of his life as an English country GP, which “exposes one to an extraordinary range of people and situations – always fascinating, sometimes absurd, often sad and poignant”.
Humphreys said he is not yet decided on what the year’s most outlandish success will be: “Often it’s word of mouth and bookseller recommendation that propels a title into the charts, as was the case with Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Does Anything Eat Wasps? and Schott’s Original Miscellany,” he said. This year, he suspects the great outdoors may give the doctor’s book a run for its money. He recommends The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book: “It’s perfect for the cartographer in your life,” he said.Humphreys said he is not yet decided on what the year’s most outlandish success will be: “Often it’s word of mouth and bookseller recommendation that propels a title into the charts, as was the case with Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Does Anything Eat Wasps? and Schott’s Original Miscellany,” he said. This year, he suspects the great outdoors may give the doctor’s book a run for its money. He recommends The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book: “It’s perfect for the cartographer in your life,” he said.
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