This at-times laugh-out-loud Australian book is the debut novel of Mark Lamprell, who co-wrote the Australian comedy Babe: Pig in the City - but don't let that put you off.
Lamprell, who also wrote and directed the superior Australian comedy My Mother Frank, has no trouble getting readers to warm to O'Dell, who suffers his own suburban version of an annus horribilis.
After being hit by a car he struggles with his physical and mental state, amplified by his two very normal children being involved in police and school matters and the family suddenly struggling financially as his writing work dries up.
What seems like a never-ending chapter of events leads to the main character reaching his breaking point, and it is only then that his luck seems to change for the better.
An entertaining debut novel which, given the writer's background, could easily be adapted to become another Australian film.
• Hamish McNeilly is an ODT Dunedin reporter.
