Xavier Ireland is the assumed name of a radio-show host with a devoted following of listeners riveted by the sleepless loners who call in throughout the night to seek his advice. Off the air, he leads a low-key life of avoiding his neighbors, playing Scrabble, and maintaining an awkward friendship with his cohost, Murray. But his life begins to change when he meets a cleaning lady named Pippa, who becomes a constant, surprisingly necessary presence in his life as he starts facing up to his past and discovering solace and redemption in the most unexpected places. British comedian Mark Watson’s North American debut humorously and poignantly explores life and death, strangers and friends, heartache and comfort, and whether the choices we don’t make affect us just as powerfully as the ones we do.
About the Author
Mark Watson is one of Britain’s most popular young stand-up comedians. His comedy shows have won, among others, the Daily Telegraph Award, Time Out Best Stand-Up Award, Edinburgh Festival Panel Prize, and best shows at the Adelaide and Sydney Festivals. He has performed at every major international comedy festival and in more than twenty countries. He made comedy history at the Edinburgh Festival by performing for 24 hours, solo and without a break. He is a regular on many British TV shows and has his own highly successful BBC Radio 4 series, Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better. He is the author of the novels Bullet Points and A Light-Hearted Look at Murder, and the non-fiction title Crap at the Environment. Mark Watson lives in London.
Industry Reviews
"Brilliantly hilarious and hilariously brilliant."--Stephen Fry "I hugely recommend. Gentle, compassionate, unusual, and thought-provoking. Expected a fun read and got something better." --Chris Cleave, author of "Little Bee" "There are eleven good reasons to read this fine, funny, classy book - and those are just three. You'll find the others for yourself..."--Danny Wallace, author of Yes Man "The ghost of Hugh Grant lurks within the pages of this novel, a pleasing London-set romantic comedy complete with a cast of quirky supporting characters."--The New York Times "A seriously good book by a very funny man"--Metro (UK) "Smoothly written, Watson's latest novel proves he has a gift for tender prose and emotive storytelling... an intelligent, witty and heartwarming tale with a significant message -- and his most accomplished book to date"--Time Out (London) "A richly comic but intuitive novel. . . both funny and touching."--The Bookseller (UK) "A moving story with a twist about how our lives touch others in ways we don't even realise. If you loved One Day by David Nicholls, this is for you--and will stay with you long after the last page." --Cosmopolitan (UK) "Funny, sharply observed, and unexpectedly moving... The connections are ingenious and there are some very dark undertones, admirably handled." --The Times (London)
