Life in the Corner

Hi Matthew (or is it Neil?),
It is such a shame this has a red arrow. I am assuming you’re maybe on holiday, so I’m going to give you a boost (hopefully) on my shelf to try and get up a point of three.
This is pure brilliance. You dispense with ‘getting in the child’s head’ in an infantile way, but the adult attitude works so well! I can imagine you keeping a diary when Matthew was little, and working it into this, and it is inspired. I would go out and buy this if it were for sale, keep it for those days when I was ready to strangle my kids – wait until they are teens. I’d love to read that diary.
Everything from the naughty corner minutes, to the ebay follies are so hilarious. I shall be smiling for a while!
Lisa

Dear Matthew, I’m having a wonderful time in your company. You have many good traits: you’re smart, fun-loving, indefatigable. And while it’s true you also have some not so good traits, that doesn’t make you less likeable, but, indeed, more interesting: you’re sort of a flawed hero.

I also admire your skills--your ability to use a computer, your fists, items from the fridge—and your scientific experiments with various living creatures. But most of all I admire your excellent writing: it’s always clear, precise, succinct, and grammatically correct. You’re very imaginative, and I don’t mean just your schemes for getting rid of your baby sister, but also your tendency to exaggerate your accomplishments for comic effect—the results are hilarious.

If you’re writing this well, this creatively, at two and a half, you’re sure to become a second Shakespeare. Meanwhile, don’t let spending so much time in the corner get you down--all great artists suffer.

On my shelf. Maria, The Pharaoh’s Cat

Life in the Corner

Hi Matthew, This is great, Adrian Mole for the 21st century generation, Look Who's Talking format worked well for movies, this does the same thing so expertly in a book. Many laugh out loud moments, and humour is so difficult to write. You are a very engaging writer, with a quirky view of the world and the laconic tone really suits to book. Great stuff, backed - Andrew W.

Backed coz it's so bloody funny!
I can see this rocketing, my friend.
I'll definitely come back to read more of this...
Thank you,
David
Green Ore

This in an excellent adults view of a child's perceptions. If you have ever looked into the eyes of a naughty child and got the feeling that there was a fully educated brain ticking away behind them but were lulled by toothy smiles and innocent looks this is it. I read six chapters and laughed out loud on many occasions. I don't know how long this book will eventually be, or if it will be possible to maintain the momentum. For what I read I thought it was a unique piece of work.
Amelia
A Date in Diary

Very funny. I would recommend examining word choice.
For example I would say things like Total time in the Corner.
Or when contemplating how unfair it is to be unable to hit people who are annoying, "Sneaky" seemed out of place. (Since he has a more adult vocabulary mind) I would go into some thought about not being able to prove it, or getting her to not tattle on him, or finding another form of punishment to dispense on his sister. (Although I do really like the Art of war reference.)

I love this - such fun! Hysterical and BACKED!

Liz
The Cheech Room

Loved it. Laughed until I had trouble breathing.

Brilliant lol! I thought this was great fun and very original, good simple writing that reminded me a bit of Frank McCourt, good luck (I'm sure you won't need it). Backed! :)

What a precocious child. 2 &1/2 and so into everything. I just love him. And love the way you write about him, from the wee in the sink to the drowned hampster. Bless! This has got to be a family favourite, it works really well, so backed with pleasure. Nicky. (Nuns & Pregnant Girls.)

What a precocious child. 2 &1/2 and so into everything. Love him. And love the way you write about him, from the wee in the sink to the drowned hampster. Bless! This has got to be a family favourite, so backed with pleasure. Nicky.

Hi Matthew (or is it Neil?),
It is such a shame this has a red arrow. I am assuming you’re maybe on holiday, so I’m going to give you a boost (hopefully) on my shelf to try and get up a point of three.
This is pure brilliance. You dispense with ‘getting in the child’s head’ in an infantile way, but the adult attitude works so well! I can imagine you keeping a diary when Matthew was little, and working it into this, and it is inspired. I would go out and buy this if it were for sale, keep it for those days when I was ready to strangle my kids – wait until they are teens. I’d love to read that diary.
Everything from the naughty corner minutes, to the ebay follies are so hilarious. I shall be smiling for a while!
Lisa

I love this.
Just that ... oh and it's original and very funny.
Going on my shelf (as opposed to going in the corner!)
Alison

Witty, fun and engaging. This child is too smart for its own good though. I think he needs to spend even more time in the corner. Shelved for originality and the laughs I had reading it.

Hi Matthew, What can I say? Very amusing, oh-so dippable, cute as they come and nothing worth a nitpick. A wise publisher should snap it up and rush it out for the Christmas charts, it could easily be a runaway bestseller in my view. Shelving. Good luck! AnneX

I am here in regards to our swap agreement. HAHAHAHA. I laughed my arse off, so you did your job, mate. Two niggles though: is it really necessary to put his name at the end of each entry? We know he's writing this. Is it necessary that he label each entry? Can we not discern the topic ourselves from reading it? Either way, I liked this story.

SHELVED! I do look forward to your forthcoming comments and possible backing of my book. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau File

Hi Matthew! I have just read the first 3 chapters of your book and will be backing it, happily, when I finish these comments. You are quite the cutie-pie and I love your narrative 'voice'. I laughed all the way through the story of your escapades as I have raised a son of my own (he's 34 now!). I remember how often the whole matter challenged my patience but, alas, always provided laughter. I do have a few comments and please know that I am no expert but people have told me I am pretty good at this.
CHAPTER ONE: I think I would delete the first 3 explanatory sentences as all is revealed shortly anyway. The story would begin so much funnier if you just started with 'Sorry, it was only an accident' but I would delete the word 'only' for a stronger opening. I think 'corner-wise' should be hypenated. Change 'tomato sauce' to 'ketchup'. Change 'lightly' to 'light'. I think it would be wise to find a way to let us know how old Matthew is in the very early paragraphs.
CHAPTER TWO: 'I must get my own back.' I don't understand this. I would delete 'It tastes like jam.' as it seems rather gross for an adult to be licking jam off a boot. Aha! We finally learn how old Matthew is! I would eliminate the sentence that begins 'Perhaps, it's because...', lending even more humor. Oh! I do not like the drowning of Hammy. This was a funny and sweet book up til this. The drowning of Hammy is too brutal. Yes, I know that little boys do such things but I would delete this scene anyway.
CHAPTER THREE: Shouldn't 'effected' be 'affected'? Not sure. I don't quite understand why you chose to use 'B*#*#!y' when you are talking about the 'F' word. I mean, why isn't it 'F*#*#!g' , instead? I would change the '(I don't like bees)' to '(I don't like bees, remember?)' which will make your readers feel that Matthew is speaking directly to them. Delete 'Baby' from 'Baby Becca'.
GENERALLY SPEAKING: Instead of referring to 'Yesterday's Corner Time' at the beginning of each chapter, I would bring more immediacy to the story by using 'Today's Corner Time' instead.
Well, thats it. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It is an easy read that is VERY entertaining. I hope you can dicipher my comments and I hope that some of them help. This book is excellent and I can see the potential for sequels as Matthew grows. Can't wait to pick it up at my local bookstore, so please make sure it is distributed in America when you get published (you will!). Good Luck and I'm backing it right now.....

I'm on a red arrow hunt. Looking for all my favourite books which are dropping and promoting them again.

This is a very funny read. You have a very natural humourus writing style it's not trying to be over funny, just natural. Ona few occasions it did make me laugh out loud, and I don't laugh very often. This should appeal to anyone who's ever had children. I wish you good luck with this. Definately shelved.

Charlie

I found the premise for this intriguing and humerous. I read the first two chapters and liked how you started each section with how long he'd been in the corner.
I find myself on the fence with this. though I really did find a fair amount of it humerous I was also distracted by what little matthew did and did not know. it seems you either have him know everything or have him know only what a normal two year old should know. The mixture was distracting and I found myself wonder "how the hell would a two year old know that?" Of course creative flexibility is given but I wasn't as enamoured with this as I would have hoped.
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

Matthew, adore this little darling. He's going on the naughty shelf. Lynn

Having three kids myself (ages 7, 5 and 2), I had to take a look. Wonderful and novel idea. POV is unique and along the lines of "Look Who's Talking Now..." I think you've nailed things from the perspective of a child who is always in trouble. I should get my kids to take a look at this! Very funny and an eye-opener, I'm sure, for most parents.
Do take a look at your pitch. Two and a half years old should be Two-and-a-half years old. Other than that I saw nothing out of place. A very good sign.
I know it's a leap in genres, but I'd like your take on my novel. It's a thriller and I think you might enjoy it.
Keep writing and thanks for the unique POV!
Tom Mahon

A must-have tome for the comparatively new-to-parenthood. Would go a long way to preserving sanity and lightening up.

I have so far read up to chapter four and i absolutely love this -- I sincerely hope this is published and will definitely buy!!!

Love the idea of a toddler googling Marx! This is very funny, a kind of Bridget Jones Diary for tots, with ketchup!

Simple, eccentric, observational humour at its most endearing.

Watchlisting for more reading and possible shelving if you behave yourself and stay out of that naughty corner for at least 5 chapters!

Matthew,

That's one busy corner. And of course, it's all Becca's fault. This is laugh-out-loud funny, and a pleasure to read. The writing is near perfect.

Easily shelved.

Mark

Dear Matthew, I’m having a wonderful time in your company. You have many good traits: you’re smart, fun-loving, indefatigable. And while it’s true you also have some not so good traits, that doesn’t make you less likeable, but, indeed, more interesting: you’re sort of a flawed hero.

I also admire your skills--your ability to use a computer, your fists, items from the fridge—and your scientific experiments with various living creatures. But most of all I admire your excellent writing: it’s always clear, precise, succinct, and grammatically correct. You’re very imaginative, and I don’t mean just your schemes for getting rid of your baby sister, but also your tendency to exaggerate your accomplishments for comic effect—the results are hilarious.

If you’re writing this well, this creatively, at two and a half, you’re sure to become a second Shakespeare. Meanwhile, don’t let spending so much time in the corner get you down--all great artists suffer.

On my shelf. Maria, The Pharaoh’s Cat

Hi Matthew

What I've read has been very enjoyable. easily enough to get onto my shelf.

Don't know if I would be in for the whole ride though. I'd be more tempted if it wasn't just his internal dialogue that was so advanced but his actual plans and actions (I'm thinking of Stuey in Family Guy). I'd love for it to get seriously demented and surreal - but that probably says more about me than anything.

But nevertheless, a book well shelved.

Matthew

This was a fun read, and you can market it to both Mum and Dads even as a possible, 'how to or not to' book. Full of laughs and relatable scenes and circumstances. Your childs character is very believable and therefore makes this book a great to read. Very funny and I'm sure, it will do well on here.

Chris Thom
Working to motherhood

Just a few errors I noticed on the way

PS. Your dialogue needs editing, as some of the commas, question marks etc. are sitting outside the speech marks, instead of inside.

IMHO - I was told a fair few months ago, being on here, that () are rarely used nowdays and it's better to use - or ; instead.

Brilliant stuff. I laughed out loud several times. He reminds me of the evil baby 'Family Guy'. And love the book cover. He does come across as a little older than two and a half but then my nephew who is the same age loves to jam disks into the DVD player. I found one typo, 'Its far more pratical to administer etc....', I think you mean pracitical. And I would suggest that you try to avoid repeating the same word in the same paragraph. But I'm being extra picky and my own story is riddled with typos. Shelved (obviously)

Hi, as a dad of young children this certainly struck a chord. You have described these young thoughts brilliantly, very funny. Enjoyable reading indeed, backed.

haha i love the "what the fu...dge" part. it cracked me up. i do that all the time. there was a fun read. quite adorable. hehe. shelved.
-Cara

This is hilarious... "What the fu....dge." Might have to use that one myself the next time I find my 8 year old smeared my make up all over her face!

Think I should let my out laws read this... they like the idea of the naughty step...but don't understand the rules, my youngest was left on the naughty step for an hour once!

This book must be super nannies worst nightmare - but it's just too funny not to back ;O)

Love this quirky book.

Love Bev x
Thicker Than Water

Hi, Father of Matthew, This is hilarious. Why do little boys love to flush things down the toilet?

My little brother used to manage to get into every scrape possible, including being bitten by a copperhead snake, stepping on a giant piece of glass, being bitten by Cricktor, his pet boa constrictor, etc... He survived, thank goodness.

Backed with great enjoyment,
Thank you and good luck with your son!

Patricia (Godmother's Wand)

So, I'm reading this and really REALLY hoping my own 2 1/2 year old isn't thinking these things!
Very funny indeed, and just a little bit scary...
Cheers,
BexMcK (The Devil's Box)

Life in the Corner

Hi Matthew, This is great, Adrian Mole for the 21st century generation, Look Who's Talking format worked well for movies, this does the same thing so expertly in a book. Many laugh out loud moments, and humour is so difficult to write. You are a very engaging writer, with a quirky view of the world and the laconic tone really suits to book. Great stuff, backed - Andrew W.

Hey Matthew.
Thanks for the great entertainment!
Still on my shelf.
Sure everyone will adore this book!
How about illustrations?
cheers...................Mikey

I read 'Matthew' with my 2 sons who thought it was absolutely hilarious. You have captured the creativity and spirit of a toddler and portrayed it to perfection.

On a serious note you have cleverly shown how separating children when there is a problem does not teach them what they should do.

Your book celebrates mischievousness and educates parents on what not to do!!

Good luck, but I am sure you won't need it!

Matthew-

This is downright hilarious! This is the perfect gift for any grandparent-to-be to give his or her son/daughter when they're expecting their first. In fact, I can see this being given in multiples at baby showers! Any parent (or grandparent for that matter) is going to be in stitches when they read this. More often than not, it will bring fond memories of their own mishaps with child-rearing as they read the tales of Matthew...

How can I NOT shelf this?! Holy cow... Totally shelved.

Kim
Invisible Justice

This is great. It reminds me of a different kind of Adrian MOle. So well observed. Shelved today.
Hilary waters (The Piazza)

Comments on Chapters 1-3...

I'm torn on this. On the one hand, it's a delightfully strange combination, childhood naivete combined with high intelligence: the innocent insights of an overactive mind can be startling. That said, I found Matthew's awareness ranging from what a normal kid (of about ten) might have to adult acute. For instance, he doesn't (appear to) understand why his Dad want to watch Beyonce... on the other hand, he's after the Art of War and knows what a stash of coke is.

Now, it's obviously a satirical premise to have a child with the level of intelligence and awareness (I'd almost suggest you make him older to downgrade the stretch a little bit), but I figure you need to keep it at a consistent level one way or another - whether slightly innocent as per Beyonce; or very knowing as per Dad's coke stash.

I'm going to back because I think it's an original and fairly clever premise. I think if you can work on maintaining the believability (you know what I mean!) in your fantasy, this could be a winner.

Best wishes with it.

Regards,

TomW

When a blurb tells you it's humourous, I want to disagree.
on this occasion I couldn't.
Well writted and funny, shelved.
!

Haha, great idea and nicely executed. A fresh look at "Look who's talking."

Witty and entertaining. Him liking Beyonce and the Sugababes and learning "law" is very funny.

Great take on sibling rivalry with the Becca references.

Hamsters DON'T FLOAT, Mathew. Big boys like you should know that.

Dania (The It! Refugee)

Backed coz it's so bloody funny!
I can see this rocketing, my friend.
I'll definitely come back to read more of this...
Thank you,
David
Green Ore

Erma Bombeck look out. This is funny.
Also Shelved.

A truly funny example of how children who drive you crazy are really forward thinking sentient beings - unbelievable isnt it?

Great stuff, had me laughing from the start - on my shelf.

Impossible to sensibly comment on this, it is what it is.

It will probably be a best seller in a years time.

Cheers

John Booth (Shaddowdon)

As the parent of a Matthew who spent a great deal of his toddler years in "time out", I can appreciate the inventiveness of your Matthew. This is hilarious! I would try to make it sound a slight bit more child-like (NOT babyish, though). A good example of a book from a very young child's point of view that is meant for older readers is Lois Lowry's "I Am Sam". Although it is not in first person, it is only from Sam's POV. Shelved.

This is so original and I just had to keep on reading. Having had young ones myself and now grandchildren, it amazes me that over the ages the mischief never changes although in my day it was coloured pencils now it's felt tips!! As for the non-swimming hamster, so funny but then so is the rest. A unique concept and well worth reading. On my shelf. Margaret.
The Spirit of the Butterfly &
Candles in the Garden.

I just laughed so hard Dr. Pepper came out my nose. I'm not done either. I'm going to read this everyday so I can be happy in the afternoons before I go home to my children! I should go get some paint and paint bars on their faces to see how they will look in jail... hmmm shelved.

Monique O'Connor James
Jamais Vu

hello Mathew,

It was the pitch that enticed me to shelve this story. I was in a rush at the time I first came across it and I did the making a go for it. It is amazing, an uncommon concept, brilliant display of the imagination and great talent at telling the story.

All the best.

Janvier (Flash of the Sun)

i am shelving this because i haven't seen anything like it. it has the makings of a seriously original and funny piece of writing although currently i feel it is 'in progress' which is a euphemism for 'not funny enough'. the potential is there. you need to improve the timing and probably cut many words until the gags and dry asides stand out more.

i am still going through the same process myself with BLOGSPOT.

interesting stuff. thanks for the read.
xx
maitreyi

This is wonderful, simply wonderful. I read it without pause. Not only totally believable as a child's voice but so hilarious. this could make someone smile on the worst day. How did you come up with it all! I love the fact that grandma and granda are at least 7 hehe...truly origional, i love it!!! Straight on my shelf x

Matthew,

This is great - a good idea pulled off with wit and charm. Reminds me of my favourite cartoon, Calvin and Hobbes, are you a fan? The only thing I would say is that the style you have means that it starts in a bit of a clunky fashion. I like the idea of having short business-like sentences but it is a bit hard at the beginning, maybe some sort of dropped intro? Life in the corner really starts to warm up though. Good luck with it! Rob