Townsend, S. (2004). Adrian Mole and the weapons of mass destruction. New York: Soho Press, Inc.

Adrian Mole is a 34 year old, who has a son in the military another in Africa and is drowning in debt.  It is set in 2002 to 2004.  This book is the sixth in a series about Adrian Mole throughout his life. Adrian is hopeless in life in general and is drawn to an awkward woman, Marigold who has a weird unconventional family.  The more he tries to end the relationship, the more they become involved.  He still keeps in touch with his old high school friends and what is happening in their lives.  He is still in love with Pandora, a beautiful high-ranking government official.  His friend Nigel is his faithful friend and experiencing blindness.  His friends and outlandish parents warn him about Marigold and he promises he will break up with her for good. Her half-sister, Daisy is alluring and Adrian enamored with her but still attached to Marigold.  His son and his friend are shipped out to the front and face danger every day. This book continues the saga of Adrian Mole with humor and shaking of one’s head  as Adrian continually gives into his reckless desires and his inability to take control of his life.

This book is funny and an easy read.  Adrian Mole is a pathetic but loveable character that seems to always make the wrong choice. He is an everyday man that has identifiable ways that are easy relatable to the reader or someone in their life.  Even though the story with his son being in Iraq is minimal, Townsend writes with heart and shares the parents’ nervousness about their son being at war.  I believe this book is more relatable as an adult novel rather than YA because of the age of the character, frankness of the language and continual sexual experiences. The author does a good job of including characters from previous books from his school years. Even if this was the first time the characters were introduced to the reader, they were likable and interesting.  I was not familiar with this series and now would like to start the journey with Adrian, friends and family from the beginning.  There was not anything that stuck out in the terminology and slang of the book that American readers would have a hard time understanding.  A lot of Adrian’s feelings and thoughts about the leadership during that time mirrors how many Americans felt with their leaders and about the war.