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Book Reviews
If I learned nothing else from this book, I now know of a new profession: aircraft cleaner. For that is the trade of Dave, the hero of Utterly Ridiculous. With little but a van and his torpid terrier Biggles, Dave roves the airstrips of southern England, titivating light aircraft.
The book is a series of loosely connected stories, each describing a procession of more or less farcical events. And if the author Philip L Moore doesn't quite do for aircraft cleaning what James Herriott did for country vets, he has a spirited go.
Abetted by his feckless nephew Doug, Dave attempts to earn an honest living while tangling with Russian stunt fliers, dodgy proprietors, his ex-wife, transsexual pilots and, occasionally, the law. One episode is even set in prison, where Dave languishes for contempt of court.
The stories abound with mishap. In the spirit of Benny Hill, several involve clothes being torn comically off. Being set on airfields, the book offers plentiful airborne high-kinks, crash landings and aerobatic thrills. This edition is a toned-down version to make it suitable for younger readers. Even so, there is no shortage of improbably willing young ladies eager to expose their assets or seduce Dave.
From the above, you may detect a whiff of male wish-fulfilment about several of the stories. Such is the unpretentious manner of their telling though, I can't imagine many readers taking offence, even at the franker and more adult passages. A few tales involve sudden death or injury. But these are told with such matter-of-factness that they are robbed of any horror.
The best passages are the shots of simple visual humour – like when Dave wakes up, stretches, and puts his arms straight though the roof of the caravan in which he lives. Or there is the imaginative scene where Biggles tangles with a feline bully. This almost makes up for the re-telling of the old, old joke about the kiddy who thinks her mother is dying because she's overheard her cry Christ, I'm coming.
With a title like Utterly Ridiculous, the book is disarmingly honest about its style, tone and intention. If he perhaps overdoes the exclamation marks, Moore nevertheless relates Dave's escapades with a spirit of enthusiasm, energetic and likeable, with a healthy disrespect for authority and a streak of down-to-earth decency.
This often lands his hero in trouble, but you sense he has right on his side. With its cast of larger-than-life characters, its litany of scrapes, scraps and screwing, Utterly Ridiculous is an endearingly throwaway read, and testament to peculiarly British have-a-go gusto.
Extremely funny book, I keep this in my office at work (in the loo for all to read!)
When I first picked it up and read it I had to phone the wife to let her know I would be late home!
Simon Hull (France)
Philip, Utterly Ridiculous, "Utterley Amazing" couldn't stop laughing; this book is beyond stupidity I had tears running down my face with laughter.
Peter French
Therapy:
I picked up your book of poems at Christmas I could relate to so many of the feelings you have written about, all I can say is "Thank you" what a wonderful book.
Sandra Watson
Re-Utterly Ridiculous:
I read your book with great excitement recognising the day to day occurences at the airport where I did most of my instructing, although written with a tongue in cheek embellishment of the truth, it gives a great amusing slant behind the scenes at a general aviation airfield.
Warwick Bayman
This book made me laugh from the beginning to the last page. The first chapter had me in fits of laughter with the man/woman pilot. Couldn’t put it down, read it in two days, I had to know what happened next to Dave and Biggles. This book would be great as a film. Please do follow it up.
Review by S Balloo
Thanks for a great read, it’s almost Tom Sharp. I can see so much that happens at our own Airfield, Netherthorpe. A cracking good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Let me know when you finish the next…
John Kelsall
Hi Phil, or should I say Dave! The Book! Wicked, I can’t believe you have been busy writing a book….am half way through it already and it’s really funny, and of course I was there to witness a lot of it first hand, so know exactly what you are talking about.
Bekah Symonds (ex Compton Abbas)
This book is so funny I needed oxygen at sea level.
Michael Whitley
I love this book it was so funny, i could not put it down. This book will be loved by all who read it. I highly recommend a great, funny read.
Phil can't wait to read more of your books.
Julie (Portslade, Brighton)
Picture our hero Dave and his trusty dog Biggles moving into their new home - a dilapidated caravan on the airfield at Spread Eagles. A self-employed cleaner of aircraft, Dave travels around the local airfields plying his trade, with the next outrageous incident only just around the corner. On the people front, there's his ex-wife Suzy, as well as the aptly named 'Wheels-up Willy' and Megan, a former Concorde-flying transvestite - Dave meets them all.
On the flying display side there is the Magnificent Four display team consisting of three Yak-50s and a Yak-52, along with their arch-rivals, the Russian Stars and the fourteen-ship Red Aeros team - all trying to cut each other's throats.
While the people, locations and incidents may be fictional; many of the airfields are not. Much of the book appears to be based on real events - especially the two brothers flying a jet when the ejector seat falls out - this time with hilarious consequences.
See how many people, places and incidents you recognise when you read this self published, completely over-the-top humorous tale.
Pilot Magazine
News Article
PHILIP’S UTTERLY NECESSARY BOOK IS A LABOUR OF WEST SUSSEX LOVE
Tales of high jinks on the airfield and in the skies abound in a former Littlehampton businessman’s first book.
Utterly Ridiculous is a tongue-in-cheek, adult comedy loosely based on real events over the past quarter of a century, as told by Philip L Moore. He grew up and lived in Littlehampton until six years ago, and still regularly visits family in the town.
When not writing, he works with the Yakovlevs aerobatic display team, the source of several storylines in his book, and who regularly appear at the Shoreham Air Show.
Philip, who had two businesses in the area, Mobile Car Wash Company and Airdefence (Aviation) and now lives in Dorset, said: “This book is very special to me as I grew up in West Sussex and spent much time in Children’s homes- I ended up going to 22 different schools around the country and left school with a very poor education.
I would visit Shoreham and Goodwood as a child and have fond memories watching the planes flying. I also used to sleep in aeroplanes being made at Ford airfield when my father was a night watchman there.
So I suppose it was all this that inspired me into aviation, and hopefully this book will inspire other youngsters who have had a rough time and they too, will realise they can do anything!
By Roger Green, Editor Littlehampton Gazette, 7th Feb 2008
A former Wellington man has just published his first book.
Utterly Ridiculous, by Philip Lee Moore, who now lives in Shaftesbury but still regularly visits the area, Utterly Ridiculous is an amusing. over-the-top memoir based on events over the last 25 years.
Much of the uproarious humour centres on Philip’s experiences working as a self-employed aircraft cleaner.
The work takes him around local airfields, including Dunkeswell, with the next outrageous incident only just around the corner.
Philip said: “The book is a revised edition after demand was so great from teenagers who were nicking it from their parents.
“On one occasion the book was given to a friend who had gone into hospital for an op.
“The book had to be confiscated by nurses after the friend burst her stitches.”
A follow-up, entitled Also Utterly Ridiculous is in preparation.
Utterly Ridiculous by Philip L. Moore is published by Matador, price £7.99
Amusing Read
Wellington weekly news, Jan 08
Shaftesbury Author Philip L Moore spends a lot of his time working with an aerobatic display team at Compton Abbas Airfield.
His New Book Utterly Ridiculous, takes its inspiration from his experiences in the world of aviation;
From mishaps and blunders which have taken place through to friends and rivalry.
The story begins when hero Dave and his trusted dog Biggles move into there new home – A dilapidated caravan on an airfield. A self employed aircraft cleaner, Dave travels around plying his trade and the carry-on-esque comedy romp unfolds.
Much of the book seems semi-autobiographical- the tale of two pilots flying an ex-military jet when the ejector seat falls out being one example which seems more real than fictional, plus there are frequent references to Shaftesbury and Compton Abbas.
The book is a revised edition after Philip was informed by original adult readers that their teenage children were stealing their copies.
It’s over the top, rude, musing and makes a fun read.
Blackmore Vale Magazine, 4th Jan 2008
A FORMER Taunton and Wellington man has just published his first book - and it provided a bit of a surprise for one friend in the area.
Philip Lee Moore, who now lives in Shaftesbury but still regularly visits the area, gave a copy of his book, Utterly Ridiculous, to Wellington-based businessman Andrew Disney of Andrew Disney Roofing.
It is a tongue-in-cheek look based on events over the last 25 years, 'good old British slapstick humour' which mentions quite a few local places such as Dunkeswell, Wellington and Taunton, covering events that happened between Philip and Andrew.
Andrew said: "When you are growing up you don't realise how much fun life is at that particular time - it's not until you look back years later you think 'that was funny'.
"Reading Utterly Ridiculous has brought back so many events I had forgotten about."
Philip spends much of his time working with the Yakovlevs aerobatic display team and much of the book relates to aviation events - he was Andrew's best man and arranged for the team to display at the wedding, skywriting a love heart!
"Anyone who knows us will certainly remember some of the stories in the book ... even though they are somewhat exaggerated," added Andrew.
"Philip is already working on a follow-up 'also Utterly Ridiculous', and I dread to think what will be in that one."
Utterly Ridiculous by Philip L. Moore is published by Matador, price £7.99.
By Harris Dee, Somerset County Gazette, 27th Dec 2007
An aircraft cleaner has published his first book, a comedy based around life at Compton Abbas airfield.
Philip Moore, aged 45, of Shaftesbury wrote Utterly Ridiculous over two years ago, with the intention of making people laugh at his experiences around the airstrip.
The father of two left school with very few qualifications, but with the help of technology such as the spell check on his computer, he was able to start writing more seriously after spending years making notes, and writing poetry and short stories.
After being in the aviation cleaning business for 17 years, spending seven of them at Compton Abbas airfield, he has a wide range of experience to draw on.
He said: “I’ve got a wicked sense of humour and I find that many people tend to like good old British slapstick.
“This is what I hoped to delivery in my book andI think I was successful as I have had many people say that it reminds them of a Carry On film. I’ve had lots of feedback which has all been positive”.
Western Gazette, 10 August 2006
An author from Ashmore has followed the success of his first book by releasing a book of poems, entitled Therapy.
The 143-page collection features many poems, some short, some longer, touching on a range of emotions.
A lot of the poems are dark, based on feelings surrounding abuse, love, death and the loss of love, giving an insight into a side of human experience that are often little discussed in public.
The frank work provides an insight into the author’s thoughts and feelings and a starting point for readers who want to explore their own feelings.
Mr Moore said: “These poems go back years.
“Some I wrote over 25 years ago and they were just scrap pieces of paper lying around and I was prompted to put them in book form.
“Since the book came out I have been overwhelmed with the response I got from people.
“I have had grown men phone me up in tears saying they totally understood a certain poem and that it had helped them come to terms with something that happened years ago.
“I am hoping, as these poems have once helped me, hopefully they will continue to help others.
“It seems if one has suffered abuse, lost someone, or been in an unhappy relationship, or found love, I think every one can relate to at least two or three.
“For me as the title says it’s been ‘Therapy’.”
The book of poems is published by Upfront Publishing Limited and is currently on sale at www.amazon.co.uk at a discounted price of £7.99 or directly from the author, via his website www.philiplmoore.com for £5.99.
I the author’s own words: “We all have feelings. I am just sharing mine with you.”
Western Gazette,
Links
© Philip L Moore 2006