Losing Arthur by Paul A Mendelson
The Blurb
In Hackney, London, Zack Farmer – quirky, imaginative but bullied at school – has only one true friend in the world: Arthur. The trouble is, only Zack can see him, and one day Zack’s mum gets fed up, grabs Arthur, stuffs the handful of what she thinks is thin air into a box and posts it to Zack’s long-departed and vanished Scottish father, Stuart. In Cape Fury, Scotland, a farmer called Stuart opens the mysterious box. It contains something only his wee eight-year old girl, Kirstie can see: a befuddled, odd-looking little creature. A shiny green chap with an extra eye in the back of his head. A streetwise, Cockney ‘lad’, calling himself Arthur. But there’s one big problem – Arthur, so far from home and Zack, is fading fast. Quick-thinking Arthur has left a valuable part of himself behind in London. A tiny, green disc – a clue to save his life. So now loner Zack, usually so timid, has to set off on a perilous journey to rescue his imaginary friend before he fades away forever. But there’s one massive problem. Someone or something out there is trying to stop Zack… Paul A. Mendelson is a British writer known for his work on television and radio. His comedy series include the long-running, BAFTA-nominated BBC series May to December as well as So Haunt Me and My Hero. He wrote Losing It, a film for ITV starring Martin Clunes, which was nominated for the Televisual Best Writing Award and has been broadcast worldwide. Paul wrote the Radio 4 plays I am I said, Fireworks at the Villa Lucia and A Meeting In Seville. He has adapted the latter into a screenplay, which is currently in development. Recent radio dramas have included six adaptations of Joyce Porter’s crime novels about the appalling Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover and the highly-acclaimed CS Forester dramatisations, CS Forester’s London Noir. Paul created the cult series Neighbors From Hell, broadcast in the US. He has written two new US pilots and three movies with LA screenwriter Alan Moscowitz and is also developing comedy and drama projects elsewhere.
About Paul A Mendelson
Paul A. Mendelson is a British writer known for his work on television and radio. His comedy series include the long-running, BAFTA-nominated BBC series "May to December" as well as "So Haunt Me" and "My Hero". He wrote "Losing It", a film for ITV starring Martin Clunes, which was nominated for the Televisual Best Writing Award and has been broadcast worldwide. Paul wrote the Radio 4 plays "I am I said", "Fireworks at the Villa Lucia" and "A Meeting In Seville." He has adapted the latter into a screenplay, which is currently in development. Recent radio dramas have included six adaptations of Joyce Porter's crime novels about the appalling Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover and the highly-acclaimed CS Forester dramatisations, CS Forester's "London Noir". Paul created the cult series "Neighbors From Hell", broadcast in the US. He has written two new US pilots and three movies with LA screenwriter Alan Moscowitz and is also developing comedy and drama projects elsewhere.
My Review
There are two songs that were going through my head whilst reading this book: 'There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier Who wandered far away and soldiered far away...' This song is integral to the book so read it and you'll understand why. The other song was evoked by my own imagination inspired by the book, 'Come with me And you'll be In a world of pure imagination Take a look And you'll see Into your imagination' I think Paul A Mendelson has filled a gap left by the late great Roald Dahl. It was a sheer joy to read, escapism of the highest level. A book for young and old alike. Zack Farmer, an eleven year old boy, and considered to be a bit odd to say the least, has an imaginary friend called Arthur, with whom he is often seen talking to. His mother thinks enough is enough and snatches what she thinks is 'Arthur' and posts him off to the far reaches of the United Kingdom, Cape Fury. Zack is beside himself without his only friend, and sets off on an adventure to find him, an adventure that is going to change the world. I read a lot of books, some I like but in time forget. Losing Arthur is a book I'll never forget. Pure unadulterated pleasure. Pure imagination.
