Leonard and Hungry Paul BBC

I read the book a few years ago, it’s quirky. I’ve watched a couple of episodes out of curiosity and did enjoy them. I’m aware that I know the story and that probably helps appreciate the series.

I think they said that Julia Roberts loved the book so much she asked to do the voiceover on the series [or I might be thinking of something else; I did nod off whilst listening to Must Watch]. Going to start watching it tonight.

Yes Julia Roberts is the narrator.

I watched this last night and into this morning. I'd read the Ronan Hession novel when it was published in 2019, so knew the story.

It's a sweet gentle Irish drama about two male friends in their 30s.

Watch out for the scene when Paul takes the box of Roses back to the shop and his conversation with his sister just before her wedding about living with parents.

It would appeal to fans of The Detectorists, I think.

We will watch, thank you.

It would appeal to fans of The Detectorists, I think

That is magical.

I’m on episode 4. It’s so sweet.

I’ve finished it. I like series that are half an hour long with six episodes, which many seem to be now. Perfect for binge watching. Only problem is the name Hungry Paul made me think back to people I have known in the past. One was Deaf John but going back several decades there was a friend of a friend whose name I couldn’t remember, but by episode five the name Old Alf popped into my head ( I bet he wasn’t even that old).

I'm going to have a look at this, it sounds interesting.

Althought he sounds like one of Bob Mortimer’s inventions for WILTY, in the novel, Hession never explains why Paul is nicknamed Hungry Paul.

Perhaps it’s a nod to his precise breakfast routine or a deliberately device to describe him as something that he is not.

He isn’t hungry, greedy or ambitious in any literal sense. He simply goes quietly with the flow.

Bookmunch interview with Hession and some other book recommndations here:

bookmunch.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/if-someone-is-reading-your-book-and-they-dont-laugh-forget-about-it-an-interview-with-ronan-hession-author-of-leonard-hungry-paul/

Hession is now on Blue Sky for more recommendations.

bsky.app/profile/ronanhession.bsky.social

It's a good book.

I’m tempted to buy the book even though I struggle to read these days and have piles of unread books that I’m ‘meaning to read’. Having binge watched it last night I compared it to Film Night, also on iplayer that I had also binge watched. However, with that it was a case of ‘I’ve started so I’ll finish’ so I almost just wanted to get it out of the way ( I also wanted to like it more that I did). But with Leonard and Hungry Paul right from the start I cared about these characters and couldn’t stop watching as I had to know what happened to them. I’ve always said that the best comedy makes you laugh and cry and I was certainly welling up at times watching this. As I mentioned Hungry Paul made me think of people from my past who I remember with fondness; Deaf John, Old Alf and Duck Pond Dave..maybe some people just have to have an adjective (is that right, my grammar’s not to good these days) added to their name?

I also binge-watched all 6 episodes last night and loved it. Gentle, Irish humour with some great one-liners. Will look out for the book.

There is an audio book too.

I actually wrote down one line from it so I wouldn’t forget it (it’s for when I’m lying on the sofa with the dog watching box sets). ‘Profound inactivity’.

….just googled it though and it seems it’s very very bad for me .

I adored the book, but was a little disappointed by this TV version, I thought it failed to capture the two personalities quite as I had imagined them.

That's always the problem with characters in books that we love isn't it. I still haven't got over the film adaptation of Captain Corellis Mandolin.

It's beautiful and gentle. Highly recommended.