"Man in the Bath" by Kit Derrick

A University administrator, Dr David Dunn, decides to record his rambling thoughts using a webcam and post them on the internet. Despite (or because of) their provocative and sometimes misogynist content, 'Man in the Bath' goes viral and becomes an internet sensation. Dr Dunn becomes addicted to his own site and starts to lose focus at work. Then the site promotes a quasi-religious community ... and Dr Dunn realises he has lost control of the message.

I was terribly afraid after the first few chapters that this book was little more than a pretext for the author to rant. But, having finished, I am content that those rants which are chronicled are in character: Dr Dunn is intellectually arrogant and fundamentally sexist; he reminded me of the protagonist in Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. He is also, of course, the protagonist in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the doctor who creates the monster that he then finds abhorrent and struggles to control. You could also see it, especially given the religious rants, as a metaphor for the life of Jesus.

It was a great idea for a novel and the writing was good (my only quibble was a couple of times when 'who' was used when I thought Dr Dunn would have used 'whom'). It's perfectly paced with the major turning-point coming at the halfway mark. I read the whole thing on a long train journey (points failure again!) in a single day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was really hooked well before the last few chapters and the ending was perfect.

Selected quotes:

• "Sometimes life is easier if you don’t reveal your greater knowledge and wisdom. Other people don’t like knowing that they’re thicker than you are. Which means hiding your own intelligence." (Ch 1)
• "the daily ritual of brushing, washing, and emptying" (Ch 4)
• "Basically, he’s just a dick with a chip on his shoulder." (Ch 8)

Recommended. February 2023.

This review was written by the author of Bally and Bro, Motherdarling  and The Kids of God