Well I never got round to reading the book although I did go and see the film when it came out (2000 starring John Cusack, jack Black and co) which I really enjoyed (even if they had transported everything to America :p).
Anyway, eleven years after first being told about it I've finally started reading it. And it's great. I don't know whether it's because I am a geek at heart (music, comics, games, books, films - you name it!) but the book is brilliant and I'm sure I've met most of the characters in it at one point or another!