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Look Back in Hunger
Jo Brand is one of Britain's funniest and best-loved stand-up comics, with a distinctive voice and "quite amusing" jokes according to a few posh students she's met. But what attracted her to a career in the harsh, unforgiving spotlight of stand-up?
From "nice little girl" to teenage nightmare, to psychiatric nurse, Jo spills the beans. She talks about her unconventional mum whose independent spirit inspired her and wound her up in equal measure; the traumatic teenage romance that foundered at least four times a month; the loveable patients who, even so, tested her patience; and the horror of her first gig which marked the beginning of a career as that rare species - an incredibly popular female stand-up... according to her family.
Look Back in Hunger is Jo's candid account of the friendships, the loves, the laughter, the people and the pints that have defined the life of a woman who never takes anything lying down, although she does quite like lying down.
From "nice little girl" to teenage nightmare, to psychiatric nurse, Jo spills the beans. She talks about her unconventional mum whose independent spirit inspired her and wound her up in equal measure; the traumatic teenage romance that foundered at least four times a month; the loveable patients who, even so, tested her patience; and the horror of her first gig which marked the beginning of a career as that rare species - an incredibly popular female stand-up... according to her family.
Look Back in Hunger is Jo's candid account of the friendships, the loves, the laughter, the people and the pints that have defined the life of a woman who never takes anything lying down, although she does quite like lying down.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
43 people are currently reading
1,426 people want to read
About the author
Jo Brand
28Ìýbooks105ÌýfollowersJosephine "Jo" Grace Brand is a BAFTA winning English stand-up comedienne, writer and actress.
Commencing her entertainment career with a move from psychiatric nursing to the alternative comedy stand up scene and early performances on Saturday Live, she went on to appearances on The Brain Drain, Channel 4's Jo Brand Through the Cakehole, Getting On and various television appearances including as a regular guest on QI. In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
Commencing her entertainment career with a move from psychiatric nursing to the alternative comedy stand up scene and early performances on Saturday Live, she went on to appearances on The Brain Drain, Channel 4's Jo Brand Through the Cakehole, Getting On and various television appearances including as a regular guest on QI. In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
March 30, 2024
Another highly original and interesting comedy biography� Jo Brand writes mostly about her early pre-comedy life with some really evocative and often funny stuff about working as a psychiatric nurse, her student days and her childhood. And I just couldn't help but read it in Jo Brand's stage tone and voice. Enjoyable. 7 out of 12 funny Three Stars.
2012 read
2012 read
May 28, 2021
I'm a fan of Jo Brand, with particular respect for the way she handles off the cuff conversation in panel games and suchlike. She's also got a lovely aura - always seeming on the verge of laughter. Regrettably I didn't enjoy most of the book though, finding most of her life rather mundane, plus I found one joky reference near the beginning crude enough to make me want to stop reading althogether, but I like her work, so I continued.
The one bit of the book that was fascinating for me was her description of her work as a mental health nurse. She sounded wonderful at this job - reflected in the fact she rose to pretty respectable senior position at her hospital. Her generosity and understanding with the patients was clear, and I found her perspectives interesting. Herewith an extract on her thoughts about the use of ECT
I'm delighted that Jo Brand has had so much success in her life (nurse, comedian, TV presenter and novelist), and without a doubt she is one gutsy lady, but bar the nursing chapters, this wasn't quite the book for me.
The one bit of the book that was fascinating for me was her description of her work as a mental health nurse. She sounded wonderful at this job - reflected in the fact she rose to pretty respectable senior position at her hospital. Her generosity and understanding with the patients was clear, and I found her perspectives interesting. Herewith an extract on her thoughts about the use of ECT
I'm delighted that Jo Brand has had so much success in her life (nurse, comedian, TV presenter and novelist), and without a doubt she is one gutsy lady, but bar the nursing chapters, this wasn't quite the book for me.
August 19, 2011
The one part of Jo Brand that doesn't come across as big in her comedy is her heart. Or rather, didn't, until she did 'Getting On', when her world-weary nurse routine was beautifully tempered by compassion. Thankfully, her big heart does shine through here; this seems to have disappointed a lot of readers, expecting to scream with laughter at her dysfunctional upbringing which quite simply didn't exist.
The only downside is that it has added fuel to the little fire that has been kindling at the back of my mind that I should switch my nurse training specialism from adult to mental health nursing. Yes, I know that it's really stupid to base your future career on the mere fact of liking a celebrity who used to do the same job. But still...
The only downside is that it has added fuel to the little fire that has been kindling at the back of my mind that I should switch my nurse training specialism from adult to mental health nursing. Yes, I know that it's really stupid to base your future career on the mere fact of liking a celebrity who used to do the same job. But still...
March 16, 2017
I don’t often read non-fiction books and its even more rare for me to read an autobiography. A couple have caught my eye and I’ve thought ‘yes, I’d like to read that� but not gone any further. I’m not sure why I find them so hard to get in to but then everyone’s interests are different and my taste mainly runs to fiction.
However, Jo Brand is one of my all time favourite comedians, I love her dry sense of humour and honest observations about life, and have been a fan for many years. Look back in Hunger has just come out in paperback and all my excuses were out of the window (these days I can’t afford to buy many hardbacks and then there are the space issues which are a completely different consideraton). I started reading yesterday morning and could not put it down. I finished it last night and was struck by just how well her sense of humour translates into writing.
She’s led an amazing life by all standards and some of the trials of growing up she talks about are just laugh out loud funny. As a Psychiatric Nurse for many years, she has a lot of insight into serious mental health issues that aren’t commonly talked about but she delivers her experiences of them with an up front, no nonsense attitude with a twist of that dry humour. The other thing I love about her and it comes across well in the book is her sense of style and her weight. She makes no apology for who she is or how she looks and has never compromised that. In short, the woman has balls! And I love her for that.
If you are a fan of Jo Brand, this is a must read. If you like funny, thoughtful, insightful biographies, this is a must read.
Just read it ;)
This review and others can also be read at
However, Jo Brand is one of my all time favourite comedians, I love her dry sense of humour and honest observations about life, and have been a fan for many years. Look back in Hunger has just come out in paperback and all my excuses were out of the window (these days I can’t afford to buy many hardbacks and then there are the space issues which are a completely different consideraton). I started reading yesterday morning and could not put it down. I finished it last night and was struck by just how well her sense of humour translates into writing.
She’s led an amazing life by all standards and some of the trials of growing up she talks about are just laugh out loud funny. As a Psychiatric Nurse for many years, she has a lot of insight into serious mental health issues that aren’t commonly talked about but she delivers her experiences of them with an up front, no nonsense attitude with a twist of that dry humour. The other thing I love about her and it comes across well in the book is her sense of style and her weight. She makes no apology for who she is or how she looks and has never compromised that. In short, the woman has balls! And I love her for that.
If you are a fan of Jo Brand, this is a must read. If you like funny, thoughtful, insightful biographies, this is a must read.
Just read it ;)
This review and others can also be read at
January 25, 2010
I have to say I was disapointed with this. I have read all three of Jo's novels and have loved them all so I was looking forward to this autobiography. I think she is a vey funny comic and her dlivery of stories on stage etc is excellent but reading this is hard work. This is clearly the first book of either two or three as this tells the story up to when she is starting her act fulll time.
The main point is the jumping about from one part of her life to another to make a point which then makes you lose track of which bit she is referring to. So one minute she talks about her dress sense being scruffy and being warned about it at work, then she jumps to her being asked on Trinny and Susannah, but a few lines down its hard to tell if she is discussing work or "what not to wear".
Also certain statements are made then not followed up for example Jo states her Father had become known as "old man Brand" as though it was quite an important moment however other than the fact he was shouting at teenagers sitting drinking in a bus shelter outside their house the reason for this title is unexplained.
Ultimately I found myself re-reading the same bit to see if I had missed something or to check which moment in time was being discussed.
So, to sum up a bit of a let down for me.
The main point is the jumping about from one part of her life to another to make a point which then makes you lose track of which bit she is referring to. So one minute she talks about her dress sense being scruffy and being warned about it at work, then she jumps to her being asked on Trinny and Susannah, but a few lines down its hard to tell if she is discussing work or "what not to wear".
Also certain statements are made then not followed up for example Jo states her Father had become known as "old man Brand" as though it was quite an important moment however other than the fact he was shouting at teenagers sitting drinking in a bus shelter outside their house the reason for this title is unexplained.
Ultimately I found myself re-reading the same bit to see if I had missed something or to check which moment in time was being discussed.
So, to sum up a bit of a let down for me.
October 28, 2019
As usual when I read any autobiography, I picked this one because I don't usually like Jo Brand. I really enjoyed this book, however, which made me think of her in a much kinder light.
January 1, 2023
First book of the year and predictably, during the purgatory that is New Years Day, binge read in (mostly) one sitting in between trips to the fridge. I found this in my dads office, sitting on the side of the desk weathered and yellowing and it almost called to me; being one to always listen to intuition, I hastily stole it and it was SO BRILLIANT!
I've always loved Jo Brands humour, the monotonous delivery of jokes, the deadpan punchlines, the way she seems to just ooze feminism. She's always seemed to me one of those people you would wanna be mates with at uni and after reading this I would've LOVED to be mates with her; she's lived a mad life and it unlocked memories, situations I've been in that I'd completely forgot about. Laughed out loud throughout most of it and couldn't put it down! I think this autobiography is from quite a few years ago so would love to read some more recent stuff from her. Thank you Jo for pulling me out of the almost inevitable depression that seems to be caused almost entirely from eating too many mince pies and waaaaaay too much wine at this time of year. A lovely positive start to 2023
I've always loved Jo Brands humour, the monotonous delivery of jokes, the deadpan punchlines, the way she seems to just ooze feminism. She's always seemed to me one of those people you would wanna be mates with at uni and after reading this I would've LOVED to be mates with her; she's lived a mad life and it unlocked memories, situations I've been in that I'd completely forgot about. Laughed out loud throughout most of it and couldn't put it down! I think this autobiography is from quite a few years ago so would love to read some more recent stuff from her. Thank you Jo for pulling me out of the almost inevitable depression that seems to be caused almost entirely from eating too many mince pies and waaaaaay too much wine at this time of year. A lovely positive start to 2023
October 22, 2017
I have had a lot of respect for Jo Brand for an awfully long time. Anyone who can be a psychiatric nurse immediately has my undying respect and admiration for ever! After having read her autobiography, I have even more respect for her. She's a funny lady. Jo Brand can make me laugh whether I am reading about her laugh, or whether I am watching her on the telly. She's so funny and doesn't seem to be too bothered about what she says. More power to her!
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January 8, 2016
[Quick, short review from memory before I re-read and re-review:
Unsure but I remember certain periods from her life which come in handy when she's on Would I Lie to You? which is always grand. Probably re-read just to figure out.]
Unsure but I remember certain periods from her life which come in handy when she's on Would I Lie to You? which is always grand. Probably re-read just to figure out.]
September 10, 2012
thoroughly enjoyed Jo's book, written as if she was talking, lovely insight into how she became who she is today.
April 23, 2021
I loved this book. Jo Brand has had a very interesting life, and she shares it with humor and candor. She is also a good writer, which helps greatly. I wish we could have heard about her meeting her husband, and about what has happened with her parents, but otherwise, I'm completely happy with this book. I'm looking forward to forgetting it, so I can read it again.
November 24, 2022
Jo Brand has lived such an interesting life and this was an excellent read.
April 25, 2023
Most comedian's autobiographies that I have read, I have not enjoyed, but this one I did. It was an honest little book, with some LOL moments.
December 23, 2015
From :
Look Back in Hunger by Jo Brand was a Christmas gift to me from my friend Sye last year. As a big fan of Jo Brand I couldn’t wait to read it, finally finishing it about a month ago.
Jo’s use of witty chapter titles and writing as she would talk instantly engages the reader. Your hooked from page one, even though the subject is about motorways ones she loves and ones she doesn’t. The majority of the book focuses on her late teenage years and her early adult years before she became a TV comedian. Each chapter contains a truthful and witty story, including several about her time as a Psychiatric Nurse. It has several glossy photo pages, spaced throughout the book, so you can image what the then Jo would look like along with other important people in her life.
Although funny, cleaver and engaging I did feel that it was kept very superficial. Jo didn’t discuss life goals, or lovers or people and experiences that have helped shape her in the fabulous woman that she is. Indeed she states that there wasn’t one key reason she went in to stand up comedy. This was disappointing because all stand up comedians seem to have a reason, for acceptance from others through humour, because they were always that way � making people laugh, etc.
As I edged closer and closer to the end of the book, I started to realise that Jo wouldn’t be discussing how she got in to stand up and moved on in her TV career and I came to realise there would be another book. Overall I thought Look Back in Hunger by Jo Brand was good light witty reading, that you could dip in and out of. It’s a good introduction to were Jo Brand came from.
Look Back in Hunger by Jo Brand was a Christmas gift to me from my friend Sye last year. As a big fan of Jo Brand I couldn’t wait to read it, finally finishing it about a month ago.
Jo’s use of witty chapter titles and writing as she would talk instantly engages the reader. Your hooked from page one, even though the subject is about motorways ones she loves and ones she doesn’t. The majority of the book focuses on her late teenage years and her early adult years before she became a TV comedian. Each chapter contains a truthful and witty story, including several about her time as a Psychiatric Nurse. It has several glossy photo pages, spaced throughout the book, so you can image what the then Jo would look like along with other important people in her life.
Although funny, cleaver and engaging I did feel that it was kept very superficial. Jo didn’t discuss life goals, or lovers or people and experiences that have helped shape her in the fabulous woman that she is. Indeed she states that there wasn’t one key reason she went in to stand up comedy. This was disappointing because all stand up comedians seem to have a reason, for acceptance from others through humour, because they were always that way � making people laugh, etc.
As I edged closer and closer to the end of the book, I started to realise that Jo wouldn’t be discussing how she got in to stand up and moved on in her TV career and I came to realise there would be another book. Overall I thought Look Back in Hunger by Jo Brand was good light witty reading, that you could dip in and out of. It’s a good introduction to were Jo Brand came from.
December 10, 2014
My rating for Look Back In Hunger would be between one and two stars. I was never a big fan of Jo Brand’s stand-up routines, not because I found her offensive or because, as a man, I found her in some way threatening—both of which she alludes to here—but just because I didn’t find her particularly funny. So why did I choose to read this book? Well, I quite like Jo in her current role as a more all-round TV celebrity and presenter and I saw the book on the biographies shelf of my local library and thought, why not?
I didn’t enjoy the book but I didn’t dislike it either. Not much of it is funny—the occasional slightly amusing anecdote, mostly of the “you probably needed to have been there" variety. Jo, rebellious only daughter of three children of a fairly ordinary middle class family from the south-east, has had a not very unusual or, for the reader, interesting life and although, now, an entertaining and witty TV presenter and panel-show guest, Jo is not a good writer. The book reads a bit like a school essay—one with four-letter words in it, true—and the style is a touch cumbersome and clichéd and I didn’t find it at all captivating and frequently skipped whole pages.
If you are a big fan of Jo Brand no doubt you will want to know more about who she is and where she came from. If, like me, you think Jo Brand is an ok, mildly entertaining TV celebrity who is probably a nice person, then I doubt that this book has much to keep you interested.
It crossed my mind that Jo's writing is much as she speaks and that maybe listening to this as an audio-book would be better.
I didn’t enjoy the book but I didn’t dislike it either. Not much of it is funny—the occasional slightly amusing anecdote, mostly of the “you probably needed to have been there" variety. Jo, rebellious only daughter of three children of a fairly ordinary middle class family from the south-east, has had a not very unusual or, for the reader, interesting life and although, now, an entertaining and witty TV presenter and panel-show guest, Jo is not a good writer. The book reads a bit like a school essay—one with four-letter words in it, true—and the style is a touch cumbersome and clichéd and I didn’t find it at all captivating and frequently skipped whole pages.
If you are a big fan of Jo Brand no doubt you will want to know more about who she is and where she came from. If, like me, you think Jo Brand is an ok, mildly entertaining TV celebrity who is probably a nice person, then I doubt that this book has much to keep you interested.
It crossed my mind that Jo's writing is much as she speaks and that maybe listening to this as an audio-book would be better.
November 27, 2012
Again, I wish I could give the book three and a half stars. In cases like these I have to ask myself whether I like the book and would recommend it wholeheartedly to someone, or whether I like it but don't really have much to say about it. Since it's the latter for this one, I have to give it only three stars. Reading the other reviews I think I belong to the camp that adores Jo Brand and knows what tricky emotions she's capable of conveying, and am therefore left a little disappointed in this outing. I feel lucky that she's shared her history and I do feel I know her better, but something was missing for me. She still manages to poke fun at propriety, chauvinism, and her own reckless youth. And she gets in good jabs such as, "To shout 'F--k off to a fat woman isn't that anarchic in my book. Men have been doing it for years. It's extraordinarily boring if you're on the receiving end of it because you've heard it so often yet they think they're the first one ever to say it to you." It was a nice shared experience to read with my husband because her school experiences were quite similar to his, and her years working in a psychiatric hospital were quite similar to mine. Looking forward to the next volume.
July 20, 2015
Excellent read for anyone who likes Jo Brand, personally she's one of my favorite comics. This book goes from Jo Brand's childhood through her teenage years and her professional nurse career up to her decision to become a comic (this book is not about her career as a comic at all in my opinion, it's much more about her life previous to that).
It's quite chronological even if there are some 'digressions' from time to time, but they are all related in some way and/or really funny, so no problem there. I enjoyed her writing style, there is no fuss about it and it's like hearing her talk to you. The book was very entertaining, there's no way you can get bored reading this. I found her experience as a psychiatric nurse the most interesting and the fact that she remained tough through all she experienced.
From what I read I find Jo Brand even more admirable.
I'm looking forward to the second volume of her autobiography.
It's quite chronological even if there are some 'digressions' from time to time, but they are all related in some way and/or really funny, so no problem there. I enjoyed her writing style, there is no fuss about it and it's like hearing her talk to you. The book was very entertaining, there's no way you can get bored reading this. I found her experience as a psychiatric nurse the most interesting and the fact that she remained tough through all she experienced.
From what I read I find Jo Brand even more admirable.
I'm looking forward to the second volume of her autobiography.
January 13, 2011
British stand-up comedian, Jo Brand looks back over her life and the influences that made her who she is today. From a nice, well brought up little girl, she morphed into a teenage nightmare, skipping school, staying out all night and socialising (underage) in pubs. She talks with great humour about her early family life, providing many hilarious anecdotes about her childhood escapades with her two brothers. Brand studied towards becoming a psychiatric nurse, (even though she always aspired to do stand-up comedy) and she describes some of the places she worked and the people that she encountered � no doubt providing good material for her comedy routines in later life. She also recounts the horror of her first gig which marked the beginning of her career.
A really good read, lots of laughs.
A really good read, lots of laughs.
July 28, 2011
I’m wondering if I went into reading this book with my expectations too high, as although I did enjoy reading this and found it quite funny in places it was missing just a little something for me.
The book catalogues Jo’s life from childhood to the dawn of her comedy career (in the varying clubs she visited). I found Jo’s years working as a psychiatric nurse very interesting (and indeed it’s something that’s always intrigued me about her) and how her senior staff members had frowned upon her ‘shabby� appearance.
I admire Jo’s strength of character in many ways and certain elements of this book have only helped to improve my opinion of her and to appreciate her persona more in some ways.
I think people may have been too ready to judge this book and that the second book released will probably meet a better reception.
The book catalogues Jo’s life from childhood to the dawn of her comedy career (in the varying clubs she visited). I found Jo’s years working as a psychiatric nurse very interesting (and indeed it’s something that’s always intrigued me about her) and how her senior staff members had frowned upon her ‘shabby� appearance.
I admire Jo’s strength of character in many ways and certain elements of this book have only helped to improve my opinion of her and to appreciate her persona more in some ways.
I think people may have been too ready to judge this book and that the second book released will probably meet a better reception.
February 14, 2013
Much as I love Jo Brand and think 'Getting On' is pure brilliance, this 'memoir' isn't worth the effort.
Who gives a fig for all this indulgent detail about her upbringing?
Well, if you do,I don't.
Brand was brutally normal...up to a point -- and did nothing extraordinary -- up to a point -- before she started telling jokes in public.
You have to wait for the last 50 pages before you get exposed to a fleeting review of her early stand up career.
There's no point to the book aside from meandering through this recall. Add a few pics from the family photo album....and that's all you'll get.
Very shallow fare indeed.
If I wrote my own story up without the services of an editor and I had to do it by a fast approaching short term deadline ... I could manage something like this -- and I'm not a comic nor am I on the teley.
Who gives a fig for all this indulgent detail about her upbringing?
Well, if you do,I don't.
Brand was brutally normal...up to a point -- and did nothing extraordinary -- up to a point -- before she started telling jokes in public.
You have to wait for the last 50 pages before you get exposed to a fleeting review of her early stand up career.
There's no point to the book aside from meandering through this recall. Add a few pics from the family photo album....and that's all you'll get.
Very shallow fare indeed.
If I wrote my own story up without the services of an editor and I had to do it by a fast approaching short term deadline ... I could manage something like this -- and I'm not a comic nor am I on the teley.
July 29, 2013
I thought Jo's experiences where very funny at times and at others terribly tragic, but she overcomes her misfortunes and really does have the last laugh. I can relate to alot of the scenarios she finds herself in, and that makes her very endearing to me. Very illustrative writing style, and warm hearted.
Now this may sound corny to say but I really was understating how well I can relate to Jo's experiences, as I finished reading it I fealt "finally someone else who knows how mental the world is and how easy it is to be swept up in it, even the mundane stuff" for me this is a book that when I hold it in my hand, feels like I'm holding the hand of an old friend.
Now this may sound corny to say but I really was understating how well I can relate to Jo's experiences, as I finished reading it I fealt "finally someone else who knows how mental the world is and how easy it is to be swept up in it, even the mundane stuff" for me this is a book that when I hold it in my hand, feels like I'm holding the hand of an old friend.
August 11, 2013
I like Jo and I didn't expect this to be a laugh a minute romp as a lot of the other reviewers seem to have expected. I thought she could sometimes be a little too clinical but then her humour is very dry. I thought it was interesting but I felt the ending was very poor. I don't know whether she's planning to write another book but it seemed a very odd place to finish and I felt the ending was quite abrupt.
If you're expecting the tale of someone's life then I think you will like it but if you're expecting a stand up routine in book form then you will be disappointed. I think if I could have given it three and a half stars then I might have done that.
If you're expecting the tale of someone's life then I think you will like it but if you're expecting a stand up routine in book form then you will be disappointed. I think if I could have given it three and a half stars then I might have done that.
May 31, 2015
Look Back In Hunger by Jo Brand Imagine being stuck in a lift with Jo Brand. You tell your life story in thirty minutes and then she begins to tell hers.
Ìý
Six hours later she finishes and you have heard all the details of her life. She has been candid and your head is swimming in details about people, places, dates, items of clothing and various states of inebriation. ÌýA kaleidoscopic story like a wash cycle which ends up with the Jo Brand that we all know stepping out of the machine. A story so improbable that it rings with the truth.
Ìý
But having said that you have the feeling that you have heard the public version.
Ìý
Six hours later she finishes and you have heard all the details of her life. She has been candid and your head is swimming in details about people, places, dates, items of clothing and various states of inebriation. ÌýA kaleidoscopic story like a wash cycle which ends up with the Jo Brand that we all know stepping out of the machine. A story so improbable that it rings with the truth.
Ìý
But having said that you have the feeling that you have heard the public version.
December 25, 2016
I'm not normally a fan of autobiographies but have enjoyed some other comedians' because they are often quite funny.
As for Jo Brand's offering, it made me chuckle once or twice but not the most interesting autobiography I've read by a long way - the later chapters were pretty interesting (learning about her work before moving over to comedy full-time) but her childhood was not particularly fascinating - mostly because it seemed to be a fairly happy and average middle-class upbringing.
Alright for a quick, light read (only took me a couple of hours or so) as a break between heavier books, and to learn a little more about Brand, but started to drag a bit.
As for Jo Brand's offering, it made me chuckle once or twice but not the most interesting autobiography I've read by a long way - the later chapters were pretty interesting (learning about her work before moving over to comedy full-time) but her childhood was not particularly fascinating - mostly because it seemed to be a fairly happy and average middle-class upbringing.
Alright for a quick, light read (only took me a couple of hours or so) as a break between heavier books, and to learn a little more about Brand, but started to drag a bit.
April 4, 2010
This was an extremely easy read. It's full of humour as you would expect but there is a lot also about her upbringing, her school days, her work in the mental health service and her early relationships.
There's not much about her comedy career the book leaves off at around the time of her appearances on Friday Night Live in the 80's (which was her first TV performance) ... similarly, there's no mention of her marriage or children (or scant mention anyway) .. perhaps that will be for the sequel, but it did finish rather abruptly and I kept looking for the next chapter.
There's not much about her comedy career the book leaves off at around the time of her appearances on Friday Night Live in the 80's (which was her first TV performance) ... similarly, there's no mention of her marriage or children (or scant mention anyway) .. perhaps that will be for the sequel, but it did finish rather abruptly and I kept looking for the next chapter.
October 6, 2012
At first this seemed like a very dull book-her delivey is mundane and she constantly repeats a few stock phrases 'suffice it to say'. She spent too long on her halcyon childhood which was pleasantly dull. however it became much more investing when she got older which was very chaotic considering her stable upbringing. She left home during her a levels, consequently did v bad, college in Brunel sounded a hoot and amazing experiences being a psychiatric nurse, I really adored her in the end
April 6, 2013
Took some getting into, it was ok. I guess you have to be true groupies of Jo's to like this one.
Because it is all about her life before she took to the stage.
One of those books I wish I borrowed from the library instead of buying.
Lesson learned, read some reviews before impulse book buying.
I also brought the sequel to this. It did pick up at the end of the book so maybe the next one will be better.
Because it is all about her life before she took to the stage.
One of those books I wish I borrowed from the library instead of buying.
Lesson learned, read some reviews before impulse book buying.
I also brought the sequel to this. It did pick up at the end of the book so maybe the next one will be better.
November 25, 2009
This book was light hearted, an easy read that touches on the more superficial aspects of jo Brands life. I particularly loved the chapters on her career as a mental health nurse but was dissapointed that she did not go into much detail about her current life i.e her husband and children were not mentioned- but i suppose you have got to support her for keeping her family out of the lime light.
July 21, 2010
Jo Brand is one of my favourite people so I was really excited when I saw she'd got her autobiography out. It's written like she's in the room talking to you, which I liked. I wanted her to go into more detail about her life but there is obviously going to be a second volume so hopefully next time she will share more.
August 9, 2011
Not bad at all. I don't usually go in for celeb biogs, but I thought this would be a bit different and I wasn't dissapointed This takes us from Brand's early years to her time as a psychiatric nurse. This was the most interesting part of the book and I could've done with a bit more on that period of her life. So yeah an easy read, but at least she has a story to tell.
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