I like Alan Rickman and his work and thought this might be good but while I enjoyed a lot of it, this in no way feels like something ready to be publiI like Alan Rickman and his work and thought this might be good but while I enjoyed a lot of it, this in no way feels like something ready to be published. It's a diary in the true sense, a collection of places visited, lists of people whom he spent time with and the occasional withering remark, highly self critical commentary or intermittent (and all to brief) musing on his vocation. Hardly a deep dive into his psyche, the world, acting or larger themes. There's clearly been editing but it's hard to determine what was left out (and why some things were left in).
Whether or not he was intending to publish some form of autobiography, I imagine this would have provided prompts for more detailed thoughts, anecdotes and critical analysis of acting, directing and the theatre. I would love to read that book.
Still it was easy to drop in and out of and his had made me want to watch his films again....more
I'm usually loathe to read medical books but I got lent this by colleagues with recommendations and I'm familiar with Adam (having seen him perform a I'm usually loathe to read medical books but I got lent this by colleagues with recommendations and I'm familiar with Adam (having seen him perform a few times in Amateur Transplants, heard him on the radio/podcasts etc and I'm pretty sure I went to med school with his brother). Plus, there's a heap of well deserved praise for the book
Tied around his comedic diary entries as he progressed from med school through to senior Reg, he manages to find the (often dark and morbid) humour that medicine can led to yet never sacrifices his empathy and good nature. He comes across as someone too committed, who perhaps wasn't able to take that step back. Medicine, particularly in the UK, can be like this and it's often the best doctors who get ground up and spit out. His ultimate decision to leave was a tragic loss to the NHS but clearly the right thing for him.
For context, I qualified a year after him from another London medical school and after my first two years working, made the conscious decision to leave the UK. Life in NZ has been glorious ever since and I still very much love my work and life as a GP. I'm not sure I would if I'd stayed behind and frankly I don't think I'd cope as a GP in the UK. I've known various doctors who've left medicine over the years, for various reasons and I think it's an incredibly brave decision. When you've spent so many years devoted to this life, it's hard to walk away. I don't know any who regret leaving, while I do know a few who probably would be better off doing so.
I hope the publicity and widespread adoration of this book exposes the public to the real life of a junior doctor as they are frequently vilified in the press, especially in the UK. This is a very accurate portrayal of what the life can be like and it's certainly not an outlying experience. Doctors are human beings, usually trying their hardest to do right by their patients, usually with good intentions. They're really not doing it for the money. Well worth reading (or listening to his audiobook version)....more
I'm not sure what to think of all this. Felicia is one of those actresses I realise I've seen over the years (Buffy, Dr Horrible) but never really notI'm not sure what to think of all this. Felicia is one of those actresses I realise I've seen over the years (Buffy, Dr Horrible) but never really noticed and it was only through watching Tabletop with Wil Wheaton that I recently encountered her again. And paid more attention because she is adorable. Seriously, I find her captivating to watch (and not in a pervy way, she just has the most engaging smile and facial expressions). Currently I'm watching (and greatly enjoying) the Guild so when I saw her book came out I thought, well, it is January which is close enough to the traditional time for memoirs to be read (which in my head at least, is christmas).
She tells an engaging tale and she keeps it admirably short; she's achieved a lot and has a great knack for comedy and self deprecation (albeit with a flavour of tongue in cheek narcissism). But is there enough to keep the attention?
Maybe. Home schooling clearly was not a mainstream approach but it seems she did have a lot of opportunities and private tuition to counter this and she's an intelligent hard worker. The discussion of her mental health felt a little superficial though I suspect this is more to do with how deeply upsetting a subject it is to talk about rather than obscuration of the details.
She comments it was her medical issues that made her take a stand rather than accepting the mental ones could be to blame, before finally addressing those as well. That's a nice insight and all too commonly I see this with people desperately pushing for a medical reason and not accepting a mental health problem. I think it's sad we still have this stigma regarding mental health. If this helps people accept mental health issues are just as important as 'real medical diseases' then that's fantastic.
As an aside, I have to confess to not understanding how so many actors seem to have crippling anxiety. It's not a profession you usually see in people with serious anxiety problems or social phobia. Odd.
I'm not sure where all this is going. Er, if you like Ms Day then read it, there's a lot to like. If you don't know who she is then go watch some of her shows and then see if you want to read it....more
Not something I would ever have thought to pick up but we've been (painfully) culling our book collections and this was one of my wife's books. I thouNot something I would ever have thought to pick up but we've been (painfully) culling our book collections and this was one of my wife's books. I thought it looked interesting and worth a read before being dispatched to the charity shop and indeed it was.
Perhaps less shocking now than when first published, nonetheless it's a brutal expose of his kitchen experience making for a vivid and frenetic read. He's got a great voice and isn't afraid to portray the less appealing aspects of his personality or history.
Having worked as dish washer and kitchen assistant in a low brow establishment in my early years, there was a lot of familiarity and joy in the controlled chaos of the environment. His clear love and passion for food and the people who craft it is palpable and refreshing. He may be an arsehole but it's for a reason. Would I like to work on his kitchen? Hell no. But it's fun to read.
A diversion into travel writing near the end provides a take on the Japanese culture in relation to food but frankly feels like it's from a different book. Otherwise though, it's worth a couple of days reading time.
I'd you're interested in food then pick it up....more
I'm not sure why you would read this if you weren't a fan of Alan Partridge but if you are, it's gold. Alan leads us through his long and eventful carI'm not sure why you would read this if you weren't a fan of Alan Partridge but if you are, it's gold. Alan leads us through his long and eventful career, spending just as much time recounting his desk organisation strategies as he does the occasion he shot a man through the heart live on TV. Genius.
Full of little details, minutiae and tedious depictions of his favourite hardware items, while bitching about all the people who wronged him, it's all funny in an intensely Alan way. There's a nice balance between covering his known tv and radio works and the in-between life so it's not just a rehash.
I have to say, I listened to the audiobook version by Coogan in character and it really made it. If you're going to read it seriously consider the audiobook.
This is very much a contrast to Simon Pegg's autobiography (which I just read). Parky breezes through his school years in the first few chapters with This is very much a contrast to Simon Pegg's autobiography (which I just read). Parky breezes through his school years in the first few chapters with nary a diversion, realising that an overview of this era works better than a blow by blow account of childhood friends.
The first half of the book detailing his upbringing, family, way of life and personal ethic is rich and compelling, well told and a great personal insight into a vanishing era. Cricket, the pits, the war, his foray into journalism - they all make for an interesting tale and it's probably the best bit of the book.
By the time he gets to his television career, the focus has changed to one of immense name dropping and anecdotes about the many many celebs he has come to know and interview. It's fun to read though different and we lose a lot of the personal nature and indeed personality. Still, for lovers of celebrity gossip there's a lot to enjoy.
It's a fun book and if you like Parkinson (which I do), then it's a quick and enjoyable read....more
It's approaching the biography time of the year so I checked out a few from the library. I'm a fan of Simon Pegg, I like Spaced and I enjoy most of hiIt's approaching the biography time of the year so I checked out a few from the library. I'm a fan of Simon Pegg, I like Spaced and I enjoy most of his performances so was curious to read this. Unfortunately it's not that good.
Pegg makes it quite clear a few times that he didn't really want to write this (even insinuating that his editor may have written it at one point) and he's not that comfortable detailing his private life. He also doesn't want to tell his 'Hollywood secrets' or anecdotes. So, we're left with a lot of so so tales of his uneventful childhood, a brief media studies style breakdown of Star Wars and some of his other favourite films and a few jokes. We also get a fictional, frankly dull and stupid James Bond-lite 'adventure tale' about him and his robot servant. Pure filler - if you are going to read this you can skip these sections without losing anything.
The childhood tales flow on for almost three quarters of the book and frankly are no different to the usual childhood experiences of school, friendships, unrequited love and stupidity. After one particularly dull tale he even ends saying (paraphrasing), I know it's not that interesting but it's my story and I'm being nostalgic.
He's at his best discussing his love of film and his awe at eventually ending up in franchises he loved or being directed by those people who inspired him as a kid is fantastic. You can tell he really loves and lives it.
Ultimately it's a partial biography of a move fan who worked hard and made it, lacking much in the way of depth or emotion and leaving you with the sense it could have been so much better. So, a misfire which is a shame as he comes across as a nice bloke and he really is better than this. I'll stick to his television work I think.
Seriously, it seems he was the worst person in the world to work with or know. It doesn't matter how talented or intelligent Steve Jobs. What a prick.
Seriously, it seems he was the worst person in the world to work with or know. It doesn't matter how talented or intelligent you are, there's no need to treat other people like dirt, to throw tantrums, scream and cry when you don't get your way or generally act like a jerk.
All that aside, it made for a fascinating read, entertaining, somewhat exasperating but always enthralling. Isaacson does a good job constructing his life and rise (plus falls), mostly told though the entwined history of Apple with a little NeXT and Pixar thrown in. There was a lot I was unaware of and it really is impressive how many fantastic items he has been instrumental in delivering. I'm not a complete Apple zombie, I've always had an iPod and I use my iPad daily but that's it. Still, I appreciate good design and I have been known to covert on occasion.
The sheer number of people involved, personal stories, testimonies and 360 degree 'no-holds-barred' accounts do add to the authenticity (though there is a tendency to proclaim him god of everything which I feel is a little extreme). To be honest, the thing I would have liked more of, is to hear more from Jobs himself. There's very little from his perspective aside from a few anecdotes or nasty comments about others. His struggle with cancer in particular, would have been more enlightening if explored from his viewpoint. Still, credit to him for allowing a dirt and all approach.
A visionary man. But still a prick. Worth reading if you're interested in the man or his products....more
I'm not sure why I read this. I don't read political memoirs and I never voted for Blair (in the elections I was able to vote in) but I quite liked hiI'm not sure why I read this. I don't read political memoirs and I never voted for Blair (in the elections I was able to vote in) but I quite liked him and his political take in the early days. For me, New Labour came in at the height of the Britpop/'Cool Britannia' era, approaching the end of my teens. An important time personally but I wasn't that politically minded back then. Current stronger political opinion (and knowledge) aside I feel he did a fair amount of good for the country and despite the later controversies and issues I think he was a pretty good PM. He ended up with a tough run and had to make some difficult decisions. It's very easy to criticise but I cannot imagine how hard it must be to take some of the responsibilities he had to. So I guess I was curious to hear his take.
It covers a lot of ground (and it is a long book) but I found it generally quite sparse throughout; he covers the early years and Northern Ireland era well but many other important occasions are glossed over. There's a lot of political chatter and he explains his New Labour approach though I felt you need to have a reasonable political knowledge to back up much of the discussion. I've never read a political memoir before so I'm not sure where it would rank between political discussion versus standard autobiography. It's almost list-like in nature at times, reeling off the achievements of his government (which were substantial) and consequently doesn't always make for fun reading. Still, there are some fun anecdotes (I enjoyed all the tales about the Royals), personal insights and it is easy to read.
I think if you lived with his Government and leadership and you have an interest, then hearing his side of the story is worthwhile. He certainly comes across as earnest, truly believing his cause and I guess you have to respect that. Still, I wonder if there's a better book down the line with more perspective. ...more
Following on from Boy, Going Solo was another tremendously important book to me as a child. Where I could relate to his boyhood tales in some way, theFollowing on from Boy, Going Solo was another tremendously important book to me as a child. Where I could relate to his boyhood tales in some way, the next part of his life was a complete window to another world. Read then it was extraordinary and magical; read now I appreciate it on different levels entirely.
Dahl mentions how lucky he felt to have witnessed the later days of colonial Britain and the people that made the empire. All negative issues relating to Colonialism aside (I'm not going to go there and neither does Dahl) I completely understand what he means. The first half detailing his time in Africa working for the Shell Company is brilliant; a window to a life that no longer exists, with long boat journeys, quirky slightly mad Englishmen (and ladies) abroad, the culture and way of life. It's clearly romanticised; a big adventure, but then it's portrayed with such vigour and love that you can see the appeal to a fresh faced early-20 year old. I would have loved it (and probably still would). As a boy it made me dream of African countryside, baking suns, lions, deadly snakes and a different world.
The second part, detailing his experiences in the war as a pilot is equally enthralling though very different in tone. This was my first exposure to the second world war in any real way (back at primary school in the late-80s - we didn't cover the wars until secondary school and my subsequent interest developed a few years after that) and Dahl makes it all seem jolly exciting. Almost over before he began, his initial adoration of flying is powerfully detailed before his (more truthfully documented) account of the crash that put him in hospital for 6 months.
After, we have a series of raids and dogfights which become somewhat mechanical and repetitive in nature but still hold the interest. I wonder now though, whether his emphasis on a jolly adventure isn't quite as truthful as it could be; he states a few times that looking back he wonders why he wasn't more scared. I wonder the same. The horrors of war only really peak through at times and I suspect this was him writing for a younger audience.
Put together though, both Boy and Going Solo are wonderful books for children to open their eyes to different types of stories and worlds. Dahl's relaxed narrative envisages a cosy fire and glass of whiskey, reminiscent of an afternoon with your granddad. Equally of interest to the adults too....more
This was one of those eye openers for me as a child; I read Boy countless times (and back home still have the well worn edition from 1986). The concepThis was one of those eye openers for me as a child; I read Boy countless times (and back home still have the well worn edition from 1986). The concept of an autobiography was so new and radical, at a time when reading was all make believe and fiction; it 'really happened', it wasn't made up! Rather, a magical book that opened up another world, glimpsing a life I would never experience.
His remembrances of childhood and school life are frank, vivid and frequently horrific. In particular, his account of the unexpected removal of his adenoids has vividly stuck with me to this day, since I read it the first time (starkly imprinted as I too had my adenoids removed as a child and the graphic depiction freaked me out entirely). Tales of life at boarding school, fagging, the cane, chocolate and tuck boxes, a memorable car trip and a general air of menace exposed a truly different way of life.
Reading it now, I'm struck by how brief and narrow it is. It just seemed so much bigger as a child (much like headmasters, I guess). Still, I enjoyed revisiting it immensely. It's also great to pick out those glimpses of future Dahl stories and characters. This is a truly great book for kids to read and discover, even more so as we move further away from the era depicted.
Dahl says near the beginning that everything is true but it really doesn't matter either way. It's all story-telling magic. Well worth reading, whatever your age. Now, on to his later years...
April 2020 I've just finished reading this with my 7 year old, initially after dinner and then at bedtime. It's his first autobiography and he seemed to enjoy it and wants to read on (though I think Going Solo may not keep his attention at this point). Great for discovery, we learnt lots about Norway and how badly children have been treated (he seemed to find that aspect fascinating)....more
Now I'm an honorary Kiwi, I picked this up from the Hermitage Hotel at Mt Cook after climbing some hills and checking out the Ed Hilary Alpine Centre.Now I'm an honorary Kiwi, I picked this up from the Hermitage Hotel at Mt Cook after climbing some hills and checking out the Ed Hilary Alpine Centre. I have the Corgi edition with the famous photo of Norgay on the summit but it's not on GR yet.
It starts off well, discussing the famous summit of Everest and a little of the controversy around it, but when we move to the Antarctic things slow down a lot. I have finite patience for reading about the tractor getting stuck yet again in a crevasse, Hillary having to poke around for a more suitable snow bridge, him finding said bridge, then moving on (all the while coming across as rather smug and bullheaded). However, after this great level of detail, he swings too far the other way and most of the later adventures are skirted over in brief, leaving you wanting more.
It all seems a little shallow. He comes across rather patronising and unpleasant towards the Nepali people at the beginning but then clearly becomes a great patron to the Sherpa communities later in his life. He briefly mentions some of the destructive forces that go along with exploration but never lets it worry him too greatly (also, some altitude related medical inconsistency annoyed me a little but probably wouldn't register with most readers). Plus, we never really get a sense of what being Kiwi meant to him. It's revealing where he talks of his great shame at crying after his wife died. He's clearly a vanguard of the old order.
A somewhat negative review of the book which is a shame. He's an interesting man who clearly achieved a lot and deserves recognition but we don't really get to look under the skin. I suspect there's a better biography of him out there giving us a more in depth look at the man rather than his achievements. Maybe it needs a bit more distance.
I always like Chris Evans, having fond memories of The Big Breakfast, Don't Forget your Toothbrush, the Radio 1 breakfast show and most importantly foI always like Chris Evans, having fond memories of The Big Breakfast, Don't Forget your Toothbrush, the Radio 1 breakfast show and most importantly for me, TFI Friday. That show was a revelation and perfect for my mid-teens britpop years. Down, the line I've fallen out of touch with him, aside from the newspaper headlines a few years back and occasionally catching his Radio 2 show. I have no idea what he's doing currently.
We follow his life as a child in quite a lot of detail, before skipping ahead a bit more up until his acquisition of Virgin radio. He draws on his natural enthusiasm and confidence to create and get the job done, giving hints and tips in running businesses and life. I've always admired his natural talent and drive, despite the self destructive tendencies. He does come across a little melodramatic at times and some of the 'life lessons' are rather obvious, not needing to be said.
There's a strong feeling of leaving a lot out and the further through we go the less detail is given. He's quite open about his sexual conquests and relationships (and how they went wrong) but the background suggestion of a lie falling apart through partying, drinking and possibly more is rather glanced over. You know it's there but it's never explored.
Note: this would have got another star if it weren't for the completely made up and inaccurate medical procedures he mentions - his mum having a cataract operation and him having some bones in his hand reset. Neither of these procedures as he describes them are anything remotely realistic (either now or at the time they would have occurred). Sure, the story about his mum is second hand so maybe either she was telling porkies, or it's become a family story, but still. This make me wonder how many other anecdotes are completely falsified or tainted.
I liked the book though, and the set up for the next one will almost certainly get me reading. I want to find out how it all fell down (hinted at multiple times throughout but never appearing).
I've been reading this slowly for a long time now after picking it up in CHCH a couple of years ago on sale (I liked the smartness of the small hardcoI've been reading this slowly for a long time now after picking it up in CHCH a couple of years ago on sale (I liked the smartness of the small hardcover along with the concept). It got moved around and sat on a variety of shelves, trying to get it noticed and usually failing. I think ultimately I picked it up to finish as I'm supposed to be writing an essay and have been (not that sub-consciously) looking for alternative ways of spending my time - something he touches on at one point.
I've read three of the books he writes about (and have a couple more in my 'to read' pile) so a lot of the observations make little sense. However, the books are more jumping on points for his random observations about other books, literature and the world around him. He's clearly a very well read, intelligent man who is deeply passionate about books and reading. I respect and admire that but it didn't make an interesting book for me, leaving the diary sparse and peripatetic. By all accounts his other previous book, 'A History of Reading' sound like a better option (though I'm not sure I'd rush out to get a copy).
Stephen Fry is a British institution and rightly so. I've admired his television work (in particular Blackadder) but have never read any of his books.Stephen Fry is a British institution and rightly so. I've admired his television work (in particular Blackadder) but have never read any of his books. So, back in the UK at the moment I picked it up dirt cheap (as a direct comparison: UK price = £10, NZ = $69: in no way comparable) and generally enjoyed it.
It doesn't say anywhere in the blurb but in the intro he states this volume only covers an 8 year period which upset me a little as I was hoping for a more inclusive history. Still, I really enjoyed the first half detailing his life at Cambridge, the people he met and became friends with, the pursuits and societies he devoted his time to. Having been to another University it offered a really interesting personal look at a famous institution (the place rather than the man) and a life led well. The anecdotes are engaging and the name dropping is immense.
I found the second half a lot less interesting as he basically documents all the wonderful things that happened to him after leave uni. His life really was blessed and again there are some interesting tales but generally it's a little dull. His honesty is refreshing though his lack of self confidence becomes a little repetitive as he time and again labours the point of how even though he was doing fabulously well he still felt like a fraud and failure. I get the point. And then it all ends just as it starts getting interesting.
I would be very keen to read the next volume as this has certainly whet my appetite and his use of language really is wonderful but found this ultimately a little lacking. Given what I read that will probably really upset Stephen though it really shouldn't.
On a side note this was the 52nd book I read this year meaning I've completed my average of a 'book a week' challenge. It was tough and it's killed some of my enthusiasm for reading so next year I think I'll cut back a bit....more
I quite liked The Terminal and was always curious about the man it was supposedly inspired by so when this turned up in the bargain book pile I pickedI quite liked The Terminal and was always curious about the man it was supposedly inspired by so when this turned up in the bargain book pile I picked it up.
Co-written by Sir Alfred Mehran himself it's an interesting though somewhat sparse document of his side of the story as to why he lived in Charles de Gaulle airport for 16 years.
Yes the bureaucratic idiocy that kept him there is mind boggling but he comes across as a rather dislikeable character himself. Despite many people offering to help (and indeed going to great lengths to actually do so) he seems to throw it back in their faces. You would think that in writing your own side of the story you would try and present yourself as likeable but he comes across as obstinate and unhelpful, withholding vital information, lying, changing the story and being fairly ungrateful. He makes some really bizarre decisions at times (particularly the one that led to him 'misplacing' his documents in the first place) and his refusal to accept his heritage as Iranian does seem odd when legally and by definition he is. When you combine it with his hoarding and odd behaviour you start to wonder about his general mental state.
A few years back I was stuck in the transit lounge of Delhi airport without appropriate paperwork allowing me into either India or through departures. Bureaucracy took hold and the uncertainty of being pushed pillar to post and being assured that someone was sorting it out left me frenetic and very stressed and pretty damn angry. That was only for slightly over 24 hours so I can't imagine what 16 years was like.
In terms of the book, the writing style is simple and swift to read though I found the repetitive use of certain phrases and indeed whole paragraphs to be annoying. It killed a brief amount of time with little thought. A more objective view would perhaps be interesting. ...more
Stitches tells the story of the author and illustrator David Small as a child, his family life with harsh parenting, his illness with cancer and how hStitches tells the story of the author and illustrator David Small as a child, his family life with harsh parenting, his illness with cancer and how he found a way to move on.
With minimal text and beautifully rendered black and white artwork this is a dark and haunting book. The 1950s Detroit setting is atmospherically recreated and the facial expressions in particular are exceptional with each character fully alive. ...more
I like the Shatman and have no idea why because I've barely seen anything he's been in aside from a few Star Trek episodes and movies. And Airplane 2.I like the Shatman and have no idea why because I've barely seen anything he's been in aside from a few Star Trek episodes and movies. And Airplane 2. But there's just something about him and when I saw this sitting on the shelf I had to get it.
It's an enticing and amusing read, he has a healthy level of self-deprecating anecdotes and incidents throughout his life. Also the book version of product placement scattered throughout. I never quite got a feeling of learning much about him and his personal ideology, more a run down of all the things he's been involved in but still.
Another thing I was slightly disappointed about was the lack of interesting Star Trek stories. Oh well. Read it and then go look up his version of Rocket Man at the 1978 Science Fiction awards show. Truly genius!...more
As enjoyable as the movie. Quite audacious and you seem to get the feeling he never did serve all the time he should have done. An engaging and swift As enjoyable as the movie. Quite audacious and you seem to get the feeling he never did serve all the time he should have done. An engaging and swift read....more
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