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professorchickpea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
flissy_benton's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
wintrovia's review
5.0
Like so much of Bob Mortimer's work, this book is lovely. His silly, gentle humour shined through as he tells the story of his rise to fame, time in the spotlight and recent health problems. Charming and strangely soothing.
rhiannekx's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
bonkyboot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
5.0
madmooney's review
5.0
This book gets a 5 our of 5 eggs cracked into a bath (as recommended by Chris Rea)
Bob Mortimer's [b:And Away...|57513156|And Away...|Bob Mortimer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616578546l/57513156._SY75_.jpg|90060728] splits the action between a biographical account of his early life, as well as a memoir of his recovery from heart surgery (which had famously delayed a comedy tour with Vic Reeves). At one point, his 2015 story finds himself back on tour (post recovery) - moments before the curtains part - when his body signals that he cannot go through with it. It is at this point that he muses on how he got here in the 1st place, and thus begins a chronicling of his life in comedy. The action of the book oscillates between his earlier life, and the 'present day of heart recovery 2015'.
What surprises me is that someone as naturally funny as Mr Mortimer is, he considers himself on the outside of that world for most of the book. Comedy was something that he only watched from the outside of the shop window, even though he was actively contributing to it at the time. It is a very humbling account, and one wonders whether or not Bob suffered from impostor syndrome long before the term was popularized in the public vernacular.
The other surprising thread of this memoir is Bob's crippling shyness. I understand (as someone who shares and understands it) that it sometimes becomes necessary to disassociate your true self from your "ON self" in pushing through the social discomfort, but the wear and tear on ones self is still there - it is nice to find another one in the wild in such a legend as is Bob Mortimer.
Dramatic readings aside, you also get to meet the gang of lads from his early years (the ones you would shed tears of laughter on the British panel show circuit: Gary Cheeseman (the snipers dream), Steve Bytheway. Harry Harriman, etc . He even presents "Would I Lie To You" chapters, where one of the preposterous stories is a complete fabrication. I never looked to see if he put answers at the end of the book - I would love to believe them all true!
It is also a rare voice to read a memoir where the comedy was not always apparent in everything they did. In Mel Brooks' [b:All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business|58537351|All about Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business|Mel Brooks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628180851l/58537351._SY75_.jpg|91968368] the throughline was always we all laughed as we wrote it and performed it, but Mortimer's account of everything that he was involved in (including his dramatic and solo work) gives a more genuine and heartfelt account of work in entertainement. Comedy is always easier for the appreciator, not so always the truth for the performer.
All I can say in this respect is that if you know a quiet one, at work, at home or wherever, try to make an effort to bring them in on things. Try to give them a chance to flourish, they might just surpise you and end up enhancing your life.
Believe me, its next to impossible for them to do it on their own.
Bob Mortimer's [b:And Away...|57513156|And Away...|Bob Mortimer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616578546l/57513156._SY75_.jpg|90060728] splits the action between a biographical account of his early life, as well as a memoir of his recovery from heart surgery (which had famously delayed a comedy tour with Vic Reeves). At one point, his 2015 story finds himself back on tour (post recovery) - moments before the curtains part - when his body signals that he cannot go through with it. It is at this point that he muses on how he got here in the 1st place, and thus begins a chronicling of his life in comedy. The action of the book oscillates between his earlier life, and the 'present day of heart recovery 2015'.
What surprises me is that someone as naturally funny as Mr Mortimer is, he considers himself on the outside of that world for most of the book. Comedy was something that he only watched from the outside of the shop window, even though he was actively contributing to it at the time. It is a very humbling account, and one wonders whether or not Bob suffered from impostor syndrome long before the term was popularized in the public vernacular.
The other surprising thread of this memoir is Bob's crippling shyness. I understand (as someone who shares and understands it) that it sometimes becomes necessary to disassociate your true self from your "ON self" in pushing through the social discomfort, but the wear and tear on ones self is still there - it is nice to find another one in the wild in such a legend as is Bob Mortimer.
Dramatic readings aside, you also get to meet the gang of lads from his early years (the ones you would shed tears of laughter on the British panel show circuit: Gary Cheeseman (the snipers dream), Steve Bytheway. Harry Harriman, etc . He even presents "Would I Lie To You" chapters, where one of the preposterous stories is a complete fabrication. I never looked to see if he put answers at the end of the book - I would love to believe them all true!
It is also a rare voice to read a memoir where the comedy was not always apparent in everything they did. In Mel Brooks' [b:All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business|58537351|All about Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business|Mel Brooks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628180851l/58537351._SY75_.jpg|91968368] the throughline was always we all laughed as we wrote it and performed it, but Mortimer's account of everything that he was involved in (including his dramatic and solo work) gives a more genuine and heartfelt account of work in entertainement. Comedy is always easier for the appreciator, not so always the truth for the performer.
If you are a shy one, then please try not to settle for a living in your isolation cage.
Take every oppurtunity a stranger or collegue or associate may offer and run with it to the moon.
There is no need to be scared of people, or believe what you have to contribute is worthless; people are generally nice and most of them are extremely boring most of the time.
Take a chance, get involved, and slowly thge cage will open.