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pinksy's review against another edition
3.0
Started this years reading journey with something different. I used to love an autobiography but have steered away from them in recent years.
I like Alan Davies but knew nothing about him, we’d seen the book discussed on Sara Cox’s book club which is why I picked it up.
His story is shocking and utterly heartbreaking and while I came away feeling so sad for him, I also felt that at times he was quite unpleasant. So conflicted though as I can totally see why he was the way he was at times, but the world of celebrity means we already think we know it all and have made our judgement of that person.
Think it’s put me off autobiographies for a while..
I like Alan Davies but knew nothing about him, we’d seen the book discussed on Sara Cox’s book club which is why I picked it up.
His story is shocking and utterly heartbreaking and while I came away feeling so sad for him, I also felt that at times he was quite unpleasant. So conflicted though as I can totally see why he was the way he was at times, but the world of celebrity means we already think we know it all and have made our judgement of that person.
Think it’s put me off autobiographies for a while..
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
I'm sure I'm not alone in spending most of my time whilst reading this book trying not to cry. All I could think was you poor man, you poor poor man. You look at the man on the TV and see a confident, successful, grounded individual and having read this book I see all that bravado came at a great cost. I felt so sorry for the little boy who never got to grieve for his mother. I feel sorry for the child who thought so little of himself he craved any kind of attention. I felt sorry for the man he grew into who has managed to show an exterior of normality when his whole life has been tainted by his father's abuse. This book moved me to tears and the only saving graces were that he has made a success of his career, has a family who he loves and who love him and he finally got some form of validation from the authorities. I hope that writing this has given Alan Davies some form of peace because he truly deserves it. A wonderful but harrowing book I'd highly recommend.
elaineruss's review against another edition
4.0
Unsure how to review this really. It's brutal but somehow inspiring. You can tell it's been a cathartic process for Alan and I honestly think I, as the reader, feel a bit of that release as well.
zasobel's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so glad I read this and even more glad that Alan wrote it.
bluejadeblue's review against another edition
5.0
Started binge-watching QI like CRAZY this summer and Alan made me crack up so much while I was watching so I followed his Twitter and saw he put out a memoir late last year. In a rush to express my admiration for one of my new favorite comedians I bought an e-version his memoir with a Barnes and Noble giftcard I had from my birthday and signed up for a free Audible trial to listen along while I read it.
Honestly? I was not prepared to read this but I was so excited to learn more about Alan and his story. The whole book is a heavy read (of course with good humor tucked into places where it’s appropriate) but I always come back to the chapter Fingers. It’s beautifully written and Alan’s love for his mom seeps through the words he writes. I don’t think I’ve read a book with so much real emotion in it. I loved it. <3
Honestly? I was not prepared to read this but I was so excited to learn more about Alan and his story. The whole book is a heavy read (of course with good humor tucked into places where it’s appropriate) but I always come back to the chapter Fingers. It’s beautifully written and Alan’s love for his mom seeps through the words he writes. I don’t think I’ve read a book with so much real emotion in it. I loved it. <3
tyromancy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
redsmurf's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book. Alans voice was loud and clear, in places rambling. The reasons he wrote this book, as a sort of self help for himself to put it too bed and in the process maybe encouraging others to share their own stories, rather than to keep living with the shame or not dealing with the aftermath, that colours whole lives. It's not as well written as perhaps it could have been, its a high 3 star, just not 4 star material in my view.
loveisforthenerds's review against another edition
5.0
I want to hug the six-year-old little boy who wasn't told that his mummy was dying and wasn't allowed to grieve. This book shattered my heart.
As an American, I first found Davies on QI and then watched him on Jonathan Creek. I quickly became a huge fan of his humor that never seems to "punch down". As a white, male comic, that says a lot. Reading this book was like peeling back the layers of a man and discovering a child who just wanted to be loved but was never quite smart enough or funny enough.
I found myself feeling incredibly uncomfortable at some of the descriptions of his abuse...then I realized it was intentional. I was only feeling a fraction of the shame and discomfort that he felt as a victim.
This was an important story for him to tell. For himself and for anyone else who feels alone.
Davies is brave and intelligent and hilarious. In writing his story in such a raw manner with his personal brand of humor, he works to break the stigma around child sexual abuse and attempts to reach back through the decades to heal that little boy who was left all alone.
As an American, I first found Davies on QI and then watched him on Jonathan Creek. I quickly became a huge fan of his humor that never seems to "punch down". As a white, male comic, that says a lot. Reading this book was like peeling back the layers of a man and discovering a child who just wanted to be loved but was never quite smart enough or funny enough.
I found myself feeling incredibly uncomfortable at some of the descriptions of his abuse...then I realized it was intentional. I was only feeling a fraction of the shame and discomfort that he felt as a victim.
This was an important story for him to tell. For himself and for anyone else who feels alone.
Davies is brave and intelligent and hilarious. In writing his story in such a raw manner with his personal brand of humor, he works to break the stigma around child sexual abuse and attempts to reach back through the decades to heal that little boy who was left all alone.
barkingstars's review against another edition
5.0
If you are expecting a celebrity memoir then you will be disappointed. This is a clearing out of the psychological locker by a sensitive and perceptive man who wants to be understood. Davies recounting of his childhood trauma is vivid, direct but also deep. He recounts not just what happened but the domino effect the followed throughout his life. I feel it’s this depth that makes the book so powerful.