Reviews

I loved loved LOVED this. I’m a huge fan of Pulp and Jarvis Cocker, so it was sort of a given I’d enjoy this anyway. But this book would easily interest someone that knows next to nothing about him or the band. It’s frankly genius the way this memoir is formatted and told. I loved the focus on the creative process. The fact we explore Jarvis’ life through material objects is incredibly charming to me as I also tend to accumulate plastic ‘pulp’ items just like him. It was fascinating seeing all these objects in glorious colour. The graphics of this book really set this apart from other memoirs.

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever related to someone’s thought processes as much as I did whilst reading this. The section about him hating food packaging changing, to the point of switching out a Marmite lid for a year straight was like looking into a mirror. The way Cocker writes is lovely and informal, as if you’re sat there cleaning out his loft with him. His stories are interesting and funny, and his thoughts on creativity very illuminating. I need more! I really hope a sequel follows covering the 90s Pulp years.

benebenebb's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

wintrovia's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Jarvis Cocker has such a wonderful way with words that he can make clearing out his attic entertaining. Which is handy, because that's the premise for this book. Although the delving into the dark corners of his attic is actually a device he uses to go back into the murkier and more distant past that each relic he unearth represents. This book is full of charming and amusing annecdotes from Cocker's life which often don't really go anywhere but I find hugely enjoyable to read anyway.

motherofladybirds's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I liked the premise of this memoire through the preserved ephemera in the attic. I am about the same age as Jarvis Cocker, so it was also sweetly nostalgic about my own childhood and teenage years in Northern England. I really enjoyed it. Jarvis is self-effacing and there are wry humorous anecdotes throughout. The photos alone are worth the read.

inaczej's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

jbowman19's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.25

Wonderfully written memoir framed in a really interesting way: this was a lovely read.

More...