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thimi_time's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
I really need to get my hands on the rest of Fry’s memoirs. Came for Hugh Laurie, but stayed for literally everything that was covered in this (and Hugh Laurie). It’s so inspiring and heartwarming to read about how much he cares about his friends, it really translates in his writing (omg, the dedication and then the acknowledgements as well 🥰).
trib's review against another edition
4.0
And odd tale.
Fry, as an internationally known actor, raconteur, documentary maker, etc. takes us through part of his high school years, but mostly through his time at university at Cambridge and the years up to his 30th birthday. During this time we meet all the famous faces we've known were in that circle around him - Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Robbie Coltrane and the like; certainly the cream of the latter part of the 20th Century's British comedy scene.
Fry's writing is delightful. As a man possessed of a broad vocabulary and a turn of phrase that makes him completely capable of putting it to good use, his writing could be turgid, but never is. His propensity for dwelling on his own perceived (and actual) failings can grate at times. He seems rather obsessed with the manifold flaws in his character. It's deliberate; he's making the point that as someone posessed of a comedy and writing talent, he's had more than his fair share of lucky breaks and near misses.
On the subject of near misses, the cliffhanger ending certainly makes for a "Wait... What?!" moment.
Fry, as an internationally known actor, raconteur, documentary maker, etc. takes us through part of his high school years, but mostly through his time at university at Cambridge and the years up to his 30th birthday. During this time we meet all the famous faces we've known were in that circle around him - Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Robbie Coltrane and the like; certainly the cream of the latter part of the 20th Century's British comedy scene.
Fry's writing is delightful. As a man possessed of a broad vocabulary and a turn of phrase that makes him completely capable of putting it to good use, his writing could be turgid, but never is. His propensity for dwelling on his own perceived (and actual) failings can grate at times. He seems rather obsessed with the manifold flaws in his character. It's deliberate; he's making the point that as someone posessed of a comedy and writing talent, he's had more than his fair share of lucky breaks and near misses.
On the subject of near misses, the cliffhanger ending certainly makes for a "Wait... What?!" moment.
arzee's review against another edition
3.0
A few good anecdotes but avoids speaking of heavier subjects such as his addictions. Which is fine, but he made a point in his autobiography about it being a way for him to get closure on the mistakes of his youth and explores them with detail in that book. Here it feels like he's reliving the celebrity and is avoiding self-exploration.
jon288's review against another edition
4.0
A fun autobiography, and good to listen to. Covers probably the most interesting period of his life, university up to making it with F&L/Blackadder. Suitably self-indulgent with language and all the more fun for it
jemunson's review against another edition
5.0
I love these. Stephen has a way of describing feelings that I've had but couldn't describe.
haoife00's review against another edition
5.0
I may be a little biased about this autobiography, just a bit. I loved this man before this book was ever created. So I'll just say this book was, to me, amazing. It's sad how talented he is and he never had much faith in himself at all, even now. And damn he uses big words. Good for the Leaving Cert ;D
lizzy_balmain's review against another edition
3.0
I'll admit a good deal of time has passed since I read this book, so this review is of vague feeling and recollection and not really to be trusted if you're making a decision on whether to read this or not.
I enjoyed this, because I find anything Stephen Fry oddly soothing, but he dropped so many names that at times I could barely see words on a page which weren't famous names. This book fell a bit flat for me because I wanted more stories about Stephen Fry, not a list of famous people he has interacted with over the years.
I enjoyed this, because I find anything Stephen Fry oddly soothing, but he dropped so many names that at times I could barely see words on a page which weren't famous names. This book fell a bit flat for me because I wanted more stories about Stephen Fry, not a list of famous people he has interacted with over the years.