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cosyskog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This was a book of multiple themes: living through a (heart) health crisis, life experiences, and the friendships and relationships created along the way. As someone who didn't grow up in the UK, it taught me a lot of things I didn't know about Bob Mortimer but at the same time I read the entire thing with his voice in my head, so the authenticity of the author's voice comes through in his writing. It was a pretty quick read and the themes made me reflect a bit more on my own life. Overall would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Body shaming, Alcohol, Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Car accident
littleredhat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
My partner is a huge Reeves and Mortimer fan, having loved shows such as "Vic Reeves' Big Night Out" and "The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer" since childhood. (Personally, I knew him best from "Shooting Stars", which I watched in my own childhood years and enjoyed - although I wouldn't have called it my favourite comedy show of all time.)
I bought my partner a signed hardback of Bob Mortimer's memoir as a birthday gift, and his riotous laughing literally waking me up at night convinced me to give it a read... although I opted for an audiobook version to enjoy during my commute, and so I could hear the words in Mortimer's distinctive voice.
Undergoing a triple heart bypass led Mortimer to reflect on his life, and the chapters of this book flitter between the time of his operation/recovery, and memories of his childhood and career, creating a clever and interesting structure. Several of his anecdotes carry the eccentric, childish, semi-surreal humour that Mortimer is known for, and some of them are supposed fantasies created to mirror his tall tales in the show "Would I Lie To You?" - his appearances on which I saw only recently, and which I found utterly hilarious. These, along with the show "Gone Fishing", have led to me developing a newfound admiration for Mortimer.
Even now, after reflecting on the tales in the memoir, I have no idea which ones are true and which are lies - that is, if any of them are even false to start with. It wouldn't surprise me if they weren't! I WAS surprised, however, to learn that Mortimer was a qualified and once working solicitor, as it seemed such a far cry from the semi-crazed comedian I saw on TV. As such, learning more about his shyer side, his studies and former profession was fascinating.
Like my partner, I found myself laughing out loud at this book quite often, but there were plenty of emotional and heart-warming moments too: a must-have, in my view, for any good autobiography. Mortimer, by his own admission, is not the strongest actor, and so, some parts of his narration did feel a little stilted and "read out", but there were also many sections that sounded much more relaxed and conversational, which were a real treat to listen to.
If you're a fan of Bob Mortimer's work in any capacity, give this a read or listen.
I bought my partner a signed hardback of Bob Mortimer's memoir as a birthday gift, and his riotous laughing literally waking me up at night convinced me to give it a read... although I opted for an audiobook version to enjoy during my commute, and so I could hear the words in Mortimer's distinctive voice.
Undergoing a triple heart bypass led Mortimer to reflect on his life, and the chapters of this book flitter between the time of his operation/recovery, and memories of his childhood and career, creating a clever and interesting structure. Several of his anecdotes carry the eccentric, childish, semi-surreal humour that Mortimer is known for, and some of them are supposed fantasies created to mirror his tall tales in the show "Would I Lie To You?" - his appearances on which I saw only recently, and which I found utterly hilarious. These, along with the show "Gone Fishing", have led to me developing a newfound admiration for Mortimer.
Even now, after reflecting on the tales in the memoir, I have no idea which ones are true and which are lies - that is, if any of them are even false to start with. It wouldn't surprise me if they weren't! I WAS surprised, however, to learn that Mortimer was a qualified and once working solicitor, as it seemed such a far cry from the semi-crazed comedian I saw on TV. As such, learning more about his shyer side, his studies and former profession was fascinating.
Like my partner, I found myself laughing out loud at this book quite often, but there were plenty of emotional and heart-warming moments too: a must-have, in my view, for any good autobiography. Mortimer, by his own admission, is not the strongest actor, and so, some parts of his narration did feel a little stilted and "read out", but there were also many sections that sounded much more relaxed and conversational, which were a real treat to listen to.
If you're a fan of Bob Mortimer's work in any capacity, give this a read or listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Medical trauma
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