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seddso's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Lenny Henry growing up, watching him being discovered on New Faces and his path to fame, and still do. This book was a hilarious trip through time with Lenny and his family from the seventies up to Tiswas and his beginning to work on Three of a Kind. I laughed out loud so many times listening to this in the car ( I read all my audible books during my commute and while doing the housework ), and now it's finished I'm gonna miss it.
The fact that Lenny narrated it was a big plus, he's got a gift. Wish I'd read this sooner, can't wait for the next instalment. Katanga my friend!
The fact that Lenny narrated it was a big plus, he's got a gift. Wish I'd read this sooner, can't wait for the next instalment. Katanga my friend!
circlesofflame's review against another edition
2.0
Reading this back to back with Trevor Noah's memoir was an experience and perhaps highlighted more issues than I would have seen in Lenny Henry's offering.
This book felt very reserved and matter-of-fact for an autobiography by a comedian. Comic moments were few and far between and the personal is very watered down. Seemingly important issues - such as meeting his biological father, growing up amongst two cultures, his relationships with his father and siblings, being Black and performing with the Black and White Minstrels, the adoption of his daughter - are referred to only briefly and without emotion, almost as if they happened to someone else.
This reads more like a manual or guidance for upcoming comedians as Lenny shares his experiences from his early career and ends with advice for performers. I am therefore, clearly not the key intended audience for this.
This book felt very reserved and matter-of-fact for an autobiography by a comedian. Comic moments were few and far between and the personal is very watered down. Seemingly important issues - such as meeting his biological father, growing up amongst two cultures, his relationships with his father and siblings, being Black and performing with the Black and White Minstrels, the adoption of his daughter - are referred to only briefly and without emotion, almost as if they happened to someone else.
This reads more like a manual or guidance for upcoming comedians as Lenny shares his experiences from his early career and ends with advice for performers. I am therefore, clearly not the key intended audience for this.
sillyduckie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Child abuse
royzee's review against another edition
4.0
The first Christmas pressie book has been polished off already! That is how good Mr H is at writing and relating his troubled but intriguing life Part 1. Yes, this is the first installment and I do hope he is not distracted enough to not finish the job but I suspect that is not like him, a hard worker, a dedicated man in all he does. And it shows. How anyone could have stuck being in the B&W Minstrels Show for so long beats me.
As a kid I was subjected to many variety shows, circuses, quizzes, panel games, etc etc but the BWMS was probably the worst. They were in B&W anyway because that was all we had in the 60s. I did not know Mr H had been in the later shows but maybe they were no longer televised. It is one of the stand-out ironies of his life, there are others but I shall leave you to find out...
Like others have said this AB is replete with some frustrations but then I expect them from other books like this. Alexei Sayle springs to mind. You always get this as it is something of a puzzle why the famous feel the need to pen as much as they do. Lenny has points to make and he succeeds I think and he did make me see things in a bit different way. Along the way we are entertained and carried along by his adventures which at times reveal much heartache and confusion in this young man thrust by his own passion and success into the big, bad, mad world of light entertainment in the UK.
As a final point aside from looking forward to more, I liked his inclusion of the "tips for comics" and the "graphic novel" treatment of his life. Maybe a hint to others who aspire to share their lives with us vox pop types. Who are you Lenny? A gentleman, a class act, thanks for sharing.
PS My wife met Mr H at a signing in Milton Keynes, poor man sat there shivering wanting to be somewhere else but he greeted her with a smile, happy to sign it to me.
As a kid I was subjected to many variety shows, circuses, quizzes, panel games, etc etc but the BWMS was probably the worst. They were in B&W anyway because that was all we had in the 60s. I did not know Mr H had been in the later shows but maybe they were no longer televised. It is one of the stand-out ironies of his life, there are others but I shall leave you to find out...
Like others have said this AB is replete with some frustrations but then I expect them from other books like this. Alexei Sayle springs to mind. You always get this as it is something of a puzzle why the famous feel the need to pen as much as they do. Lenny has points to make and he succeeds I think and he did make me see things in a bit different way. Along the way we are entertained and carried along by his adventures which at times reveal much heartache and confusion in this young man thrust by his own passion and success into the big, bad, mad world of light entertainment in the UK.
As a final point aside from looking forward to more, I liked his inclusion of the "tips for comics" and the "graphic novel" treatment of his life. Maybe a hint to others who aspire to share their lives with us vox pop types. Who are you Lenny? A gentleman, a class act, thanks for sharing.
PS My wife met Mr H at a signing in Milton Keynes, poor man sat there shivering wanting to be somewhere else but he greeted her with a smile, happy to sign it to me.
janedallaway's review against another edition
4.0
Awww lovely Lenny Henry told me about his life as I drove (I consumed this as an audiobook). Growing up I knew of Lenny from the three of a kind days onwards which is mostly after this memoir finishes. So this was a really interesting delve into what came before. I only knew of a few bits of it through listening to him speak on Louis Theroux’s podcast. I love how he took every opportunity to learn he could. The ending was a bit abrupt. It kind of just finished and then there was an afterword. And a set of tips for the aspiring comedian. He was good company.
georgea_1234's review against another edition
4.0
Biographies can be hit and miss and very much influenced by what you thought of the subject. I have always loved Lenny Henry and thought this would be a great insight into his early years. I didn't know much about his early life before he became famous and the book was an eye-opening telling of his family, life as a young comedian and his time moving from The Black Minstrels, kids tv shows and more mainstream adult comedies. I look forward to the next instalment.