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ryansiriwardene's review against another edition
4.0
Im glad i listened to the audiobook than read this but whose bright idea was it for lenny to describe the pictures inserted in the print version, did not help the listener of the audiobook and should have been omitted.
circlesofflame's review
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.
shikha20's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
sllyllyd's review
4.0
Really enjoyed listening to this (read by Lenny Henry) - I didn't know the beginnings of Henry's career at all - and so I enjoyed learning his family history and interests and journey to the person I 'knew'. I liked that the book ends before the parts I'm more familiar with and look forward to the next stage.
I can't work out if I feel Henry is kind of kind and light hearted about the rascism he and others faced because he's being nice to us white people or other reasons - but the stuff he and family faced day to day was fierce and hard. Would recommend to anyone, irrelevant of whether you know who he is as a comedian!
I can't work out if I feel Henry is kind of kind and light hearted about the rascism he and others faced because he's being nice to us white people or other reasons - but the stuff he and family faced day to day was fierce and hard. Would recommend to anyone, irrelevant of whether you know who he is as a comedian!
penelope2202's review
3.0
I liked the sections about Lenny's early life and family not so much that sections about his career.
bethvance's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death and Physical abuse
theelliemo's review
3.0
This is a fascinating memoir, that seems to say as much implicitly in the way things are told, or through what‘s not said, as it does explicitly. Henry tells of growing up in 1960s Dudley, his early comedy experiences, New Faces, the Black & White Minstrels, Tiswas etc, interspersed with sections about people who influenced him and his career, photos and a few stories told in graphic form. I found it interesting that what must have been one of the most earth-shattering moments in his life is dealt with through the medium of the graphic, making it seem almost flippant, and yet it must surely have been a major influence in the constant feeling going through this book, from its very title - “Who am I?”. Or “who should I be for the people around me?”
stephend81d5's review
3.0
interesting autobiography of the Dudley comedian Lenny Henry this book being the 1st part of his career new faces to tiswas and find quite informative
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