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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I found much to laugh along with as I listened to John Cleese read his own story. It did not pretend to be anything other than what it was - his story. It was well written and told.
I'd more accurately give this 3.5 stars. While the beginning is laugh-out-loud funny, the humor level quickly drops, and by the end I felt as though John Cleese seemed resentful towards having to write the book at all. However, as someone who recalls my own amateur theatre experiences with such fond nostalgia, what held me so captivated were Cleese's early theatrical endeavors, especially his descriptions of cast interactions and bonding. What I particularly found fascinating was the way he seemed to be swept up in a show-biz life rather without his awareness or intent. While I tore through the book in just over a week, I can easily see how someone who is not the most avid of Cleese fans would find it tedious and quite snarky.
I read this before he (or at least before I knew he) slipped into the crotchety old man, anti-woke trap so as a Python fan, I did enjoy this enough. And he talks about 80s and 90s movies/TV stuff too but did it make me laugh out loud? No. Internally chuckle? Sometimes. The phrase "don't meet your heroes" applies in book form, too.
I am a Python Fan, but that doesn't mean I was automatically prepared to like John Cleese's writing. Having no idea what he is like beyond his screen persona, of which there are many, and knowing he is a comedy writer, neither of these implied what type of life he may have had or how he would write about said life.
And then the book got off to, what was for me, a slow start. I found the first few chapters interesting but wordy and slow. Gradually, though, the boy and his adult writing grew on me. And eventually I did not want to put Cleese's book down, for I was far too engrossed in his tales. Then he started sharing some sketches. Yes, I took a picture of the zookeeper swallowed by the boa and emailed it to my younger son in college. It was hard to resist!
Cleese keeps his book focused on his professional life, yet it is obvious to me that he maintains great affection for Connie Booth, his first wife. (As an aside, I recent read about and heard an interview with Connie and her husband where they openly discussed her growing forgetfulness and dementia.)
I enjoyed discovering how the Pythoners met and appreciated the openness with which Cleese describes his nerves and aversion to making a fuss (which is directly opposite his love of pranks) and other insecurities that befell him as an actor, more so than as a writer.
And he leaves the book ripe for a sequel. Of course. So anyway, what happens next?
And then the book got off to, what was for me, a slow start. I found the first few chapters interesting but wordy and slow. Gradually, though, the boy and his adult writing grew on me. And eventually I did not want to put Cleese's book down, for I was far too engrossed in his tales. Then he started sharing some sketches. Yes, I took a picture of the zookeeper swallowed by the boa and emailed it to my younger son in college. It was hard to resist!
Cleese keeps his book focused on his professional life, yet it is obvious to me that he maintains great affection for Connie Booth, his first wife. (As an aside, I recent read about and heard an interview with Connie and her husband where they openly discussed her growing forgetfulness and dementia.)
I enjoyed discovering how the Pythoners met and appreciated the openness with which Cleese describes his nerves and aversion to making a fuss (which is directly opposite his love of pranks) and other insecurities that befell him as an actor, more so than as a writer.
And he leaves the book ripe for a sequel. Of course. So anyway, what happens next?
Very interesting, largely amusing and almost zero bile
3.5 stars really. This is an exhaustively detailed account of John Cleese's life and there are several funny moments, but it is not exactly what I was hoping for. The book ends when Python begins (except for a final chapter recounting the 2014 reunion stage show) and there is nothing apart from a few references to Fawlty Towers or anything beyond. What there is, however, there is a lot of and it certainly colors Cleese's life wonderfully, but I could have done with a bit less of his childhood and more with the later years. Maybe there will be a follow-up book. He absolutely has a way with words and save for several jabs at God and religion (and Terry Jones), he is surprisingly kind and generous to each of the "characters" that filled his life. He is especially warm to Connie Booth, his first of four wives, that I was left to wonder what happened. Here's to hoping the sequel will fill in the details. So it's not the exposé of Python or Fawlty Towers that many were hoping for, but it is incredible to see just how much Cleese did in his early years. Makes me seem like quite the slacker.
funny
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
"I know this book is supoposed to be an autobiography but the fact is that most of you don't give a tinker's cuss for me as a human being, or for the many different forms of suffering that makes me special. No, you're just flipping through my heart-rending life story in the hope of getting a couple of good laughs, aren't you?"
For those looking for ancedotes about the history of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, you'de be best to read one of the many other books written on those topics, including those written by Cleese himself.
He spends most of this book recounting his youth, early experiences with writing, acting and comedy and ends it all fairly neatly just as the first sketch for "Monty Python" begins, like the end of a biopic or something.
Okay, there's also the final chapter that delves into Cleese's experiences with the Pythons, their reunion show and his interesting relationship with Graham Chapman, his writing partner.
I admit I was disappointed he didn't go into more detail about his more well known professional career, but as he says it's his fucking book and he'll write about what he wants. And there have been so many other books written by those involved that I completely understand why this book ends where it does.
Cleese continues to be incredibly funny, but adds in a humanity that isn't always obvious with the overbearing characters he so often plays. His chapters about his mother were particularly interesting and touching in a very English kind of way.
The audiobook is read by Cleese, so it has his very particular type of delivery which left me laugh out loud on several occasions and also has a nice intro/outro by Michael Palin, showing they still have a good relationship after all these years.
There's also a couple of sketches that are played from the original tapes, which is a nice addition when you're listening to the audio version.
For those looking for ancedotes about the history of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, you'de be best to read one of the many other books written on those topics, including those written by Cleese himself.
He spends most of this book recounting his youth, early experiences with writing, acting and comedy and ends it all fairly neatly just as the first sketch for "Monty Python" begins, like the end of a biopic or something.
Okay, there's also the final chapter that delves into Cleese's experiences with the Pythons, their reunion show and his interesting relationship with Graham Chapman, his writing partner.
I admit I was disappointed he didn't go into more detail about his more well known professional career, but as he says it's his fucking book and he'll write about what he wants. And there have been so many other books written by those involved that I completely understand why this book ends where it does.
Cleese continues to be incredibly funny, but adds in a humanity that isn't always obvious with the overbearing characters he so often plays. His chapters about his mother were particularly interesting and touching in a very English kind of way.
The audiobook is read by Cleese, so it has his very particular type of delivery which left me laugh out loud on several occasions and also has a nice intro/outro by Michael Palin, showing they still have a good relationship after all these years.
There's also a couple of sketches that are played from the original tapes, which is a nice addition when you're listening to the audio version.
One of those books that is so much better in audiobook format, I'm sure. I didn't read the description before buying, so was a bit disappointed that MP only got a tiny bit of attention at the end, but perhaps so much has been said about that time already that the focus justifiably in the early days of Cleese's life and career. A definite bonus in the audio version is the inclusion of original recordings of some of the 60s sketches.