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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Yeah, it's a couple of hundred pages of name-dropping and party discussing, but there are some wonderful moments in here that demonstrate Idle's natural brilliance with words, particularly his songwriting abilities. It's nice to read about the genesis of Python and his relationships with the other members of the group, particularly Graham Chapman. It's also nice that he's relatively positive about them all and not bitter. Much like Idle himself, it's slightly offensive, funny and with a heart of gold buried beneath the swearing and sex jokes.
Hilarious and comprehensive look at the life and times of a comic and his friendships
I received an ARC of this title from the Penguin Random House's First to Read.
As a fan of Monty Python and Eric Idle's comedy in general, I enjoyed Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. His rich collection of personal stories with a plethora of celebrities and contemporaries are both interesting and enjoyable. His loving tributes to the stellar David Bowie, the ethereal George Harrison, and the brilliant Robin Williams are not only touching but truly inspired. I felt their absence in the present while reading about their presence and importance in Idle's life.
While I did not realize that this title mainly contained the history surrounding the song (written for the Monty Python film The Life of Brian), it did not belittle or demean the work in any way. Idle's humor and wit is evident on every page. I cannot remember the last time I have actually laughed out loud at printed text, and he had me laughing multiple times. I know that this is a partial history, and I still loved it. I have not read any of his other titles, and this selection only increased my desire to learn more.
As a fan of Monty Python and Eric Idle's comedy in general, I enjoyed Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. His rich collection of personal stories with a plethora of celebrities and contemporaries are both interesting and enjoyable. His loving tributes to the stellar David Bowie, the ethereal George Harrison, and the brilliant Robin Williams are not only touching but truly inspired. I felt their absence in the present while reading about their presence and importance in Idle's life.
While I did not realize that this title mainly contained the history surrounding the song (written for the Monty Python film The Life of Brian), it did not belittle or demean the work in any way. Idle's humor and wit is evident on every page. I cannot remember the last time I have actually laughed out loud at printed text, and he had me laughing multiple times. I know that this is a partial history, and I still loved it. I have not read any of his other titles, and this selection only increased my desire to learn more.
I wish this both had more detail and less...detail.
There was a ton of name dropping. I'm familiar with a lot of major stars from the sixties and seventies, but there are also many that I had no idea who he was talking about. Sorry, those are my two least favorite decades. I didn't really care about the parties he went to, the trips he took, the ladies he banged...I get it, they were hedonistic times. Free love and all that. But I don't think many people are picking this up because they want to hear about all the famous people he knows. We want STORIES. So I wish he'd told more stories and spent less time name dropping (people and places).
That being said, I loved the tidbits of Pythons pulling gags, on randos and each other. Although they were sad, the sections about the funerals of Graham Chapman and George Harrison were touching in the way that only comedians can make them. Talking about the final Python shows was sad, but also - they're in their seventies. For kids like me that watched Monty Python on DVD (and VHS) with their parents, it's sometimes hard to remember that Python has been around for 50+ years. But when he says the final farewell - he means it.
There were several bits of wisdom to take away, and there are several projects of his that I was unaware of that I now feel compelled to go find. If you're a Monty Python/Eric Idle/General sixties and seventies fan....there's something in this for you.
There was a ton of name dropping. I'm familiar with a lot of major stars from the sixties and seventies, but there are also many that I had no idea who he was talking about. Sorry, those are my two least favorite decades. I didn't really care about the parties he went to, the trips he took, the ladies he banged...I get it, they were hedonistic times. Free love and all that. But I don't think many people are picking this up because they want to hear about all the famous people he knows. We want STORIES. So I wish he'd told more stories and spent less time name dropping (people and places).
That being said, I loved the tidbits of Pythons pulling gags, on randos and each other. Although they were sad, the sections about the funerals of Graham Chapman and George Harrison were touching in the way that only comedians can make them. Talking about the final Python shows was sad, but also - they're in their seventies. For kids like me that watched Monty Python on DVD (and VHS) with their parents, it's sometimes hard to remember that Python has been around for 50+ years. But when he says the final farewell - he means it.
There were several bits of wisdom to take away, and there are several projects of his that I was unaware of that I now feel compelled to go find. If you're a Monty Python/Eric Idle/General sixties and seventies fan....there's something in this for you.
This was a delightful way to spend a month of commutes, I smiled nearly the whole time, and love Mr. Idle even more now. This is his version of life, of which he indeed looks on the bright side.
Things I didn't know: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Pink Floyd helped fund Holy Grail. His best friend was George Harrison, who refinanced his house so they could make Life Of Brian after a studio pulled out. He is a freaking rock star, his songs just happen to be mostly on the silly side. He knows every single cool kid in the entertainment business, at least those from the 60s - 90s.
He seems like a truly good guy, and I thank him for telling me his story.
Things I didn't know: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Pink Floyd helped fund Holy Grail. His best friend was George Harrison, who refinanced his house so they could make Life Of Brian after a studio pulled out. He is a freaking rock star, his songs just happen to be mostly on the silly side. He knows every single cool kid in the entertainment business, at least those from the 60s - 90s.
He seems like a truly good guy, and I thank him for telling me his story.
I really enjoyed this laugh out loud sortabiography by Eric Idle. I love all things Monty Python. I was slightly bugged when the middle of this book slightly devolved into a chronology of parties Eric Idle attended and the people that were there. The biographical bits were fantastic as were the parts about the Pythons and their trajectory, but I wanted more of that!
This was a great quick read for a big Python fan :) It's refreshing how woke Idle is for his shitty behavior in his first marriage and how he claims responsibility for his actions (while being funny, of course) on these pages. A nice escape from the dumpster fire of 2018.
This book took me longer to read than a lot of audiobooks, because I kept having to pause because emotions, and to go watch some of the things Eric was talking about. Had to pause after the death of George Harrison because I couldn't stop crying. Had to pause after the interruption of Michael Palin because I couldn't stop laughing; same goes for the panto special about the universe starring Professor Brian Cox (which of course I also had to immediately watch).
The book overall is a great balance of anecdotes, a laundry list of celebrity stories, a continued disbelief that Monty Python is was and ever shall be a massive Global phenomenon, and the musings of a kooky old Brit.
The book overall is a great balance of anecdotes, a laundry list of celebrity stories, a continued disbelief that Monty Python is was and ever shall be a massive Global phenomenon, and the musings of a kooky old Brit.
funny
informative
slow-paced
I never got into Monty Python. I mainly know Eric Idle as the narrator from Ella Enchanted. It was fascinating to hear about his life and his work with John Cleese and the rest of them.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle, was such a wonderful read. I managed to finish this within a week with the help of having this as an audiobook. I found it highly hilarious and it helped listening whilst I'm currently working from home.
It's a lovely cheerful read to have at a time like this and will leave you with a smile on your face. Granted, there were times when I laughed, cried and was even down right shocked (annoyed) at some of the stories that Idle mentioned. Sadly some of thee stories put a slight dent in my appreciation for the comedian, but I can't say it will stop me from watching Monty Python and I still have a high appreciation for what he has achieved, and I can't not say that he hasn't worked hard to get where he has today.
All in all it was a very joyous, sad and interesting read and I would recommend to any Python enthusiast.
It's a lovely cheerful read to have at a time like this and will leave you with a smile on your face. Granted, there were times when I laughed, cried and was even down right shocked (annoyed) at some of the stories that Idle mentioned. Sadly some of thee stories put a slight dent in my appreciation for the comedian, but I can't say it will stop me from watching Monty Python and I still have a high appreciation for what he has achieved, and I can't not say that he hasn't worked hard to get where he has today.
All in all it was a very joyous, sad and interesting read and I would recommend to any Python enthusiast.