autobiography

Book Review: Am I Having Fun Now? by Suzi Ruffell

Posted on by Libby Price

A couple of years ago a friend recommended the podcast ‘Like Minded Friends’ with Tom Allen and Suzi Ruffell – saying it was a really lovely calming podcast, listening to two friends chat away. I started listening – and have been a fan ever since. The podcast started way back in October 2015 (before the whole world and his – or her – wife had a podcast) and whilst Tom and Suzi are both gay, and lots of listeners are members of the LGBTQ+ community – it is also for allies, which I would consider myself to be.

Suzi had mentioned on the pod about the book she was writing – and way back before it’s release I requested an advance review copy from Net Galley. I didn’t hear anything back – and was busy reading other books – so didn’t really worry, but then randomly, a couple of months after publication, I was sent a copy.

Here is the blurb:

“Does peaking in high school ruin you for life?
Was Miley Cyrus right, is it all about the climb (when it comes to building a career?)
And what – scientifically – is the best way to mend a broken heart?
Comedian Suzi Ruffell is considering life’s big questions.In this brutally honest, funny, and often moving memoir, Suzi winningly tells her life story, and asks a host of experts to answer the tricky questions it prompts along the way. Diamond life advice comes from the likes of Elizabeth Day, Dolly Alderton, Charlene Douglas, Laura Bates, Dr Kirren Schnack, and more.From masking anxiety with musical theatre and struggling to find her groove at school, on stage, and in her love life, to (eventually) coming out, falling in love, and becoming a parent, Suzi lays her life bare with trademark wit, verve and style. Am I Having Fun Now? is riveting, relatable and revealing. Studded with brilliant, cutting observations on feminism, being working class in the world of arts and comedy, LGBTQ+ equality and the up- and downsides of ambition, it’s perfect reading for fans of books by Fern Brady, Sarah Pascoe, Elizabeth Day and Tom Allen.”

I feel like I ‘know’ Suzi – listening to her chat to Tom every week – and so really enjoyed hearing more of her story – although I did feel familiar with lots of the other protagonists – Anne Ruffell, Alice etc #clang

Whilst the book tells Suzi’s life story to date – it does it by looking at big important life questions, it’s not a chronological autobiography (although does roughly follow Suzi’s life timeline). At the end of each chapter Suzi talks to a specific ‘expert’ about the topic covered – this gave it it a bit more ‘weight’ and thought than some celebrity memoirs.

As you would expect from a book written by a stand up comedian – some of it is really funny – but it is also thought provoking and interesting too.

A big thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my review copy – albeit not advanced!

Book Review: Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood

Posted on by Libby Price

I was lucky enough to be offered another book to read that is going to feature in ‘Don’t Buy Her Flowers’ packages going forward – and so I obviously said yes (having never knowingly refused a free book!) I have to say that real life / autobiographies are not a genre I often read – but sometimes it’s good to try something outside your standard comfort zone. Here is the blurb:

“Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. No one else knew where they were most of the time and no state showed any interest in what was happening to the children.
Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water… At seventeen Suzanne earned an interview at Oxford University and returned to the UK.
From the bestselling author of What Does Jeremy Think?, Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how her determination to educate herself enabled her to escape”

The book starts in the 1970s with Suzy and her family in Warwick before her father decides to take them on a 3 year trip around the world sailing in the footsteps (um, that doesn’t quite make sense?!) of Captain Cook’s circumnavigation to celebrate it’s 200th anniversary. The family share a surname with the aforementioned Captain – and Mr Cook is very focussed in his plans for the trip – with his wife and kids (Suzy and her younger brother Jon) being swept along with it whether they want to or not.

The trip doesn’t go exactly as planned – and ends up being extended again and again. The family take on paying crew members to help fund the trip – which adds to the characters in the book. At times I found the storyline quite repetitive – but I guess the whole experience was at times. I also do not enjoy boats (I get motion sickness on a lilo!) and some of the descriptions – especially of ‘the wave’ incident – made me feel physically sick, which shows just how well it was described!

I have to say that I really did not like Mr and Mrs Cook – they appeared to have absolutely no thought or love for their kids at all. (Although I appreciate this book is told from Suzy’s point of view, and she’s now seemingly estranged from them, but I do wonder what they would say about their singlemindedness to complete the trip and be together as a couple – often seemingly to the detriment of their children).

Suzy was clearly incredibly self motivated to try and complete her studies by correspondence school (something that I think is much more common in Australia due to how much of the population lives in far flung outposts – and well before home schooling was a ‘thing’ for lots of us #shudderatthememories) and shows incredible strength of character. Given the incredibly unusual experiences – Suzy appears to be a surprisingly normal person.

Overall it was a really interesting book – and the trip around the world (visiting places I’ve been lucky enough to visit in South Africa and Australia) was great.

A big thank you to Don’t Buy Her Flowers and the publishers for my free review copy.

Audiobook Review: Once Upon A Tyne by Ant and Dec

Posted on by Libby Price

Due to an excessive amount of Audible credits – I decided to download some audiobooks to keep me company in the car when I’m not listening to podcasts / the local radio for the traffic reports / the kids arguing / the 16 year olds eclectic taste in music! As before I’ve stayed with my tradition of non fiction audiobooks and fiction ‘proper’ / Kindle books. I’d been interested in reading / listening to Ant and Dec’s autobiography since it came out – and so this was my first download.

Here’s the blurb:

“Ant: as the old Chinese proverb says, ‘Good things come in pairs.’
Dec: and as another Chinese proverb says, ‘If you’ve been in a double act with your best mate for 30 years, why not write a book about all your most memorable moments in three decades of showbusiness?’
Ant: less catchy that one, isn’t it?
Dec: but no less true. And after three decades together, we’ve written that book. Covering everything from a pirate radio storyline in Byker Grove through to the biggest shows on telly, this is our story.
Ant: thirty years, eh? Amazing.
Dec: absolutely. Especially when you consider we are both still 27 years old.
Ant and Dec hold a special place in the hearts of TV viewers everywhere. This is their epic story, with never-before-seen photography and the very best tales from their 30 years in TV.
From their modest beginnings in Byker Grove through to their ‘unique’ time as pop stars and an award-laden TV career, those three decades have flown by in the blink of an eye. They’ve also featured an incredible cast of supporting characters, including their first scriptwriter – (an unknown comedian called David Walliams), Saturday night fun and games with countless Hollywood A-listers and celebrities they torture – sorry, work with – every year in the jungle. Told through the lens of every TV show they’ve made, as well as everything they’ve learnt along the way, this is the riotously funny journey of two ordinary lads from Newcastle who went on to achieve extraordinary things.”

I’m a very similar age to Ant and Dec (27 it would appear!) and can’t really remember life without them in it – and for a long time have known which is which! (Although one story in the book – where they were referred to as Antanddec – as one entity – reminded me of when our next door neighbours kids called both of my children Daisyandluke as they didn’t know which was which. I should point out the neighbours kids were toddlers at this point!)

Anyway – back to the book. It follows the double act from their initial Byker Grove days – and how they ended up in the Grove in the first place, through the pop star years – and then all of their various TV adventures, of which there have been many!

The one thing I was concerned about when downloading the audiobook rather than buying a hard copy – was that I wouldn’t be able to admire any photos – but you get told the link and password to download a copy of the photos – so you don’t have to miss out on the fashion and hairstyle highlights from over the years!!

I have to say it was like reminiscing with old friends – as I’ve been on their entertainment journey with Ant and Dec! It was interesting to have the background goss too. Some of the contributors actually voice their own comments – Cat Deeley, Stephen Mulhern, David Walliams – and then there are some impressions from Ant and Dec for others – like Simon Cowell and Robbie Williams – it’s all very entertaining.

Also – the boys talk through the photos for each chapter, with some reminiscing and funny comments – and I guess that is an extra compared to reading the book – which was a nice touch (and because they voice the audiobook themselves).

I did wonder how they would deal with Ant’s very public (albeit not that it was his choice) breakdown and divorce. After leaving home and their Mams – there isn’t much talk of their private lives at all – and at the end of the book Ant does touch upon his troubles and how it affected him and Dec – and likewise Dec talks about how that – and becoming a Dad (which all happened at a similar time) affected him. They don’t name check their spouses (current – or past in Ant’s case) but it is all dealt with in a grown up and not over excitable / tabloid way.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. I’m not sure there was any earth shattering revelations in it – but it was still an interesting and informative listen. I guess the trouble is nowadays, people don’t really have a ‘private’ life – because everything is shared on social media – and therefore autobiographies don’t really lift the lid on ‘secrets’ – because they would already have been shared on Instagram in the past!