I wrote a review!!
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I love Rob Beckett so was eager to sit down and read this. Expecting to find some funny tales, and anecdotes of what it's like to be a working class lad out on the comedy scene. Or, a biography of sorts with little stories of things he got up to as a working class lad in a first class world. Turns out I expected a little too much and I found myself bitterly disappointed in it - which is not what I wanted to happen.
Yes, there are a couple of moments in it which could be deemed funny, but I found, on-the-whole, it was more the ramblings of a very bitter man who is trying to find where he fits in the world; full stop.
There were more stories about his parents than there were about himself. There appears to be a lot of bitterness directed towards his brothers - the way he talks about them and pulls them on when they've heckled him.
I thought he would talk about some of the antics he's got up, more like a mini working biography; instead he seems intent on trying to prove to himself that he deserves to be where he is, and whilst I admire him opening up (briefly) about his struggles when he was in Africa with Romesh: I felt as though he was trying too hard throughout the rest of the book though.
If I was Alan Carr I would be pissed off at being name-dropped in the way he is, and whilst I understand the story being in the book (it is about class after all) it could have been done without mentioning anyone by name.
I'm not sure who he was trying to reassure more, himself, or his wife, but the constant "I love lou more than anything" felt as though he was trying to prove a point. To tell the reader that once would have been enough; I'd have even thought "aww, how sweet, she must be chuffed to get a mention" yet by the third time of reading it I found myself questioning why he felt the need to keep repeating.
I felt very deflated when I finished it and whereas I had previously found him quite funny, I now find myself viewing him with pity where the comedy comes from a very dark place within him.
I'm very glad I borrowed it from my local library and didn't have to pay for it; I would have felt very cheated if I'd parted with any money.
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