Life and Laughing: My Story by Michael McIntyre

The great thing about this book is that it’s exactly what you hoped it would be. I find that there’s always a slight caution when expressing excitement that your favourite comedian has written an autobiography, for fear that there won’t be any comedy, and the man you laugh hysterically at is in fact grumpy, grouchy and terribly miserably. Thankfully this is not the case for Mr McIntyre. He somehow managed to recreate his comedy acts to describe his life in writing. His on stage charm is reinvented to suit the requirements of an autobiography, but maintains the wit, charm and flamboyancy he is known and loved for.

I often find that celebrity autobiographies are badly written, as though the celebs and publishers alike both know that the book is going to sell well because of who they are, so the content doesn’t really matter. Again this is not the case for Michael McIntyre’s autobiography. Obviously the text is not a literary masterpiece, but it does flow and it is engaging. It’s like having a long conversation, at times McIntyre goes off on a tangent, and he adds funny little snippets in all over the place, but it works. It was so good that I had read the book from cover to cover in less than 48 hours, this is especially impressive given that over Christmas there aren’t many free hours in a day.

But do not be deceived. This is not a book of comedy that, aside from a few childhood incidents, retells the joys of a successful comedian living an affluent lifestyle. In fact the book ends as McIntyre becomes successful. This is a book about a man that spent years working towards his dreams, trying to reach his ambitions. This book might be entertaining, but it is also inspiring. Ten out of ten for the nations favourite funny man.

Life and Laughing: My Story by Michael McIntyre, published by Michael Joseph (imprint of Penguin) is available now.

Yearning for Cheltenham

This weekend is the last couple of days of The Cheltenham Literature Festival. A busy schedule means I haven't had chance to attend this year, and I'm particularly upset to be missing the line up for today and tomorrow. 

I would have loved to have taken my niece and nephew to see Nick Sharratt, I have always adored his illustrations. They remind me of a childhood reading Jacqueline Wilson, his doodles always perfectly matched her words and I spent many hours trying (and failing miserably) to recreate them. Dawn French is also there this evening, I am a huge fan of hers. I've always loved her as a comedian, but after reading her autobiography (Dear Fatty) my admiration for her only deepened, helped by the fact that her book kept my chuckling for hours. Tonight the festival also hosts The 1960 Cheltenham Booker Prize, the nominations are Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Lynne Reid Banks‘ The L-Shaped Room, The Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Sparks and Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls. My vote goes to To Kill a Mockingbird, who do you think should win?


Tomorrow see's Audrey Niffenegger's event, attending her talk is definititely my biggest lust. The Time Travellers Wife is such an incredible book and unique in its structure. Whilst her second book Her Fearful Symmetry is not so easy to love, I couldn't put it down and it crept around in my mind long after I'd finished the book. I'd really like to be able to put a person to the name, and someone that writes fiction like she does is surely a fascinating individual. 

Finally, I popped on amazon this afternoon to check out the bestsellers list and discovered the top three are all on my current wishlist. Jamie Oliver's 30-Minute Meals and Michael McIntyre's Life and Laughing: My Story, are both on my Christmas List, and I've just ordered The Finkler Question. I always try to read all the books from the Booker shortlist. This year I'm particularly behind as I've usually read the shortlist and decided on my personal favourite long before the winner is announced. I haven't read any this year so I've got some serious catching up to do.  


Well I'm off to relax with Marks and Spencer's Dine in for £10 and X Factor (I know, guilty pleasure, I'm sorry). Hope you all enjoy your Saturday evening.