A much more engaging read that David’s last book… Broadly hanging off the idea of presenting a history of independent whisky bottling, this entertaining tome serves mainly for the author to spool out some anecdotes and make 2 points. But
Bibliomaniac: An obsessive’s tour of the bookshops of Britain
Robin Ince is a singular treasure, and I think only he could put together a story like this in a way I’d thoroughly enjoy reading so much. On face value a narrative of his tour around Britain promoting his previous
Mad As Hell And Back
I’m a huge fan of Shaun Micallef, although I believe in Australia the reason he hasn’t been more commercially successful is that a lot of people don’t “get” him. This book is a collection of scripts from various shows he’s
Call Me Dave: The Unauthorised Biography Of David Cameron
Gripping and comprehensive read about the rise and fall of Cameron – infamously, this was the book that was sensationalised for the appendage/dead pig/mouth story. But more insightfully it detailed a portrait of Cameron being a near-effortlessly talented politician, with
It’s Not A Runner Bean
Not so much a series of short stories, as a collection of recollections between 1 and 4 pages long – from the author the then-slightly-successful South London comedian, Mark Steel. In the nearly 30 years since the book’s publication he’s
Butterfly Brain
This book of memoirs felt like Barry Cryer didn’t really want to write it – but I’m really glad he did, and loved every moment of it. It’s a bit biased – I’d read a shopping list if I knew
Him Off the Viz
As autobiographies go, it was fine. The story of the genesis and the quirks/behind-the-scnes stuff of Viz magazine were great, and I suppose in a way it was slightly comforting to be reading the story of a fairly ordinary chap
In The Plex
Subtitled “How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives” – an interesting read this, given that it was published in 2011… so, a company biopic from 10 years ago for a company that’s very much continued aggressively evolving to present
Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant
See, I shoulda written this at the time rather than months later. I think the lasting impression I had of this was that it was an amusing collection of short stories, some of which (and more than I’d care for)
Jim Henson: The Biography
As a Muppet fan I’ve long been drawn to the wholesomeness and creativity of Henson, tweaked by his Bohemian streak. So this biography was a wonderful chance to get a fuller picture of the story & timelines of things. SO