I whizzed through this book in two days flat which is not bad considering I’m surrounded by kids! The main reason for me whizzing through this book is that it’s just so darn readable. I felt as if Jo Brand were sitting next to me, telling me her life story over a coffee and a great big slice of cake. I bought the book simply because I find Jo Brand funny, and I find memoirs interesting, but I didn’t realise I’d be able to relate to so many of her experiences. Even though she’s almost 20 years older than me, her school years sound a lot like mine and the details of her father’s battle with depression brought back a few memories. Her time as a hippy mental health nurse and the events that led to her decision to give comedy a go are fascinating (and funny) too. Brilliant! 4.5/5. Again, I wish I could give the book three and a half stars. In cases like these I have to ask myself whether I like the book and would recommend it wholeheartedly to someone, or whether I like it but don't really have much to say about it. Since it's the latter for this one, I have to give it only three stars. Reading the other reviews I think I belong to the camp that adores Jo Brand and knows what tricky emotions she's capable of conveying, and am therefore left a little disappointed in this outing. I feel lucky that she's shared her history and I do feel I know her better, but something was missing for me. She still manages to poke fun at propriety, chauvinism, and her own reckless youth. And she gets in good jabs such as, "To shout 'F--k off to a fat woman isn't that anarchic in my book. Men have been doing it for years. It's extraordinarily boring if you're on the receiving end of it because you've heard it so often yet they think they're the first one ever to say it to you." It was a nice shared experience to read with my husband because her school experiences were quite similar to his, and her years working in a psychiatric hospital were quite similar to mine. Looking forward to the next volume.
What do You think about Look Back In Hunger (2009)?
It was a good account of her early life. Needs a follow up.
—agos031
Ok, interesting to see how she became who she is now.
—Joey
