I have been watching Jennifer Saunders off the teleovision on the teleovision since I was 11 or 12 and became aware of Absolutely Fabulous. I was then introduced to Jennifer Saunders as the straight woman in a double act, via a video (yes I possibly am old) my aunt gave to my mum of French and Saunders. And it's been love ever since. So when I was asked to review the audiobook of the official Jennifer Saunders memoirs Bonkers: My Life in Laughs on Audible.com for Squeamish Bikini I was probably the most stoked I have been about this site since I got a free packet of popcorn at a launch last week.
If you haven't already got the idea that this review is going to be gushing then allow me to be clear. My only criticism of this book is Jennifer Saunders off the teleovision's mispronunciation of "wrath."
If you haven't already got the idea that this review is going to be gushing then allow me to be clear. My only criticism of this book is Jennifer Saunders off the teleovision's mispronunciation of "wrath."
Before I listened to the audiobook I had received a review copy of the book Bonkers from Penguin. I read it in a day - partly because I had to for the review to be in on time - but also because it was as they say
'unputdownable'. I giggled insensitively and constantly behind a weeping woman on the train home because the book is so clearly written in Saunders' voice.
I think any young woman who is interested in comedy and has comedy ambition will tell you her comedy heroes are French and Saunders. As a kid in the '90s I watched French and Saunders sketches and Absolutely Fabulous until I could recite them by heart. I probably sucked all humour out of the sitcom and
sketch shows for my family by constantly analysing what made the jokes work, aloud. Smack the Pony didn't quite hit the mark - something about 3 women didn't work. Jo Brand I wasn't quite ready for and I was a latecomer to Victoria Wood.
'unputdownable'. I giggled insensitively and constantly behind a weeping woman on the train home because the book is so clearly written in Saunders' voice.
I think any young woman who is interested in comedy and has comedy ambition will tell you her comedy heroes are French and Saunders. As a kid in the '90s I watched French and Saunders sketches and Absolutely Fabulous until I could recite them by heart. I probably sucked all humour out of the sitcom and
sketch shows for my family by constantly analysing what made the jokes work, aloud. Smack the Pony didn't quite hit the mark - something about 3 women didn't work. Jo Brand I wasn't quite ready for and I was a latecomer to Victoria Wood.
| I was a comedy geek and Saunders was my idol. Meaning that as I read the book I felt I knew exactly what tone was being taken, exactly when that eyebrow was being raised and just when that quiet, possibly self-indulgent, giggle was probably being giggled. Listening to the audiobook I felt both amused AND vindicated. | I don't imagine any autobiography has been described as pacey before |
Rather than write the book in dull chronological order Saunders simply tells the story of her life in the order she remembers it. If one memory (of which she claims to have little) from 1985 causes her to digress and recall a disastrous moment in heels at the BAFTAs then so be it. The original recollection will be returned to later, don't you worry dear listener.
It's a good technique and means any 'and then, and then, and then' is avoided and makes for a surprisingly pacey autobiography, considering it covers a lot of time spent lying around with comedy partner Dawn French wondering whether or not they should invite Rowan Atkinson to tea. I don't imagine any autobiography has been described as pacey before - unless Vin Diesel has cracked a memoir out already?
If it is surprising Jennifer Saunders managed to write this book due to her supposed habit of being impressively laidback and passive it is amazing she recorded an audiobook of it at all due to her immobile
top lip: "I blame it on playing the flute, but it could just be my reluctance to move my mouth at all when
speaking."
So, Jennifer Saunders, I bow to you and wonder if you would come to tea?
Squeamish Kate
Bonkers: My Life in Laughs is out now on Audible.com
It's a good technique and means any 'and then, and then, and then' is avoided and makes for a surprisingly pacey autobiography, considering it covers a lot of time spent lying around with comedy partner Dawn French wondering whether or not they should invite Rowan Atkinson to tea. I don't imagine any autobiography has been described as pacey before - unless Vin Diesel has cracked a memoir out already?
If it is surprising Jennifer Saunders managed to write this book due to her supposed habit of being impressively laidback and passive it is amazing she recorded an audiobook of it at all due to her immobile
top lip: "I blame it on playing the flute, but it could just be my reluctance to move my mouth at all when
speaking."
So, Jennifer Saunders, I bow to you and wonder if you would come to tea?
Squeamish Kate
Bonkers: My Life in Laughs is out now on Audible.com
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