
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."
'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 |
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