Bigger Than Hitler, Better Than Christ - Rik Mayall

.../>
Bigger than Hitler, Better than Christ is Rik's autobiography, but don't expect huge insights into his childhood or his career. This book isn't like that. The title should give you a clue as to the ego-trip we're about to embark on. Whatever you do though, don't take the immense arrogance on each page too seriously. People expect Rik to be an arrogant egotist and he delivers with abundance. It's all part of his character. In fact, it's ...
...probably ask you to pay the £18.99 because he deserves it.

Bigger than Hitler, Better than Christ is published by Harper Collins.

The ISBN number is 0 00 720727 1

Thanks for reading. Dawn x
  ... more

Rik Mayall. Or should I say, The Rik Mayall, which he how he refers to himself throughout the book is a comedy god. He'll probably be the first to admit this fact. Rik is known for The Young Ones, Filthy, Rich and Catflap, The New Statesman, Bottom, Drop Dead Fred, the Andrex puppy and much, much more. He is famous for his anarchic, puerile and toilet humour. All stuff I love.

Bigger than Hitler, Better than Christ is Rik's autobiography, but don't expect huge insights into his childhood or his career. This book isn't like that. The title should give you a clue as to the ego-trip we're about to embark on. Whatever you do though, don't take the immense arrogance on each page too seriously. People expect Rik to be an arrogant egotist and he delivers with abundance. It's all part of his character. In fact, it's almost as if the book is being written by Richie from Bottom.

Through his book, Rik guides us through some of his school years and the major points in his career to date. If you read it carefully enough you will pick out elements of stuff that really happened. Mr. Mayall is a master of embellishment. Every so often you come across letters, which are blatantly false but extremely entertaining. There are letters 'written' to teachers while he was still at school, his secretive agent, Tony Blair and others.

Partway through, the fast pace of the previous pages grinds to a sudden stop. Rik gives us a short chapter describing a recurring childhood dream. It is very significant, but he won't tell us why until later. It also reveals that he is quite insecure deep down, which makes s false arrogance even more brilliant. The fast pace is soon picked up again though. Until we get to the bit about his quad bike accident that is.

It is a bona fide miracle that Rik survived the accident. The odds against survival were astronomical. Even during his recuperation there were things going on that should have killed him. But, amazingly he remained with us. I, for one, am well pleased. Even through the pages of his accident and recuperation, Rik has injected a lot of humour. When I say injected, what I actually mean is, flooded. I love the way he can laugh about what was probably the most frightening thing he's ever gone through.

There are many references to his long time comedy partner, Adrian Edmondson. Each time, Adrian is portrayed as a complete b**stard who abuses Rik terribly. It's lucky they're such good friends lol.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of Rik Mayall. Even those who aren't should read it, although if you're not au fait with his stuff, you may find it very overpowering. By the way, the book is full of appalling spelling mistakes and typo's. They are deliberate ploy to show that Rik isn't as great as he makes himself out to be.

I was given this book as a Christmas present and have no idea what my sister paid for it. The price on the jacket flap is £18.99 but I imagine you'll be able to find it much cheaper. Mind you, Rik would probably ask you to pay the £18.99 because he deserves it.

Bigger than Hitler, Better than Christ is published by Harper Collins.

The ISBN number is 0 00 720727 1

Thanks for reading. Dawn x
 

...less