Ned Sherrin: The Autobiography - Ned Sherrin

Advantages: Good
Disadvantages: but only in parts

...I would like to say that this is the funniest book of humorous quotations that I have ever read. I would like to say that, but I just can' bring myself to say it. Why? Because it simply is not true. Yes, Ned Sherrin has written many plays, yes he was the producer of the seminal and ground-breaking satire programme of the 1960s, That Was the Week That Was, and yes he has compiled several other anthologies (including a previous Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quatations) and yes, despite the fact that Ned was born in Somerset, and has family members that speak proper English in pure Somerset tones, whilst Ned effects a sort of upper-class drone… and no, this book is not particularly amusing or all that humorous. In his introduction Sherrin does rather give the game away: " An editor required to find the space for well over 600 new... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: compelling and compassionate with evocative moments of human experiences
Disadvantages: a bit slick in parts

...I was given this book to read by my son who frankly found it in the airport so I did not make a financial investment and am completely neutral. I was not even going to give it a chance as I do not like Tony Parsons (presuming he is the Tony Parsons I remember being Ned Sherrin's protege. Anyway skip all that. I was impressed and enjoyed the novel as I felt the little boy's relationship with his Dad was realistic and touching. The accident which the child has when he is being looked after by his father has all the accompanying emotions of guilt and worry coupled with the nervous waiting for hospital treatment etc. etc. Also the way this is dragged up by the solicitor later on is sadly and probably extremely realistic. The way that the little boy compulsively latches on to Star Wars and keeps fast forwarding past the boring bits... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Lovely writing, lovely story, wide appeal.
Disadvantages: A wee bit sad at times.

...Have you ever had a guilty, shameful secret? Have you ever had a secret that burned and twisted inside because you'd let down not only yourself but also your friends or your family? One of those that you'd like to confess but you can't, not because you fear the consequences or the punishment, but because you couldn't bear to see your guilt and shame mirrored in the eyes of someone else? One of those that spawns a lie and then another lie and then another lie? Ned Wallis has a secret like that: "What mattered was that he had a strange new life his parents knew nothing about and one that he must continue to keep hidden from them. Each lie he told them made the secret bigger, and that meant even more lies. He didn’t know how to stop." Poor Ned; he has lied to his father about his acts, and also to his mother. He had always been open... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful