Ricky Tomlinson

Advantages: The man himself - 9 lives
Disadvantages: Ends too soon - Give me more

...My partner bought this for my birthday, knowing that I`m a real biography fiend. I love Tomlinson`s work and seeing as how I lived in Liverpool for most of the 90`s it was great to read about places I knew. This book is hard to define as it`s a bit of everything - celebrity insider info, social history, working class history, hilarious commentary and a bit of acting thrown in for good measure along the way. I loved it and would be out tomorrow to buy anything else he writes. It`s a great read that has you cringing, laughing, crying etc in equal measure all the way through. I`ve lost count of the amount of people who have borrowed it. All had nothing but good words to say afterwards.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Enjoyable, honest read.
Disadvantages: Not much celebrity gossip if that is what you were expecting.

...I am surprised this category does not contain more reviews! Ricky has sold tens of thousands of copies and was highly publicised – interviews on Parkinson and EVERYTHING. It merited no less than an £800,000 advance from Time Warner, too. Moreover, the author of these memoirs is one of British televisions favourite actors: Ricky Tomlinson. However, when I come to think of it, I bought the book on whim myself: it was on offer in Tesco – er… not my usual haunt for book buying! – for £3.73. I checked Amazon, and it is on offer there for a few pence more. Perhaps I was seeing the end of line stock of a popular book, or perhaps many people had passed it over previously, like me. I am not sure, for I have not kept an eye on the book sales charts recently, but it seems a shame if Ricky is losing popularity, for it is an enjoyable book. Few... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Quality writing, good value for money
Disadvantages: A bit A bit unglamorous

...I had a number of reasons for being so keen on reading this book. First and most importantly, I enjoy Ricky Tomlinson's work immensely. From Cracker to The Royals to Mike Basset I am a huge fan. I am not sure if what comes across on screen is a great acting talent or if this guy is just showing us various sides of himself, whatever he is a joy to watch. The second reason I wanted to read this is that Ricky is a local lad, a fellow scouser . Many of the places he talks about in the book are common to us both. The post war, bombed out landscape of Walton, Everton and Liverpool Docks is also where I grew up. I too had played in the bombdies, all be it in the eighties. Some of the 'bombdies' ( bombed out buildings) remain to this day believe it or not. Ricky Tomlinson’s Autobiography starts on 14 May 2002 – the day of his mum’s funeral... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful