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'Dear Fatty' by Dawn French. |
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| Amazon Editorial Review | It's become a cliché in Britain to call somebody in the entertainment field a national institution -- but that's exactly what Dawn French is. As both comedienne and actress (the latter in both comedy and straight parts), she has become one of the best loved entertainers in the country. Her range is not wide (unlike her dimensions -- and that's the sort of joke she’d crack), but she is utterly winning in everything he does. And that quality continues in Dear Fatty, a truly entertaining memoir of an event-packed life. The form of the book is a series of letters by French, conjuring her transformation from a West Country RAF girl to a star of the cult alternative comedy group The Comic Strip. This was followed by the groundbreaking all-female Girls on Top (which did much to establish the position of women in British comedy), the astonishing success of the TV series French and Saunders (with French’s equally talented friend Jennifer Saunders) and the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, where French’s wickedly sardonic touch keeps the tweeness of the basic situation -- female vicar in a rustic town -- at bay. For French, early dreams of becoming a ballerina or an air hostess came to nothing, but the loss to the worlds of dance and aviation was a gain for TV audiences. All of that, of course, is covered in this frequently hilarious and often moving collection. We are invited into her most personal relationships with (among others) her mother and father, her husband (fellow comedian Lenny Henry), and, of course, her most important comedic ally, Jennifer Saunders. Everything French describes -- from the agonies of being a teenager to the death of her father -- and (of course) the way in which society defines her by her generous size -- is treated with a highly diverting insight. Fans of Dawn French's TV appearances will lap it up, but Dear Fatty has a lot more to offer, even to those only vaguely familiar with her. But is anyone in Britain only vaguely familiar with Dawn French? --Barry Forshaw |
| Marmite... - (3/5) | There were aspects of DF's memoirs that I loved - the style for one, I loved the originality of writing non-existent letters to everyone from her dad (beatifully poignant) to her first snog (very amusing) to tell her tale..
And then there were the bits that I hated - it felt over-hammed at times and some of the jokes were interminable and boring. Sometimes it felt as though she was trying a little bit too hard to be 'funny Dawn French' and I was disappointed by this.
However, moving back swiftly to a final, positive note, there are letter upon letter of genuinely very moving and frank accounts of Dawn's life - from the early days and beyond - and I did enjoy reading it. I felt it was honest, sometimes gushing and at times brutal (she dislikes Madonna. A lot.) but overall very warm.
See what you think... |
| Great Book - (5/5) | Dawn has created a simple but fascinating book about her experiences. She's not much younger than Julie Walters, who has published a very similar but more revealing biography recently. This book is quite shocking and contains subject matter that needs to be put out there and talked about. One thing that really stood out for me was the casual sexual abuse of teenage girls that went on (and maybe still does). It knocked me that Julie Walters provides an almost identical experience in her book. This book is very sad at times and equally uplifting. No big surprises, it gives great insight into who - and why Dawn is the way she is and how she grew up and became sane and balanced. Very worthwhile, if you want to read about the private life and past of a celebrity. I only read it because I've always been an admirer of Dawn, otherwise, no. I don't usually read celebrity biographies unless it's by someone of note. |
| Heartwarming. - (5/5) | I really enjoyed reading this book, not everyone want's to know about the whole caree of such a talented woman but to understand the person behind the funny stuff. It's heartwarming to read the letters and to understand Dawn's feeling for those who have shaped her life and hepped her to become the person she is today. i really enjoyed watching her on the telly and now i feel i understand her more as a person having read this book. |
| Quirky, Touching, Funny - (5/5) |
Dawn French is one of my favourite icons - always has been, always will be.
This is simply one of the best autobiographies that I've ever read. Her letters to her friends and family are extremely funny at times, and also very sweet and touching. I laughed out loud a lot and found myself often having to explain to my family why I was giggling so much.
I'm sad to leave behind the quirky, yet somewhat down-to-earth life and the offbeat thoughts of a lovely person.
It's well worth a read, especially if you're a fan. |
| A sweet and funny memoir - (4/5) | A number of reviewers have been disappointed that this is not an autobiography in the usual sense. I had heard an excerpt on the radio and I bought it knowing I was going to be reading a series of letters to people who have been/are important to the author and I think having a different expectation improved my enjoyment.
For me, these letters worked well: she gives us memories of events that have mattered, a sense of her relationships with people and it allows her to tell some (I thought) funny and gentle jokes. The format means she homes in on some great comic moments (the search for glass shards), some moving ones (her father's death) and some 'takes you right back' ones (fan mail to David Cassidy), which are like mini-sketches. Her visual description is acute and her comic timing as excellent on the page as it has been in performance.
Humour is such a personal thing and to love this book, I think it matters that you can relate to Dawn French's take on life. A list of good kissers? I liked it; middle-aged, long and happily married person that I am. I'm glad someone gets to kiss Richard Armitage professionally and allows us to share, even a little, the joy of that experience. |
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