- Hardcover: 200 pages
- Publisher: Mirage Publishing; 1st ed edition (23 Mar 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1902578139
- ISBN-13: 978-1902578132
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.6 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 740,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
A Sting in the Tale
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More About the Author
Product Description
Outlandos (Sting's Fan Club) on the web, March 2000
Eye Wateringly funny, a must have for any Sting fan.
Book Description
Sting says: "Jim Berryman once told me, after a particularly bad day at the race-track, that he felt so low he wanted to hang himself and would I lend him the money so he could buy himself the rope." Already acclaimed by Journalists and the ‘Outlandos Fan Club’ on the Web Jim Berryman has a flair and talent for holding your attention through the short, succinct and often very funny chapters of this book. This oblique look at his friendship with Sting is explored from Schooldays right up to the time of Sting being wedded to Trudie Styler and beyond. Jim and Sting have remained friendly despite the gap between wealth and happiness. It was at Sting’s prompting that Jim penned this biography, which tracks their friendship through thick and thin from the school playing fields to their days as trainee warehousemen. When Jim meets Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks by the poolside at Sting’s mansion it seems that their differing worlds are about to collide, but Jim is so funny at this meeting: “You two look like you’re ready to take the plunge?” He says nodding towards the swimming pool. One of the yanks replied: “I think he’s already married.” Jim goes on to write, ‘They both departed so I picked up another glass of Krug. I was more used to Newcastle Brown Ale. I lived in Newcastle upon Tyne on a housing estate and I didn’t have a brass farthing.’ An amazing insight into Sting’s rise through the ranks from his schooldays to playing at seedy jazz clubs on Tyneside to eventual stardom. An odder couple couldn’t be more likely than the author and Sting. Every chapter, all forty-one of them, has something to make you laugh. Jim Berryman might stand accused of patronising Sting, but he pulls no punches when he says he’s the better singer between the two. The rainforest-loving Sting is also accused of pampering to his fans when in the past, Jim says, sting would have had no time for such burning issues.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
From Miss Jane West, Portsmouth, England. What a read, I never knew Sting was so down to earth in the way he kept his communication going with the author. My favourite piece was when Sting was invited along to the races and they all ended up sleeping on the 18th green of a nearby golf course. Sting thought he was going to be staying in a top hotel and ended up in the car. And the soft toy factory, what a laugh! When Sting thought he was going to some exotic island to work he was devastated when he found it was at the canary factory and not the Canary Islands, ha, ha!
This is the definitive book on the real Sting. People have forgotten that he started out in life as we all did, he didn't just end up as a Rock God by doing nothing! Here is Sting revealed in an eye-opening way that not many stars can accept. For Sting to agree to this book being written shows he is human after all.
Great how the author is able to reveal all of Sting's little foibles, especially when the young Sting grabbed a handful of what he thought was one of the Beatles' hair at a concert they attended in Newcastle. Jim, the author, kept it from him that the hair was in fact from another nearby adoring fan caught up in the frenzy!
And who would have thought Sting was involved in football hooliganism against Scottish supporters of Glasgow Rangers! Need I say more...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is quite literally the funniest thing I've read for years.
Packed full of childhood stories, it brought back so many memories of my youth. I can't imagine anyone who wouldnt find this book hilarious and at the same time touching. Two mates, one a superstar the other a 'normal' guy, who share a bond of friendship, which has lasted 40 years.
Go get it. NOW!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Schools are strange institutions, and Cuthy's (St. Cuthbert's Grammar School, Newacstle upon Tyne) was strangest of all, staffed by a motley mixture of Catholic priests and lay staff, and attended by small boys from all over the north-east of England. It says a lot about the strength and nature of tis culture that Jim Berryman's stories of Sting's early days at the school ring exactly true.
Some of them were new to me, some I'd heard before, and only two of those known to me (the day a pupil ran amuk, and the day Wild Bill Hemmie, the chemistry master, blew himself up) weren't there.
If your reaction is that the book sounds inbred, of interest only to ex-Cuthy's pupils; or only to Geordies; or only to Sting fans, you'd be wrong. It's so funny! It's a book for anyone who doesn't mind laughing himself or herself sick.
Find out about the lad, uncertain of the meaning of 'adultery', in the confessional with a deaf priest while a horde of small boys, which grows by the minute, listens in in delight. Discover how Berryman, Sting and the lads tried to make an honest crust by opening a book at the horse-races. Learn how Cassa the headmaster got egg on his face every time he opened his mouth.
Aw, I suppose it still sounds very local. It isn't! You'll just have to buy it to find out. Do it; you'll be delighted.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book but be aware of what you're getting.
This book is full of wonderful, often side splitting, anecdotes of Berryman's friendship with Sting but it should be noted that the book in actuality focuses more on the life of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Tom Hewitt
Awful Author Self-Biography
Plse do not buy this book. I did it and throwed it away immediately. It is a biography of the author, a not very close friend of Sting. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2004 by G. Entrala
Absolutely Terrible
This must be the worst book I have ever read in my entire life!! It isn't a biography of Sting, its an autobiography of the author!!! Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2002 by Miss Claire Guest
Brilliant!
This book is superb, its brutally honest and very very funny, if you can read this book and not laugh out loud then you must be dead from the neck up! Read more
Published on 8 April 2002
Book of the decade
I have read well over 100 biographies relating to the music business but this one is the best. I really couldn't believe that James Berryman, the author, managed to get Sting to... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2001
A Rare Treat for a Sting Fan
This book is a funny, personal and often surprising 'tale' of one of the world's greatest music legends. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2001
Put it on your Christmas list - Brilliant
After reading this I feel compelled to put up a review. Top notch would be an understatement for this hillariously funny book. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2000
Laugh, I nearly slipped a disk I laughed so much!
This is the funniest book I've ever read since reading Forest Gump. Gump wasn't transformed into a very good film but the book was ace. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2000
ITS TOP CLASS, DONT BUY 1 BUY 5.
This book is the best book that has been published in a long while,Its funny, full of fact and all the truth. Read more
Published on 26 April 2000
A rattlin' good yarn.
This is the funniest book I have read in years! I laughed out loud so often I really thought I would have a fit. Read more
Published on 22 April 2000
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