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At My Mother's Knee ...
 
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At My Mother's Knee ... (Hardcover)

by Paul O'Grady (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
RRP: £18.99
Price: £11.16 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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At My Mother's Knee ... + That's Another Story: The Autobiography + Dear Fatty
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Press; illustrated edition edition (18 Sep 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0593059255
  • ISBN-13: 978-0593059258
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 3.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #2 in  Books > Biography > Film, Television & Music > Television Performers
    #25 in  Books > Biography > Film, Television & Music > Actors & Actresses
    #25 in  Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Film > Biographies

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Paul O'Grady, apart from being one of Britain's best loved entertainers, is a classic example of reinvention, as At My Mother’s Knee demonstrates. The young Liverpool entertainer, an altar boy from Irish Catholic Birkenhead, becomes the acid-tongued and outrageous drag queen Lily Savage, and moves from gay pubs to national television, creating something of a British comic institution en route (O'Grady's caustic drag character was a world away from safer predecessors such as Danny La Rue). But O'Grady (like other comic performers such as John Cleese) realised that comic creations can have a limited shelf life, and reinvented himself as ‘Paul O'Grady’, coming out from behind the false breasts and towering wigs as a toned-down (but still camp), more audience-friendly TV presenter (wisely, he retained the abrasive voice and a Scouse accent that could be cut with a knife).

At My Mother's Knee and Other Low Joints is an entertaining autobiography from someone who really does have a life that is worth writing about. Gossipy, sharp and colourful, the cast of characters in Paul O'Grady's life includes rogues and rascals galore, all of whom are evoked here with great comic skill. O'Grady was variously a boxer, a civil servant, a conman and even a cat burglar - all of these failed careers are on display here, as is a surprisingly pungent picture of the Liverpool nightclub scene. When so many showbiz autobiographies these days are written by people who have a barely had a life outside of their fame, it's refreshing to encounter one by somebody whose story would be interesting even if he were not a major TV star. --Barry Forshaw



Review

Paul speaks with warmth and hilarity about a childhood filled with poverty, and reveals a cast of characters with whom he could have created an entire comedy series. Hugely interesting and entertaining. --Jo Hoare, Heat Magazine

At My Mother's Knee distinguishes itself on every level --Carol Ann Duffy, The Observer

While most celeb memoirs are as memorable as an air kiss, O'Grady's is a proper snog --The Scotsman

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At My Mother's Knee ...
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Customer Reviews

78 Reviews
5 star:
 (58)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (78 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Tears and laughter, 22 Oct 2008
By Mrs. Barbara Vaughan "book addict" (Manchester UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
You can actually hear Paul dictating the words. There are heart tugging moments but there are also laugh out loud moments from a giggle to a hearty belly laugh. The characters who populated Paul's world are larger than life and twice as funny. This is a book that is, to coin a word, unputdownable and one I shall keep. I can't wait for the next one.
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69 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars At Paul's hand , 2 Oct 2008
By Joanne D'Arcy (Portsmouth, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This is the story of Paul O'Grady, presenter TV Actor and the alter ego of the infamous Lily Savage.

If you pick up this book thinking you are getting sordid wild tales of Paul and his famous friends then you are going to be disappointed, there is not even a mention of Buster!

This is Paul from the beginning to him turning 18. Here he tells the story of his life, growing up in Birkenhead. That small fishing village near Liverpool!! Paul tells brilliantly all the tales of his family and the sorts of tricks that any little boy gets up to when they are 4 or 5, as well as the tricks they get up when they discover girls (and boys!). Experiences of school and work will make you laugh out loud, and his experience with the church and Catholicism is also so philosophical and funny at the same time. What is apparent throughout this book is how all the characters of his life, his mum and her sisters have influenced his later life not just personally but in his character of Lily Savage.

The stories you hear him tell on television, are true (if slightly exaggerated for effect) they are so beautifully told in the book, that you feel you are with Paul as he wrote this.

So many `famous' people try and tell their story in one book, but I feel Paul has only really touched the tip of the iceberg I hope there is a sequel.......please Paul write another.....
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96 of 101 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The man from Birkenhead.....!, 27 Sep 2008
By Mrs. Melonie Pickering (Sheffield, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book was so worth waiting for. I laughed, fought back the tears and cheered when Paul won his battles. I would have loved to have met his Mum, cos this is one lovable rogue who probably gave her more than the odd grey hair. Now I wait to see whether there will be a 2nd book, cos it just can't end there! I salute you Mr O'Grady MBE, you bring laughter, love and sunshine into this life we lead.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars At My Mother's Knee and other Low Joints
I enjoyed reading this book thank you Paul for sharing some of your lifes experiences with us.
Published 18 hours ago by Ann Richardson

5.0 out of 5 stars A cracking read!
Have just finished this book, having read it over the course of a single weekend.

Whilst I think anyone should enjoy the book, I enjoyed it so much more because I too... Read more
Published 9 days ago by A. Laing

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul O'Grady writes entertainingly too !!
I read this book on holiday (borrowed from the hotel's library in Turkey). It was an entertaining read and my wife then wanted to read it. Read more
Published 13 days ago by RFT

3.0 out of 5 stars I like Paul O' Grady but just could not get into it....
I like Paul O'Grady and was looking forward to reading his book, especially after reading the great reviews posted on amazon. Read more
Published 1 month ago by A Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars At my mother's knee
What a fabulously enjoyable book! I love Paul O'Grady and reading the book you can hear him talking. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. S. A. Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars At My Mother's Knee and Other Low Joints
I am enjoying reading this book as Paul O'Grady has a wonderful memory that tends to make you recall your own childhood memories. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Oscardog

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul O'Grady's first autobiography
This was a very easy book to read but thoroughly enjoyable at the same time. I actually read every word as I was led through the life 'so far' of Paul's upbringing, schooling,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Patricia Tame

4.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out loud with gusto!
Fantastic reading !
Achingly honest and poignant and Pauls truly witty style shines through! I devoured every page and read it over 2 days . Read more
Published 1 month ago by BusyReader

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading
Paul Grady's book is one of the best I've read this year He managed to take me back in time ( I'm a similar age)The book is funny without taking away how difficult it was growing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by MM HALL

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. It was very well written and descriptive. I laughed a lot, felt a little sad and thought, how lucky am I. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Chris

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