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David Mitchell: Back Story (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

by David Mitchell (Author, Narrator)

4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (98 customer reviews)

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Product details

Audio Download
Listening Length: 9 hours and 29 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Audible.co.uk Release Date: 11 Oct 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B009P6X08O

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (98 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Shortlisted for: Biography/Autobiography of the Year - Specsavers National Book Awards 2012

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.

As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:

The singular, pit bull-infested charm of the FRP ('Flat Roofed Pub')
The curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm
Why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink
The pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds
The satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide
How doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica
Trying to pretend he isn't a total **** at Robert Webb's wedding
That he has fallen in love a LOT, but rarely done anything about it
Why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday
That he's not David Mitchell the novelist, despite what David Miliband might think

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Somebody I'd Like to Know... 5 Nov 2012

By peekayinhk

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've admired David Mitchell's TV work for a long time - much preferring his panel shows, with their lightning fast wit and theatre-sports improvisation to the scripted stuff like Peepshow or the sketch shows. "Would I Lie To You?" is, I think, one of the most delightful shows to screen on British TV in a long long time, just because of the its unpredictability. In fact, the only thing Mitchell's ever done that I wasn't impressed with was the big red Mitchell and Webb book, which I think tried just too hard.

So I was hoping that this would contain more of the naturally warm and funny Mitchell that I love on TV, and less of the over-written comedian - and I'm really delighted to say that I think it does. Mitchell shines through every page as an intelligent, caring, warm person with a really sly sense of fun coupled with a very real humility. His chapter on meeting and falling for Victoria Coren is genuinely touching (pity the other reviewers here who have sneered at this chapter) and overall he's re-confirmed himself as someone I'd really be pleased to call a friend. Sometimes, less really is more, and to have overdone this memoir would have been a shame.

God, but he was a dorky-looking teenager though....!

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Warm, light and highly readable 22 Nov 2012

By Dr. Simon Howard

Format:Kindle Edition

As with all celebrity autobiographies, if you're a fan of the celebrity, there's a high probability that you'll enjoy the book. If not, you're unlikely to read it anyway. That's a point that's made often, but that probably bears repeating.

The structure of this book is slightly novel, in that it follows Mitchell on a walk around London, with reminisces and comic riffs inspired by things he sees along the way. I think it's fair to say that little of the content is deeply insightful: it's mildly embarrassing to buy underwear; membership of Footlights provides a firm footing for launching one's career in comedy; and most ideas pitched to television companies don't get commissioned.

That said, I like David Mitchell, so I enjoyed the book. The content isn't groundbreaking, but it is at least communicated with warmth and a degree of endearing self-deprecation. And I found the last chapter, in which Mitchell discusses his relationship with Victoria Coren, genuinely heartwarming. Others have described it as overly syrupy, but I disagree - I thought it was lovely.

It's hard to know what else to say, really. Mitchell comes across as a thoroughly likeable guy, and this is a highly readable but equally forgettable walk through a life that has been lived without all that much trauma, distress or heartache. It's a light read that, as a fan of Mitchell, I find it hard not to recommend. But it's hardly life-changing stuff.

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101 of 107 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Right David Mitchell 12 Oct 2012

By S.Jane

Format:Hardcover

I don't usually leave reviews but I have made an exception in this case, partly due to how useless i found the only other review currently available.
Yes, it's David Mitchell the comedian. Hence his face on the cover....and in the amazon video explaining how he isn't the guy who wrote Cloud Atlas (another great book btw!)....and in the book jacket... etc.

That established I found it to be a thoroughly entertaining read, part life story and part general observations of life, all told with humour and humility. Several times I actually laughed out loud and I found the honesty very refreshing. There are no great tragedies in this book, it's not a hard luck story, but it's full of the little things that some of us find awkward or uncomfortable at times. Right down to buying pants in Marks & Sparks - well I'm not even famous and I don't really like it!

I haven't seen too much of his work on TV, but having watched a few episodes of 'Would I Lie To You', detailing some funny (if slightly odd!) truths from his past, I thought the book might be a good investment. In my opinion, it really is. And (spoiler alert) it has a happy ending. My kind of book.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars David Mitchell the man, not an extension of his work

People are approaching this book with a view that it is more David Mitchell humorous content. That it'll be like one massive observer column. Or a seemingly unending soapbox. Read more

Published 7 hours ago by muffin8or

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it

Didn't know much about Mr Mitchell (Sir David - lets get the ball rolling) other than agreeing with and laughing out loud at his rants on "Any Panel Show You'd like to... Read more

Published 10 days ago by Christian Cullinane