A fat boy with a passion for sweets and a loathing for games, the young Michael Simkins finds in cricket a sport where size doesn't necessarily matter and a full-blown obsession is born. Now in middle-age he still harbours the somewhat deluded belief that the England middle-order might usefully benefit from his hard-earned skills. From impromptu Test series played with his dad in the family sweetshop through to his years running a team of dysfunctional inadequates, it tells the hilarious story of one man's life lived through cricket.
Fatty Batter: How cricket saved my life (then ruined it)
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Review
"At last, the work of genius that will finally bring the
long-suffering cricket addict a measure of understanding in the world. A
wonderful and very funny book" -- Sir Tim Rice
"Once you've read this account of one man's love of cricket,
you'll never want to read another ghosted autobiography by a Pietersen or a
Vaughan again - incompetence and failure is far more fun" -- Michael Atherton
"an instant classic" -- Stephen Fry
'Almost painfully funny' -- Observer
'Brilliantly witty' -- Ed Smith, Mail on Sunday
'The childhood recollections, suffused with warmth and spangled
with pain and humour, are the book's unique selling point. Lovely stuff'
-- Daily Telegraph
'Wonderfully written - full of wit, gags, self-deprecating asides
and a pure, unfettered understanding of a man's limitations' -- All Out Cricket
long-suffering cricket addict a measure of understanding in the world. A
wonderful and very funny book" -- Sir Tim Rice
"Once you've read this account of one man's love of cricket,
you'll never want to read another ghosted autobiography by a Pietersen or a
Vaughan again - incompetence and failure is far more fun" -- Michael Atherton
"an instant classic" -- Stephen Fry
'Almost painfully funny' -- Observer
'Brilliantly witty' -- Ed Smith, Mail on Sunday
'The childhood recollections, suffused with warmth and spangled
with pain and humour, are the book's unique selling point. Lovely stuff'
-- Daily Telegraph
'Wonderfully written - full of wit, gags, self-deprecating asides
and a pure, unfettered understanding of a man's limitations' -- All Out Cricket
Book Description
The hilarious tale of one podgy boy's dreams on the outside edge of a cricketing life from 'one of Britain's funniest writers' (Daily Mail)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am not a cricketer - and anyone who has seen my batting stance will happily verify that fact - so imagine my trepidation when I received this book as a gift. I was dreading boring reminisences about life on the boundary but curiously it turns out to be a autobiography-cum-cricket book that I think has real appeal for the non-cricketers amongst us too. Much of the book is taken up with humorously evocative descriptions of childhood; really well done I thought. The later parts of the book describe the trials and tribulations of the author's curious cricket team 'The Harry Baldwins' but they are populated with enough characters and incident to provide plenty of laughs. You really don't need to have an intimate knowledge of your googlies to enjoy this book as it would appeal to bat wielders and the bat-phobic alike. Touching and rib-tickling in turn...
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Rjbeevers
Format:Paperback
Having played a lot of local village cricket I could relate to this book in so many ways. Having turned up to matches with only 9 players and having to drag other chaps along who just happened to be in the local pub 1 hour before the game was due to start. I read this book in 2 days after finding it so hard to put down. Some of the stories were hilarious and it was a pleasure to read Michael's own account of his cricket team. I am sure he would be able to find enough to write another similar story and if he should ever read these pages. I urge him to put some more anecdotes and stories down on paper....A well deserved 5 stars out of 5!!!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Grandie Ken
Format:Paperback
Pity the rating does not go above 5 stars, I would give it more. Entertaining and funny, excellently written. If you know nothing about cricket, do'nt worry, just read it. Cannot wait for a film version.
Would make an excellent birthday/Christmas present for anyone.
Would make an excellent birthday/Christmas present for anyone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read
This is an interesting book which is part nostalgia, and part journey of a lifelong love of cricket. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Norman Cheeseworthy
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favourite book
A great read: very simply, well written, touching and a must for cricket lovers, as with all Simkins books, I couldn't put it down
Published 4 months ago by Darren
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Book !!
This was the first book I've read by Michael Simkins and wasn't disappointed. I had to put the book down on several occasions as I was crying with laughter and couldn't read !!
Published 4 months ago by J. M. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A damn good read
I was given this book and wasn't in a rush to read it. However once I started the only time I stopped was to wipe away the tears through crying with laughter. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sony Fan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not for 12 year olds.
This book is for middle aged to elderly Englishmen. It didn't take me long to realize that I would not be giving it to my cricket mad grandson as a birthday present. Read more
Published 12 months ago by bookworm
4.0 out of 5 stars
For the frustated cricketer
Took the book on holiday and it turned out to be a great read. A game up i gave seriously ages ago it made me think about having another go. Read more
Published 19 months ago by thomastick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fatty Batter
Excellent, highly entertaining. Cricket lovers everywhere can empathise with this and will find themselves remembering all those good times, and all those fixtures from many, many... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. David A. Jarman
5.0 out of 5 stars
A laugh-out-loud classic!
As an ex-pat now living in the States, I don't get to see much cricket except for BBC on line. I loved Bumble's book and that got me to Michael's gem by Amazon association and I... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2010 by Ex-patty-batter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fatty Batter
Although I am only 14 I read this book over the summer holidays and thoroughly enjoyed it very funny and also very reflective do love cricket and that may have something to do with... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2010 by Gnuoy Neb
5.0 out of 5 stars
fatty batter
I loved this book, and read it from cover to cover in days, even though I purchased at a busy time of season (I'm sec of a local village Cricket Club). Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2010 by rose jenkins
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