Frank Skinner Autobiography
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Frank Skinner is well known for his quick wit and biting humour. Both appear in spades in his eponymous autobiography. It is hardly a traditional, chronological work. Instead Frank, (or to give him his childhood name, Chris Collins) takes an offbeat approach to the life story genre. It is an approach which, on the whole, works well. Here, the writer takes an intimately personal tack. Like the man in the pub with tales to tell, the story jumps from childhood to middle age, failed romances to huge successes, with little or no pause to explain or sign post. In the opening chapters this organisation can be confusing. From a lesser writer, it would have been a mistake. For Frank Skinner, whose ability to relate to an audience is everything, it is a clever device to draw the reader in. In fact, this on the hoof, deadline-looming, almost stand-up style of thinking on the feet (or indeed, the page) makes the reader a confidante. Frank chats and asks questions. Pages fly past amid a string of intriguing hook lines, such as "Johnny Cash made me an alcoholic"; "English literature changed my life"; "Zola Budd was my saviour and spiritual guide"; and "My first ever professional show was as Julian Clary¹s straight man (leave it)".
In reality, Frank Skinner's factual life isn't that remarkable, but the quality of the writing lifts it way above its competitors. Besides the history told comes the most interesting, insightful stuff, wrapped up in stylish telling; reasons and justifications, irrelevant asides and rhetorical questions, insecurities and studied nonchalance, plus a grey area where there are a of loads of swear words, darker thoughts, deep hatred of journalists from The Sun and of course the blackest of humour. --Helen Lamont --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Hilarious...often shocking." -- "Mirror"
"Skinner has written his own life story -- and it's a minor masterpiece...although his stand-up revelations are far more fun than anything in the tabloids, it's his poignant portrait of his working-class youth that makes it a classic of its kind." -- "Guardian"
"Skinner tells this amazing story in a rapid and mucky manner." -- "Evening Standard"
"Skinner has written his own life story -- and it's a minor masterpiece...although his stand-up revelations are far more fun than anything in the tabloids, it's his poignant portrait of his working-class youth that makes it a classic of its kind." -- "Guardian"
"Skinner tells this amazing story in a rapid and mucky manner." -- "Evening Standard"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a stand-up commedian, Frank Skinner has appealed to me for a few years. Stories from his passion with WBA football club to his problems associated with drinking - I was quite keen to "get to know him better". From the start, it felt as though Frank was standing up on stage narrating the story in his usual funny way. There are no chapters as such, but stories flip from present day (such as splitting up with current girlfriend) to his younger days (loosing his virginity -well worth a few laughs and maybe a "yuk" thrown in too!
After reading this book, I felt as though I knew the Real Frank. It is an honest approach to his very colourful and emotional life. I respect him immensely by how much feeling he has expressed throughout.
This was the first biography I have ever read and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I think you need to find Frank Skinner's type of stand-up amusing, otherwise the book may annoy you. I loved it, and I think all Frank Skinner fans will too!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I must confess I was not a fan of Frank Skinner, I just heard he was funny, the book was on a discount offer, and so I brought it, just to take my total above £25 to gain free delivery in the UK.
It's one of the funniest books I've ever read, I am now a fan of Frank Skinner. Yes, it's a rags to riches story, which is uplifting, but the best bits are the humour. You don't even need to be a Fantasy Football Fan to appreciate the book, I am not. So go on, buy it, you won't regret it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the moment I opened this book and read the first few lines, I couldn't put it down. Skinner uses language that makes you feel he is talking directly to you, and you can understand exactly what he is trying to say. He talks in an honest way that doesn't make you think he is talking down to you. There are tales from Skinners past mixed in with some brilliant anecdotes which makes it just like one of his stand up routines. You hear about how he grew up, what his interests were, his school days and how he entered the world of stand-up, all with that inevitable twist of humour that Frank Skinner has made his own. Definately worth a read!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It just goes to show.......................
I just did not enjoy this autobiography at all. That is quite a surprise as I like what I see of him on TV, though I am not a TV addict, and the vast majority of these reviews were... Read more
Published 27 days ago by sprite
Frank Skinner Autobiography
A no holds barred autobiography that kept my interest form beginning to end. A much more serious look back than Peter Kay's autobiography which was also very good in a different... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Billy
Well written, funny and entertaining
Frank Skinner seems to be undergoing a bit of a renaissance recently, so with this in mind I purchased the first volume of his autobiography which was published back in 2001 so... Read more
Published 1 month ago by SilentSinger
Excellent
This is frank skinner at his best. Funny from start to finish. His quick wit is brilliant. I would recommending this to any any lovers of this mans talent
Published 1 month ago by Susie
Laugh out loud funny
Loved this. Not a huge Frank Skinner before I read the book, now looking at some of his old shows. Honest, sad in places, and I like the jumping backwards and forwards in time,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sam
To be Frank....
I loved it. Knowing what he likes in a memoir, Skinner has mixed both information about his formative years and highlights from his day to day life to create a funny and compelling... Read more
Published 2 months ago by CasualBrowser
A FUN READ
Frank Skinner writes a funny and informative story and it is a pleasure to learn that he didn't use a ghost writer. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Graham Kendall
Boring read
I bought this book because I do like the gentle humour of this man.I feel severely dis-appointed as this is without doubt the most boring book that I have opened. Read more
Published 5 months ago by rogerb
Sample only - Extensive, down-to-earth, compelling and funny
Having enjoyed Frank's On The Road book - I put it at the top of my ListMania list of comedians' books - here is another contender for the top spot. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Andrew Ives
very funny in parts
An honest and funny biog of skinners life up until he became famous and beyond. He comes across as not a completely likeable character, which is at least frank of him (see what i... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Captain Kirk
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