Peter Kay's unerring gift for observing the absurdities and eccentricities of family life has earned himself a widespread, everyman appeal. These vivid observations coupled with a kind of nostalgia that never fails to grab his audience's shared understanding, have earned him comparisons with Alan Bennett and Ronnie Barker. In his award winning TV series' he creates worlds populated by degenerate, bitter, useless, endearing and always recognisable characters which have attracted a huge and loyal following. In many ways he's an old fashioned kind of comedian and the scope and enormity of his fanbase reflects this. He doesn't tell jokes about politics or sex, but rather rejoices in the far funnier areas of life: elderly relatives and answering machines, dads dancing badly at weddings, garlic bread and cheesecake, your mum's HRT... His autobiography is full of this kind of humour and nostalgia, beginning with Kay's first ever driving lesson, taking him back through his Bolton childhood, the numerous jobs he held after school and leading up until the time he passed his driving test and found fame.
The Sound of Laughter
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His autobiography is filled to the very brim with funny bits (heat )
He is every bit as amusing on the page as he is in person... Hilarious (Sunday Express )
The Sound of Laughter provides as complete a picture of its subject's world view and creative evolution as any comedian's autobigraphy I can think of (Independent on Sunday )
J. K. Rowling can't compete. Nor can Dan Brown. By selling more than a million copies in hardback, the highest figure since records began, this autobiography by the comedian Peter Kay has become a minor miracle (The Times ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
He is every bit as amusing on the page as he is in person... Hilarious (Sunday Express )
The Sound of Laughter provides as complete a picture of its subject's world view and creative evolution as any comedian's autobigraphy I can think of (Independent on Sunday )
J. K. Rowling can't compete. Nor can Dan Brown. By selling more than a million copies in hardback, the highest figure since records began, this autobiography by the comedian Peter Kay has become a minor miracle (The Times ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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The autobiography of Britain's most popular comedian
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm not going to go into a great deal of depth here as there are already 96 reviews on this product, so I'll just give you my (short) opinion - brilliant!
I've been a big fan of Kay for a while now and reading his heart-warming memories from his early life, written in a stand-up story kind of way I now have more of an in-sight into how he got into the show biz career he is so famous for now and have a history of all of the crappy jobs he had beforehand and the funny tales that accompany them. My only complaint is that the book finishes way too early as it doesn't really touch on his stand up, A Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights or Max & Paddy days or his relationships with Paddy McGuiness or Dave Spikey. Hopefully this will mean that a follow-up is in the works (which might explain why he hasn't done much for the past year or so!). I normally hate reading biographies and auto-biographies, but this one I couldn't put down. An excellent and hilarious read.
I've been a big fan of Kay for a while now and reading his heart-warming memories from his early life, written in a stand-up story kind of way I now have more of an in-sight into how he got into the show biz career he is so famous for now and have a history of all of the crappy jobs he had beforehand and the funny tales that accompany them. My only complaint is that the book finishes way too early as it doesn't really touch on his stand up, A Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights or Max & Paddy days or his relationships with Paddy McGuiness or Dave Spikey. Hopefully this will mean that a follow-up is in the works (which might explain why he hasn't done much for the past year or so!). I normally hate reading biographies and auto-biographies, but this one I couldn't put down. An excellent and hilarious read.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Nothing new here that he hasn't covered in Phoenix Nights, That Peter Kay Thing or any one of his DVD's. Speed read it in a day which says it all, expect volume 2 within a couple of years as his stand up days only warrant a couple of chapters. Expected a lot more.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By J. Chippindale
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Peter Kay is without doubt one of the funniest men Britain has produced in recent years, but does that mean his autobiography is going to be funny too. Well thankfully it is. Not side splittingly funny, but funny enough to keep a smile on your face most of the time you are reading it.
Peter Kay is not your typical stand up comedian, in fact jokes are not really his forte. He has the happy knack of making every day events sound hilariously funny and most people can associate with them, as they have either happened to themselves or someone they know. Most people of a certain age can imagine their own father saying `Garlic Bread, Garlic . . . Bread' `Cheese Cake, Cheese . . . Cake.' Unfortunately we do not all have the comedy genius of a Peter Kay, who has the ability to make the most mundane happenings sound hilarious.
His book is full of humorous anecdotes and the goings on of elderly relatives and cheap cola. My mother used to buy cheap lemonade too, so I can certainly relate to that. The book shows the man, as well as the stage star and for me anyway paints a picture of a man who deserves his success and long may it continue. A man who can laugh at himself and those around him and is loved for it. Coming from me, a Yorkshireman, to a Lancastrian that is praise indeed.
Peter Kay is not your typical stand up comedian, in fact jokes are not really his forte. He has the happy knack of making every day events sound hilariously funny and most people can associate with them, as they have either happened to themselves or someone they know. Most people of a certain age can imagine their own father saying `Garlic Bread, Garlic . . . Bread' `Cheese Cake, Cheese . . . Cake.' Unfortunately we do not all have the comedy genius of a Peter Kay, who has the ability to make the most mundane happenings sound hilarious.
His book is full of humorous anecdotes and the goings on of elderly relatives and cheap cola. My mother used to buy cheap lemonade too, so I can certainly relate to that. The book shows the man, as well as the stage star and for me anyway paints a picture of a man who deserves his success and long may it continue. A man who can laugh at himself and those around him and is loved for it. Coming from me, a Yorkshireman, to a Lancastrian that is praise indeed.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great comedian
Not only is he a great comedian but he is also a good writer. A great insight into to the life of this man's childhood to his maturity. It was a great laugh.
Published 12 days ago by Steve
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT PURCHASE
good book thanks, A fine insight into the life of a very funny man. I look forward to other books by Peter Kay
SGL
SGL
Published 1 month ago by Mr. S. G. Leatherbarrow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good s***
Unreal read I really enjoyed Mr Kay's journey through his childhood and it was a laugh out loud read! Must buy
Published 1 month ago by ryan thibodeau
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book I have read in recent times
I like peter kay and he tells about the town where I was born and thing I can remember from my youth
Published 1 month ago by Mrs E.B.Lee
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Local Insight
Peter is a well-known comedian and I was always interested to find out how he got `there`. His writing is light hearted and has a great human element to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr Abdul Hussein Syed
4.0 out of 5 stars
Things like this reallyhappen
Read the whole book imagining Peter Kay voice reading it for some strange reason. Liked this book because u can imagine being there when his madcap things were happening
Published 2 months ago by Christine Lindsay
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good value
A Christmas present given to a Peter Kay fan and avid reader. A good read for Peter Kay fans. Good book.
Published 2 months ago by H. D. Morton-abbott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laugh Til You Cry
The Sound of Laughter has to be one of the funniest books ever written. It arrived on time and in great condition. Thank you.
Published 3 months ago by Dawn Gee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really good laugh
I had to stop reading this on the train as could not stop laughing out loud.
well worth a look.
well worth a look.
Published 3 months ago by Julia servini
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant. Well worth a read.
What a brilliant book, Peter Kay is hilarious as always. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a easy to read but funny book.
Published 4 months ago by c j h
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