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Trowel and Error
 
 

Trowel and Error [Kindle Edition]

Alan Titchmarsh
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £9.99
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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Trowel and Error is described as a "touch of the memoirs" by the author. Alan Titchmarsh is now a national institution; with his characteristic good humour and charm, he is unquestionably the country's number-one television gardener and presenter with even an unlikely reputation as a sex symbol (a reputation that started as a joke). Apart from his considerable gardening acumen, of course, he has also proved to be a novelist of genuine ability, with such books as Mr MacGregor and Animal Instincts.

Communication is, needles to say, his special skill, and it was to be expected that Trowel and Error (the groan-inducing pun is all part of the Titchmarsh armoury), would be revealing and evocative. Titchmarsh announced to school friends of the age of 10 that he would be the next Percy Thrower, although those ambitions were, he tells us, fudged in some uncomfortable encounters with the opposite sex (Titchmarsh always picked girls who were taller than him, and the relationships didn't last). In fact his Yorkshire childhood in the 1950s is one of the most purely enjoyable parts of the book, with his stamping ground of Ilkley Moor the seat of his passionate love for nature. His first experiences as a gardener at the Royal Botanical Garden at Kew are full of the kind of quirky incident that makes his writing appealing. As his fame grew, Titchmarsh began rubbing shoulders with the likes of Nelson Mandela Julia Roberts and the Queen, and such encounters are highly diverting.

Many a book conceals a rampant ego behind an "aw, shucks" manner, but Titchmarsh comes across as a genuinely nice guy--one who is self-deprecating. This is a truly engaging (and often very funny) autobiography. --Barry Forshaw

Review

The engaging, witty and insightful memoirs of best-loved gardener and presenter, Alan Titchmarsh.

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 377 KB
  • Print Length: 388 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0340765437
  • Publisher: Hodder (3 Sep 2009)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B002VCR0EE
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #32,150 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Alan Titchmarsh
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I am not really interested in gardening programmes but do love Ground Force. I vaguely remember Percy Thrower, but Alan Titchmarsh will always be the TV gardener in my lifetime! From the very beginning the book kept enthralled, enchanted and entertained. The funny little anecdotes, are good as he takes you from the very beginning up until present day. All the characters he has met in his life have made an impact on him, and he has learnt so much! So did I. Especially on how long he had been in TV and the work, on books and magazines! He even mentions all of his fans, that follow him, have all his books and even stitch them for him! It was nice to have read these in separate articles and then see some references to them in the book. I wish he could have added a few more little anecdotes to the section about Ground Force, I bet there are some tales to tell there! Nevertheless the book has everything, the main ingredient being warm Yorkshire humour!!!
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've had my eye on Trowel and Error for a few weeks now, being a fan of Alan Titchmarch for his expertise in gardening.

I've previously read his novel "Our Dad" and enjoyed it immensely, and obviously mentioned Trowel and Error so many times my husband bought it for my birthday recently. I haven't finished it yet but what I have read so far can only be described as "written with an honesty and humour that deserves the 5 stars I've given it".

It has brought back so many of my own childhood memories and I look forward to sharing his further exploits as I read through the pages. I've so much confidence in his ability as a writer, I know I will enjoy what's to come so I've now ordered all of his other published novels that I know about: The Lighthouse Keeper, Animal Instincts, Mr MacGregor, I eagerly await their arrival. Once read I will be posting further reviews on them. Well done Alan, your an inspiration to people, that despite what other people say to you or their opinions of you, you can succeed in anything you choose to put your mind to.

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64 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Alan Titchmarsh has at last moved from writing gardening books and works of fiction to penning his autobiography.

This popular and very down to earth gardener and TV presenter writes that he always has been passionate about gardening and that at the age of 10 announced to his friends that one day he would be the successor to Percy Thrower. Little did he imagine that this would indeed be the case.

The book starts with the fun he had as a child in Yorkshire surrounded by family, his unhappy schooldays when on leaving he was told he would not amount to much and then on to his first job as a gardener. He then worked his way through horticultural college and landed a job at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

From there he became Deputy Editor of Amateur Gardening soon expanding his media role both as a gardening expert and a presenter which he combines in top-rated shows such as Ground Force and Gardener’s World.

He has written over 30 gardening books as well as several best selling novels.

This autobiography is entertaining and just what his many fans have been waiting for.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Trowel and Error
I read this book a few years ago when it was first published in hardback and absolutely loved it. I bought it again in paperback as an easy read to take on holiday and fell in love... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. D. Oakwell-Smith
a natural gift for writing
Alan Titchmarsh has a natural gift for writing and for gardening and for TV presenting. In fact he is just good at everything he tries. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mungo
So lovely...
So lovely Alan Titchmarsh. I already liked him presenting the annual Chelsea Flower Show. When you cannot meet him, it's a billion times better to read directly a so kind and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Aurejac
A jolly good read
I enjoy Alan Titchmarsh as an author, his books are an easy read without encouraging you to be lazy. Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by E. W. A. Hobby
Trowel and Error
I had previously read "Nobbut a Lad"- should have done it the other way round. However I found this book just a interesting. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2009 by JEGilibrand
This book is disappointing
I have enjoyed Titchmarsh's books...fluff, mind you, but charming fluff, but he really should stick to fiction or gardening. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2004 by Ingrid Wyss
Trowel but little Error
I could not put the book down. Coming from the West Riding myself - just up the road at Silsden - I found it especially entertaining and very nostalgic. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2004 by C. Baker
Reader from Solihull, West Midlands
I found this autobiography an excellent read with wonderful photos including some of his family which he likes to keep away from the media. Read more
Published on 27 April 2003 by Mrs. D. M. Senior
Excellent Reading
Enjoyable,easy reading, informative, humourous and interesting, I am now looking to purchase some more of Mr Titchmarshs books.
Published on 30 Mar 2003 by marshy
Trowel and Error
Having grown up in the 50's and 60's this book brought back many memories of that era long forgotten. Alan's style as with his presenting is a delight. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2003 by p r copeland
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