Book Review | Rating – 5/5 | Genre – Autobiography / Nonfiction
Gosh I was given this book well over a year ago now. Maybe it was a Christmas present from 2019, oof my “to be read” pile is bigger than I thought. Anyway, I’ve always enjoyed Sarah Millican’s stand up, and having taken to reading more autobiographies, I thought it only apt to give this one a go.
Part autobiography, part self help, part confession, part celebration of being a common-or-garden woman, part collection of synonyms for nunny, Sarah Millican’s debut book delves into her super normal life with daft stories, funny tales and proper advice on how to get past life’s blips – like being good at school but not good at friends, the excitement of IBS and how to blossom post divorce. (Synopsis from goodreads)
What did I think?
Having love Sarah Millican’s standup already I was expecting it to follow suit in her hilarious wit and full of crude jokes. It was definitely full of this, but what blew me away was how invested she had me in her life story. Yes, it was as funny as she is on stage, almost like reading a script of a gig, but also heartwarming and genuinely offers great advice!
What were the best bits?
- Hilarious through and through: as expected from one of Britain’s funniest comedians (I’m bias who cares), the book is full of one liners and rude personal tales. It’s this honest retelling of her life that makes it all the more heartwarming and funny to read.
- Honest and thought provoking: as you go through the book there are various stories of her life. Obviously woven around jokes, but all with meaningful endings that help to better the reader, offering realistic advice you’d expect to hear from a friend. That’s how Millican makes you feel all the way though.
- Almost like a comedy gig: like I said before, reading this book very much felt like seeing the script to one of Sarah’s gigs. As a fan of hers, it was great to see some recognisable jokes, that I definitely heard her saying in my head with her brilliant accent. For those who haven’t read her books, it gives a great insight into what she’d be like live.
- Flowing with positivity: as the title suggests, the book is all about becoming a “champion”. Not athletically of course, who could be arsed with that, but through Sarah’s past experiences she offers small and realistic ways to change your mindset for the better. Helping to guide the reader to becoming a more positive person.
Overall…
This was such a heartwarming book to get me through the final half of January. Like I’ve said, it felt very much like listening to one of Sarah Millican’s stand-up gigs, while also feeling like I was getting advice from a close friend. It was great to read a book that didn’t shy away from vulgar topics or mincing their words, instead it was nothing but the heart-felt truth. The stories were hilarious and relatable, something that can be laughed about and learned from.
I would definitely suggest fans of Millican’s work give this a read. For those who aren’t as fond of her stand-up may also find this enjoyable to read; something about reading profanity comes across better than hearing it on stage. Basically, give this book a read immediately.
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