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oceandream's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
What an honest and open memoir. What a terrible crime, not only that Alan Davies went through such abuse, but that those around him were unable to identify the signs and give him the chance to speak out.
I hope the fact he is now heard and believed can bring him some peace.
I hope the fact he is now heard and believed can bring him some peace.
l_flett's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
wtfisher's review against another edition
4.0
Boys deserve so much better from the world.
This is such a raw and personal book that it's difficult to react to, particularly because it is such a bare, unvarnished tale. There's no twist of sentimentality, no self-helpy American urge to tie everything up in a little bow. I'm just feeling a wave of compassion and respect for the little boy who managed to become apparently quite a good man with so many obstacles.
Alan's recounting of his early childhood memories is so touching. It's reinvigorated my desire to pour as much kindness and love as possible into the young people in my life even when I think they're too young to remember.
This is such a raw and personal book that it's difficult to react to, particularly because it is such a bare, unvarnished tale. There's no twist of sentimentality, no self-helpy American urge to tie everything up in a little bow. I'm just feeling a wave of compassion and respect for the little boy who managed to become apparently quite a good man with so many obstacles.
Alan's recounting of his early childhood memories is so touching. It's reinvigorated my desire to pour as much kindness and love as possible into the young people in my life even when I think they're too young to remember.
anjarama's review
5.0
From the first chapter I felt I was bearing witness to the impact of Alan’s treatment at the hands of his father.
Alan has a confessional approach to his more socially challenging behaviours, then contextualises them as a result of the abuse.
That full bodied sensation of acknowledging the psychological and practical effects for him has been quite profound for me. It has helped me polish some edges of my own recovery as I felt so much compassion for him it was necessary to revisit my compassion towards myself.
What a brave book to write and how brave to report his father’s crime. My appreciation of Alan’s comedy, writing, acting, “As yet untitled show” has shifted up to admiration.
Alan has a confessional approach to his more socially challenging behaviours, then contextualises them as a result of the abuse.
That full bodied sensation of acknowledging the psychological and practical effects for him has been quite profound for me. It has helped me polish some edges of my own recovery as I felt so much compassion for him it was necessary to revisit my compassion towards myself.
What a brave book to write and how brave to report his father’s crime. My appreciation of Alan’s comedy, writing, acting, “As yet untitled show” has shifted up to admiration.
vicardave's review
5.0
As sad and heartbreaking a book as you’ll ever read; far from a normal memoir, but rather a story of abuse, the naming of that abuse and how you navigate that as an adult. Beautifully written, and deeply truthful.
kris_mccracken's review
5.0
Just Ignore Him by Alan Davies
Focused on Davies's childhood, this is a blisteringly honest, often distressing, occasionally funny reflection upon a childhood within which he has carried "in every molecule of my flesh and bones and in every thought and action, in my hunched, splayed-footed walk, my lisping Essex accent, and my lack of belief in God".
The narrative jumps back and forth in time, sharing snippets of his odious father's excruciatingly manipulative behaviour and the pain of a dead mother's absence. Still, the tone is far more mournful than angry, and Davies approaches his past in an incredibly open-hearted fashion. The years of therapy have clearly helped!
This isn't a book that one can "enjoy", but I certainly admire and appreciate what he has done here. There is an intense feeling of loneliness throughout that tears at the heart, as Davies carries his secret throughout until he is in a place to act. On that, there is a redemptive arc that is both inspiring and illuminative, ending on an unexpected high.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½
Focused on Davies's childhood, this is a blisteringly honest, often distressing, occasionally funny reflection upon a childhood within which he has carried "in every molecule of my flesh and bones and in every thought and action, in my hunched, splayed-footed walk, my lisping Essex accent, and my lack of belief in God".
The narrative jumps back and forth in time, sharing snippets of his odious father's excruciatingly manipulative behaviour and the pain of a dead mother's absence. Still, the tone is far more mournful than angry, and Davies approaches his past in an incredibly open-hearted fashion. The years of therapy have clearly helped!
This isn't a book that one can "enjoy", but I certainly admire and appreciate what he has done here. There is an intense feeling of loneliness throughout that tears at the heart, as Davies carries his secret throughout until he is in a place to act. On that, there is a redemptive arc that is both inspiring and illuminative, ending on an unexpected high.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½
tiggybother's review
4.0
This was not the book I thought I was picking up, but I am so glad that I did. Completely my fault for not having a look at the blurb, but I was anticipating a fairly standard comedian's memoir, teen angst, some challenges all wrapped up in witty bits.
Alan is one of my favourite tv personalities and this book absolutely broke my heart. Alan deals with the raw subject of childhood sexual abuse and a manipulative, controlling parent with the most poetic skill I have read in some time. His understanding of the issues are just perfectly on point - unsurprising really since comedy is most often presenting the audience with cutting insights into parts of life that can make us uncomfortable (and then relieving the tension with the ridiculous).
It's not an easy read (and I'm sure it wasn't easy to write), but a worthwhile one that I am glad Alan wrote.
Alan is one of my favourite tv personalities and this book absolutely broke my heart. Alan deals with the raw subject of childhood sexual abuse and a manipulative, controlling parent with the most poetic skill I have read in some time. His understanding of the issues are just perfectly on point - unsurprising really since comedy is most often presenting the audience with cutting insights into parts of life that can make us uncomfortable (and then relieving the tension with the ridiculous).
It's not an easy read (and I'm sure it wasn't easy to write), but a worthwhile one that I am glad Alan wrote.
fortesque1066's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75