Imprint
- Abacus
- Little, Brown
Autobiography: arts & entertainment
A powerful, moving and darkly comic memoir from the brilliant comedian, actor and broadcaster Alan Davies, star of QI and Jonathan Creek.
'A simply astonishing achievement. The quality, depth, emotional power and terrifying honesty of Alan Davies's story-telling take the breath away' Stephen Fry
'This hugely affecting book is brave, insightful and, at times, funny about things it is hard to be funny about' Jo Brand
The story of a life built on sand. In the rain.
In this compelling memoir, comedian and actor Alan Davies recalls his boyhood with vivid insight and devastating humour. Shifting between his 1970s upbringing and his life today, Davies moves poignantly from innocence to experience to the clarity of hindsight, always with a keen sense of the absurd.
From sibling dynamics, to his voiceless, misunderstood progression through school, sexuality and humiliating 'accidents', Davies inhabits his younger mind with spectacular accuracy, sharply evoking an era when Green Shield Stamps, Bob-a-Job week and Whizzer & Chips loomed large, a bus fare was 2p - and children had little power in the face of adult motivation. Here, there are often exquisitely tender recollections of the mother he lost at six years old, of a bereaved family struggling to find its way, and the kicks and confusion of adolescence.
Through even the joyous and innocent memories, the pain of Davies's lifelong grief and profound betrayal is unfiltered, searing and beautifully articulated. Just Ignore Him is not only an autobiography, it is a testament to a survivor's resilience and courage.
Praise for Just Ignore Him: A BBC Two Between the Covers book club pick
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The book is written extremely well . . . There have always been many reasons to admire Alan Davies. Now we can add extraordinary courage - Mirror
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Davies explores the complexity of his youth with warmth, intelligence and at times even humour. The narrative shifts seamlessly between the 1970s and the present day . . . important and insightful - Daily Express
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Raw and compelling - Observer
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Suffused with Davies's trademark dry humour, balancing heartbreak and hope with a steady hand - Radio Times
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