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Just Ignore Him

A BBC Two Between the Covers book club pick

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Just Ignore Him

By: Alan Davies
Narrated by: Alan Davies
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'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.©2020 Alan Davies Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Comedy Funny Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Feel-Good
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Critic reviews

A simply astonishing achievement. The quality, depth, emotional power and terrifying honesty of Alan Davies's story-telling take the breath away. And what a story he has to tell. What a writer he is. Alternately funny, sad, frightening, sweet, savage and tender, Just Ignore Him will never leave you. I always knew that the dumb bewildered puppy persona that Alan so brilliantly projects was a mask for an acute, sensitive, powerfully intelligent and insightful mind, but nothing prepared me for such a tour de force of writing, for what is destined to become an instant classic. Not a klaxon but a peal of church bells and a twenty-one gun salute. Just Adore Him
Tender, funny and unusually inspiring (David Sedaris)
One oft repeated speculation about comedians is that their "otherness", as children, led them to take on the mantle of class clown in order to deflect bullying. In truth, the reality is so much more difficult to unravel. In this book Alan Davies explores the complexity of events in his childhood whilst maintaining his trademark sardonic humour, warmth and intelligence. It's very, very sad at times, but a fascinating look at how childhood tragedy and trauma were treated in that era and how, leavened with humour, one individual/stand-up comic tries to make his way from the dark to the light (Jo Brand)
A heart breaking but also uplifting memoir written with wit, wisdom and great humanity (Ben Elton)
The book is written extremely well . . . There have always been many reasons to admire Alan Davies. Now we can add extraordinary courage (Jake Kerridge)
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 (Emma-Lee Potter)
Raw and compelling
Suffused with Davies's trademark dry humour, balancing heartbreak and hope with a steady hand
Surely the bravest memoir of the year
An intimate, open-hearted book
Required reading . . . fantastic (Graham Norton)
A sad, brave and beautifully written memoir
All stars
Most relevant
Somewhere above there's a review which describes the audiobook as being read in a bored and disinterested tone.

Just Ignore Him.

I've just listened (via Audible) to Chapter 5 "Ashes", for the fifth and sixth time. Incendiary. Brilliant. Not one unnecessary word or sentence. If you watch Alan on QI, you'd never guess what he's dealt with and how making us laugh so loud and long has come with a hidden price tag.

The reading is as superbly rendered as the content. Alan gives such pleasure to people with his delivery of wit and wisdom on TV and radio that his modesty, humility and pain shock you by the absence of your own laughter. This is harrowing stuff. And Alan's understated anger at the absolute betrayal of his mother and the wickedness of his father strike EXACTLY the right tone. Listen to Alan's reading and then buy the book. Monsters come large (Epstein and Maxwell in September 2020 loom large) and small. But the impact of their evil is not diminished in the eyes of their victims. What's truly incredible is that Alan didn't strangle his abuser and negator and his precious mother's betrayer in the latter's hospital bed in Athens. Alan's victory is in his compassion and the beautiful family he has built around him with his wife. As said above in a far more accurate review ... Well done sir!!! Bloody bloody well done sir!!!

What I failed to mention above is that the bitter-sweet content is bloody hilarious consistently. But you're always close to crying through your laughter or laughing through your tears. It's never cloying or self-pitying. It's simply brilliant.

Read superbly by author. Astonishing achievement.

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From the intro you know this not a fluffy celeb diary. Then as you head into book the honesty of his story is quite hard to listen to.
The actions of his father, the death of his Mum and the way his family dealt with it make you angry. But then the way he writes about the obvious love and bond he had with his Mum is quite beautiful.
Also his performance in delivering his book is great. It’s utterly balanced and fits the tone of the book perfectly.
One of the best autobiographies I’ve ever read/listened too.
I can’t recommend it highly enough.

No syrup, just a breathtaking autobiography

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The story is sad, and something I would not normally want to read about. But I like Alan Davies as a person and I was interested to read his book. How this man copes with his childhood scares I don’t know. Bless him I hope his found some peace writing this book. Bless ya Alan Davies.

A must read

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Hearing this story , read by Alan himself in such a calm way, was totally absorbing. It helps the reader to understand the trauma of the death of a parent, the feelings of not fitting in, and abuse that followed...and to understand how that trauma follows you for the rest of your life.

Although a sad story, it is peppered through with Alan’s humorous quips, offering a little light relief from time to time.

It definitely helps to shine a light into the hidden world of the abuser. It is very graphic and I think he is to be applauded for that.

A great book which I highly recommend.

A sad memoir, but a wonderful book!

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Such an important book that reaches out to anyone who has suffered profound and devastating shame at the hands of any oppressor. Brutally honest, profoundly touching and incredibly funny too.

Beautifully written and read

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