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Customer Reviews:
Clive James
I am unable to review this book as it is a Christmas present. However, it came very quickly and in excellent condition.
Why aren't more people giving the BBC the kicking it deserves?
Not enough books like this around. There should be more. And more people should read books like this.
The book is excellent. Very readable, and enjoyable to read.
Some of the opinions I don't agree with, but hey, it's still a free country. I find it a little sad, perhaps, that there's not enough current writing in this vein; I say perhaps because as far as I'm aware there isn't, but then what do I know? I only know that I increasingly find it more difficult to stomach the output of modern media, specifically the BBC as 'it' should no better. It really being all of us - if we put up with what they put out, then we don't deserve any better. I suppose it's true, that people get, in the end, the media output they deserve. More than a little depressing to me though, more so with each passing day; every time a 'new' piece of vacuous emptiness masquerading as entertainment splatters onto our TV screens, something in me dies. As for the newspapers, they're already dead, and the radio is desparately doing it's best to plummet to the depths as well. Who needs a brain in this modern world?
More 'stuff' like this, and less speech-impedimentarily (to coin a phrase) challenged output.
Yeah.
A welcome addition to the series 
Mr. James guides us through his wonderful T.V. years and for one who stayed in for at least two of his New Year specials I'm glad his personal finances were such that he had to stick with his main bread winner for so long. His thirst for knowledge and insight into the human condition mirrors his own personal journey of self discovery.
I think this and his other writings reveal the split in his own personality or at least his indecision in his desire to entertain [and reach] a lot of people a little or impress a very few people a lot. I detect a little selfish guilt [undeserved] that his T.V. work and his observance of the practicalities of live in sucessfully maintaining a family have somehow hampered his artistic output.
A sharp critic does not always have the ability to produce original work themselves but Mr. James demonstrates both attributes in spades. As with Niven he writes generously and tries to see the best in people. This in places is where he fails to convince. For a man who can understand why a marriage lasts, has the mature intellect to appreciate his own mores and takes care to define the differences between fundamentalism and extremism and then lets Mel Gibson off the hook, loses himself a star. Mr Gibson appears to be both a fundamentalist Catholic and extreme in his views. No descripion of how good a film maker he is or what kind of father he had excuses his reported opinion on Jews. In a similar vein I think he is also a little generous with Roman Polanski and yes life in general would be better served if he did time for his crimes.
All in all an entertaining and informative read well worth the money.
No Endurance needed to read it.
Unlike other reviewers I've not read James' previous biogs/memoirs. However, most people will be aware of his television shows, his novels, poems and literary criticisms.
I really enjoyed the book - really enjoyed it. The accounts of the makings of his early tv programmes are really interesting, as are the tales of him proposing ideas to BBC and ITV. For those interested in the politics of television and how the BBC especially changed its organisation and ethos then the book will be most welcome.
Having said all that, I loved the 'star-stories.' James tells stories about 'celebs', some of whom I find loathsome, which are amsuing and in some cases endearing. One minor criticism would be James' account/analysis of Mel Gibson's rabid anti-semitic rant. I'm not convinced that just because Gibson heard similar stupidity from his father that somehow he is less responsible for what he said. No number of historical films where actors use a variety of languages can excuse the fact that Gibson is probably a fairly unpleasant character. I wonder whether James was blinded by the Australian's reputation?
James description of Freddie Star is fascinating. For those unsure of why there may be ill-feeling on the side of James, go onto YouTube and put the two names in the search box and see what you come up with.
One thing's for sure, I wouldn't fancy juggling with barbed-wire.
Looking back in anger
Clive James continues his memoirs with the section that most of the public,(myself included), remember him best for, his work on TV. He talks of the pioneering methods used on 'Clive James' on TV such as the, not always entirely successful, satellite link ups and a weekly look at other cultures on their own TV stations, such as the entirely unhinged Japanese game show 'Endurance' which often seemed to Western audiences more like legalized torture than fun. He talks candidly here of many interviews both those that worked and the often far more interesting disasters.
There is no doubt James is not trying to bite the feeding hand here but it has to be said his inability to view all his recollections with anything other than a very jaundiced eye becomes pretty wearing before too long. However this has to be pointed out as being a minor grumble as the sheer weight of fascinating memories and the huge array of stars, many of whom have since passed away, and equally fascinating stories really do hold you transfixed as he openly shares his thoughts.
His impact on the way television was presented and the way a shows presenter should behave challenged the rather stuffy ideals of his day and opened up the world, not simply to be laughed at, but to be embraced and admired.
It's to his credit he doesn't spend any time blowing his own trumpet here and, despite the sharp humour, he does seem to appreciate the contribution of all the people he met.
I suppose this was always going to suffer in comparison with the previous 4 volumes which were erudite and insightful with a wealth of knowledge on display. After all television more often than not dumbs everything down and so memoirs of a television career are going to reflect that dumbing down to some extent.
Nevertheless even the weakest of his autobiographies is funnier, sharper & far more interesting than the vast majority of truly dull memoirs which flood the bookshelves every month. Unlike those Mr.James has something to say and has been blessed with a keen wit and searching eye that makes his memories come alive.
So all in all this is perhaps a little waspish but he remains a very genial host well worth listening to.
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