A Star Read
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I loved this book. I started idly flicking through it at a friend's house when I had nothing else to do, and ended up reading it from cover to cover in one sitting. It's a wonderful evocation of life from a woman who has the knack of making everything she says seem both intimate and pertinent. I particularly liked the fact that it was episodic, rather than a long narrative full of minute detail. This is written like memories are, as she dips in and out of her mind telling us the interesting bits, the things that struck her, the things that moved her and the things about her life that make her who she is. The drawings that accompany it are also funny and quirky and it was a delight from beginning to end.
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Going places
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It was that comment on 'Forrest Gump' versus 'Gilbert Grape' that had me nodding furiously in agreement!
I have 'upstairs books' and 'downstairs books' so there's always something to read. But this was one that travelled the stairs with me, as I couldn't bear to put it down. The editors had the good sense to stay true to the author's voice, I think, so the writing adds up to more than its number of words. If this lady does not become a Dame, as they suggest, I might even eat one of Letitia's toothpaste cakes....
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A lovely book-well worth a read!!
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This book is exceptionally well written.Liz Smith tells the tale of her life by weaving us through her story, and what an interesting and packed life she has led.As we meander with her on the trip down memory lane,she paints a vivid picture for us the reader and we are left with a feeling of enormous satisfaction upon finishing the book.There are no scandalous revelations here,no fuss or pomposity-just a life laid down on paper.And that's the appeal.It's not a hefty tome by any stretch of the imagination-most people will read this in a few hours.Highly recommended.
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fame begins at 50
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Liz Smith, now well known for her role as Nanna in the Royle family as well as being in a familiar face in The Vicar Of Dibley didn't find fame in the acting world till she was 50. Left on her own after her husband leaves her to bring up 2 young children she does a variety of jobs to try and make ends meet. The most precious thing she has which her grandma told her to always keep was a house, for which her grandma left provision in her will. Liz was brought up by her grandparents and when her grandad died they were left in poverty. Nothing daunted the grandma and Liz do their best by getting little jobs and saving and economising on their food, a lesson which leaves Liz in good stead years later when she becomes a single parent. Even if you're not a big fan of the Royle Family (I'm not) you will stillenjoy this book.
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A thumbnail portrait.
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It didn't take me very long to read this because it is not very 'in depth.' Liz skips over events in her life that I would have liked to hear more about. It's like a magazine article rather than a biography. She is a delightful character, though, I just wish she'd gone into more detail.
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