26 July 2009 - The Works

After reading some other reviews of this I was prepared not to like it too much, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. Yes, there was bottom-baring and some fart jokes, but they were set within the context of a family that loves playing practical jokes, and the need to let off steam when working in a pressurised theatre or film environment. I did like the stuff about the importance of family, and his realisation that he needed to be honest about being gay and support charities and foundations that helped those less fortunate than themselves. Some lovely photos (inc David Tennant in two!) and, although I'm glad I paid a quarter of the cover price, I'm still glad I picked it up on that BC Birmingham meetup day when I embarassedly showed everyone my new highbrow purchases! ( )

Quelques passages sur l'enfance un peu longuets, un égo surdimensionné qui transpire presque à chaque ligne mais aussi une générosité à toute épreuve, des notes de bas de page à pleurer de rire et un amour pour la vie et son partenaire qui renversent toutes les réticences.
Pas de la grande littérature (on s'en serait douté) mais un bouquin idéal contre les coups de blues, en plus d'une raison supplémentaire de vénérer John Barrowman. ( )

I've very much enjoyed John Barrowman's performance as Captain Jack on Doctor Who (a show of which I am a huge and unabashed fan), and every time I've come across an interview with him, he's struck me as being full of appealingly goofy charisma, a kind of infectiously enthusiastic energy, and a deliciously raunchy sense of humor. So I figured his autobiography had to be fun to read, and I wasn't disappointed. This book would be worthwhile, really, just for the funny stories from his childhood, which he tells in a pleasantly rambling style with the assistance of hilariously cheeky footnotes. The rest of the book is a bit more of a mixed bag, I suppose: funny anecdotes, sad anecdotes, straightforward biographical information, lots of the usual celebrity name-dropping, and a fair amount of egotism that's pleasantly leavened with an occasionally self-deprecating sense of humor. Barrowman says at the outset that his hope is that "you'll feel as if you and I are lounging in our pyjamas on the couch in my Cardiff living room, sharing a bottle of champagne or a pot of tea, with music on in the background, having a blether and a laugh about my life so far." And that's exactly the feeling he manages to achieve.

The 4/5 rating is a little generous, maybe, but doggone it, I had fun. ( )

Random pick and mix of events from JB's life & career - probably not much in here that isn't already well-known to fans via interviews and articles already available, but a fun read anyway. His very recent TV work - judging "How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?", "Any Dream will do", competing in "Dancing on Ice", and of course "Doctor Who" & "Torchwood" - gets relatively little mention, so fans of Captain Jack might be a little disappointed on that score, but there's plenty of tales about older performances, both on stage and recorded, to give you a picture of what he's like to work with. Also includes 24 pages of pictures - mostly candids, in and out of costume. ( )

This is exactly what I would expect if I sat down and dished with John over a few cocktails. I love the fact that it isn't chronological - that's what usually drags a memoir down, since most people do not have an exciting childhood. The story is told in chapters named after songs from various musicals, skipping around a bit, but never getting you too lost. The best part of the book, hands down, is the way he uses footnotes. Snarky little side comments that had me laughing time after time. He's not afraid to talk about being gay in the entertainment world. Most of all, his clear and obvious love for his family and friends shines through in every page. A real pleasure to read. ( )