Ian Ogilvy

Highly enjoyable. A brisk trot through his acting career, people he's met and the usual celeb anecdotes told wittily and with more than a hint of self deprecation. He also talks about his early life sent away to boarding school early on - interesting to see how he and Rupert Everett (who's first memoir I also read) came from similar upper middle class backgrounds and how they turned out so differently. Everett doesn't seem to have changed too much, or regretted anything of his early life, show more whereas Ogilvy can at least look back and observe "oh dear, glad I'm not that person anymore".

The book opens with Ogilvy's detailed (but not lurid) account of how his father paid a girl to take his virginity at 15 and what a marvellous thing that was for a father to do. He doesn't say whether he did similar for his own son in later years... :-) But this story, amusing and touching as it is, sets the tone for the rest of the book. Somewhat light on detail and very little "bad times" (no mention really of his heavy drinking after his 1st marriage broke down, his parents' heavy drinking or of how tough he found it after Return of The Saint ended, other than stating he couldn't get any TV or film work for years and so returned to the theatre) although his nervous breakdown while appearing in a play and subsequent retirement from the Stage is dealt with. His move to America, meeting his 2nd wife, stopping drinking and becoming an author gets barely a mention, which is a shame.

As befits an ex public schoolboy (he went to Eton), he acknowledges he's not in touch with his emotions to the point where he cries - or can even stand men showing their emotions (admitting it actually makes him angry), so the nervous breakdown episode did show how temporarily broken he was. No real mention of how he recovered, or how long it took - other than he stopped going on stage and hasn't felt like returning to it since. But he's also honest about his own shortcomings (particularly in how his 1st marriage ended) and its that that makes the book entertaining - witty and well written, not taxing or high brow but an entertaining jaunt through the life of an actor who only briefly reached the top but was able to keep working nonetheless. show less

Normally when presented with a celebrity's children's book the heart sinks - but Ian 'The Saint' Ogilvy's first novel for children is a triumph, a hugely inventive Dahl-esque adventure in which the pace never flags and the reader's attention never allowed to waver. Measle is a miserable, mistreated orphan living with his thoroughly unpleasant, decidedly strange guardian Basil Tramplebone. When Measle dares to play with his uncle's fabulous model railway his life becomes even worse: Basil show more shrinks him to the size of one of the tiny figures on the model - and leaves him as a treat for his pet bat. But Measle finds other miniaturised human victims of Tramplebone's anger on the model and, with a resourcefulness and courage he never knew he had, leads them in a desperate battle against bat, Basil - and finally Basil in the form of a giant cockroach. Mould's illustrations and even the glorious day-glo plastic cover add to the book's irresistible appeal. Category: 8-10 Junior/Middle. Rating: **** (Very Good). ...., Oxford University Press, 200pp, D8.99 flexi. Ages 8 to 10. show less

Measle and the Wrathmonk by Ian Ogilvy is one of my new favourite chapter book series for middle grade readers. Ten year old Measle lives a deplorable life. He is hungry most of the time, he is fifthy and lives in a wretched house with a menacing guardian. He has been told that his parents were killed by a snake but Measle is unconvinced and hopes he will be reunited one day.

Although the set up of Measle and the Wrathmonk seems all too familiar (orphaned child, deplorable conditions), Ogilvy show more creates unexpected and exciting twists and turns that are sure to engage young readers. Measle is a winner and well worth trying with reluctant readers. Additional books in the series include Measle and the Dragodon, Measle and the Mallockee. show less

Well written, nicely drawn characters, interesting setting, author builds a nice sense of comraderie among his characters. For me it seemed like the imaginative scope was a little limited and, beyond the cool setting, a little dull. But that's just me--I think I'm always looking for something that will blow my mind these days.