A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

the most boring book i have ever come across, 24 Oct 2008
As a liflong fan of Freddie & Queen,i looked forward to reading more about the legend that is Freddie.After sixty pages,i gave up on this nonsense.Quite obviously written to cash in on one of musics' greats.It is written in a very boring style that irritates containing nothing of interest and should never have been published.Save your hard earned cash and avoid.There are far better books about Freddie out there.

Disappointed, 25 Mar 2008
I'm not a Queen fan but I bought this book by "glücklicher Zufall" - happy accident, after literally stumbling into Freddy's statue in Montreux Switzerland. The Swiss just don't do statues and I was really touched as people came up to kiss and touch this fantastic image of Freddy in what became his adopted city.

Two weeks later in Paris (sorry for blatant name-dropping) I saw the book and bought it immediately. I wanted to know "the real Freddy Mercury" and with wife and kids away I plonked myself down eagerly looking forward to reading this "intimate memoir by the man who knew him best" (Cover page).

Oh dear. A great disappointment.

I found out about lots Freddy's taste in curtains, linens and bathroom fixtures, but precious little I didn't already know about the man. No dirt, no sleaze - not an issue for me, but I just didn't feel I knew this man any better even after 250 pages. It was just mundane and superficial anecdotes. Memorable tales? No.

Sorry Queen fans, there must be better biographies on the market.
But I would say to you - go to Montreux if you've not already been and see how the Swiss have have commemorated this great musician and entertainer. I think you'll enjoy your trip.

A fake story fron fake friend, 07 Nov 2007
This man was officially presented as Freddie close friend. But really he is a servant who made himself famous spreading dirty stories about Freddie private life. And everybody believe in it because his lie officially supported by Queen Productions, Queen official fan club and Queen manager Jim Beach. This man is a total liar, his stories - a total fiction, his photos - cheap fake. The people who worked with photoshop laughed hysterically when they saw this kids created photos with "Freddie and his loves".
So, it's taken from this book.

...this lady arrived in the early part of the concert days with the intention of orally catering of the physical needs of as many people as possible involved in the show. It goes without saying that Freddie had admiration for this woman's severance, technique and capacity!

So, teenagers can buy it! Shame.


Life Behind The Keyhole., 20 Apr 2007
As a card carrying member of the Queen Fan Club, circa 1977, I was really looking forward to reading this. It wasn`t bad, but some of the detail regarding Freddie`s house furnishings was downright dull. I wasn`t really sure whether it was written by the house-keeper of an outrageous rock star or Lloyd Grossman. There is absolutely no scandal or tittle-tattle, and believe me, I was looking forward to tittle-tattle. Freestone mentions how Freddie`s ex-manager had hurt him without going into any detail, I read later that he had sold stories to the press. The book has it`s really good moments such as describing Christmas and New Year at Garden Lodge, and the last years of Freddie`s life. The final times are really poignant. It is obvious the author cared deeply for his subject, and in some ways life at Freddie`s place was like a gay Gracelands. Everyone did their duty whether it was feeding the cats or cooking the dinner. Freddie had nothing to do except be Freddie. And he never got doing that for anywhere near long enough.In the end, the greatest rock star ever seen just faded away because of that awful disease. Interestingly, Freestone makes no reference to his own sexuality, we are unaware whether he is gay, straight or bi. What amazed me was the apparent lack of contact between Queen`s lead singer and the other members of the group. There are some good pictures, although everyone looks the same, short hair and black moustache. It was hard to spot Fred. The most disturbing photo showed a bunch of happy men, all wearing hats, all in the prime of life and all mugging for the camera. It was possible to draw a line through the group to connect Freddie, his ex-manager and one of Freddie`s ex-lovers, and realise they were now all dead. Tragic.

Freddie Mercury The AfterLife by David Evans and Peter Freestone., 03 Mar 2007
I wrote this because all the other reviews seemed to be about the first book and not this second book, so I thought this second book, Freddie Mercury The Afterlife, needed an actual review, so here goes: The front cover is a lovely, sweet picture of Freddie and Miko, the back cover is a portion of the final arrangements made for Freddie. I wasn't expecting to see that and it made me very sad even though I know he has been gone 16 years now. This second book takes up where the first one left off and is a description of Peter (Phoebe) Freestone's life since Freddie's passing. He talks about the various things he has been doing throughout the years. Peter mentions what the people talked about in the first book are doing as of 2003. There are some pictures I hadn't seen before within the book. Peter describes a visit he paid to Garden Lodge in 2003, where he met with Mary Austin and got to see Delilah again. He discusses some of the many books which have been written about Freddie and what he thinks of them. I only mentioned some things, the book contains much more than what I mention. David Evans speaks in it too and there's even Recipes of the different foods that would be made for Freddie.
Personally, it helped me to read this second book because it cleared up some confusion I had about some things written in the first book and too, even if it is silly on my part, it was nice to learn that Peter was okay, I had wondered since reading the first book.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

the most boring book i have ever come across, 24 Oct 2008
As a liflong fan of Freddie & Queen,i looked forward to reading more about the legend that is Freddie.After sixty pages,i gave up on this nonsense.Quite obviously written to cash in on one of musics' greats.It is written in a very boring style that irritates containing nothing of interest and should never have been published.Save your hard earned cash and avoid.There are far better books about Freddie out there.

Disappointed, 25 Mar 2008
I'm not a Queen fan but I bought this book by "glücklicher Zufall" - happy accident, after literally stumbling into Freddy's statue in Montreux Switzerland. The Swiss just don't do statues and I was really touched as people came up to kiss and touch this fantastic image of Freddy in what became his adopted city.

Two weeks later in Paris (sorry for blatant name-dropping) I saw the book and bought it immediately. I wanted to know "the real Freddy Mercury" and with wife and kids away I plonked myself down eagerly looking forward to reading this "intimate memoir by the man who knew him best" (Cover page).

Oh dear. A great disappointment.

I found out about lots Freddy's taste in curtains, linens and bathroom fixtures, but precious little I didn't already know about the man. No dirt, no sleaze - not an issue for me, but I just didn't feel I knew this man any better even after 250 pages. It was just mundane and superficial anecdotes. Memorable tales? No.

Sorry Queen fans, there must be better biographies on the market.
But I would say to you - go to Montreux if you've not already been and see how the Swiss have have commemorated this great musician and entertainer. I think you'll enjoy your trip.

A fake story fron fake friend, 07 Nov 2007
This man was officially presented as Freddie close friend. But really he is a servant who made himself famous spreading dirty stories about Freddie private life. And everybody believe in it because his lie officially supported by Queen Productions, Queen official fan club and Queen manager Jim Beach. This man is a total liar, his stories - a total fiction, his photos - cheap fake. The people who worked with photoshop laughed hysterically when they saw this kids created photos with "Freddie and his loves".
So, it's taken from this book.

...this lady arrived in the early part of the concert days with the intention of orally catering of the physical needs of as many people as possible involved in the show. It goes without saying that Freddie had admiration for this woman's severance, technique and capacity!

So, teenagers can buy it! Shame.


Life Behind The Keyhole., 20 Apr 2007
As a card carrying member of the Queen Fan Club, circa 1977, I was really looking forward to reading this. It wasn`t bad, but some of the detail regarding Freddie`s house furnishings was downright dull. I wasn`t really sure whether it was written by the house-keeper of an outrageous rock star or Lloyd Grossman. There is absolutely no scandal or tittle-tattle, and believe me, I was looking forward to tittle-tattle. Freestone mentions how Freddie`s ex-manager had hurt him without going into any detail, I read later that he had sold stories to the press. The book has it`s really good moments such as describing Christmas and New Year at Garden Lodge, and the last years of Freddie`s life. The final times are really poignant. It is obvious the author cared deeply for his subject, and in some ways life at Freddie`s place was like a gay Gracelands. Everyone did their duty whether it was feeding the cats or cooking the dinner. Freddie had nothing to do except be Freddie. And he never got doing that for anywhere near long enough.In the end, the greatest rock star ever seen just faded away because of that awful disease. Interestingly, Freestone makes no reference to his own sexuality, we are unaware whether he is gay, straight or bi. What amazed me was the apparent lack of contact between Queen`s lead singer and the other members of the group. There are some good pictures, although everyone looks the same, short hair and black moustache. It was hard to spot Fred. The most disturbing photo showed a bunch of happy men, all wearing hats, all in the prime of life and all mugging for the camera. It was possible to draw a line through the group to connect Freddie, his ex-manager and one of Freddie`s ex-lovers, and realise they were now all dead. Tragic.

Freddie Mercury The AfterLife by David Evans and Peter Freestone., 03 Mar 2007
I wrote this because all the other reviews seemed to be about the first book and not this second book, so I thought this second book, Freddie Mercury The Afterlife, needed an actual review, so here goes: The front cover is a lovely, sweet picture of Freddie and Miko, the back cover is a portion of the final arrangements made for Freddie. I wasn't expecting to see that and it made me very sad even though I know he has been gone 16 years now. This second book takes up where the first one left off and is a description of Peter (Phoebe) Freestone's life since Freddie's passing. He talks about the various things he has been doing throughout the years. Peter mentions what the people talked about in the first book are doing as of 2003. There are some pictures I hadn't seen before within the book. Peter describes a visit he paid to Garden Lodge in 2003, where he met with Mary Austin and got to see Delilah again. He discusses some of the many books which have been written about Freddie and what he thinks of them. I only mentioned some things, the book contains much more than what I mention. David Evans speaks in it too and there's even Recipes of the different foods that would be made for Freddie.
Personally, it helped me to read this second book because it cleared up some confusion I had about some things written in the first book and too, even if it is silly on my part, it was nice to learn that Peter was okay, I had wondered since reading the first book.

Put it Straight, 08 Apr 2008
How i loved to read this book. I couldn't actually stand George when i read this. Totally changed my opinion and I was so glad to read the comments about Madonna.....how right can you get it!!

ON a more serious note, well worth the read and not bad like some reviews would make you believe.

painful, 20 Jun 2007
offensive, short , and stuff that should be told only to a therapist, a priest, or a close friend. He hurt a lot of people that really loved him.What a shame,because he was a lot more talented and loved than all those he slagged off. HE could have been on top of the world, instead he chose to be on the bottom.I get the same treatment from my Wallachian Gypsy stepfather, and my ignorant mother, I never really expected such ignorant mentality from the most beautiful boy in the world.

Don't bother to buy this book - Yawn, 10 Apr 2007
I bought this book because I thought Mr O'Dowd would be telling us an interesting and possibly hilarious account of his upbringing and life as Boy George, but alas he comes across as an entirely uninteresting individual who has no real depth of character and his main enjoyment in life is slagging others off. Unfortunately this is one of the very few books I just could not finish - it was that bad!

Take It Like A Gran, 08 Feb 2007

Admittedly, I am not THE biggest Boy George fan - though I follow his progress with interest and raised eyebrows. He has the ability when being creative to entertain and delight. Take It Like A Man was un-put-down-able - as one wanted to hear about the actual events and incidents that took place in his meteoric rise to stardom in the 80's. It was a roller-coaster ride of crazy characters and life changing dramas. A gripping read.

This book, however, seems to be more focused on catty comments and unwarranted opinions, than of actual 'happenings'. Yes, we know you are gay. Yes we know you can't stand Madonna. Yes, we know you are 'controversial'. Nothing new is really covered or ascertained here - except the fact that Boy George comes across as a Queen who has lost her crown and is quite resentful about it too. Even fabulous achievements such as stage show 'Taboo' are marred with a negativity that leaves a nasty taste in ones mouth.

Not half as entertaining or thought-provoking as Take It...... sorry.

A mature book worth reading., 26 May 2005
I found this book a pleasure to read, it is a mature and well written autobiography. Although I'm not a huge fan of Boy George OR Culture Club I found both Take It Like A Man and Straight extremely fascinating and engrossing. I think with his second book he has proved himself to be a talented writer with strong views on spirituality and life, although sometimes it is a bit repetitive, mentioning Madonna one too many times, I think he's right when he says "Thou doth protest too much."

It's a good book, worth a read if you've got nothing else to do.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

the most boring book i have ever come across, 24 Oct 2008
As a liflong fan of Freddie & Queen,i looked forward to reading more about the legend that is Freddie.After sixty pages,i gave up on this nonsense.Quite obviously written to cash in on one of musics' greats.It is written in a very boring style that irritates containing nothing of interest and should never have been published.Save your hard earned cash and avoid.There are far better books about Freddie out there.

Disappointed, 25 Mar 2008
I'm not a Queen fan but I bought this book by "glücklicher Zufall" - happy accident, after literally stumbling into Freddy's statue in Montreux Switzerland. The Swiss just don't do statues and I was really touched as people came up to kiss and touch this fantastic image of Freddy in what became his adopted city.

Two weeks later in Paris (sorry for blatant name-dropping) I saw the book and bought it immediately. I wanted to know "the real Freddy Mercury" and with wife and kids away I plonked myself down eagerly looking forward to reading this "intimate memoir by the man who knew him best" (Cover page).

Oh dear. A great disappointment.

I found out about lots Freddy's taste in curtains, linens and bathroom fixtures, but precious little I didn't already know about the man. No dirt, no sleaze - not an issue for me, but I just didn't feel I knew this man any better even after 250 pages. It was just mundane and superficial anecdotes. Memorable tales? No.

Sorry Queen fans, there must be better biographies on the market.
But I would say to you - go to Montreux if you've not already been and see how the Swiss have have commemorated this great musician and entertainer. I think you'll enjoy your trip.

A fake story fron fake friend, 07 Nov 2007
This man was officially presented as Freddie close friend. But really he is a servant who made himself famous spreading dirty stories about Freddie private life. And everybody believe in it because his lie officially supported by Queen Productions, Queen official fan club and Queen manager Jim Beach. This man is a total liar, his stories - a total fiction, his photos - cheap fake. The people who worked with photoshop laughed hysterically when they saw this kids created photos with "Freddie and his loves".
So, it's taken from this book.

...this lady arrived in the early part of the concert days with the intention of orally catering of the physical needs of as many people as possible involved in the show. It goes without saying that Freddie had admiration for this woman's severance, technique and capacity!

So, teenagers can buy it! Shame.


Life Behind The Keyhole., 20 Apr 2007
As a card carrying member of the Queen Fan Club, circa 1977, I was really looking forward to reading this. It wasn`t bad, but some of the detail regarding Freddie`s house furnishings was downright dull. I wasn`t really sure whether it was written by the house-keeper of an outrageous rock star or Lloyd Grossman. There is absolutely no scandal or tittle-tattle, and believe me, I was looking forward to tittle-tattle. Freestone mentions how Freddie`s ex-manager had hurt him without going into any detail, I read later that he had sold stories to the press. The book has it`s really good moments such as describing Christmas and New Year at Garden Lodge, and the last years of Freddie`s life. The final times are really poignant. It is obvious the author cared deeply for his subject, and in some ways life at Freddie`s place was like a gay Gracelands. Everyone did their duty whether it was feeding the cats or cooking the dinner. Freddie had nothing to do except be Freddie. And he never got doing that for anywhere near long enough.In the end, the greatest rock star ever seen just faded away because of that awful disease. Interestingly, Freestone makes no reference to his own sexuality, we are unaware whether he is gay, straight or bi. What amazed me was the apparent lack of contact between Queen`s lead singer and the other members of the group. There are some good pictures, although everyone looks the same, short hair and black moustache. It was hard to spot Fred. The most disturbing photo showed a bunch of happy men, all wearing hats, all in the prime of life and all mugging for the camera. It was possible to draw a line through the group to connect Freddie, his ex-manager and one of Freddie`s ex-lovers, and realise they were now all dead. Tragic.

Freddie Mercury The AfterLife by David Evans and Peter Freestone., 03 Mar 2007
I wrote this because all the other reviews seemed to be about the first book and not this second book, so I thought this second book, Freddie Mercury The Afterlife, needed an actual review, so here goes: The front cover is a lovely, sweet picture of Freddie and Miko, the back cover is a portion of the final arrangements made for Freddie. I wasn't expecting to see that and it made me very sad even though I know he has been gone 16 years now. This second book takes up where the first one left off and is a description of Peter (Phoebe) Freestone's life since Freddie's passing. He talks about the various things he has been doing throughout the years. Peter mentions what the people talked about in the first book are doing as of 2003. There are some pictures I hadn't seen before within the book. Peter describes a visit he paid to Garden Lodge in 2003, where he met with Mary Austin and got to see Delilah again. He discusses some of the many books which have been written about Freddie and what he thinks of them. I only mentioned some things, the book contains much more than what I mention. David Evans speaks in it too and there's even Recipes of the different foods that would be made for Freddie.
Personally, it helped me to read this second book because it cleared up some confusion I had about some things written in the first book and too, even if it is silly on my part, it was nice to learn that Peter was okay, I had wondered since reading the first book.

Put it Straight, 08 Apr 2008
How i loved to read this book. I couldn't actually stand George when i read this. Totally changed my opinion and I was so glad to read the comments about Madonna.....how right can you get it!!

ON a more serious note, well worth the read and not bad like some reviews would make you believe.

painful, 20 Jun 2007
offensive, short , and stuff that should be told only to a therapist, a priest, or a close friend. He hurt a lot of people that really loved him.What a shame,because he was a lot more talented and loved than all those he slagged off. HE could have been on top of the world, instead he chose to be on the bottom.I get the same treatment from my Wallachian Gypsy stepfather, and my ignorant mother, I never really expected such ignorant mentality from the most beautiful boy in the world.

Don't bother to buy this book - Yawn, 10 Apr 2007
I bought this book because I thought Mr O'Dowd would be telling us an interesting and possibly hilarious account of his upbringing and life as Boy George, but alas he comes across as an entirely uninteresting individual who has no real depth of character and his main enjoyment in life is slagging others off. Unfortunately this is one of the very few books I just could not finish - it was that bad!

Take It Like A Gran, 08 Feb 2007

Admittedly, I am not THE biggest Boy George fan - though I follow his progress with interest and raised eyebrows. He has the ability when being creative to entertain and delight. Take It Like A Man was un-put-down-able - as one wanted to hear about the actual events and incidents that took place in his meteoric rise to stardom in the 80's. It was a roller-coaster ride of crazy characters and life changing dramas. A gripping read.

This book, however, seems to be more focused on catty comments and unwarranted opinions, than of actual 'happenings'. Yes, we know you are gay. Yes we know you can't stand Madonna. Yes, we know you are 'controversial'. Nothing new is really covered or ascertained here - except the fact that Boy George comes across as a Queen who has lost her crown and is quite resentful about it too. Even fabulous achievements such as stage show 'Taboo' are marred with a negativity that leaves a nasty taste in ones mouth.

Not half as entertaining or thought-provoking as Take It...... sorry.

A mature book worth reading., 26 May 2005
I found this book a pleasure to read, it is a mature and well written autobiography. Although I'm not a huge fan of Boy George OR Culture Club I found both Take It Like A Man and Straight extremely fascinating and engrossing. I think with his second book he has proved himself to be a talented writer with strong views on spirituality and life, although sometimes it is a bit repetitive, mentioning Madonna one too many times, I think he's right when he says "Thou doth protest too much."

It's a good book, worth a read if you've got nothing else to do.

storms are deeper than this, 02 Oct 2008
I too was warmed by the engaging and heart warming person that I meet in this book. Those who have been hurt and wounded by inappropriate responses to their sexuality can learn much from the author. As an exploration of the human condition it is achingly honest, and inspiring in the firm resolution to `hang on in there' no matter what.
Regretfully though, if it is read as a book based on Christian foundations it is somewhat weak, and in places very misleading.
To take a simple and minor example, on page 128 he declares "The United States was founded by people escaping theocracies in Europe". Ironically the United States was founded by people seeking to establish theocracies in their so called New World. It cannot be said that there was a single theocracy in Europe anywhere near the time of the emigrations to the States.
Much more seriously, the author writes what appears to a fabulous chapter (8) on the cross which at the end hugely disappoints. For him the cross would appear to be an act by God of solidarity with human suffering, which it is. It is also perhaps, though the author doesn't make this explicit, a demonstration of love without limits. Both of these understandings of the cross are vital but secondary to the traditional teachings of all mainstream Christian churches over two millennia. The disappointment lies in his complete omission of the cross as the place of sacrifice. This notion of sacrifice can be a deeply offensive notion to the modern ear, for it asserts that all humans have failings, and these can only be dealt with, by God, on our behalf. The sacrifice of the cross is the place of the transaction. Sadly we live in an age of growing denial of the seriousness of our failings, and complete unwillingness to explore sacrifice as a place of restoration and indeed healing. The gospels in the New Testament make this work of the cross clear from the lips of Jesus himself; the letters of the NT explain this with many metaphors; and the letter to the Hebrews describes the cross as the culmination and final act of the sacrificial process of at-one-making. Most regretfully Gene Robinson omits this key and definitive theology from his book, and indeed omits the key passages from the NT.

Also seriously, the author all too often undermines the reliability of the Christian scriptures. eg he describes the many grievous faults of the church over the centuries, and rather than see these as departures from scripture, or manipulations of scripture, he describes them as the consequences of the scriptures. He then asserts that these errors were put right by modern understandings of scripture when in fact they (slavery, exploitation, theocracy, misogyny et al) were corrected from within traditional understandings of scripture. For the author modern human reasoning is put above the steadiness of scripture. History shows that when this approach is taken error and calamity follow.

The book is also somewhat dated. It reads as a treatise in Liberation Theology. This theology has a serious pedigree of some 40 years in the catholic countries of Latin America. Its huge strength is its insistence that God seeks to help everyone from their place of persecution and oppression to the freedom of their Promised Land. It was and is viciously attacked by the wealthy and powerful of central and southern America, and for understandable reasons. This can be described as the horizontal element of salvation theology. The weakness of this theology, and the reason for opposition from the Vatican, is that there is a prior and more important vertical element to the journey, for each human being is called to travel from their broken and lonely present spiritual palce, into the promised land which is the loving presence of their heavenly father, ie the divine. This can be described as the vertical element of salvation theology. Whilst Gene Robinson writes eloquently and passionately and importantly about the horizontal element, he is somewhat weak on the vertical.


Read this book, 24 Jul 2008
Measured, intelligent, inspiring, and very moving. Experience Gene Robinson in his own words and actions - not through the media, or the opinion of others. Compulsory reading for all who care about love, justice, and the coming of the kingdom!

A Wonderful book!, 15 Jul 2008
This book is amazing! Bishop Gene's love for God and for all of creation pours out from every page. What he write is so clear and points to an all loving God. The best book I have read for a long time!

Sobering memoir, 26 Jun 2008
Gene Robinson is known worldwide for one thing - his sexuality - and this book seeks to show that his ministry is rather more than just being part of the storm over gay priests in the Anglican church. The book is a series of reflections on different aspects of ministry, not offered in any particularly logical order but growing out of his experiences as a priest and then bishop over three decades. It's not an autobiography and there are many parts of his life alluded to but not really explained; instead he uses the pages to show how people's attitudes towards gay and lesbian people can be similar to those towards women, non-whites and disabled people, and how difficult it is to know, if we are part of a majority group, what it's like to be in the minority and how hard it can be to be treated fairly.

What's remarkable about the book is the way in which Gene Robinson does not come across as bitter against his many detractors; he sees his ministry as the most important and overriding thing, such as in the local women's prison where he is a regular visitor. The final chapter, discussing the forthcoming Lambeth concert in 2008, is a plea for those in the church to genuinely listen to lesbian and gay members but is a plea that appears to have fallen on deaf ears. This is a sobering and at times moving book which doesn't really seek to discuss the issue of homosexuality and the Bible per se, but more looks at congregations in the church, Jesus's words that all are welcome, the difficulties for homosexual people within the church and the need for genuine discussion about the issues.

Inspirational, a highly recommended read for all, 22 Jun 2008
I have just finished reading 'In The Eye Of The Storm' by Gene Robinson, (who was elected as the first openly gay man to be called by a Diocese to be the Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003)

WOW ... talk about inspirational!!!! I knew it was going to be a great book by the number of comments of praise there are at the beginning including comments from several Rectors, Deans, Bishops, Directors from several organisations and the Forword by Desmond Tutu, who said ...

"May I wholly inadequately apologise to my sisters and brothers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered for the cruelty and injustice that you have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of us, your fellow Anglicans; I am sorry. Forgive us for all the pain we have caused you and which we continue to indflict on you"

Desmond goes on to say "Gene Robinson is a wonderful human being" ............ I totally agree and after reading this book, I can see and appreciate what a humble man he is. He is so down to earth, full of compassion and empathy, and can teach us all about loving our enemies.

There are several passages that spoke to me

pg 83
The debate about whose sexuality is acceptable may be just a way to avoid talking about minstering in the way jesus did. If we keep talking about what people do in bed, or who ought to get married, or which celebrity is in rehab and why, we don't have to talk about ourselves and the things that really mayter in our culture and our society - racism and homophobia, injstice and war

pg99
It's not because gay and lesbian people are any different than others who have demanded equality, but because for religious bodies, and for the culture, the full equality of gays and lesbians strikes at the very heart of the patriarchy and misogyny that's been the way of the world for so long

pg 127
If we leave Church [on every Sunday etc] and don't do anything any differently, then church is nothing but a religious theme park

In his book, he shares his views, his knowledge, his experiences, his love and shows great compassion to those who object to him being elected and still try to silence him.

I highly recommend this book to all, Christians and non-Christians, Believers and non-believers, Gay and straight, I feel it has a message for all.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

the most boring book i have ever come across, 24 Oct 2008
As a liflong fan of Freddie & Queen,i looked forward to reading more about the legend that is Freddie.After sixty pages,i gave up on this nonsense.Quite obviously written to cash in on one of musics' greats.It is written in a very boring style that irritates containing nothing of interest and should never have been published.Save your hard earned cash and avoid.There are far better books about Freddie out there.

Disappointed, 25 Mar 2008
I'm not a Queen fan but I bought this book by "glücklicher Zufall" - happy accident, after literally stumbling into Freddy's statue in Montreux Switzerland. The Swiss just don't do statues and I was really touched as people came up to kiss and touch this fantastic image of Freddy in what became his adopted city.

Two weeks later in Paris (sorry for blatant name-dropping) I saw the book and bought it immediately. I wanted to know "the real Freddy Mercury" and with wife and kids away I plonked myself down eagerly looking forward to reading this "intimate memoir by the man who knew him best" (Cover page).

Oh dear. A great disappointment.

I found out about lots Freddy's taste in curtains, linens and bathroom fixtures, but precious little I didn't already know about the man. No dirt, no sleaze - not an issue for me, but I just didn't feel I knew this man any better even after 250 pages. It was just mundane and superficial anecdotes. Memorable tales? No.

Sorry Queen fans, there must be better biographies on the market.
But I would say to you - go to Montreux if you've not already been and see how the Swiss have have commemorated this great musician and entertainer. I think you'll enjoy your trip.

A fake story fron fake friend, 07 Nov 2007
This man was officially presented as Freddie close friend. But really he is a servant who made himself famous spreading dirty stories about Freddie private life. And everybody believe in it because his lie officially supported by Queen Productions, Queen official fan club and Queen manager Jim Beach. This man is a total liar, his stories - a total fiction, his photos - cheap fake. The people who worked with photoshop laughed hysterically when they saw this kids created photos with "Freddie and his loves".
So, it's taken from this book.

...this lady arrived in the early part of the concert days with the intention of orally catering of the physical needs of as many people as possible involved in the show. It goes without saying that Freddie had admiration for this woman's severance, technique and capacity!

So, teenagers can buy it! Shame.


Life Behind The Keyhole., 20 Apr 2007
As a card carrying member of the Queen Fan Club, circa 1977, I was really looking forward to reading this. It wasn`t bad, but some of the detail regarding Freddie`s house furnishings was downright dull. I wasn`t really sure whether it was written by the house-keeper of an outrageous rock star or Lloyd Grossman. There is absolutely no scandal or tittle-tattle, and believe me, I was looking forward to tittle-tattle. Freestone mentions how Freddie`s ex-manager had hurt him without going into any detail, I read later that he had sold stories to the press. The book has it`s really good moments such as describing Christmas and New Year at Garden Lodge, and the last years of Freddie`s life. The final times are really poignant. It is obvious the author cared deeply for his subject, and in some ways life at Freddie`s place was like a gay Gracelands. Everyone did their duty whether it was feeding the cats or cooking the dinner. Freddie had nothing to do except be Freddie. And he never got doing that for anywhere near long enough.In the end, the greatest rock star ever seen just faded away because of that awful disease. Interestingly, Freestone makes no reference to his own sexuality, we are unaware whether he is gay, straight or bi. What amazed me was the apparent lack of contact between Queen`s lead singer and the other members of the group. There are some good pictures, although everyone looks the same, short hair and black moustache. It was hard to spot Fred. The most disturbing photo showed a bunch of happy men, all wearing hats, all in the prime of life and all mugging for the camera. It was possible to draw a line through the group to connect Freddie, his ex-manager and one of Freddie`s ex-lovers, and realise they were now all dead. Tragic.

Freddie Mercury The AfterLife by David Evans and Peter Freestone., 03 Mar 2007
I wrote this because all the other reviews seemed to be about the first book and not this second book, so I thought this second book, Freddie Mercury The Afterlife, needed an actual review, so here goes: The front cover is a lovely, sweet picture of Freddie and Miko, the back cover is a portion of the final arrangements made for Freddie. I wasn't expecting to see that and it made me very sad even though I know he has been gone 16 years now. This second book takes up where the first one left off and is a description of Peter (Phoebe) Freestone's life since Freddie's passing. He talks about the various things he has been doing throughout the years. Peter mentions what the people talked about in the first book are doing as of 2003. There are some pictures I hadn't seen before within the book. Peter describes a visit he paid to Garden Lodge in 2003, where he met with Mary Austin and got to see Delilah again. He discusses some of the many books which have been written about Freddie and what he thinks of them. I only mentioned some things, the book contains much more than what I mention. David Evans speaks in it too and there's even Recipes of the different foods that would be made for Freddie.
Personally, it helped me to read this second book because it cleared up some confusion I had about some things written in the first book and too, even if it is silly on my part, it was nice to learn that Peter was okay, I had wondered since reading the first book.

Put it Straight, 08 Apr 2008
How i loved to read this book. I couldn't actually stand George when i read this. Totally changed my opinion and I was so glad to read the comments about Madonna.....how right can you get it!!

ON a more serious note, well worth the read and not bad like some reviews would make you believe.

painful, 20 Jun 2007
offensive, short , and stuff that should be told only to a therapist, a priest, or a close friend. He hurt a lot of people that really loved him.What a shame,because he was a lot more talented and loved than all those he slagged off. HE could have been on top of the world, instead he chose to be on the bottom.I get the same treatment from my Wallachian Gypsy stepfather, and my ignorant mother, I never really expected such ignorant mentality from the most beautiful boy in the world.

Don't bother to buy this book - Yawn, 10 Apr 2007
I bought this book because I thought Mr O'Dowd would be telling us an interesting and possibly hilarious account of his upbringing and life as Boy George, but alas he comes across as an entirely uninteresting individual who has no real depth of character and his main enjoyment in life is slagging others off. Unfortunately this is one of the very few books I just could not finish - it was that bad!

Take It Like A Gran, 08 Feb 2007

Admittedly, I am not THE biggest Boy George fan - though I follow his progress with interest and raised eyebrows. He has the ability when being creative to entertain and delight. Take It Like A Man was un-put-down-able - as one wanted to hear about the actual events and incidents that took place in his meteoric rise to stardom in the 80's. It was a roller-coaster ride of crazy characters and life changing dramas. A gripping read.

This book, however, seems to be more focused on catty comments and unwarranted opinions, than of actual 'happenings'. Yes, we know you are gay. Yes we know you can't stand Madonna. Yes, we know you are 'controversial'. Nothing new is really covered or ascertained here - except the fact that Boy George comes across as a Queen who has lost her crown and is quite resentful about it too. Even fabulous achievements such as stage show 'Taboo' are marred with a negativity that leaves a nasty taste in ones mouth.

Not half as entertaining or thought-provoking as Take It...... sorry.

A mature book worth reading., 26 May 2005
I found this book a pleasure to read, it is a mature and well written autobiography. Although I'm not a huge fan of Boy George OR Culture Club I found both Take It Like A Man and Straight extremely fascinating and engrossing. I think with his second book he has proved himself to be a talented writer with strong views on spirituality and life, although sometimes it is a bit repetitive, mentioning Madonna one too many times, I think he's right when he says "Thou doth protest too much."

It's a good book, worth a read if you've got nothing else to do.

storms are deeper than this, 02 Oct 2008
I too was warmed by the engaging and heart warming person that I meet in this book. Those who have been hurt and wounded by inappropriate responses to their sexuality can learn much from the author. As an exploration of the human condition it is achingly honest, and inspiring in the firm resolution to `hang on in there' no matter what.
Regretfully though, if it is read as a book based on Christian foundations it is somewhat weak, and in places very misleading.
To take a simple and minor example, on page 128 he declares "The United States was founded by people escaping theocracies in Europe". Ironically the United States was founded by people seeking to establish theocracies in their so called New World. It cannot be said that there was a single theocracy in Europe anywhere near the time of the emigrations to the States.
Much more seriously, the author writes what appears to a fabulous chapter (8) on the cross which at the end hugely disappoints. For him the cross would appear to be an act by God of solidarity with human suffering, which it is. It is also perhaps, though the author doesn't make this explicit, a demonstration of love without limits. Both of these understandings of the cross are vital but secondary to the traditional teachings of all mainstream Christian churches over two millennia. The disappointment lies in his complete omission of the cross as the place of sacrifice. This notion of sacrifice can be a deeply offensive notion to the modern ear, for it asserts that all humans have failings, and these can only be dealt with, by God, on our behalf. The sacrifice of the cross is the place of the transaction. Sadly we live in an age of growing denial of the seriousness of our failings, and complete unwillingness to explore sacrifice as a place of restoration and indeed healing. The gospels in the New Testament make this work of the cross clear from the lips of Jesus himself; the letters of the NT explain this with many metaphors; and the letter to the Hebrews describes the cross as the culmination and final act of the sacrificial process of at-one-making. Most regretfully Gene Robinson omits this key and definitive theology from his book, and indeed omits the key passages from the NT.

Also seriously, the author all too often undermines the reliability of the Christian scriptures. eg he describes the many grievous faults of the church over the centuries, and rather than see these as departures from scripture, or manipulations of scripture, he describes them as the consequences of the scriptures. He then asserts that these errors were put right by modern understandings of scripture when in fact they (slavery, exploitation, theocracy, misogyny et al) were corrected from within traditional understandings of scripture. For the author modern human reasoning is put above the steadiness of scripture. History shows that when this approach is taken error and calamity follow.

The book is also somewhat dated. It reads as a treatise in Liberation Theology. This theology has a serious pedigree of some 40 years in the catholic countries of Latin America. Its huge strength is its insistence that God seeks to help everyone from their place of persecution and oppression to the freedom of their Promised Land. It was and is viciously attacked by the wealthy and powerful of central and southern America, and for understandable reasons. This can be described as the horizontal element of salvation theology. The weakness of this theology, and the reason for opposition from the Vatican, is that there is a prior and more important vertical element to the journey, for each human being is called to travel from their broken and lonely present spiritual palce, into the promised land which is the loving presence of their heavenly father, ie the divine. This can be described as the vertical element of salvation theology. Whilst Gene Robinson writes eloquently and passionately and importantly about the horizontal element, he is somewhat weak on the vertical.


Read this book, 24 Jul 2008
Measured, intelligent, inspiring, and very moving. Experience Gene Robinson in his own words and actions - not through the media, or the opinion of others. Compulsory reading for all who care about love, justice, and the coming of the kingdom!

A Wonderful book!, 15 Jul 2008
This book is amazing! Bishop Gene's love for God and for all of creation pours out from every page. What he write is so clear and points to an all loving God. The best book I have read for a long time!

Sobering memoir, 26 Jun 2008
Gene Robinson is known worldwide for one thing - his sexuality - and this book seeks to show that his ministry is rather more than just being part of the storm over gay priests in the Anglican church. The book is a series of reflections on different aspects of ministry, not offered in any particularly logical order but growing out of his experiences as a priest and then bishop over three decades. It's not an autobiography and there are many parts of his life alluded to but not really explained; instead he uses the pages to show how people's attitudes towards gay and lesbian people can be similar to those towards women, non-whites and disabled people, and how difficult it is to know, if we are part of a majority group, what it's like to be in the minority and how hard it can be to be treated fairly.

What's remarkable about the book is the way in which Gene Robinson does not come across as bitter against his many detractors; he sees his ministry as the most important and overriding thing, such as in the local women's prison where he is a regular visitor. The final chapter, discussing the forthcoming Lambeth concert in 2008, is a plea for those in the church to genuinely listen to lesbian and gay members but is a plea that appears to have fallen on deaf ears. This is a sobering and at times moving book which doesn't really seek to discuss the issue of homosexuality and the Bible per se, but more looks at congregations in the church, Jesus's words that all are welcome, the difficulties for homosexual people within the church and the need for genuine discussion about the issues.

Inspirational, a highly recommended read for all, 22 Jun 2008
I have just finished reading 'In The Eye Of The Storm' by Gene Robinson, (who was elected as the first openly gay man to be called by a Diocese to be the Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003)

WOW ... talk about inspirational!!!! I knew it was going to be a great book by the number of comments of praise there are at the beginning including comments from several Rectors, Deans, Bishops, Directors from several organisations and the Forword by Desmond Tutu, who said ...

"May I wholly inadequately apologise to my sisters and brothers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered for the cruelty and injustice that you have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of us, your fellow Anglicans; I am sorry. Forgive us for all the pain we have caused you and which we continue to indflict on you"

Desmond goes on to say "Gene Robinson is a wonderful human being" ............ I totally agree and after reading this book, I can see and appreciate what a humble man he is. He is so down to earth, full of compassion and empathy, and can teach us all about loving our enemies.

There are several passages that spoke to me

pg 83
The debate about whose sexuality is acceptable may be just a way to avoid talking about minstering in the way jesus did. If we keep talking about what people do in bed, or who ought to get married, or which celebrity is in rehab and why, we don't have to talk about ourselves and the things that really mayter in our culture and our society - racism and homophobia, injstice and war

pg99
It's not because gay and lesbian people are any different than others who have demanded equality, but because for religious bodies, and for the culture, the full equality of gays and lesbians strikes at the very heart of the patriarchy and misogyny that's been the way of the world for so long

pg 127
If we leave Church [on every Sunday etc] and don't do anything any differently, then church is nothing but a religious theme park

In his book, he shares his views, his knowledge, his experiences, his love and shows great compassion to those who object to him being elected and still try to silence him.

I highly recommend this book to all, Christians and non-Christians, Believers and non-believers, Gay and straight, I feel it has a message for all.

V Good, though Mozza remains a mystery, 02 Feb 2006
An excellently written book.
Only problem is that there are no interviews with Morrissey himself or with any one who knows him, so at the end of it all I felt I'm no closer to an understanding of Mozza at all.
There are however lots of quotes from interviews he has given to the press - some of which are quite enlightening.
The author also writes very well and made me laugh a few times too.
I'd have to say that I'm also in the camp that feels that the stuff Morrissey did with Johnny Marr shows how important the sublime Marr was - as integral as Morrissey to the Smiths - just listen to the guitar on "Boy with the Thorn in His Side".. and I dont think Mr Simpson gives anywhere near enough credit to Marr.
That said, this is a very good book, well written and fun.
I'd recommend it.

Morrissey finally has a biographer worthy of him, 05 Feb 2004
This is a remarkable book and, like it's subject, is startlingly unique. It’s funny, clever, insightful and often quite moving. Above all it’s brilliantly, dazzlingly written. Morrissey finally has a biographer worthy of him.

I have to admit though that I was, relatively speaking, a part-time Morrissey fan when I came to this book, but after finishing 'Saint Morrissey' I realised what I'd been missing out on, went out and bought all the albums I didn't have (except 'Southpaw Grammar' of course) and fell in love with Morrissey all over again, and more completely this time. But then this isn't just the best Morrissey book out there, this is one of the best books on pop culture and fandom ever penned.

Or at least, one of the best I've read - and I've read it twice now, in quick succession. I may even start memorising lines from it - talking about the effect hearing the first Smiths album had on him Simpson writes: 'It filled me with the urge to shoplift expensive perfume and spray bus shelters with it'. Is fandom catching? And can you become a fan of a writer simply because of the intensity and intelligence of their own fandom? 'Saint Morrissey' certainly makes it seem that way.

Half a book, 01 Feb 2004
I like Mark Simpson's style and it's rather sweet that anyone can be quite so keen on Morrissey. But in many ways that is the problem with this book; Simpson believes that Morrissey's solo career is comparable to what he achieved with The Smiths, a proposition that just isn't true. It's also a dull argument since one of the most fascinating aspects of Morrissey's career is quite how and why he so suddenly declined from the massively iconic and influential music of The Smiths into the tiddly Casio beats and feeble lyrics of his solo efforts. Simpson's writing is not all it could be either - cliches and grammatical mistakes lead one to suspect that this book waited rather too long to find a publisher. By the time it did, its moment was past, Simpson had lost his initial enthusiasm for the subject and his tiredness made him relapse into the repetitive, faux cleverness of a student essay.

A Smiths Fan Writes, 15 Dec 2003
If a die-hard Smiths/Morrissey fan were to buy one book - a book that really *gets* what this particular corner of fandom is all about - then Saint Moz is the one to choose. Fans have had to make do, until now, with the rather trainspottery Severed Alliance.

Rogan's oeuvre, in a sense, it the flip-side of Saint Morrissey; it exemplifies the desperate need of a really obsessed fan to know everything there is to know about their hero. Its the literary equivalent of those Morrissey fans who rip their idol's shirt to pieces when he throws it into the crowd at the end of a gig.

But Simpson's is a more tender vivisection altogether. It caresses its subject, shares its secrets: butterfly kisses. Its Simpson's playfulness with language and ideas as much as his insight into the Morrissey phenomenon that makes this one of the great pop biographies of recent years. You could turn the final page of the Severed Alliance, still confused as to the worldwide appeal of this most English Lancastrian lyricist; Simpson's intelligent exposition of the universal themes of masculinity, loss and desire which permeate Morrissey's work leaves you in so such doubt.

This is, put simply, a book to buy in hardback.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

the most boring book i have ever come across, 24 Oct 2008
As a liflong fan of Freddie & Queen,i looked forward to reading more about the legend that is Freddie.After sixty pages,i gave up on this nonsense.Quite obviously written to cash in on one of musics' greats.It is written in a very boring style that irritates containing nothing of interest and should never have been published.Save your hard earned cash and avoid.There are far better books about Freddie out there.

Disappointed, 25 Mar 2008
I'm not a Queen fan but I bought this book by "glücklicher Zufall" - happy accident, after literally stumbling into Freddy's statue in Montreux Switzerland. The Swiss just don't do statues and I was really touched as people came up to kiss and touch this fantastic image of Freddy in what became his adopted city.

Two weeks later in Paris (sorry for blatant name-dropping) I saw the book and bought it immediately. I wanted to know "the real Freddy Mercury" and with wife and kids away I plonked myself down eagerly looking forward to reading this "intimate memoir by the man who knew him best" (Cover page).

Oh dear. A great disappointment.

I found out about lots Freddy's taste in curtains, linens and bathroom fixtures, but precious little I didn't already know about the man. No dirt, no sleaze - not an issue for me, but I just didn't feel I knew this man any better even after 250 pages. It was just mundane and superficial anecdotes. Memorable tales? No.

Sorry Queen fans, there must be better biographies on the market.
But I would say to you - go to Montreux if you've not already been and see how the Swiss have have commemorated this great musician and entertainer. I think you'll enjoy your trip.

A fake story fron fake friend, 07 Nov 2007
This man was officially presented as Freddie close friend. But really he is a servant who made himself famous spreading dirty stories about Freddie private life. And everybody believe in it because his lie officially supported by Queen Productions, Queen official fan club and Queen manager Jim Beach. This man is a total liar, his stories - a total fiction, his photos - cheap fake. The people who worked with photoshop laughed hysterically when they saw this kids created photos with "Freddie and his loves".
So, it's taken from this book.

...this lady arrived in the early part of the concert days with the intention of orally catering of the physical needs of as many people as possible involved in the show. It goes without saying that Freddie had admiration for this woman's severance, technique and capacity!

So, teenagers can buy it! Shame.


Life Behind The Keyhole., 20 Apr 2007
As a card carrying member of the Queen Fan Club, circa 1977, I was really looking forward to reading this. It wasn`t bad, but some of the detail regarding Freddie`s house furnishings was downright dull. I wasn`t really sure whether it was written by the house-keeper of an outrageous rock star or Lloyd Grossman. There is absolutely no scandal or tittle-tattle, and believe me, I was looking forward to tittle-tattle. Freestone mentions how Freddie`s ex-manager had hurt him without going into any detail, I read later that he had sold stories to the press. The book has it`s really good moments such as describing Christmas and New Year at Garden Lodge, and the last years of Freddie`s life. The final times are really poignant. It is obvious the author cared deeply for his subject, and in some ways life at Freddie`s place was like a gay Gracelands. Everyone did their duty whether it was feeding the cats or cooking the dinner. Freddie had nothing to do except be Freddie. And he never got doing that for anywhere near long enough.In the end, the greatest rock star ever seen just faded away because of that awful disease. Interestingly, Freestone makes no reference to his own sexuality, we are unaware whether he is gay, straight or bi. What amazed me was the apparent lack of contact between Queen`s lead singer and the other members of the group. There are some good pictures, although everyone looks the same, short hair and black moustache. It was hard to spot Fred. The most disturbing photo showed a bunch of happy men, all wearing hats, all in the prime of life and all mugging for the camera. It was possible to draw a line through the group to connect Freddie, his ex-manager and one of Freddie`s ex-lovers, and realise they were now all dead. Tragic.

Freddie Mercury The AfterLife by David Evans and Peter Freestone., 03 Mar 2007
I wrote this because all the other reviews seemed to be about the first book and not this second book, so I thought this second book, Freddie Mercury The Afterlife, needed an actual review, so here goes: The front cover is a lovely, sweet picture of Freddie and Miko, the back cover is a portion of the final arrangements made for Freddie. I wasn't expecting to see that and it made me very sad even though I know he has been gone 16 years now. This second book takes up where the first one left off and is a description of Peter (Phoebe) Freestone's life since Freddie's passing. He talks about the various things he has been doing throughout the years. Peter mentions what the people talked about in the first book are doing as of 2003. There are some pictures I hadn't seen before within the book. Peter describes a visit he paid to Garden Lodge in 2003, where he met with Mary Austin and got to see Delilah again. He discusses some of the many books which have been written about Freddie and what he thinks of them. I only mentioned some things, the book contains much more than what I mention. David Evans speaks in it too and there's even Recipes of the different foods that would be made for Freddie.
Personally, it helped me to read this second book because it cleared up some confusion I had about some things written in the first book and too, even if it is silly on my part, it was nice to learn that Peter was okay, I had wondered since reading the first book.

Put it Straight, 08 Apr 2008
How i loved to read this book. I couldn't actually stand George when i read this. Totally changed my opinion and I was so glad to read the comments about Madonna.....how right can you get it!!

ON a more serious note, well worth the read and not bad like some reviews would make you believe.

painful, 20 Jun 2007
offensive, short , and stuff that should be told only to a therapist, a priest, or a close friend. He hurt a lot of people that really loved him.What a shame,because he was a lot more talented and loved than all those he slagged off. HE could have been on top of the world, instead he chose to be on the bottom.I get the same treatment from my Wallachian Gypsy stepfather, and my ignorant mother, I never really expected such ignorant mentality from the most beautiful boy in the world.

Don't bother to buy this book - Yawn, 10 Apr 2007
I bought this book because I thought Mr O'Dowd would be telling us an interesting and possibly hilarious account of his upbringing and life as Boy George, but alas he comes across as an entirely uninteresting individual who has no real depth of character and his main enjoyment in life is slagging others off. Unfortunately this is one of the very few books I just could not finish - it was that bad!

Take It Like A Gran, 08 Feb 2007

Admittedly, I am not THE biggest Boy George fan - though I follow his progress with interest and raised eyebrows. He has the ability when being creative to entertain and delight. Take It Like A Man was un-put-down-able - as one wanted to hear about the actual events and incidents that took place in his meteoric rise to stardom in the 80's. It was a roller-coaster ride of crazy characters and life changing dramas. A gripping read.

This book, however, seems to be more focused on catty comments and unwarranted opinions, than of actual 'happenings'. Yes, we know you are gay. Yes we know you can't stand Madonna. Yes, we know you are 'controversial'. Nothing new is really covered or ascertained here - except the fact that Boy George comes across as a Queen who has lost her crown and is quite resentful about it too. Even fabulous achievements such as stage show 'Taboo' are marred with a negativity that leaves a nasty taste in ones mouth.

Not half as entertaining or thought-provoking as Take It...... sorry.

A mature book worth reading., 26 May 2005
I found this book a pleasure to read, it is a mature and well written autobiography. Although I'm not a huge fan of Boy George OR Culture Club I found both Take It Like A Man and Straight extremely fascinating and engrossing. I think with his second book he has proved himself to be a talented writer with strong views on spirituality and life, although sometimes it is a bit repetitive, mentioning Madonna one too many times, I think he's right when he says "Thou doth protest too much."

It's a good book, worth a read if you've got nothing else to do.

storms are deeper than this, 02 Oct 2008
I too was warmed by the engaging and heart warming person that I meet in this book. Those who have been hurt and wounded by inappropriate responses to their sexuality can learn much from the author. As an exploration of the human condition it is achingly honest, and inspiring in the firm resolution to `hang on in there' no matter what.
Regretfully though, if it is read as a book based on Christian foundations it is somewhat weak, and in places very misleading.
To take a simple and minor example, on page 128 he declares "The United States was founded by people escaping theocracies in Europe". Ironically the United States was founded by people seeking to establish theocracies in their so called New World. It cannot be said that there was a single theocracy in Europe anywhere near the time of the emigrations to the States.
Much more seriously, the author writes what appears to a fabulous chapter (8) on the cross which at the end hugely disappoints. For him the cross would appear to be an act by God of solidarity with human suffering, which it is. It is also perhaps, though the author doesn't make this explicit, a demonstration of love without limits. Both of these understandings of the cross are vital but secondary to the traditional teachings of all mainstream Christian churches over two millennia. The disappointment lies in his complete omission of the cross as the place of sacrifice. This notion of sacrifice can be a deeply offensive notion to the modern ear, for it asserts that all humans have failings, and these can only be dealt with, by God, on our behalf. The sacrifice of the cross is the place of the transaction. Sadly we live in an age of growing denial of the seriousness of our failings, and complete unwillingness to explore sacrifice as a place of restoration and indeed healing. The gospels in the New Testament make this work of the cross clear from the lips of Jesus himself; the letters of the NT explain this with many metaphors; and the letter to the Hebrews describes the cross as the culmination and final act of the sacrificial process of at-one-making. Most regretfully Gene Robinson omits this key and definitive theology from his book, and indeed omits the key passages from the NT.

Also seriously, the author all too often undermines the reliability of the Christian scriptures. eg he describes the many grievous faults of the church over the centuries, and rather than see these as departures from scripture, or manipulations of scripture, he describes them as the consequences of the scriptures. He then asserts that these errors were put right by modern understandings of scripture when in fact they (slavery, exploitation, theocracy, misogyny et al) were corrected from within traditional understandings of scripture. For the author modern human reasoning is put above the steadiness of scripture. History shows that when this approach is taken error and calamity follow.

The book is also somewhat dated. It reads as a treatise in Liberation Theology. This theology has a serious pedigree of some 40 years in the catholic countries of Latin America. Its huge strength is its insistence that God seeks to help everyone from their place of persecution and oppression to the freedom of their Promised Land. It was and is viciously attacked by the wealthy and powerful of central and southern America, and for understandable reasons. This can be described as the horizontal element of salvation theology. The weakness of this theology, and the reason for opposition from the Vatican, is that there is a prior and more important vertical element to the journey, for each human being is called to travel from their broken and lonely present spiritual palce, into the promised land which is the loving presence of their heavenly father, ie the divine. This can be described as the vertical element of salvation theology. Whilst Gene Robinson writes eloquently and passionately and importantly about the horizontal element, he is somewhat weak on the vertical.


Read this book, 24 Jul 2008
Measured, intelligent, inspiring, and very moving. Experience Gene Robinson in his own words and actions - not through the media, or the opinion of others. Compulsory reading for all who care about love, justice, and the coming of the kingdom!

A Wonderful book!, 15 Jul 2008
This book is amazing! Bishop Gene's love for God and for all of creation pours out from every page. What he write is so clear and points to an all loving God. The best book I have read for a long time!

Sobering memoir, 26 Jun 2008
Gene Robinson is known worldwide for one thing - his sexuality - and this book seeks to show that his ministry is rather more than just being part of the storm over gay priests in the Anglican church. The book is a series of reflections on different aspects of ministry, not offered in any particularly logical order but growing out of his experiences as a priest and then bishop over three decades. It's not an autobiography and there are many parts of his life alluded to but not really explained; instead he uses the pages to show how people's attitudes towards gay and lesbian people can be similar to those towards women, non-whites and disabled people, and how difficult it is to know, if we are part of a majority group, what it's like to be in the minority and how hard it can be to be treated fairly.

What's remarkable about the book is the way in which Gene Robinson does not come across as bitter against his many detractors; he sees his ministry as the most important and overriding thing, such as in the local women's prison where he is a regular visitor. The final chapter, discussing the forthcoming Lambeth concert in 2008, is a plea for those in the church to genuinely listen to lesbian and gay members but is a plea that appears to have fallen on deaf ears. This is a sobering and at times moving book which doesn't really seek to discuss the issue of homosexuality and the Bible per se, but more looks at congregations in the church, Jesus's words that all are welcome, the difficulties for homosexual people within the church and the need for genuine discussion about the issues.

Inspirational, a highly recommended read for all, 22 Jun 2008
I have just finished reading 'In The Eye Of The Storm' by Gene Robinson, (who was elected as the first openly gay man to be called by a Diocese to be the Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003)

WOW ... talk about inspirational!!!! I knew it was going to be a great book by the number of comments of praise there are at the beginning including comments from several Rectors, Deans, Bishops, Directors from several organisations and the Forword by Desmond Tutu, who said ...

"May I wholly inadequately apologise to my sisters and brothers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered for the cruelty and injustice that you have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of us, your fellow Anglicans; I am sorry. Forgive us for all the pain we have caused you and which we continue to indflict on you"

Desmond goes on to say "Gene Robinson is a wonderful human being" ............ I totally agree and after reading this book, I can see and appreciate what a humble man he is. He is so down to earth, full of compassion and empathy, and can teach us all about loving our enemies.

There are several passages that spoke to me

pg 83
The debate about whose sexuality is acceptable may be just a way to avoid talking about minstering in the way jesus did. If we keep talking about what people do in bed, or who ought to get married, or which celebrity is in rehab and why, we don't have to talk about ourselves and the things that really mayter in our culture and our society - racism and homophobia, injstice and war

pg99
It's not because gay and lesbian people are any different than others who have demanded equality, but because for religious bodies, and for the culture, the full equality of gays and lesbians strikes at the very heart of the patriarchy and misogyny that's been the way of the world for so long

pg 127
If we leave Church [on every Sunday etc] and don't do anything any differently, then church is nothing but a religious theme park

In his book, he shares his views, his knowledge, his experiences, his love and shows great compassion to those who object to him being elected and still try to silence him.

I highly recommend this book to all, Christians and non-Christians, Believers and non-believers, Gay and straight, I feel it has a message for all.

V Good, though Mozza remains a mystery, 02 Feb 2006
An excellently written book.
Only problem is that there are no interviews with Morrissey himself or with any one who knows him, so at the end of it all I felt I'm no closer to an understanding of Mozza at all.
There are however lots of quotes from interviews he has given to the press - some of which are quite enlightening.
The author also writes very well and made me laugh a few times too.
I'd have to say that I'm also in the camp that feels that the stuff Morrissey did with Johnny Marr shows how important the sublime Marr was - as integral as Morrissey to the Smiths - just listen to the guitar on "Boy with the Thorn in His Side".. and I dont think Mr Simpson gives anywhere near enough credit to Marr.
That said, this is a very good book, well written and fun.
I'd recommend it.

Morrissey finally has a biographer worthy of him, 05 Feb 2004
This is a remarkable book and, like it's subject, is startlingly unique. It’s funny, clever, insightful and often quite moving. Above all it’s brilliantly, dazzlingly written. Morrissey finally has a biographer worthy of him.

I have to admit though that I was, relatively speaking, a part-time Morrissey fan when I came to this book, but after finishing 'Saint Morrissey' I realised what I'd been missing out on, went out and bought all the albums I didn't have (except 'Southpaw Grammar' of course) and fell in love with Morrissey all over again, and more completely this time. But then this isn't just the best Morrissey book out there, this is one of the best books on pop culture and fandom ever penned.

Or at least, one of the best I've read - and I've read it twice now, in quick succession. I may even start memorising lines from it - talking about the effect hearing the first Smiths album had on him Simpson writes: 'It filled me with the urge to shoplift expensive perfume and spray bus shelters with it'. Is fandom catching? And can you become a fan of a writer simply because of the intensity and intelligence of their own fandom? 'Saint Morrissey' certainly makes it seem that way.

Half a book, 01 Feb 2004
I like Mark Simpson's style and it's rather sweet that anyone can be quite so keen on Morrissey. But in many ways that is the problem with this book; Simpson believes that Morrissey's solo career is comparable to what he achieved with The Smiths, a proposition that just isn't true. It's also a dull argument since one of the most fascinating aspects of Morrissey's career is quite how and why he so suddenly declined from the massively iconic and influential music of The Smiths into the tiddly Casio beats and feeble lyrics of his solo efforts. Simpson's writing is not all it could be either - cliches and grammatical mistakes lead one to suspect that this book waited rather too long to find a publisher. By the time it did, its moment was past, Simpson had lost his initial enthusiasm for the subject and his tiredness made him relapse into the repetitive, faux cleverness of a student essay.

A Smiths Fan Writes, 15 Dec 2003
If a die-hard Smiths/Morrissey fan were to buy one book - a book that really *gets* what this particular corner of fandom is all about - then Saint Moz is the one to choose. Fans have had to make do, until now, with the rather trainspottery Severed Alliance.

Rogan's oeuvre, in a sense, it the flip-side of Saint Morrissey; it exemplifies the desperate need of a really obsessed fan to know everything there is to know about their hero. Its the literary equivalent of those Morrissey fans who rip their idol's shirt to pieces when he throws it into the crowd at the end of a gig.

But Simpson's is a more tender vivisection altogether. It caresses its subject, shares its secrets: butterfly kisses. Its Simpson's playfulness with language and ideas as much as his insight into the Morrissey phenomenon that makes this one of the great pop biographies of recent years. You could turn the final page of the Severed Alliance, still confused as to the worldwide appeal of this most English Lancastrian lyricist; Simpson's intelligent exposition of the universal themes of masculinity, loss and desire which permeate Morrissey's work leaves you in so such doubt.

This is, put simply, a book to buy in hardback.

Just the right blend of sentiment and wit..., 31 Jul 2008
I absolutely loved this book - the setting, the humour, the insights into growing up in the late 1970's (which were absolutely spot-on). By turns, I found myself cringeing, laughing out loud and then moved to tears - it's quite something to achieve just the right blend of sentimentality without being schmaltzy, humour without being farcical and nostalgia without reading like just another "I Heart the 1970's" TV show. Brilliant.

A great year relived, 30 May 2008
Being about the same age as Rhona, I enjoyed reliving the feel of being a teenager in the late 70s. The level of detail is great, but although I'd recommend this book, I wouldn't say it's a gripping read: it took me several sessions to get through.

"Let me play the fool.....", 07 Feb 2005
This book tells the story of Rhona's life, aged 13-14, in a sleepy Scottish fishing town. Almost immediately it becomes impossible not to like Rhona; all her tales of the boys she kissed and the girls she wished she kissed are funny and entertaining, and she comes across as a harmless teenager who is trying her best to come to terms with her sexuality in a small town. However I felt that the real power of this book lay in Rhona's talent in capturing the warm, comfortable atmosphere of her family life. Adopted at two months by William and Jean Campbell, it's evident that Rhona's childhood was filled with love and security. I've just recently read Janet Street-Porter's childhood memoir and it was interesting to compare the two. Janet's resentment towards her family was so obvious that it overwhelmed the book a bit whereas in contrast the warmth and love Rhona experienced with her family gently seeped from her story, enabling the reader to create an image of a kid with the usual teenage issues (perhaps more than others as she was also struggling with her sexuality) who, always quietly in the background, had this solid, comfortable family unit nurturing and encouraging her. And this of course, makes what happens next even more tragic.

I hope I'm not spoiling the tale for anyone (and it says this on the back of the book anyway) by saying that 1979 was an unforgettable year for Rhona for all the wrong reasons, as she lost her beloved dad during this year. Rhona's evocative and emotional memories of this incredibly difficult time are written with such pathos that I couldn't put the book down. She relates the tragedy from a teenager's perspective which enhances the sadness of this event and she describes her so loss so effectively and with such rawness that I found myself wincing with pain and sadness as I read it. Having lost my own father several years ago I empathised hugely with Rhona's loss and felt she articulated her feelings and emotions perfectly.

My final comment about the book was that I felt the epilogue was perfect. I was hoping like mad that the story wouldn't end abruptly without finding out what happened to some of the characters, and all I'll say is that the final paragraph in her book was so moving and poignant that I was once again gulping away tears. I finished this book thinking how much I liked Rhona Cameron. Read this book and see what I mean - it's an absolutely wonderful offering from a warm and talented woman.

A must for all early fortysomethings ......., 18 Jul 2004
I've always liked Rhona Cameron, and we're the same age, so not getting this book wasn't an option. I was not disappointed and, although this is an awful cliche, I have never laughed so loudly nor cried so hard.

The book focuses on one pivotal year in Ms Cameron's life. It is a moving, hilarious and gut wrenching account of how it was to be her. You don't have to be scottish, lesbian or even female to enjoy this book. Anyone who was in their early teens in the late seventies will find references which amuse and satisfy. The honesty with with the author describes her feelings toward her friends, enemies, teachers is glorious, awe inspiring, funny and yet heartbreaking. You know without a doubt that Rhona had no option but to be herself but it couldn't be without consequence.

It's wonderful stuff from start to finish, but for me it was the way that Rhona had to deal with family tragedy at the age of 13 that I found so agonisingly moving. For me this part of the book was so raw,it allowed me to reach my own personal catharsis as I came to terms with a similar experience as an adult at the end of last year. To be allowed in to Ms Cameron's pain as she went through this as a child was a privelege and I thank her.

Somewhere is this book is something for all of us in those things that affect and shape us in our teens which often stay with us throughout our adult lives and who need to laugh at life and at ourselves just because life is too short.