Just Ignore Him, Alan Davies
Just Ignore Him, Alan Davies
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Just Ignore Him
A BBC Two Between the Covers book club pick

Author: Alan Davies

Narrator: Alan Davies

Unabridged: 8 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/01/2020


Synopsis

'A simply astonishing achievement. The quality, depth, emotional power and terrifying honesty of Alan Davies's story-telling take the breath away' Stephen Fry

'This hugely affecting book is brave, insightful and, at times, funny about things it is hard to be funny about' Jo Brand

The story of a life built on sand. In the rain.

In this compelling memoir, comedian and actor Alan Davies recalls his boyhood with vivid insight and devastating humour. Shifting between his 1970s upbringing and his life today, Davies moves poignantly from innocence to experience to the clarity of hindsight, always with a keen sense of the absurd.

From sibling dynamics, to his voiceless, misunderstood progression through school, sexuality and humiliating 'accidents', Davies inhabits his younger mind with spectacular accuracy, sharply evoking an era when Green Shield Stamps, Bob-a-Job week and Whizzer & Chips loomed large, a bus fare was 2p - and children had little power in the face of adult motivation. Here, there are often exquisitely tender recollections of the mother he lost at six years old, of a bereaved family struggling to find its way, and the kicks and confusion of adolescence.

Through even the joyous and innocent memories, the pain of Davies's lifelong grief and profound betrayal is unfiltered, searing and beautifully articulated. Just Ignore Him is not only an autobiography, it is a testament to a survivor's resilience and courage.

About Alan Davies

Alan Davies is a comedian, writer and actor, best known for starring in the hit BBC series Jonathan Creek and his regular appearances as a panellist on QI.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Nar on September 06, 2020

What a story. One almost wishes it wasn’t true. Alan has been my favourite person for some time now but after reading this, I am not ashamed to count him as one of my heroes. If I should ever feel trapped in life, I can always return to this book and know that even the hardest moments can be endured......more

Goodreads review by Nigeyb on November 12, 2020

Alan Davies? Stand up comedian, actor, panel show regular, podcaster, fanatical Arsenal fan? Yes, funny man, relaxed and easy going. An autobiography is sure to be an amusing and light read? Er...no, most definitely not. It turns out Alan has a very dark tale to impart. His monstrous, abusive, angry......more

Goodreads review by Indieflower on December 24, 2021

Alan Davies on TV comes across as laid back, comical and a bit daft, I never knew about his incredibly difficult childhood until I read this book. To others his life appeared comfortably middle class, 2 siblings, nice house, good school, all the material things, but on the inside things were very di......more

Goodreads review by Jim on September 05, 2020

Do Not Ignore Him Alan Davies - Jonathan Creek, the curly-haired good-natured fall guy of QI - the comedian - with excellent Aussie-accent - Oh, Alan...that you were dealing with (even when not consciously dealing with) the loss of your mother and the secretive betrayal of your innocence from your fa......more

Goodreads review by Helen Webb on September 10, 2020

This memoir by Alan Davies was written with great warmth, clarity, and a very clever mix of humour. With the very serious subject matter you almost feel guilty for laughing. With the advantage of hindsight Alan is able to reconcile his childhood secrets with his childhood behaviour. My reaction when......more


Quotes

A simply astonishing achievement. The quality, depth, emotional power and terrifying honesty of Alan Davies's story-telling take the breath away. And what a story he has to tell. What a writer he is. Alternately funny, sad, frightening, sweet, savage and tender, Just Ignore Him will never leave you. I always knew that the dumb bewildered puppy persona that Alan so brilliantly projects was a mask for an acute, sensitive, powerfully intelligent and insightful mind, but nothing prepared me for such a tour de force of writing, for what is destined to become an instant classic. Not a klaxon but a peal of church bells and a twenty-one gun salute. Just Adore Him

Tender, funny and unusually inspiring

One oft repeated speculation about comedians is that their "otherness", as children, led them to take on the mantle of class clown in order to deflect bullying. In truth, the reality is so much more difficult to unravel. In this book Alan Davies explores the complexity of events in his childhood whilst maintaining his trademark sardonic humour, warmth and intelligence. It's very, very sad at times, but a fascinating look at how childhood tragedy and trauma were treated in that era and how, leavened with humour, one individual/stand-up comic tries to make his way from the dark to the light

A heart breaking but also uplifting memoir written with wit, wisdom and great humanity

The book is written extremely well . . . There have always been many reasons to admire Alan Davies. Now we can add extraordinary courage Mirror

Davies explores the complexity of his youth with warmth, intelligence and at times even humour. The narrative shifts seamlessly between the 1970s and the present day . . . important and insightful Daily Express

Raw and compelling Observer

Suffused with Davies's trademark dry humour, balancing heartbreak and hope with a steady hand Radio Times

Surely the bravest memoir of the year Sunday Times

An intimate, open-hearted book Guardian