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Book Review: Spectacles by Sue Perkins

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By Joanna Shaw

Comedienne, presenter and all-round funny lady, Sue Perkins takes us through some of her major life events through the forms of lists, scripts and anecdotes, and I can honestly say it is one of the funniest autobiographies I have ever read!

Writing in an extremely honest and open way Perkins describes both troubling and hilarious moments in her life, from her dramatic predictions of how her mother will react to her being gay (and the fact it turns out to be much less stressful as she presumed!) to the heart-breaking three page letter she wrote to her dying pet dog Pickle, she will be able to laugh then cry hysterically in the space of two chapters. She also gives very true, witty advice in the matters of love, family and friendships such as always remind your family that you travelled with them to witness your brother’ wedding, otherwise you’ll be left in a hotel alone and wondering which church in the whole of Scotland the wedding is taking place!

However, it is not all cheery and humorous within Perkin’s memoir, she has her heart broken and struggles with dying relationships, she also quite openly and suddenly reveals that she has been diagnosed with a brain tumour that made her infertile. She does this with such grace an honesty that you can truly hear her voice within every single word of this book, after moments of sadness, she brings the humour right back with the use of anecdotes surrounding her friendship with best friend Mel Giedroyc and how they are now known as a household name comedy duo. She loves to talk about her many moments as a presenter and contestant in programmes such as The Supersizers Eat…and Maestro, to most famously the double act Mel and Sue becoming presenters on The Great British Bake-Off.

Overall I believe that this autobiography is a strong-willed and extremely funny representation of Perkin’s personality and will be enjoyed immensely by young and old.

I give it 5 out of 5.

Joanna is a third year English and Film Student and loves nothing more than a good book. Follow her on twitter @booklifereads and on Goodreads .

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