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Linda Smith was a clever and funny woman, much liked by the Radio-4-audience demographic. Some of this comes across in this book, but sadly it doesn't really do her justice. There are two problems. Firstly, the first couple of parts of the book, giving excerpts from her standup whilst on the way up, feel dated because of the political content: lots of material about the miners' strike, that will mean very little to anyone non-British or born after about 1976 (and still feels very of-its-time even to the rest of us). Secondly, it takes skilful editing to transfer the rambling, freeform spoken language of standup to the page successfully, and the editors haven't really managed it all that well. They state in the Acknowledgements that the book was put together in three months: the question is, why? Was the publisher afraid that if they took six months over it, we'd all have forgotten who she was? There are some transcription blunders: misspelling of people's names ('Oliver Sachs'? surely Sacks) and unusual words ('doh-zee-doh'? surely do-si-do), and awkward spots where onstage Linda said something like "...and go like that", which was clearly accompanied by some gesture or mime, but the printed text gives no indication of what it was.

Nevertheless, some other sections work better: Linda's contributions to radio programmes such as The News Quiz, Booked, The Beaton Generation, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, and so on, being at least semi-scripted, are more readable as prose.

Included are a section of photos from 1985 to 2004, a few playbills/posters from early standup shows, and some nice commissioned cartoons from Steve Bell, Martin Rowson, and Phill Jupitus.
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dtw42 | 4 andra recensioner | Apr 25, 2010 |
Linda Smith was an English standup comedian who did a good deal of varied radio and TV work and who died far too young. This book is a collection of material from every stage of her career, together with memories of her from colleagues and friends.

If you already knew of Linda Smith, you wouldn't have needed that introduction, and you would probably already know if you would like to read this book. If you didn't know of her already, I realise that the introduction above doesn't really help you decide whether to read it. Comedy, like music and many other things, is a matter of taste that can be difficult to explain. Many people found Linda Smith funny, and many probably wondered why she didn't achieve greater success. The reason for that may be down to what she wanted from life and work, and to the type of person she was. That sense of who she was comes across very strongly in this collection, both in the material itself and in the reminiscing of those who worked with her. In that sense, this is a very good book, better than many collections of the work of comedians.

The material is varied in quality, but it's a good reflection of the sweep of her career and her development as a performer. Most of it really brings a smile to the face. One gem that's stuck in my mind:

To be honest, once you've decided you've got a favourite chair, you don't like change of any kind.

There's a reasonable selection of photographs to go with the career history that is the sort of thread running through the book. Overall, an enjoyable read, best treated as a sweetie jar to be dipped into now and again rather than consumed at one or two sittings.
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kevinashley | 4 andra recensioner | Nov 23, 2008 |
Linda Smith was a comedian. I have purposely used the male version of the term, not because she was the Margaret Thatcher of comedy, more macho than her male colleagues, but because she didn't feel the need to make constant jokes about "ladies problems". She was funny about politics, everyday life, etc. She told her stories from the point of view of Linda Smith, who happened to be female. She wasn't ashamed of this and didn't waste time explaining the fact.
This book is not a biography (although for ease of cataloguing, I have tagged it as such), it is more a celebration of a career, cut short too soon. It only covers her career and we get only passing references to her family, friends and external interests.
Each chapter begins with an appreciation from someone intrinsic to that particular stage in Linda's career and is followed by a script of her work at that time. The scripts are occasionally annoying because, on stage, Linda often inter reacted with her audience. this works well but, comes across less appealingly in the written word. This, however, is a minor niggle in a thoroughly enjoyable book. A reminder of the lady who, I believe, would have become the first comedienne to gain the hero status of a Hancock, or a Leno.
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the.ken.petersen | 4 andra recensioner | May 15, 2008 |
If you're thinking: now that's that nice lady from BBC Radio 4 - I'm in for some wry satirical humour. Be warned!

Linda and I am roughly the same age only she got to do stand up comedy to boost the moral of striking miners and their families. Needless to say we were both angry - well wouldn't you be if Government favours one group of people over and above another with all the injustice that ensues, so she can be forgiven for the occasional f**k and d***head.

Transcripts of some of her performances and quest appearances as well as tributes by those who knew Linda.

My favourite are the diary entries in modern contexts as Charlotte Bronte, Gregor Samsa from Kafka's "Metamorphosis", Noel Coward reviewing Llewelyn-Bowen's fantasy room.

"Tracy Emin's cat Docket went missing. It wasn't such a happy ending. Docket was found - but she was found by Damien Hirst. Nasty business." Pg 261

If this wets your appetite, then there is her audio CD "I Think the Nurses...." and a biography is out soon.
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WorkinSuffolkIdio_s | 4 andra recensioner | Apr 11, 2007 |

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Associerade författare

Marla Frazee Illustrator
David Roberts Illustrator
David Parkins Illustrator
Kathryn Brown Illustrator
Jane Manning Illustrator
Jo Brand Introduction
Sandy Toskvig Afterword

Statistik

Verk
2
Medlemmar
131
Popularitet
#154,467
Betyg
½ 3.6
Recensioner
5
ISBN
77
Språk
1

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