Set the Boy Free - Johnny Marr

I've been waiting a long time for this book.  You can read my 'Hooray!  Johnny's writing an autobiography!' post here.



I love Johnny Marr.

His life story proves that the heady combination of hard work and natural talent pays off.  Set the Boy Free follows Johnny from humble beginnings on inner-city Manchester estates to global fame and acclaim.  It's partly a 'rise of the underdog' tale, but it's also a love story between Marr and music.  As a creative person myself, I couldn't help but be inspired by his drive, his ambition, his self-belief, and also his ability to do things his own way.

I love Johnny Marr.

His total commitment to guitar and continual desire to bettering his playing, writing and producing is obvious through his musical catalogue, and although I'm a huge fan of The Smiths, there is so much more to Johnny Marr's career.  I read a review that complained there was too much music lingo in this book.  Erm ... hello? This is Johnny Fuckin Marr, a man who's dedicated his whole life to music. What did you expect?!

I love Johnny Marr.

His style and the influences he has drawn on in terms of clothes and image fascinate me.  From roll-necks and beaded necklaces to well-chosen knitwear, his style has evolved yet never deviated from something that is totally 'Johnny Marr'. There's something comforting in that.   Familiar.  And the way Johnny talks about clothes and style in the book is highly evocative.

I love Johnny Marr.

He comes across as very introspective and self-aware, constantly reassessing what he wants from not only his career, but also other areas of his life.  Reading Set the Boy Free, particularly the sections about Johnny's lifestyle change to a tee-total, marathon-running vegan, has encouraged me to think about the life I want for myself. 

I love Johnny Marr. 

I've always been fascinated by his relationship with wife Angie.  They are a rarity - a couple who met young, knew they wanted to be together and still are over thirty years on.  I loved the chance to learn more about their relationship, although the romantic in me would have liked to have more of this and also his relationship with Nile and Sonny covered in the book.

I love Johnny Marr.

I love Johnny Marr's autobiography.  It's insightful and easy to read and although I'd heard a lot of the stories before, it was nice to have a chronological version of events from Johnny's viewpoint. 

I love Johnny Marr.

I love Johnny Marr.

And did I mention I love Johnny Marr?!

My Life- David Jason

 

David Jason is one of those actors that it feel like you know.  He has seeped into our consciousness through decades of portraying memorable characters and always comes across as an affable, charming man in interviews.  I was really looking forward to finding out more about him through his long awaited autobiography My Life.

The title is not a misnomer, this truly is a book about David's life from his childhood in London in and immediately after the second world war to becoming a household name.  I loved the stories about his family, particularly his mother (her explanation of the noises in wartime as 'just God moving his furniture around' made an impression on me) and the bygone age transmitted in these tales alongside his dry humour and jovial story-telling made this an interesting read.  Autobiographies can sometimes spend a long time talking about life 'pre-fame' without really giving any insight, but I felt this book grabbed my attention.  I could visualise London in this era, imagining David and his friends up to their escapades.

The story of his 'rise to fame' is also interesting.  Although he was thrust into the spotlight (reluctantly) in the school production, David showed dedication to a theatre group and pursued a career as an electrician before he got his big break. 

For those who admire his acting (both on the boards and the screen), which let's face it, most of us do, there are lots of amusing stories from his career, especially the ones concerning Ronnie Barker.  I admit there were a couple of points where I had a tear in my eye.

Overall, My Life offers a good insight into David Jason's life and history, would make a lovely Christmas present for fans.

My Life is out now.

8/10

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.