Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
 Confined to bed; this almost made it worthwhile. September 11, 2007
Mrs. C. L. Clarke
72 out of 75 found this review helpful
What an amazing, moving, autobiography. A strong person who through her relentlesly non-self-pitying honesty gives hope to all of us with our own acknowledged flaws, and allows us to form other perspectives on various ideas about life without thrusting her own views upon us. Thank you, Clarissa. Perhaps you could now turn your hand to writing novels, since it would be unfair to expect another volume of your autobiography just yet. You have left me wanting to read more of your fabulous thoughts, which could surely be given somewhat more of a free rein in a novel, so please think about turning your talents in that direction.
Sadly, I don't suppose you will ever see this. If anyone else does, I cannot recommend this book more strongly; it is both uplifting and inspiring.
Cora-Lynne
Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival! March 24, 2008
E. V. Hall
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!
She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.
This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.
She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!
A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!
A wonderful insight into a facinating personality September 10, 2007
Mrs. B (Norfolk, England)
41 out of 45 found this review helpful
I have always loved Clarissa Dickson Wright's TV programs and books. I followed the Two Fat Ladies and Clarissa and the Countryman avidly. When I caught a preview of this book in the Sunday Mail, I preordered it there and then.
It was from the beginning an very matter of fact tale of a person who has led an incredible life of ups and downs and then when it seemed all was lost, turned it around when so many may have just given up.
From being violently abused by her famous father, becomming a barrister just to spite him, to falling into the abyss of alcoholism and then digging herself out again, this story had me enthralled and amazed from the first page to the last.
I recommend it to anyone who is facinated by the human being's ability to survive against the odds.
An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady April 2, 2008
reformed magazine junkie (Cambridge, UK)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.
An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English May 16, 2008
avid ravid (Dorchester, Dorset United Kingdom)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!
|
