Still Life by Sarah Winman tells the story of Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, and Evelyn Skinner, a 64-year-old art historian, who meet briefly in Tuscany in 1944 during World War II. This encounter sets off a chain of events that transforms Ulysses' life and those of the people around him. The novel spans several decades, following Ulysses as he returns to London after the war, navigates his relationships with his wife Peg and her daughter Alys, and eventually returns to Florence. The story is enriched by an ensemble of characters, including the eccentric patrons of the Stoat and Parrot pub, and Claude, a witty and charming parrot. The book explores themes of art, culture, and the power of human connections, set against the backdrop of historical events such as the 1966 Florentine floods[2][3][5].
Jenny Eclair's "Jokes, Jokes, Jokes" offers a candid and humorous look at her life and career in comedy. The memoir delves into her experiences in the male-dominated world of stand-up, her struggles with fame and self-doubt, and her personal relationships. Eclair's sharp wit and observational humor shine through as she recounts both triumphant and challenging moments. The book explores themes of family, aging, and the complexities of maintaining a long-lasting career in the entertainment industry. It's a relatable and engaging read for anyone interested in comedy, memoir, or the challenges of navigating life's ups and downs.
Book Club #117 - Jokes Jokes Jokes - Richard talks to old Edinburgh flatmate Jenny Eclair about her cut-above-the-rest autobiography, Jokes, Jokes, Jokes. They discuss how you maintain a career in their weird business over several decades, the envy and bitterness that can eat you up, how getting older changes your priorities, how little either of them remember about Jenny Eclair Squats, how winning the Perrier award left Jenny feeling like a fraud, appearing (though not) in the Karma Chameleon video, being mistaken for Su Pollard, who really came up with the girl that smelled of spam and coping with death and becoming an orphan in your sixties and the lives of the aunts and uncles from the 1950s.
Buy the book here
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/jokes-jokes-jokes-my-very-funny-memoir-jenny-eclair/7648041?ean=9781408732052
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