Status
Available
Description
"Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career that has spanned nearly three decades, encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters. Loved for her irreverant humour, Dawn has achieved massive mainstream success while continuing to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes. Here she describes the journey that would eventually establish her as a perhaps unlikely, but nevertheless genuine, national treasure. Dawn began her career as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, marking a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls On Top, which teamed Dawn with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman and firmly established women in British comedy. As part of the wildly successful and much loved duo French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repetoire of brilliantly observed characters, parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Madonna and Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn's more recent role in the Vicar of Dibleyshowcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial and topical issue and make it ma… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DubaiReader
I am a great fan of Dawn French and was thrilled to receive this book for Christmas. Parts of it, particularly in the second half, were fascinating. I enjoyed her obviously affectionate writing on her husband, Lenny Henry and the descriptions of her escapades with the cast of The Comic Strip.
Her
The photos were also wonderful and I found myself returning to them frequently.
The early part of the book, though, I found slow. I really didn't go for the lists (eg of the people she'd kissed) or the weird chapters addressed to Madonna. Nor the love letters to various pop idols, not funny nor cute, just annoying.
All in all, a bit of a mixed bag but I'm glad I read it, especially as I now realise that living abroad for so many years, there are a number of French's works that I've missed - and I'm now off to track them down :)
Her
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relationship with, and the loss of her Dad were touching too.The photos were also wonderful and I found myself returning to them frequently.
The early part of the book, though, I found slow. I really didn't go for the lists (eg of the people she'd kissed) or the weird chapters addressed to Madonna. Nor the love letters to various pop idols, not funny nor cute, just annoying.
All in all, a bit of a mixed bag but I'm glad I read it, especially as I now realise that living abroad for so many years, there are a number of French's works that I've missed - and I'm now off to track them down :)
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LibraryThing member devilish2
Dawn French (I really hope it is her and not a ghostwriter) writes in a delightfully frank, and of course, funny way. She is emotionally revealing while not going into tawdry detail. And she had me bawling my eyes out several times - I like that in a book. There is the odd comedic section that
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didn't grab me hugely, but certainly serves to illustrate the kind of humour that French and Saunders do/did. I loved the way she used letters to people that are important to her to detail her life. I felt it worked really well. Show Less
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
A poignant tell-all written as a series of letters to people who played large roles in her life: her husband Len, her daughter, Jennifer Saunders (Fatty) who was a life long sidekick, her mother, her grandmothers, her brother, a variety of lovers(? - the answer is cagily phrased so one is never
French leaves little to the imagination, but treats us to the inside look at a vulnerable, loving, talented woman.
I don't normally read celebrity memoirs, but I'm a huge fan of DF, and when I had the chance to pick this up, I grabbed it. While it could have done with some editing to tighten things up. The lack of any kind of time line made it difficult to follow at times, but OTOH, it made it easy to read in short, individual 'episodes' as each letter was self-contained.
I'd recommend it for anyone who is a fan, and anyone who wants to know more about british customs in the 1980-2000 timeframe.
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sure), and above all her father, who committed suicide when she was in her early teens.French leaves little to the imagination, but treats us to the inside look at a vulnerable, loving, talented woman.
I don't normally read celebrity memoirs, but I'm a huge fan of DF, and when I had the chance to pick this up, I grabbed it. While it could have done with some editing to tighten things up. The lack of any kind of time line made it difficult to follow at times, but OTOH, it made it easy to read in short, individual 'episodes' as each letter was self-contained.
I'd recommend it for anyone who is a fan, and anyone who wants to know more about british customs in the 1980-2000 timeframe.
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LibraryThing member tapestry100
Dawn French (one half of the British comedy duo, French and Saunders) may be one of the funniest women alive today. The other funniest woman alive today is Jennifer Saunders, the other half of French and Saunders. For those not familiar with either, they have had a successful run at BBC with their
Dear Fatty is Dawn French's memoir. Like anything that French does, her memoir is frequently laugh-out-loud funny. What surprised me most about her memoir is how unflinchingly honest she is throughout. She relates her life, both its ups and downs, as best she remembers it. Written in the form of letters to her friends and loved ones, Dear Fatty touches on the funny and the sad in French's life. For instance, one letter is to her father, who committed suicide when she was 19, and in one paragraph that goes on for almost two pages, she asks him questions. Why he did what he did; why didn't he ask for help; etc. By the end of this particular letter, I'm not ashamed to say that I had tears in my eyes. Her frustration of 30 years of unanswered questions is so evident, and she does nothing to hide that. Of course, not wanting to keep her readers in too serious a mood, she immediately segues into far more lighthearted material, but that honesty is there and it can be raw and emotional, and I respect her all the more for it.
I never doubted her ability to write; watch any of her sketches or shows, and it's obvious she has a talent, and she excels at proving that over and over again in her book. One of my favorite lines from the book is:
"It's a process of having faith in the self you don't quite know you are yet... Believing that you will find the strength, the means somehow, and trusting in that..."
Words that speak volumes to me in my life right now.
I don't that many people would rush out to buy this book. First off, I'm not even sure it's available in the US yet, and secondly, I don't know that anyone who isn't a fan of Dawn French would really care all that much. But for those of us who are fans, this is a gem of a book, and even if you aren't a fan of Dawn French, I still think you'd find this a funny and revealing look into the life of one of the funniest ladies out there right now.
Highly recommended.
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variety show, French and Saunders; Dawn French may be best known for her role in The Vicar of Dibley; Jennifer Saunders is probably best know for her role as Edina in Absolutely Fabulous; both have also starred in shows too numerous to list here. And every single show that I have seen them in has been top notch.Dear Fatty is Dawn French's memoir. Like anything that French does, her memoir is frequently laugh-out-loud funny. What surprised me most about her memoir is how unflinchingly honest she is throughout. She relates her life, both its ups and downs, as best she remembers it. Written in the form of letters to her friends and loved ones, Dear Fatty touches on the funny and the sad in French's life. For instance, one letter is to her father, who committed suicide when she was 19, and in one paragraph that goes on for almost two pages, she asks him questions. Why he did what he did; why didn't he ask for help; etc. By the end of this particular letter, I'm not ashamed to say that I had tears in my eyes. Her frustration of 30 years of unanswered questions is so evident, and she does nothing to hide that. Of course, not wanting to keep her readers in too serious a mood, she immediately segues into far more lighthearted material, but that honesty is there and it can be raw and emotional, and I respect her all the more for it.
I never doubted her ability to write; watch any of her sketches or shows, and it's obvious she has a talent, and she excels at proving that over and over again in her book. One of my favorite lines from the book is:
"It's a process of having faith in the self you don't quite know you are yet... Believing that you will find the strength, the means somehow, and trusting in that..."
Words that speak volumes to me in my life right now.
I don't that many people would rush out to buy this book. First off, I'm not even sure it's available in the US yet, and secondly, I don't know that anyone who isn't a fan of Dawn French would really care all that much. But for those of us who are fans, this is a gem of a book, and even if you aren't a fan of Dawn French, I still think you'd find this a funny and revealing look into the life of one of the funniest ladies out there right now.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member michelle_bcf
Dawn French doesn’t need any introduction - she is a well known comedy actress, loved by many, and is most well known for being half of French and Saunders, and as the wonderful Vicar of Dibley.
What surprised me about this autobiography is the fact that the focus isn’t really on her career, and
However, the fascinating aspect of this book is the way that Dawn shares her life growing up, the relationships she’s had, her heartaches and her joys. She fiercely loves her family, her friends, and her colleagues, and that shines through. (However, she most certainly does not like Madonna! ;))
The book is written as a series of letters, to various people.. a large proportion of these are written to her father, and it’s easy to understand why, as he had such an affect on her. One particular letter had me in tears, and I was so glad to see Dawn reaching a type of resolution by the end of the book.. which did make for a good place for it to finish.
Dawn’s voice is obvious in the book, you can almost hear her speaking it in your mind.. in her own unique style. There are serious moments in the book, but the humour that you expect is always there. Who else would write a letter to her niece, talking about her life ahead of her.. including what it may be like to have a big bosom?!
For anyone who has enjoyed watching Dawn French over the years, I would highly recommend this autobiography, not only as a peek into her life, but also as a better understanding of the sort of person she is.
What surprised me about this autobiography is the fact that the focus isn’t really on her career, and
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her fame. It’s certainly a large part of the book, outlining her early days in the Comic Strip, the films she took part in, as well as her recent roles.However, the fascinating aspect of this book is the way that Dawn shares her life growing up, the relationships she’s had, her heartaches and her joys. She fiercely loves her family, her friends, and her colleagues, and that shines through. (However, she most certainly does not like Madonna! ;))
The book is written as a series of letters, to various people.. a large proportion of these are written to her father, and it’s easy to understand why, as he had such an affect on her. One particular letter had me in tears, and I was so glad to see Dawn reaching a type of resolution by the end of the book.. which did make for a good place for it to finish.
Dawn’s voice is obvious in the book, you can almost hear her speaking it in your mind.. in her own unique style. There are serious moments in the book, but the humour that you expect is always there. Who else would write a letter to her niece, talking about her life ahead of her.. including what it may be like to have a big bosom?!
For anyone who has enjoyed watching Dawn French over the years, I would highly recommend this autobiography, not only as a peek into her life, but also as a better understanding of the sort of person she is.
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LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
This autobiography from one of the nation's most loveable comediennes is presented as a series of letters to loved ones present and lost.
The book is warm and intimate, sad and hilarious, humble and inviting; if I have a complaint it's that the format leaves the reader somewhat left out, peering in
The book is warm and intimate, sad and hilarious, humble and inviting; if I have a complaint it's that the format leaves the reader somewhat left out, peering in
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at thoughts and jokes and remembrance intended for others. Still, one is afforded an amusing, candid overview of all Dawn French's normally very private life. Nice and enjoyable! Show Less
LibraryThing member alecclews
Not a great book, but pleased to read it
Short on specifics and dates, Heavy on impressions etc. Written as a series of imaginary letters to various members of family and friends
Short on specifics and dates, Heavy on impressions etc. Written as a series of imaginary letters to various members of family and friends
LibraryThing member LynetteM
Wonderfully refreshing and funny - can't help but love her.
LibraryThing member tillymint100
I enjoyed this. It's written as a series of letters recounting different events etc in her life.
LibraryThing member ikaa
Lifestory written through letters to people that have been or still are in het life.
LibraryThing member birdsam0610
I seem to be drawn to biographies and travel memoirs to read on my daily commute. My theory is that they’re easy to pick up and put down and there’s no gripping scenes that will have you miss your stop.
Dear Fatty was good, but I always knew when it was my stop.
Dawn French has written her
Dawn comes across as very funny in her letters and the letters are very well written. Nothing ever drags. I found it a little difficult at times to keep up with the names of some people, but I’d recommend this as a good light read for a commute or aeroplane.
Dear Fatty was good, but I always knew when it was my stop.
Dawn French has written her
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autobiography as a series of letters to various people (in case you didn’t know, ‘Fatty’ is Jennifer Saunders of Absolutely Fabulous fame). It’s not strictly linear, jumping back and forth between episodes in childhood and adolescence but becoming more streamlined as she moves into adulthood. I felt she was ‘dodging’ some issues (which become clearer later in the book) and it was a bit strange to read about her love for her husband (as I’ve been told that they’ve broken up). Vicar of Dibley fans will be disappointed that the show only appears in a couple of letters.Dawn comes across as very funny in her letters and the letters are very well written. Nothing ever drags. I found it a little difficult at times to keep up with the names of some people, but I’d recommend this as a good light read for a commute or aeroplane.
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LibraryThing member ninadangelo
Funny book and heartfelt about Dawn french and her life
LibraryThing member veracite
I admire Dawn French's talent and have enjoyed her work very much. This book is pretty charming but a bit too sweet to finish right after Taste of Green Plums. It tasted almost cloying this morning.
LibraryThing member strtrek
Well written, easy to read. LOL book. Well done Dawn.
LibraryThing member KRaySaulis
I thoroughly enjoy this little brain-mush break from the things I have been reading otherwise this summer. It was funny, inspiring and joyful.
LibraryThing member Familyhistorian
I first saw Dawn French in "Murder Most Horrid" and wanted to see more of her comedy. Then "The Vicar of Dibley" came out. I enjoyed watching the vicar and the very odd villagers every week, I just wished it had a longer run. I think it did, just not on the telly in North America.
The book "Dear
I enjoyed it but I didn't dive in to devour it like some books. I learned a lot about her life, many things that I was not aware of, as well as the comedy scene in the UK. There are loads of great photos as well.
The book "Dear
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Fatty" is essentially a memoir but it is not written as a linear story. French has written it in the form of letters to various people, some who were a major part of her life and some, well some didn't know that they were a part of her life. I think it is a device that works for her story and using this method her personality comes through. It is also a good vehicle for dealing with some touchy subjects. I found the reading very slow going, however.I enjoyed it but I didn't dive in to devour it like some books. I learned a lot about her life, many things that I was not aware of, as well as the comedy scene in the UK. There are loads of great photos as well.
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LibraryThing member RettaRyan
I love Dawn French she is so naturally funny and this flowed into her biography even when she is writing about some tough subjects. It was an easy light read over a boring long weekend.
LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
Interesting to read about Dawn's life and her evolution into a comedic star as well as hearing about her personal relationships. A book written in the form of letters to people who are important to her.
LibraryThing member Felicity-Smith
So I only read this as a friend was throwing it out as part of her new year declutter. I dipped in and out throughout the year so far (and its been a long one!).
This was released around 2007 I think and it has dated somewhat. Not only has the world moved on but a lot of the anecdotes take on a
This felt a little bit like reading old blog entries from a blogger you have followed recently. It is the same person but its not. There is a lot of nostalgia which both worked and didn't for me in this book. I have a brunette sister born 1957 so some of the cultural references were great and humourous and relevant. However I did not grow up in Britain and do not have a great knowledge of some of the popular culture references of the 1980's and 1990's. This made it both informative (who knew who she did early comedy with and the photos were great). But also this made it feel a tiny bit self indulgent - guess who I knew before they were famous type stuff.
I guess if you knew more about Dawn French this might be fun but I don't beyond a couple of sitcoms and charity appearances so make of that what you will. I think this may have been why I was not engrossed or fascinated as much as I have been by other memoirs of those I know of a little better (Miranda Hart springs to mind). Also the overriding impression was how oddly the book has dated. On the plus side it is well paced and well edited.
This was released around 2007 I think and it has dated somewhat. Not only has the world moved on but a lot of the anecdotes take on a
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different tinge when the writer is no longer 51 and married etc but 63 and divorced and quite changed.This felt a little bit like reading old blog entries from a blogger you have followed recently. It is the same person but its not. There is a lot of nostalgia which both worked and didn't for me in this book. I have a brunette sister born 1957 so some of the cultural references were great and humourous and relevant. However I did not grow up in Britain and do not have a great knowledge of some of the popular culture references of the 1980's and 1990's. This made it both informative (who knew who she did early comedy with and the photos were great). But also this made it feel a tiny bit self indulgent - guess who I knew before they were famous type stuff.
I guess if you knew more about Dawn French this might be fun but I don't beyond a couple of sitcoms and charity appearances so make of that what you will. I think this may have been why I was not engrossed or fascinated as much as I have been by other memoirs of those I know of a little better (Miranda Hart springs to mind). Also the overriding impression was how oddly the book has dated. On the plus side it is well paced and well edited.
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LibraryThing member thewestwing
I really enjoyed this! I loved the way it was made up of a series of letters, rather than traditional chapters. I loved Dawn’s writing style, it was warm and funny but also poignant.