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Book Review of Phillip Schofield's Life's What you Make It I'm not a fan of this photo on the front of Phillip Schofield's Life's What You Make It Phillip Schofield's Life's What You Make It has been widely advertised and promoted and I've no doubt it will feature in many household's Christmas stockings. As a presenter, of UK TV shows such as Good Morning Britain and The Cube, Schofield is a household name who people are understandably interested in. In Life's What You Make It Schofield discusses how he needed great PR to manage his coming out as gay, so presumably writing the autobiography shortly after this revelation is one cog in the PR wheel, By and large, coming out as gay has not prevented Schofield from maintaining his status as 'national treasure'. Publishing the book has been, I think, a successful strategy to enhance this. I was happy to invest my twenty pounds to buy a signed copy and it went to the top of my reading list. The autobiography Life's What You Make It takes us from Phillip Schofield's childhood in Cornwall, through to his short lived emmigration to New Zealand before his return to London highlighting the different steps of his career sucess. Schofield claims that writing the book was his lockdown project. I think it is probably is the case that he did write it himself and it seems reasonably honest. As is so often the case in celebrity autobiographies though it doesn't really kiss and tell all or kiss and tell at all. Readers wanting to know the real story behind quarrels with colleagues will be left none the wiser. It seems he is eager to not make waves and even suggests that he has made peace with Piers Morgan. Overall, the pages turn easily enough and it is a moderately interesting read. Throughout Life's What You Make It it is possible to see the affection Schofield has for his parents, his children and wife. It is clear to see how coming out as gay has caused him immense anguish because of his desire to avoid hurting others. It is the humility that surrounds this part of the autobiography, that for me, makes the book credible and worth reading. As for the rest, In truth, I did find some of the book a bit bland. It gave the basics of Phillip's life, but wasn't overly riveting to read or know about. Schofield even comments in the text how he was often described as 'beige', thoug it would seem that he is, in fact, something of a party animal and a boozer! The final section of Life's What You Make It where Schofield describes the torment he felt as he undergoes the self-realization that he is gay and the impact that this will have on his family was very well written. It felt honest, it felt real and it felt emotional. Anyone struggling with how to handle any kind of emotional unveiling will inevitably feel empathy and compassion as they read the final chapters of the book. In this respect, but probably only in this respect it had a similar impact to Alan Davies Just Ignore Him, but of the two books. Just Ignore Him is far more powerful. Book Discussion Questions on Phillip Schofield's Life's What You Make ItDo you think Schofield's success was the result of luck or hard work? How do you think he would answer that question? If your family decided to emigrate when you were 19 years old would you go with them? What was your motivation for reading Life's What You Make It? Did it live up to expectations? Did you enjoy Life's What You Make It? Why or why not? What was your favourite part? Do you think the book adequately addresses the issue of Schofield's 'coming out'? Do you think Life's What You Make is an honest book? Discuss. Having read Life's What You Make It did Scholfield present differently to what you expected? Did anything you read in Live's What You Make It really surprise you? Do you think Life's What You Make It is a good title for the book? Why or why not? Is Live's What You Make It a good example of a celebrity autobigraphy? Why or why not?  Phillip Schofield posing on the front of Hello Magazine. Do you agree with his philosophy that Life's What You Make It? Book Club Questions on Phillip Schofield's Life's What You Make It (if you haven't read the book!)Schofield's childhood growing up by the sea sounds quite idyllic. What is your idea of an idyllic childhood? There are numerous photographs in Life's What You Make It. Does a picture speak a thousand words? Are you a fan of celebrity autobiographies? Why or why not? Schofield saved his father's live by giving him CPR. Do you have any stories of having done heroic things that you would like to share with the group? Schofield was originally encouraged to dye his har brown because grey hair wasn't seen as an acceptable colour for a young TV presenter to have. Discuss. your views on men colouring their hair. Schofield describes how he presented Good Morning Britain with Holly Willoughby whilst still drunk. Do you approve of this? Discuss your thoughts on what is and isn't professiona in the work place. Schofield's mother completed a wing-walk o a plane in her eighties? What is the most adventurous thing you've done or would like to do? Personal Response to Phillip Schofield's Life's What You Make ItAs I started writing this review of Life's What You Make It I questioned my motivation for reading the book in the first place. I am sceptical about the quality of celebrity autobiographies which, all too often, seem to be a a self-love fest presented alongside a long list of 'dropped names'. Many celeb autobiographies are, in truth, quite boring. I questioned whether and why I was interested in learning about the nature of how Phillip Schofield presented his coming out as gay. It seemed a bit weird to be remotely interested as I really don't give too hoots what his sexual preferences are. Does the fact that I was interested simply mean that I have far too much time on my hands and need to find something more fulfilling to do than learning about celebrities personal lives? Perhaps is the probably answer! Having said that I guess the reason for writing an autobiography is to 'share all' and as I am contributing to Schofield's book sales revenue it perhaps legitimizes my nosiness.
Book Review of Salley Vickers' Grandmothers I'm not actually a fan of the book cover of Salley Vickers' Grandmothers. I feel it pigeon holes the book somehow. Salley Vickers' Grandmothers is an unusual and much needed book in that it focuses on the lives, loves and losses and hopes of three older women. They are either grandmothers, or in the case of Minna, a surrogate grandmother, It is through the relationship that the women have with their grandchildren that their inner thoughts, aspirations and ultimately moral values are demonstrated. In Grandmothers, Sally Vickers shows that the Grandmothers are valued far more by those in their grandchildren's generation than they are by those in their children's generation. The main character in Sally Vickers' Grandmothers' is Nan who has a secret life as an award winning poet. We see her preparing her grandson as she prepares for death. It is around her that the book is structured. Of the other women Minna is shy and bookish and takes comfort in her friendship with a neighbour's child. Blanche, is seemingly suave, sophisticated, wealthy and content but is in fact lonely and saddened about her estranged relationship with her son and daughter-in-law. At different points these characters' lives interweave. Friendships are formed and the reader is encouraged to reflect on relationships, ageing, the future generation and the quintessential brevity of life. I've recently read Ruth Jones' Us Three which also explores the friendships of women in their middle age. It is a genre that I enjoy.  I love that Salley Vickers' Grandmothers is about older women. Book Discussion Questions on Salley Vickers' Grandmothers
Bookclub Questions on Salley Vickers' Grandmothers (if you haven't read the book!)
Personal Response to Salley Vickers' Grandmothers I enjoyed reading Salley Vickers' Grandmothers and thought that aspects of it were brilliant. It was a quick and easy page-turner which belies the depth of philosophical contemplation that underpins the social and personal commentary in it. Having said that if I'm honest, I did find the execution of the story-telling just occasionally a little heavy handed. There was a sense that the author simply needed to tell us something about the character rather than reveal it in order to keep the story moving forward. There is perhaps an argument that each of the grandmothers' in Salley Vickers' Grandmothers deserve their own novel and shouldn't have to share one. I'm about to watch thevideo clip and try and get some top tips from Salley Vickers about writing poetry. |
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