4 out of 5
Product Description:
In Miles Kington's classic final book, he faces the cancer that eventually killed him with astonishing courage and his sparkling trademark wit. Hilarious and moving, this is the ultimate tribute to a master humorist.
Miles Kington, the much-loved humorist, musician and broadcaster, died of cancer in January 2008. This series of letters from him to his literary agent - ostensibly proposing a stream of increasingly absurd ideas for books he might write about his illness, but in reality simply a brilliant vehicle for his characteristic humour - shows this inventive and very English writer at the height of his craft. And as he confronts his fate with understated but unflinching courage ('what's the point of just writing it down as life? Any writer worth his salt improves the story until it is worth telling'), Kington's mischievous wit never falters: 'I'm afraid this wasn't an idea for a book after all, only an idea on how to spend the royalties...'
Wry, poignant and deeply moving, these letters are above all very, very funny. Every word is vintage Kington.
Miles Kington, the much-loved humorist, musician and broadcaster, died of cancer in January 2008. This series of letters from him to his literary agent - ostensibly proposing a stream of increasingly absurd ideas for books he might write about his illness, but in reality simply a brilliant vehicle for his characteristic humour - shows this inventive and very English writer at the height of his craft. And as he confronts his fate with understated but unflinching courage ('what's the point of just writing it down as life? Any writer worth his salt improves the story until it is worth telling'), Kington's mischievous wit never falters: 'I'm afraid this wasn't an idea for a book after all, only an idea on how to spend the royalties...'
Wry, poignant and deeply moving, these letters are above all very, very funny. Every word is vintage Kington.
My favorite line in the whole book is when Kington decides that a memorial video is the wave of the future and would like to begin his with "Hello, I'm sorry I couldn't be here in person with you today". Although I knew very little about this English author, I really did enjoy the humor and the wonderful word play. This is a very quick read and quite enjoyable.
Product Details
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Newmarket Press (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155704841X
ISBN-13: 978-1557048417
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Newmarket Press (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155704841X
ISBN-13: 978-1557048417
I have never heard of this person but it seems that it would be quite heart breaking to read these memoirs of his. Maybe when I'm emotionally better myself I'll go for it. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteLilly -- I had never of heard of him before either. Now I am looking for his books. I just love memoirs!
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