"Jurassic Park"
Best audiobook I've ever listened to. By a distance.
Huge advantage over the book version is Coogan's narration; the voice is such a key component of the Partridge persona.
Cannot recommend it enough.
Three downsides:
1) a bloke in Holborn shot me daggers yesterday because it looked like I was laughing directly at him, rather than listening to it on my headphones. You'll also look an epic tit lauging loudly to yourself on the tube/train/bus.
2) You'll be genuinely sorry once it's finished.
3) After seven hours of solid Partridge, you'll find yourself talking a bit like him in real life. Which is odd.
All in all, it's awesome.
"You get what you pay for"
I'm a big fan of the great AP and if you are you'll love this audio book. This is the first audio book I've bought and while I was apprehensive about whether I'd like the format for novels and fiction I was confident that I'd appreciate AGPs memoirs read by the man himself. It's great fun and while not laugh-out-loud all the way through there were a number of bit that had me chuckling away on a crowded train.
Some of the material is rehashed (or should I say reworked) from the TV shows but it's done in such a way that it represents Alan's personal view of the situation which is not always quite as accurate as the fly on the wall material we witnessed back in the day so it's funny to hear Alan's versions of chinese whispers when he remembers some of his most shame-faced moments in a way that makes him feel good about himself.
I managed to listen to it over about 4 days on my commute to and from work and like the TV shows I've no doubt it will be something I come back to, AP is such a good creation and while I think Coogan and co sometimes push the boundaries too far silliness-wise (Jed Maxwell episode on TV, I'm looking at you) you can forgive them beacuse the character is written so well. The only real sadness I had was that Lynn never gets a name check (purposefully) but some of the stories about her having to fend for herself are great.
All in all I great book and an even better audiobook that's well worth a listen. It's just a shame that Bouncing Back (Alan's first memoirs) never got to see the audio book treatment.....(still this one would well suit a drive to Dundee in your bare feet...)
"Lovely stuff"
Not really sure what to say about this audibook other than this - if you are a Partridge fan then this is a must-listen.
Entertaining, believably in character and most importantly funny, this is one of the best comedy tie-in books I've ever heard. No mere shameless cash-in, this is a well constructed book by people that by now totally get the character, and cleverly weave in the false reality of Partridge's appearances in 'On The Hour,''The Day Today' and 'Mid morning matters' as well as his interpretation of events seen in 'I'm Alan Partridge' to great comic effect. Being read by Steve Coogan in character adds so much more to an already well considered and contructed comedy autobiography and there's enough new material as well as new takes on old favourites for any Partridge fan to enjoy. If you're a fan then get this audiobook. You won't regret it.
"Comedy genius"
Superb. Lovely stuff. Jacknackernory. This book is made even better as Alan himself reads it. The 'contribution' from his wife is genius.
"AH-HA Brilliant!!"
As a fan of the shows I was instantly drawn to this book and it is Brilliant.
The book tells the life story of Alan Partridge and ties wonderfully into the TV shows. It does a brilliant job of telling the story from Alans point of view - a view which differs somewhat from what we all witnessed during the shows.
This is made even better by the whole thing being read by Steve Coogan in charecter as Mr Partridge.
It adds so much to the whole experience of this wonderfully written book.
If you are a fan of the show or remember watching them at the time - listen to this book it is really funny!!
"Fans of Alan Partridge can't afford to miss this"
The most wonderfully egotistical autobiography money can buy.
One of the best things about this book is that many of the events in the original Radio and TV shows are subtly revisited and given a fresh perspective in the retelling. Listening to him recount the "I've got Cheese" incident at dinner with Tony Hayers was a particular highlight for me and had me laughing out loud on the train on my morning commute.
I'm glad I listened to this book rather than reading it as Steve Coogan's narrative adds so much to it that I'd have missed if I'd read it to myself.
"Very very funny"
One of the best audiobooks I've book, so glad it's read by Steve Coogan. If you find Alan Partridge funny then don't miss out.
"Pure Audible Gold"
As a Alan Partridge fan i cannot stress enough how funny this book is. I've listened to it numerous times as i've been laughing and missing bits. Pure AP Joy.
"Sidesplitting!"
Coogan's dry and absurd sense of humour makes for an absolutely fantastic listen! Highly recommended, genuinely hilarious. Fans of Brass Eye and The Day Today will be especially pleased with this..
"Back of the net, cashback, jurrasic park, etc"
This is a brilliant audiobook. Possibly the best audiobook ever written slash read by a man. I can't think of an audiobook that I would rather hear read by its author than this one, except for maybe the Steve Jobs one, because then it'd mean Steve was still alive but I only just thought of that, so it doesn't count.
Anyway, if you're either a fan of Alan's or the sort of person who would really like his stuff then this is definitely for you.
I just realised the Steve Jobs reference doesn't work because he didn't write the biography, hence it's a biography and not an autobiography. I should, therefore remove all reference to it in this review since it is, strictly speaking, out of context, but if I do that the review will be a 'bit light', so it stays.