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  • Under a Mackerel Sky

  • By: Rick Stein
  • Narrated by: Rick Stein
  • Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (187 ratings)
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Under a Mackerel Sky cover art

Under a Mackerel Sky

By: Rick Stein
Narrated by: Rick Stein
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Summary

‘All men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why’. Rick Stein's childhood in 1950s rural Oxfordshire and North Cornwall was idyllic. His parents were charming and gregarious, their five children much-loved and given freedom typical of the time. As he grew older, the holidays were filled with loud and lively parties in his parents' Cornish barn. But ever-present was the unpredicatible mood of his bipolar father, with Rick frequently the focus of his anger and sadness.

When Rick was 18 his father killed himself. Emotionally adrift, Rick left for Australia, carrying a suitcase stamped with his father's initials. Manual labour in the outback followed by adventures in America and Mexico toughened up the naive public schoolboy, but at heart he was still lost and unsure what to do with his life. Eventually, Cornwall called him home.

From the entrepreneurial days of his mobile disco, the Purple Tiger, to his first, unlikely unlikely nightclub where much of the time was spent breaking up drink-fuelled fights, Rick charts his personal journey in a way that is both wry and perceptive; engaging and witty. Narrated by Rick Stein himself.

©2013 Rick Stein (P)2013 Random House Audiobooks

What listeners say about Under a Mackerel Sky

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Pleased Rick Stein is a chef and not a writer!

What would have made Under a Mackerel Sky better?

Like most people who bought this book, I quite like Rick Stein. However being a successful chef and a competent author are rarely achievable and I regret Rick Stein is no writer and his narration is mind-blowingly boring and monotone!Like a football match this is a book of 2 halves. The 1st half before Rick Stein starts opening restaurants is a good read and enjoyable. The 2nd half however when Rick Stein starts his restaurants is, I regret pretentious twaddle. How anybody believes that listing names of wines and foods is interesting to the reader I have no idea. Furthermore I note the early in the biography Rick Stein states he wanted to be a journalist. Luckily nothing ever materialised and I'm pleased he did not succeed as the writing here is very poor. I could not see him even succeeding at a local newspaper.One thing that really annoys me about books nowadays is when the author takes quotes from other books. I never find that interesting and often I wonder why they do it unless it for ego.It's like look at me I'm well educated! It adds nothing to the book in this case.Talking about ego, Rick Stein repeats several times that people and journalists now refer to Padstow as Padstein. I read and have read quite a lot of newspapers and have been to Padstow on a number of occasions but I've never heard of this and wonder again if this is ego massaging.The last few chapters deal with the breakup of his marriage and the way it is written Rick Stein seems rather proud that he dropped Jill, his wife of 20 odd years who had stood by him through thick and thin and married Sass whom he met on a restaurant reviewing panel whilst in Australia. Rick Stein tries to make you sympathise with his position but to be honest, even from his the death of his father, I feel absolutely nothing.I put this down to poor writing.Funnily enough the stories I did enjoy in the book I'd heard before or seen on TV i.e. the situation where Keith Floyd calls him Nick and the mandolin cutting episode and in my opinion they are the funniest parts.Just to conclude, I still like Rick Stein I find him interesting though I do get irritated with the way he throws down his knife and fork on his plate after eating a meal. Also he always has a downer on what we British eat or decide not to eat. However he is entertaining but regretfully this book does nothing to promote him.One final point, I note that reviews which only give one or 2 stars are usually neg'ed by fans and as such I can't see many fans of Rick Stein getting this far in the review and I expect to receive the abuse of many Rick Stein lovers. I've tried to write when I believe to be a true reflection of my view of the book.

Has Under a Mackerel Sky put you off other books in this genre?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another one of Rick Stein’s performances?

No, his narration is awful.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No

Any additional comments?

Please see long review.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

boring

I struggled but persevered to finish it. I am a fan of Rick but found the book hard going.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a perfect listen to grasp the life of Rick.

I wish there were more. He really is a true inspiration. I love the way he writes. it's like music to the ears. comforting and peaceful with excitement just at the right times. more please Rick!!! some more on his culinary and poetic journeys. beautiful 😍🤗

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Biography or list of sexual conquests?

Would you try another book written by Rick Stein or narrated by Rick Stein?

No I don't think so.
His narration is quite flat.

Has Under a Mackerel Sky put you off other books in this genre?

No

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Rick Stein?

I don't really know. It is usually best if the writer also narrates but sadly Rick Stein is not that good at the latter.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Under a Mackerel Sky?

All the boring descriptions of his many sexual conquests and the details of the clothes the girls wore and the music they listened to.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Warts and all.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I have no problem recommending this book, It's well written very interesting and Rick is not afraid of highlighting some of his own personal, as he sees them "weaknesses".
However surprisingly Rick is not a great narrator considering how good he is in front of the TV cameras, but don't let that put you off he get's better as the book progresses.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Wasn't for me

I've always liked Rick Stein in shows on tv about cooking. I thought that this book would be more focused on cooking while it is rather a biography of his life. I guess it's an honest portrayal of his life and like most people he isn't perfect and I finished the book having a different impression of him to person I had seen on screen.

He does a good job of telling the story, I just felt that the content wasn't all that interesting to me personally. I would have rathered more detail of the dishes and recipes he mentions.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Honest disclosures

Always liked Rick Stein - like him more now I know him better. A good book well worth the time, you’ll enjoy it I’m sure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Prettaaay prettay pretty guud.

This book confirms that Rick Stein is one of my great heroes. Four more words.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best audiobook I’ve listened

So good, I’m going to start it again. Honest, charming and a joy to listen to from start to finish.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interested in the personality? Informative incite.

I enjoyed it, and would read it again many times over, just to consolidate what I heard. (More about my concentration levels right now, than the book tempo I'm sure) Some very familiar incites of childhood, without his experience of safety and a middle class existence in my own upbringing, sadly.
His dulcet tones sooth, but the storyline is gripping, to all who have more than a passing interest in others lives.

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