Bonkers

Jennifer Saunders is comedy genius

If you could sum up Bonkers in three words, what would they be?

Laugh out loud funny, genuinely moving and unexpectedly warm. Loved it immensely.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bonkers?

There are many but I loved the early account of racing around London with friend JoBo. The basis of more than one of her comedy sketches were seeded there!

Have you listened to any of Jennifer Saunders’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Jennifer's narration added to the comedy a number of times.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Funny, warm and moving.

Any additional comments?

Self deprecating and honest.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Ab Fab

What made the experience of listening to Bonkers the most enjoyable?

'Bonkers' exemplifies the reason why I love listening to authors reading their autobiographies; more specifically, Comedians. Because she's feeling the emotion of the event she's describing and because she possesses great comic timing, the overall effect is immeasurably better than if read by a hired actor.

It goes without saying that the audiobook is, at times, embarrassingly laugh-out-load funny ;walking down the street hooting to yourself is, of course, a sign of madness. Be prepared to get funny looks if you're listening to this in public.

Brilliant!

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Great!

What made the experience of listening to Bonkers the most enjoyable?

Jennifer Saunders reading it herself.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bonkers?

Her account of coping with treatment for breast cancer.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could have listened to it in one sitting without becoming bored, but its a long book!

Any additional comments?

I went for this audiobook in response to the very good reviews left by others, combined with an exert I heard on BBC radio 4. They made me reconsider my initial view - that I wouldn't like it. Jennifer's humour is something that has usually only worked for me in small doses. Her autobiography however, entertained me throughout. It was (as all her work) intelligently written and also beautifully read. It was laugh out loud funny in places and also dealt with some very serious issues with a distinctly British underpinning of dark humour without detracting from the nature of the issues. An excellent read/listen.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

I LOVED this audiobook, get it now.

I loved this audiobook. It is the most entertaining audiobook I have listen too. I will freely admit I am a massive French and Saunders and Ab Fab fan. As I was listening, I found myself smiling and even laughing. At one point the girl sitting next to me on the bus got up and sat somewhere else. Whoops!

The book is very entertaining and I liked the fact she also expressed opinions on certain subjects too. It could have been a very entertaining book of various stories but it is nice learn someones point of view too. The book covers everything from the early days to the many BBC series to Ab Fab and on to her writing Viva Forever and of course her experience with cancer. There are a lot of funny stories in the book, as you would expect but they are very well told by Jennifer Saunders. The narration was hilarious. I personally like it and regardless of opinions of Jennifer Saunders you understand how much she likes to make people laugh. I like the fact she explained her comedy process to you.

I want to point out some of the funny bits, but that would spoil it. I can't say how much I enjoyed this and I didn't want it to end. I can not express strongly enough how good this was. I recommend getting it....now. Don't think about it, get it and listen to it and get plunged into the very funny world of Jennifer Saunders.

One last thing, thanks to Claire Balding......listen and find out why!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Blissfully Bonkers

Where does Bonkers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This has to be in my top five audiobooks. I'm sure that reading the book will be enjoyable but listening to it read by the authoress herself adds an extra dimension. I loved it from beginning to end and felt that eight hours just zipped by. I felt as though I were listening to one of my best friends telling me stories about all the funny and sad things that have happened to her and mimicking all the the other people who were involved. Jennifer appears to be a truly lovely person with no pretension and a fantastic sense of humour. I laughed out loud through every page. I was gutted when I got to the end but it's really good enough to listen to again - and again!

What about Jennifer Saunders’s performance did you like?

Her reading of the book raised the enjoyment and brought the characters to life.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

I loved this book.......laugh out loud

What did you like most about Bonkers?

Jennifer Saunders reading her own book worked so well.... I loved the footnotes and rants.

What did you like best about this story?

I listened to this went out running and couldn't wait to continue the story. I liked the conversational style and how it shifted around different time zones

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Saunders – was your favourite?

Loved the fax conversations with "Jack" and Betty Jackson

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me laugh.....loved the bit when Jennifer says that when her and Aide aren't with Freddie, they are looking at pictures of him!!! Brought a tear to my eye at the end when she thanks those around her.

Any additional comments?

An uplifting, funny and hugely enjoyable read.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Down-to-earth Bonkers

Would you consider the audio edition of Bonkers to be better than the print version?

The audio edition has the benefit of being read by Jennifer Saunders - it is as if she is talking to us "dear readers". Loved that personal touch.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the personal, down-to-earth, self-effacing attitude of Jennifer. She is the first to laugh at herself and take you along with her.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Saunders – was your favourite?

Giggle - is this a trick question?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to this book on the way to work over several sittings and I looked forward to the journey because of it. At one point I laughed out loud on the bus and turned heads - not in a good way you understand but a 'batty-odd-person' way. But it makes me smile just to think of it.

Any additional comments?

This is not one of those 'ghost-written' biographies. Oh no - this is Jennifer Saunders telling us about herself - well what she can remember that is. It is both personal and profound, witty and laugh-out-loud funny.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Big fan but slightly disappointed..

I'm a huge Jennifer Saunders fan but this book had me being irritated by her at times. I found myself switching off as she flitted between stories which at times, weren't all that interesting.
Not as many laugh out loud moments as I expected, and she used stories which made her seem selfish which I felt let down by.
I'm still a fan because nothing could make me not enjoy Ab Fab or French and Saunders but I didn't really connect with the book

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

So Disappointing!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I really wanted to love this book as I adore Jennifer Saunders but I was so let down. The chapters describing the making of Ab Fab were great but the rest was all just a bit dull. She spent rather too much time gloating over all of the freebies she was given.Having listened avidly to Miranda and Michael McIntryre and laughed until I cried with both of them my expectations were high. Such a shame.

What will your next listen be?

Bill Bryson

If this book were a film would you go see it?

no!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Absolutely Fabulous!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Bonkers to be better than the print version?

The fact that Jennifer reads it herself gives it an excellent extra dimension.
Thoroughly enjoyable - lots of laughs and poignant moments.
A really excellent listen.

12 of 15 people found this review helpful