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  • James Acaster's Classic Scrapes

  • By: James Acaster
  • Narrated by: James Acaster
  • Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (7,521 ratings)
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James Acaster's Classic Scrapes

By: James Acaster
Narrated by: James Acaster
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Summary

The Sunday Times Best Seller

James Acaster has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award five times and has appeared on prime-time TV shows like Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and Russell Howard's Stand Up Central.

But behind the fame and critical acclaim is a man perpetually getting into trouble. Whether it's disappointing a skydiving instructor mid-flight, hiding from thugs in a bush wearing a bright red dress, or annoying the Kettering Board Games club, a didgeridoo-playing conspiracy theorist and some bemused Christians, James is always finding new ways to embarrass himself.

Appearing on Josh Widdicombe's radio show to recount these stories, the feature was christened 'James Acaster's classic scrapes'. Here, in his first book, James recounts these tales (including never-before-heard stories) in all their glorious stupidity.

©2017 James Acaster (P)2017 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critic reviews

"James Acaster has a brilliant comic mind, crackling with energy every bit as much as his corduroy slacks." (Milton Jones)
"I don't think I've ever read a book that has made me cry with laughter as much as this one. It was very difficult reading it in public as I looked like a madman." (Richard Herring)

What listeners say about James Acaster's Classic Scrapes

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Classic Scrapes

Classic scrapes, Brilliant simply brilliant. I have to write fifteen more words, so here they are, oh and cabbage. Brilliant

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29 people found this helpful

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Brilliantly funny.

James Acaster is easily my favourite new comedian. As someone the same age as James who also spent his 20's in playing in bands and making terrible decisions I can completely identify with his scrapes. In my opinion there's nothing enjoyable or entertaining about a 'funny story' about things going wrong that are rooted in pure stupidity. However, there is something joyously endearing when blind optimism and oddly logical decision-making lead to undesirable outcomes, particularly when retold by one of the best comedians in the UK. Very very funny and plenty of laugh out loud moments.

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20 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you only listen to one audiobook, make it this one.

Had this recommended via several friends. Utter, delightful comedy gold. All the way from a tiny internal smirk (primary school kids and socks) to a full blown belly laugh (Humpty Dumpty) - this has it all. Buy it - now.

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7 people found this helpful

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Funny as!

Not bad for someone from Kettering 😂😂
Such a funny book with so many tales, it will have you in stitches

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7 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

series of witty anecdotes

It's exactly what you'd expect: a comedian telling silly anecdotes. Acaster's performance is great, the stories vary in zaniness and irony, overall, well worth a listen.

Do note though that the anecdotes all appeared on Josh Widdecombe's radio show, and several were also used on Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You and in Acaster's stand-up. So if you're a fan who follows his work, expect some repetition.

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Just a Little Bit Bland

I purchased the Audible recording of this book based on the positive reviews, but have to say I was a little disappointed. James claims to be prone to ‘scrapes’, but I found the majority of these occurrences to be a bit underwhelming. A nice listen, not particularly funny, ultimately redeemed slightly by cabbages.

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5 people found this helpful

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Painful

I'm a big fan of James Acaster so I was expecting great things. I suspect these stories were much funnier when recounted spontaneously over the radio. As structured narratives they just don't seem to hold up; the stories feel laboured, awkward and barely worth the telling.

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4 people found this helpful

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One of the funniest books I have listened too

Heard interview with Richard Herring and thought would give a go. Despite not having listened to the radio show, James does an exceptional job of bringing new readers along with him, and I have to say I haven't laughed so much to a book since Alan Partridge's autobiography. Thoroughly recommended.

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4 people found this helpful

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So, so good.

I finished this 6 hour audio book in 3 days. that's with a full time job and a busy home life. It was so funny I listened to it whenever I could... Whilst driving, washing up, cooking and yes, on the toilet! I can't wait til next month when I allow myself the treat of James 's next book.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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scraping the barrel

It's just a collection of anecdotes; some are amusing, most are not. The amusing stories were peppered in just enough to keep me listening to it but it definetly wasn't worth the monthly audible credit I'd spent on it.

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3 people found this helpful