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Telling Stories

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Telling Stories

By: Tim Burgess
Narrated by: Craig Parkinson
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About this listen

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Telling Stories, Tim Burgess's laceratingly frank and vivid memoir. Read by the actor Craig Parkinson, star of the hit film Control.

The Charlatans have had three UK Number One albums and seventeen Top Thirty singles. But they've also had to face the imprisonment and death of keyboard player Rob Collins and an accountant who ran off with all their money. Not to mention the rock 'n' roll excesses of singer Tim Burgess.

In his startlingly revealing memoir, not ghosted but written by Burgess himself, he describes how they dealt with their crises, and what's gone right with the band as much as what's gone wrong. Brought up in a Cheshire village, he went on to front a band that has travelled the world and was at the forefront of the Madchester and Britpop movements.

Telling Stories is a tale of achievement and survival, via a fair bit of heartache, but told with humour. At the centre of it is Tim Burgess's own story: how someone with a passion for music got to fulfill his dreams. He doesn't flinch from the dark stuff - the lure of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, its sweet enticements - and he confesses in vivid detail how he had to pull himself back from the brink. But along the way he had a lot of good times and met some great people while making great music. It's all here in Telling Stories.

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Critic reviews

Written with the stylish flow of a novel - light and dark, hilarious and melancholic (Emma Forrest)
Despite his success Burgess' tone is humble throughout. He seems in no doubt as to how lucky he is and is more than happy to share his excitement and wonder at the mad life he has led thus far. This is no cut and paste memoir
All stars
Most relevant
Sections are repeated, others are missed out. Whole thing sounds like it's been edited with a pair of blunt scissors and sellotape.

Story is really funny, even if you're not a Charlatans fan, so buy the book.

Great story, terribly edited

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I really liked this. Tim’s outlook is infectious. Though the segment about the interview with the Sky news reporter was courageous to include and gave a different viewpoint to Tim’s behaviour! The recording IS confusing - some sections are repeated which is frustrating but can easily be forwarded through. The style in which Tim has written the book adds to the confusion as he jumps around all-over-the place as well. But then I suspect that is a reflection on him as a person! But that said, he is very endearing. Made me Google what he’s been up to since writing the book.

Some really great stories…

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Chapters repeat themselves randomly and they end abruptly, going into the next one without a pause. Shame really, because we all love Tim, don’t we?

Great book, poor editing

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Interesting story. Craig Parkinson is great but the woman who was telling the story about interviewing him impersonated him with a really bad scouse accent. I had to skip that bit because she was making me cringe. If you can't do an accent just don't try to do it.
I love Tim and he's had a really interesting life but she just spoiled it for me.

Tim is not from Liverpool

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Tim’s book is like a trapped bee in a jar buzzing around in every direction! Strangely hypnotising and it will keep you interested from start to finish. A more open reflection on someone’s life you will struggle to find - Tim comes across like a flawed genius that genuinely has a wonderful tale to tell..

Telling stories

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