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Theroux The Keyhole

When the world went weird (and so did I)

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Theroux The Keyhole

By: Louis Theroux
Narrated by: Louis Theroux
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About this listen

Come round to Louis Theroux’s house where the much-loved TV documentary-maker, podcaster and bestselling author of Gotta Get Theroux This finds himself in unexpected danger . . .

Like millions of others, Louis’ plans were mothballed by the onset of Covid. Unable to escape to the porn sets, prisons and maximum-security psychiatric units that are his usual journalistic beat, he began reporting on a location even more full of pitfalls and hostile objects of inquiry: his own home during a pandemic.

Theroux the Keyhole is an honest, hilarious and ultimately heartwarming diary of the weirdness of family life in Covid World. A wife intolerant of his obsession with Joe Wicks’ daily workouts. Two teenage sons, inseparable from their videogames, for whom he is increasingly 'cringe'. A five-year-old happily spamming out videos on his own new TikTok account while on holiday with his oblivious family.

Louis also describes how he launches his podcast, Grounded, finally gets to the US to film a new Joe Exotic documentary and aims his sights on the latest incarnation of the far right in a world becoming radicalized by social media. Theroux the Keyhole is Louis at his insightful best, as he faces unforeseen new challenges and wonders why it took a pandemic for him to learn that what really matters in life is right in front of him.

Read by Louis Theroux, in his usual witty style.

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Critic reviews

He just has a sincere desire to understand people.

Even against the horrific backdrop of Covid, [this] book is all the more charming, and blackly amusing, for it.
All stars
Most relevant
Like most of the world, Louis Theroux spent the last 18 months in a state of bewilderment as to events caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. And like many of us he sort solace in Joe Wicks, Jack Daniels PlayStations and Zoom calls to get him and his family through the months of lockdown, home schooling and claustrophobia. This book chronicles this period in Louis' familiar minor key style starting with the bemusement during the initial days that felt like "the fire alarm going off in a primary school for a drill" to the reality of living in an apocalyptic world. Unlike Louis' other works on which focus on those on the fringes of society, the COVID pandemic has affected us all and none of this seems particularly weird as we have all lived through it.
Louis considers that maybe this period really has given us all a glimpse of vulnerability that humanity needs. He may well be right when he points out that as well as defeating COVID much is needed to tackle other viruses such as popularism, nativism and misogyny, It is great to hear that, despite the turmoil Louis has continued on his crusade to expose extremists and freaks to the world through his documentaries and now has his own TV company. This is a brutally honest book and I would recommend it to anyone.

(I wanted to call this review the Lockdown diaries from the Dame Vera Lynn of Lockdown Podcasts but there is a strict limit of the number of characters the Audible accepts in the title.)

Lockdown diaries from endearingly quirky filmmaker

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As a fan of Louis and his work I found this book to be incredibly interesting but for someone who is not overly aware of Louis and his work I can imagine it would ot be overly interesting. its basically "a year in the life of" through the pandemic and the changes and challenges that has bought with it. I listened to the whole thing in basically one sitting as I found it to be funny and fascinating, a mix or Louis humour as well as some painfully honest moments about his life. if you are a fan of Louis or are familiar with his work then I definitely recommend it. if you have stumbled across it without knowing much about him then I'd say avoid for no, check out some of this work then get "got to get theroux this" (his autobiography) first before picking up this one.

One for the fans

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Louis is a deliciously dour master of the mundane and weird minutiae of everyday parent/celebrity life during Covid. Like Jack Dee on uppers. I must say I was mystified as to why he bared all in respect of family life (eg worms - really?) but felt the need to change the names of his kids. Not very documentarian in my opinion. However, I particularly liked the fact that he has made me feel considerably better about my own lockdown drinking and generally below par behaviour during lockdown. And as for his kids, 'Ray' is definitely the star of the show.

'Caroline Lotion' for the Soul

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I thoroughly recommend this audio book.

It’s well written and well read. I feel like part of Louis & Nancy’s family now I’ve been invited into all the goings on during these covid times.

Bravo!

Well worth a listen

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An honourable look into the the life of our friend Louis during the multiple 2020 - 2021 lockdowns where he uses very interesting anecdotes from his friends and family to pratray his thoughts without forming his own opinion which allows us, ourselves as a reader to formulate our own view. A great read from a very very satisfying reader to listen to and very funny at some points, even if this was not intended. Also I can very much associate with his drinking during lockdown and almost accidental purposeful alcoholism he relies on.

An insight into a great but very normal life of LT

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