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Under a Mackerel Sky

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About this listen

‘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 Cooking Food & Wine Celebrity Heartfelt Witty Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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I have been desperate for Rick Stein to write an autobiography for years, and now he has it was truly wonderful. Rick narrating makes it even more special. I have learned so much about him and behind his programs I so dearly love.
Inkjet I will listen to this again.

Simply wonderful

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This is without doubt my favourite chef of all time.
I was a chef myself for many years, travelling around Europe and the UK.
It was wonderful to hear how Rick drifted into the business through necessity. His early years were a wonderful tale and Rick tells it in an affectionate way.
I will treasure this book always and listen again on a relaxing summer holiday, probably in Cornwall! 😀

Fascinating insight

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Where does Under a Mackerel Sky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's the only autobiography I've read/listened to, and so it has to be the best :)

What did you like best about this story?

Rick has a real go get it attitude and that's how he's built up his business just by seizing opportunities and not letting his failures curb his enthusiasm

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I have always thought that his French Odyssey adventure was one of his best and getting an insight into this and realising that most of what we saw was actually how it happened was really good, and him admitting to really enjoying it himself too.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

After his ' bad choice' that led to a car crash, don't want to spoil it , but it is good to learn from our mistakes and feel humbled by them.

Any additional comments?

Never been tempted to read/listen to any biographies, but after this I Will definitely be trying another one :)

Always liked Rick Stein, like him even more now!

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Good read, lovely stories and a must read for any Rick Stein foodies out there

Who knew Rick was so rampant!

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This book was fun and interesting to digest, if you are a Rick fan, strangely i really enjoy listening to him on the TV right from his first appearance with Floyd but i found some of the reading laboured which did come as a surprise that said i persevered and enjoyed all the little details immensely empathising on many an occasion.
Entertaining story telling with much to talk about

If you like Rick

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