Sublime!

I wondered if this would work as an audio book. I had no doubt as to the content: Marina is a genius and a fair amount of the material was stuff I at least partly remembered from her columns over the past few years. But a collection of columns usually needs to be in ‘actual book’ form, and dipped into. But this totally worked as a continuous narrative…I don’t know how she did it, but it kept me hooked all the way through.

Secondly, I was a bit disappointed, initially, that Marina wasn’t reading it herself…however, the reader chosen, someone I haven’t encountered before, was more than up to the job. She, too, was brilliant, I thought.

Finally: the content. It showed what acres of top class, well informed and witty writing MH produces, week by month by year. Nothing in it, IMHO, was anything near sub par, and I can think of few other writers who seem to unable to write a bad paragraph. As well as being informative, it all contains at least wry amusement and, more often than not, just reduces me to helpless laughter.

And, given that MH doesn’t shrink from serious, sad or enraging subject matter, how does she manage not to come across as bitter and twisted? I don’t know, but she somehow manages it. In the interview with Caitlin Moran at the end, and elsewhere, I’ve heard MH describe her approach as, ‘are you thinking what I’m thinking? That’s ok and there are plenty of others who feel the same.’ Maybe that’s the trick. There was also some discussion of its being good for one’s mental health to write things down; something I do, anyway, but Caitlin ( I think, or else Richard Osman, who has also interviewed MH recently) suggested also that reading the writing of someone like minded helps, too. So I think MH’s columns have genuinely helped to keep a lot of us sane during the last few insane years (not over yet…)

Ok, it’s well past time I stopped, but I will also just say that this kind of writing usually dates very quickly: predictions turn out wrong, events font turn out as expected. MH herself says she tries to avoid prediction, for obvious reasons. She mostly does, but, spookily, such occasional, and often whimsical, predictions as she does make, seem to have a remarkable accuracy rate.

Spoiler alert, which I should have put at the beginning: I thought this was quite good…

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13 people found this helpful

Love her

Originally I thought this book would be different,maybe more about Marina's life lessons and I dreaded the fact that I had to revisit all Brexit drama years again. However it is well written as always and witty and historical points are considered with the benefit of hindsight so it wasn's as painfull as I assumed. Marina is a great political comentator and although I am biased as we both share left leaning beliefs she is fair and critical of both sides equally and that I apreciate the most in today's polarised world of politics. We need more journalists like her in these crazy times of lies and deceates of political classes to keep them on their toes.

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2 people found this helpful

Another great book let down by the narrator

I’m confused as to why MH didn’t just record this herself? The person doing it makes her sound smug - She’s a poor choice. I’m about 25% of the way through and her voice and performance is already irritating.

Shame, as MH’s stuff is fantastic.

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8 people found this helpful

A rare gift

If, like me , you were reluctant to revisit our ghastly recent history and have already read many of the pieces anthologised here, don’t hesitate. The writing is scintillating and razor sharp and worth revisiting. The observations and bizarre analogies are apt and truthful. The reader does full justice to the text which is an important consideration. Marina Hyde is an expert witness to our troubled times and a joyful remedy for despair.

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Pure genius.

I read pretty much all Marina Hyde’s (political) columns. They are the best I have ever come across. These cover post Brexit and Trump plus loads more. No doubt as we get ready for Trump 2: Saving America, Marina will supply the throat and brain soothers to keep us all sane.

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WTF indeed ! Genius

So funny, dense rich language an analogies that you wish you could emulate. If you like Marina's column then it is a cert. Even if you just have a passing interest in politics, this is a must listen. I have listened about 10 times now as dip in and out each week a few chapters.

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Perfection

There’s no one who captures the zeitgeist quite like Marina Hyde. Absolutely hilarious - love, love, loved it!

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If it were possible to give it 6 stars

Wonderful writing. Funny, insightful, cathartic.

I read all these columns as they came out and have loved re-reading them. I’ve often asked the question: have you read the new Marina Hyde? And looked forward to reading them myself.

6/5 stars

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent stabby political commentary if only it would lead to their downfall !

Roll up roll up tickets for the shitshow …but at least this ‘review’ of the recent performance is a joy to listen to as opposed to the players themselves…clever, funny writing in the face of such a tragedy, nice one Marina

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Brilliant!

I am a great fan of Marina Hyde’s Guardian columns. Her clever, acerbic humour really appeals to me and her writing is so insightful. I did wonder if articles going back to 2016 would still have an appeal, but I needn’t have worried, they are still fresh and had me alternating between tears of laughter and tears of anger.
For me, the narration was excellent.

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