Man and boy (Alan Titchmarsh - Nobbut a lad)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	Alan Titchmarsh - Nobbut a lad
Date:	10/08/07 (98 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well written , interesting , gentle and relaxing , easy to read .

Disadvantages: May be dull to some

Lately I have been reading ‘Nobbut A Lad ‘ by Alan Titchmarsh .I found it an unpretentious read which flowed along at a nice gentle pace . Throughout the book I got the feeling that each chapter was written as honestly and accurately , as memory will allow. I found the beginning quite startling as , reading many of the early chapters rang so true with much of my early life . However on the whole the similarities were simply because , I was born within a few years of Alan ,and I was brought up in Yorkshire also . Fair enough mine was a city childhood , but we regularly visited family who lived near Skipton ,so I found I could relate to his stories about life in the West Riding of Yorkshire ,during the 1950's .

If you have never heard of Alan Titchmarsh here's a little information . Most English people became familiar with him when he was presenting Ground Force and other gardening programs on the BBC . More recently he has written a few successful novels and appeared on our TV's presenting a couple of different series . He has developed over the years into a much loved personality ,who may well become a British Institution, in time .

This book of memoirs has Alan recalling many funny , human and poignant times from his childhood . It is told with his down to earth charm shining through and his Yorkshire wit .

Alan was born on May 2nd 1949 . After a difficult birth he seemed destined to be an only child until his sister Kath arrived five years later .There is a Foreword which lasts three or four pages where Alan explains that very few names have been changed in this book . He feels there is nothing contentious or libelous and I tend to agree . He does admit though that as with us all , his memory may play tricks on him occasionally . In this case what he perceives as a particular episode could be viewed differently by someone else who was there at the time . Having said that however ,all books would just express the best parts of any instance or anecdote, or else they would be boring . It does feel like an honest representation of his early years .

The book is 320 pages long and has the odd sketch scattered throughout which are Alan's own work . There are eight pages of photographs in the middle similar to those most of us from the 50's must have lurking around somewhere . These black and white shots are so expressive of the era . One of Alan aged two with his Mum and a rather fierce looking Grandma Titch and Auntie Alice could have jumped from our family photo album . I always feel so many of these photos from the 50's were suited to black and white as that's how that period of time seems , looking back .That period just after the war was not a very prosperous time for many and there was a distinct lack of colour about , in clothes and furnishings .

The book begins with chapters dedicated to various close relatives in Alan's family and of their funny quirky personal traits . His descriptions bring these characters to life in a down to earth and practical way .The feelings which he held for each of his family members , be it grandparents or parents , shine through with much affection expressed . There are no wild adventures or highly unusual accounts of anything but the snippets of information are none the less interesting and amusing . Alan's Father did not die until 1986 and his Mum in 2002 which means they saw Alan's working life develop and take a different path .This book though really only charts his life until he had left school .

I have never particularly been an ardent fan of Mr Titchmarsh . He has been one of those personalities I can take or leave . This book however gave me an insight into the surroundings and characters that helped a child grow into a respected and likeable personality and writer . I enjoyed the easy style of writing and the descriptions of the beautiful area where Alan was brought up . For me the book took me back to memories of my old relatives who have long since departed this world . To the more innocent times when a neighbour having a car or a fridge meant they were almost royalty .To anyone reading from more recent generations it will no doubt seem a million years ago, and in a way it is . After all we should not forget it was over 50 years ago and another century .

However I think the book will appeal to many readers no matter what their age . If you enjoy an easy flowing read which is full of characters , life and a peppering of Northern humour then you should love it . However if you prefer reading a book that's full of action and suspense you will be sorely disappointed .This book of childhood memories is a pleasure to read , has it's touches of humour and is full of nostalgia .

Thanks for reading
Copyright Eiley 2007

ISBN 978-0-340-83118-2
Listed as £6.99 in paperback but on sale for less at various outlets .

Summary: Come take a stroll along memory lane .