The best parts of the book are about Idle’s relationship with the other Pythons. Although he gets a bit judgmental, it is clear that he really loves his old collaborators. Or at least most of them—as happens in most groups. Idle’s difficult childhood memories are revealing, and the story of how he comes to humor in his life is thought provoking. Discourses on his many projects and productions show the breadth of Idle’s talent, and give the reader a complete list of his movies to watch.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography

Eric grew up hating Christmas as his father survived WWII but On Christmas eve 1945 was killed outside Darlington. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying enough attention to the title of this book, the fact that it's a "Sortabiography" - cause the book had very little to do with the goings on of Monty Python. Rather it was largely a story of Eric's life (well duh, a biography). Mind you, you can't really take the Monty Python out of the life story of Eric Idle. But I guess I was expecting a little more about the Eric I already knew (that is, Eric the Python writer and actor) and less about his friendship with George Harrison and Robin Williams. As Idle explains early on, there is an unending shelf of books, documentaries and products keeping the Monty Python myth alive. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is certainly one of them.

It's only natural that a book about octogenarians will have its share of sad and moving moments, but the main message it conveys is that however limited life expectancy is, the Old But Not Dead Club will do its utmost to enjoy it! I think if I was a Monty Python fan, I might’ve enjoyed it a little bit more but it was good and it was great to see the insights. I especially loved. The behind-the-scenes information on George Harrison and Robin Williams.

Bright Side — Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder. Bright Side — Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

This is the sequel to Hendrik Groen 83 and a quarter years old. Hendrik keeps a diary. He is determined to grow old with dignity and to rise up against the care homes director. He dreams of escaping the confines of his care home. Hendrik is such a warm and genuine character - you do really feel for him. I can only hope there is a third diary; you do begin to care for Hendrik and hope he has many more tales to tell and adventures to go on. This goes from public schools to His mad days with David Jason, Peter Cooke his life long friendship with David Bowie & Robin Williams to ending up like his Grandfather in A circus to how Look on the bright side is played at funerals As well as events of note in his daily life, Groen also remarks on current affairs, including the antics of politicians, the salaries of executives, elections, corruption, the King, the Middle East, and news in the sphere of care facilities. Sometimes the anecdotes are probably funnier if the reader is familiar with Dutch personages, but often the commentary is applicable universally: just change the names.I'm a big fan of Monty Python so I was eager to read this memoir. I really enjoyed it! Say no more, say no more, nudge, nudge! I must say, I’ve never been one for clubs but if I’m fortunate enough to get to the ripe old age of 86 or thereabouts, I would absolutely jump at the chance to join the Old-But-Not-Dead Club. Their sheer determination to keep living life to the fullest does really prove that age is nothing but a number as they keep broadening their horizons, stay active as best as they can, laugh and have a good time. So in general I enjoyed this book and learnt a lot along the way. Yes there were sections where I was worried I would lose interest but thankfully they did not last long and another chapter would open up in front of me. Much of the book involves celebrity name-dropping and this gets tiresome, even as Idle admits to it. The book could have been quite a bit shorter, which would have increased its relative amount of interesting material, if Idle had worked with a collaborator to edit these name-drops. He says in the book that he’s a better rewriter than writer, and the book shows it. A few of said celebrities, notably George Harrison, were friends, and these parts of the book have real depth and show witty yet caring exchanges between the men. But, for example, who cares that Harrison introduced him to Eric Clapton once? Or a list of all the famous guys that he partied with? Interestingly, his relationship with his wife is rather glossed over, and it seems like he has more in common with his buddies. Though he mentions her several times, it’s mostly to say she’s a hot model.

Bright Side - Kim Holden - Google Books

Idle had little trouble painting a dire picture of his early life. His father beat the odds as a tail gunner in the Royal Air Force only to die in an accident hitchhiking home for Christmas in ‘45. Eric was two. Then his student years were spent in boarding school – evidently a glum affair even for a clever and popular lad. I don’t read many celebrity memoirs, but it only takes a few to recognize patterns. Please see if my observations match your own experiences. I’ll use Eric Idle’s recent book to drive the points home. Although this is the second book in the series, I don't think it's imperative that you need to read the first book to read the second. Hendrik starts his diary with a catch up of the characters from the first book, which brings old readers up to date and brings new readers into the loop. WYSIWYG –Those who are among the “illuminati” who enjoy Idle’s humor are not going to be disappointed. Those who are looking to understand him may not be satisfied and should read no further. Both Graham and John refused to run across the bridge that spans "the Gorge of Eternal Peril." To be fair, the Bridge of Death was terrifying. It was erected by Everest mountaineer Hamish McInnes and his local mountain rescue team. I for one certainly would never have crossed it, but fortunately my character Robin was killed before I had to.Tanztee“ ist ein Roman der nicht durch eine besondere Spannung lebt, sondern durch facettenreiche Alltagssituationen aus Hendriks außergewöhnlicher Sichtweise an Reiz gewinnen. As soon as I read a review of "The Bright Side" by Canadian journalist Cathrin Bradbury, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. I loved this book. I did think of my parents, and all the elderly people I have loved and who are now gone. Makes me smile to think of them. And how very close I am to that time myself. Who’da thunk? I grew up watching Flying Circus, and loved it, even though I was really too young to understand or decipher the accents (“Spam” notwithstanding). I’ve passed my love of Monty Python onto my kids, even visiting Doune castle to buy coconuts and recreate Holy Grail (with my daughter playing Terry Gilliam, I as Graham Chapman), like thousands of other daft tourists.