An enjoyable and entertaining book. It is
highly recommended and would be a most welcome addition under the Christmas
tree. (Review by Keith Millar)
Love him or loath him you have to admit
that Jeremy Clarkson is unrelenting in his off-the-wall, acerbic, caustic and
extremely funny commentary on the iniquities of the world at any given time.
Jeremy Clarkson, just in case there is some
hermit out there who has not heard of him, is a journalist and TV presenter. He
is best known for the massively successful BBC motoring series Top Gear for which he was a
co-presenter. However, his bombastic wit often landed him in hot water and
eventually he was fired over a fracas with a crew member. A move I am sure the
BBC regrets as the show which was a global phenomenon has slipped away to
mediocrity without him.
If
You’d Just Let Me Finish . . . is no less than the seventh
volume compiled from his weekly column The
world according to Clarkson which is published in the British Sunday Times
newspaper. This in itself is an indication of the enormous popularity, and dare
I say respect, that this this writer enjoys.
With no fewer than 92 of his columns
included in the volume it is a pretty substantial body of work. However, I
suggest that this is not a book which one would read relentlessly from cover to
cover (unless you get hooked – which is not too difficult to do) but rather
something one would dip into from time to time to read a few of the columns.
Particularly when you need a good laugh.
Though having said that and while
Clarkson’s reflections on, and solutions to, the world’s problems are pretty
whacky and seemingly tongue-in-cheek there is often a chilling truth and rather
grave observation in the writing which can lead to some serious contemplation.
With material dated from March 2015 through
to December 2017, the book is reasonably topical. Clarkson’s style is succinct,
easy to read and while his columns deal mostly with British-based situations
they certainly have a universal appeal.
Clarkson holds no sacred cows. Whatever the
issues of the day they receive the treatment. Topics such as Brexit, the Mediterranean
refugee crisis, being a Vegan, bicycles, caravans, the North Korean nuclear
threat and, of course, any politician are fair game. The Labour Party leader,
Jeremy Corbyn, is a particular target for Clarkson’s ridicule. The articles are
varied and are all interesting, to the point and very funny.
Jeremy Clarkson’s If You’d Just Let Me Finish . . . is an enjoyable and entertaining
book. It is highly recommended - and if you have any last minute Christmas
shopping to do, I am sure it would be a most welcome addition under the
Christmas tree.
If
You’d Just Let Me Finish . . . is published by
Penguin Random House and the ISBN number is 9780241366745. The recommended
retail price is R329. – Keith Millar
Posts
