After the intensity of 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine', I felt I needed a bit of light relief. I'd enjoyed some extracts of Sarah Millican's new book 'How to Be Champion' on the radio, so I decided to give it a go.
Comedian Sarah Millican's 'How to Be Champion' is part memoir, part self-help and part amusing musings on life. Covering subjects as diverse as school, proper jobs, bullying, relationships, getting into stand up and the weirdness of fame, she shares stories, tips and even a recipe, all the while reminding us that life can be both sad and funny and sometimes both. Above all, this book is about how to deal with it in a way that makes you feel 'champion', even when things don't go how you anticipate and society's expectations just want to get in your way.
OK, I'll start with the negative. Like many celebrity books, the structure for this one goes a bit wobbly a bit towards the end. It's almost like there was a set word count and once the timeline from school to the present had been more or less exhausted, there was a sort of 'what do I say now?' moment. Fortunately, it doesn't last too long and Millican regains momentum to get us to the end of the book.
On the whole, this was exactly what I expected and wanted it to be. Millican's joie de vivre shines from every page, meaning that this was a book I was happy to return to and could trust to raise a smile, from humour, recognition and understanding. Hopefully she really is that champion and it's not just all that sugar in her tea!
As I'm sure the publisher's hoped, 'How to be Champion' would make a lovely stocking filler, something that can be enjoyed in short bursts during the morning commute or the five minutes you get to yourself after the kids have gone to bed. While it's definitely one for the girls and a bit on the disposable side, it did it's job well and it certainly has a place on my bookshelves. Like Millican herself, it's brave, brassy and yet compassionate, akin to a supportive hug and a 'It'll be alright, pet.'. We all need one of those from time to time.
Now, what next...
