Smoke and Mirrors, Darling

The first book I finished in 2018 was 'The Panther in My Kitchen' by Brian Blessed, which is basically 'Absolute Pandemonium' with just animals, so you don't really need a post about that.  The next was 'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' by Fenella Fielding and Simon McKay, which somehow followed on perfectly thanks to its intimate, conversational feel.

'Do You Mind if I Smoke'
by Fenella FIelding and Simon McKay
(Peter Owen Publishers, 2017)

'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' is the memoir of 90-year-old actress Fenella Fielding, best known for her velvety voice and comic roles on stage, radio and screen (if you know her from nothing else, you'll know her from 'Carry On Screaming').  In this book, she tells tales from her childhood and career, painting a picture of life as a performer in the 1960s and tempting us with tidbits from behind the scenes of various productions.  Through her many stories, the reader is given a glimpse of the hard work and tough decision-making that has to happen before the curtain goes up and the cameras start to roll, as well as the thrill of success and a job well done.

This book is breezy and charming and gives the wonderful impression of having Ms Fielding in the room with you for tea and a tête-à-tête (hence the comparison with Blessed).  She determinedly refuses to dwell on the negative aspects of her life, instead focusing on the opportunities seized and strokes of luck had during the peak of her career in the 1950s - '70s.

'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' benefits from a light style that makes it an easy read, even when referencing more unpleasant aspects of her life, such as disappointments, familial disagreements and 'handy' male colleagues.  While it would have benefited from a bit more detail and texture in places, I think it would also have lost some of it's essential Fenella-ness, and this is probably the book that Ms Fielding was most comfortable writing.

Overall, this is a nice book that will be enjoyed by Fenella Fielding fans.  I suspect it's even more lovely as an audiobook, making full use of Ms Fielding's famous voice.

Now, what's next...