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My Family
- The Memoir
- Narrated by: David Baddiel
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
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My Family
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Summary
'Genuinely one of the funniest books I have ever read. I wept with laughter' HADLEY FREEMAN
‘Baddiel has made true art out of experience … A masterpiece’ SATHNAM SANGHERA
'Laugh out loud funny … The read of the summer' NICOLA JEAL, THE SUNDAY TIMES
A searingly honest, funny and moving family memoir in which David Baddiel exposes his mother’s idiosyncratic sex life, and his father’s dementia, to the same affectionate scrutiny
On the surface, David Baddiel’s childhood was fairly standard: a lower-middle-class Jewish family living in an ordinary house in Dollis Hill, north-west London. But David came to realise that his mother was in fact not ordinary at all. Having escaped extermination by fleeing Nazi Germany as a child, she was desperate to make her life count, which took the form of a passionate, decades-long affair with a golfing memorabilia salesman. David’s detailing of the affair – including a hilarious focus on how his mother turned their household over to golf memorabilia, and an eye-popping cache of her erotic writings – leads to the inescapable conclusion that Sarah Baddiel was a cross between Jack Niklaus and Erica Jong.
Meanwhile, as Baddiel investigates his family’s past, his father’s memories are fading; dementia is making him moodier and more disinhibited, with an even greater penchant for obscenity. As with his mother’s affair, there is both comedy and poignancy to be found: laughter is a constant presence, capable of transforming the darkest of experiences into something redemptive.
My Family: The Memoir is David Baddiel’s candid examination of his childhood, family and memory offering a twisted love letter to his parents.
'Such a blisteringly honest book it would set fire to the word "candid" for being too pathetic' CAITLIN MORAN
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What listeners say about My Family
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Rachel
- 07-07-24
A funny and honest account of family life
David Baddiel writes at times with painful honesty about his parents and what life was like growing up with them. Towards the end of the book, as he reflects on what he discovered after they both died, you can start to fully appreciate the impact they have had on him. Although he often refers to how unconventional his parents were, I think most of us can relate to how difficult it can be at times to have relationships with those closest to us. This is a brilliantly funny and honest account of family life and I highly recommend it. These are the best stories, and what life is all about…the memories we have of our families.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andy Wood
- 02-08-24
A Unique Reading Of A Unique Memoir
As expected, David at his shamelessly honest best brings us a fascinating recounting of his very unique upbringing. Wonderfully read and unique in the way that he steps out of the text many times to describe in detail every photo seen in the actual book - a unique way of getting in some more laughs that we'd miss out on if we read the book ourselves. He also laughs from time to time whilst recounting anecdotes - something else I haven't encountered before in an audiobook.
Long awaited and well worth it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Enya Evans
- 21-08-24
One of the best audiobooks I’ve ever bought
Everything is brilliant, funny, poignant and truthful. Read it for yourself. But as an audiobook, it was unusual… David literally describes the pics that are in the book as if you’re at next to him. It’s great fun and like nothing I’ve listened to. Anyway, I’ve ended up buying the book because the descriptions of the pics were so funny and just made me desperate to see them!
100% recommend. Also now very conscious of inverted commas.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 12-08-24
Thank you David
Had to be in your voice. Adds so much to the telling. I wish you long life. (And lots of cats)
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- Emma Thomas
- 11-07-24
Poignant, highly reflective and very funny
A very witty and seemingly honest account of his unconventional and fascinating parents, told with affection. Whilst his relationships with his parents and their own idiosyncrasies are described through the lens of what must have been years of therapy, David Baddiel’s story seems authentic and heartfelt. An interesting and entertaining read.
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- Weaver
- 03-08-24
“Moving” and “Funny”
I laughed, I cried, my jaw dropped. Often simultaneously. Beautifully read by the author, a bonus to hear both the laughter and the sadness the memories bring to his narration. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- David Brooks
- 11-08-24
Brilliant memoir
Really enjoyed listening.to this. Very interesting account and many, many laugh out loud moments. Would recommend to anyone.
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- Avid listener
- 21-07-24
So funny!
An honest, hilarious, moving & sometimes shocking depiction of an eccentric family, very relateable for anyone growing up in the 70s whose family were a bit leftfield.
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- anon
- 16-07-24
David’s in a bin bag
I really loved this book! I just need to go to the book shop now and look at all the photos he mentioned.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Barbados
- 15-07-24
Will have you laughing and crying simultaneously
The story is great, taking the listener through a humorous yet humbling story of being the child of parents.
There’s nothing unique about the premise - parents are a constant source of embarrassment. But the way the story is told you really get to “know” David Baddiel’s parents (as much as you can from a story.
While you laugh at his mother’s “misuse” of speech marks you cry the moment his father shows a glimpse of his real self. With the conversation between David Baddiel and his father near the end about having a match, I was properly belly laughing, while flooding tears into my car - I had to pull over because I couldn’t drive until I composed myself - something I didn’t know was possible, I’ve laughed so hard I cried, but never cried and laughed to such a degree.
The story ends with a question, “I hope you have enjoyed the story” the answer to that is a whole hearted YES
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