David Mitchell: Back Story

I know that my heading for this implies surprise that I found this enjoyable, but I just love the unique way David went about telling his story. I so enjoy his appearances on British panel shows (which I have to see almost exclusively through benevolent British Youtubers who take pity on we poor Americans who don't get those shows on BBC America.) A few of the other books I've read written by comics/comedians read at least partly as if they simply wrote down chunks of their stand-up routines. And most of those lose a good deal of the amusement in the retelling in print. David doesn't really do that, or if he does, he does it MUCH better.But David starts his story by talking about the daily walking exercise he started a few years ago to relieve a progressively deteriorating back condition (which is cleverly written in the title as a pun.) What he does as he takes you through his life and significant personal and professional events and anecdotes by mentioning in the first paragraph of each chapter a new and different landmark on his way along his exercise route. And a very interesting way to go about reading this story is by following it on Google Maps. I KNOW that sound creepy and stalk-y, but I live more than 4700 miles away, have no curiosity whatever about where he lives and the only hint he gives of where he lives is simply mentioning the name of the borough. He doesn't even give away his street name, much less his house number, but instead starts the story at the first main thoroughfare he reaches in his exercise route. And it is a doozy of an exercise route. But it was so interesting to call up each landmark or street name on Google maps and see what he saw and experience the physical journey with him. As an Anglophile, I found this method wonderful and educational.It's a "wordy" book, which is silly way to describe any book; it makes one think that that the alternative would be a picture-y book. But he's educated and bright and his particular brand of humor is how he uses words to turn ordinary ideas into amusing ones. Again, a poor description of "wordy." This is definitely a "reader's" book, and I mean that in a way to convey that, if you aren't a devourer of books as a primary hobby and preference of how to spend an empty afternoon, this book will probably begin to weigh rather heavily along about the 4th or 5th chapter. But for me, I only craved more at the end. One of these days, I hope, he's going to write a series of books on a walking tour of ALL of London. It'll take him months, I'm sure. The best part is when he mentions his first (or 2nd, really) meeting of (the VERY pretty) Victoria Coren and his complete falling head over heels in love with her. But at that point, she's unavailable as she chose to pursue a relationship with someone else. And it can only be said that he quite literally pined for her. He pretty much admits it. Not in a crippling way; indeed, it was a motivation to turn a 20-minute exercise into an hour as a way to work through a broken heart. He mentions the other ways in which he tried to cope with a loss he was certain would be lifelong, none of which were fulfilling nor healthy, and most of which he regrets. Then, remarkably, a few years later, they meet again at the right time when she had run through that previous relationship. She was available and interested and he eventually got to marry the first, true love of his life. So it was amusing, interesting and, in the end, romantic. This last part would probably be considered a "spoiler," but his marriage to Victoria is public record and there are a few photos of his wedding online; the reader can hardly claim to have the story ruined because I told you how it ended.His next book should be written as he walks through the very center of downtown London and describes his experiences with new fatherhood (if he wants kids; some people don't, which is fine.)

There's something timeless and quintessentially English about David Mitchell and I'm sure he knows it. This engaging memoir captures that fact and more- so if you like that whole "Brit" comedic tradition you'll enjoy this easy to read, never too deep or revealing, autobiographical work. David has a great turn of phrase and the ability to bring a lot of smiles- and occasionally a belly laugh- as you read this mostly charming book. His anecdotes unfurling as he is walking around London works well as a device here, anchoring him even more firmly to the geography of the city that shapes his current comedic world. Some of the parts in later chapters about work deals- the wheeling and dealing and back-and-forthing in the TV industry, have limited appeal to those of us outside the industry and become a bit tedious, but there are plenty of other stories to keep up interest- and anyway that's what a Kindle finger-tap is for!The final chapter is a lovely, eloquent and revealing proclamation of love for his wife, and also a neat closure to the picture of his single life that he has shared so entertainingly. A highly enjoyable light read.

I've been a David Mitchell fan since I first accidentally found Peep Show on YouTube in 2005. In the years since, I've listened to The Unbelievable Truth on the BBC iPlayer at every opportunity, bought every series of Peep Show on DVD (as well as the various "That Mitchell and Webb [Look/Sound/Book]" products), and scoured YouTube for the panel show appearances we don't get access to in the US. Basically: I'm a big fan. This book sat on my Kindle for a month before I got brave enough to read it, as I was so afraid it might not live up to my high expectations.I should've known David wouldn't disappoint!The book is funny, as I'd hoped, but it's more than that. It's an inside look at the years of hard work and running in circles that go into an ultimately successful career in show business. It's a free admission that, although he worked hard, he also had turns of incredible good luck, and he has the good sense to see them for what they are and be grateful. And it's proof positive that renown doesn't have to make people into narcissists or egomaniacs. He makes no apologies for his good fortune, but he also never fails to mention that it is just that - good fortune; he's lucky and he's thankful, which is a refreshing change from so many celebrities who choose to be "entitled and prone to whining".There are heartwarming accounts of his various friendships with fellow heavy-hitters of the British comedy scene (including but not limited to Robert Webb), and his description of his relationship with now-wife Victoria Coren was so sweet and sincere that it made me tear up. Repeatedly.Ultimately, Mitchell comes across as funny and intelligent, which we already knew, but also down-to-Earth, self-aware, warm and vulnerable. I found myself highlighting words of wisdom and hilarious anecdotes right and left. If you're interested in British comedy, the creative process, the real story of what it takes to be a success, or you just like a good, uplifting story told well, this is the book for you :)

I've enjoyed much of what I've seen from David Mitchell on television and therefore I looked forward very much to reading this, his autobiography of his story so far. However, while I enjoyed it on the whole, I found it less than completely satisfying in the end.David uses a nice device to act as the backdrop through his pretty much chronological memory of the stages his life moved through. It turns out that he, like myself, enjoys a good walk, in his case for differing reasons, partly because of the need to stay on top of his propensity to put on too much weight if he's not careful to exercise sufficiently, but also because he simply enjoys the practice. As a result he gives the mental image of taking a walk from where he was living at the time of writing the book, (Kilburn), down through Hampstead and its environs, Belsize Park, Abbey Road, Primrose Hill, Regents Park etc etc, while recalling the major incidents of his life story along the way. I enjoyed the walk with him very much.He covers his school days, his initially failed attempt to get into Oxford, before Cambridge eventually took him in instead and then, in common with so may of his peers, the entry into Footlights, the performing at numerous Smokers and then the Edinburgh Festival, and so on, before he eventually made it on to the BBC with, once again, so many others who've trod the same path and already regaled us with the details.And that's where the world-weary familiarity kicked in for me. Quite simply, although as I say I like David and in particular his fabulous rants, I've simply heard far too many versions of essentially the same story from Stephen, Emma, and many others going all the way back to Peter Cook's day. They all recount that they didn't really attend many, if indeed any, lectures and just used their time at Oxbridge to get a foothold into and establish connections by which to join the others who've preceded them. I'm not denying the talent of any of them, just expressing my boredom at hearing it over and over again.So sorry, but because of all that in my own mini-rant, I've only awarded 4 stars and not the maximum.

I must be one of the few people who bought 'Back Story' without having ever seen a David Mitchell show, film or even a single episode of any of his various TV series. In fact, I was only aware of his existence because of panel shows such as QI plus his various Youtube soapbox rants. These alone persuaded me to give his autobiography a 'go' (that said, the cheap Kindle price was also not an insignificant factor in my decision).Anyway, it was a pittance well spent. If you like Mr Mitchell - and obviously you must do in order to purchase this book - you will greatly enjoy his recounting of his life. Entertaining, informative, well-written and honest. He comes across in print as he comes across on the telly, which is intelligent, funny and thoughtful. In short, a decent man who surely nobody could begrudge him his great success.

The autobiography of popular sit-com and panel-show comedian (not the novelist) David Mitchell is suffused with his trademark lowbrow verbosity.Structured around an imaginary walk around London, designed to help ease his back pain, the narrative sees Mitchell link various landmarks to key moments in a life whose principal focus has been to develop a career in comedy. Those who are familiar with his TV persona will recognise the combination of nerdy erudition and ranting exhibitionism.Starting with tales of middle-class life in middle England, he takes us via Cambridge University and Footlights, to his celebrated partnership with Robert Webb, and their rise to fame - which might have seemed rapid to the outside observer (they became TV regulars while still in their twenties), but was, from their perspective, painfully slow.With moments ranging from the hilarious (e.g. young David reluctant to answer his parents doorbell because he was embarrassed about the home-made kingly regalia he was wearing at the time) to the moving (the long yearning for his eventual wife, Victoria Coren), this is a consistently entertaining read, proudly fixated on the trivial - his thoughts on weightier matters can be found elsewhere.Anyone wishing to gain an insight into the peculiarly English combination of self-deprecation and egotism, awkwardness and loudness, emotional constipation and profound insight, could do much worse than start here.

I had read a fair part of this before I realised that the author was not the writer of 'Blackadder' and 'Upstart Crow' and all I was going to get out of this book was an account of how he wasted his time at Cambridge. This sort of thing annoys when you think of those who study at evening classes, the OU and the like. Their studies often come after doing a full days work and they meet all their own expenses. After reading this it seems to me that tuition fees came not a moment too soon.Still, can't grumble because a man isn't somebody else and this is competently written.

I've read many autobiographies but this one had a style all of its own which may not appeal to the purist - but I liked it. DM (at the time of writing) was suffering from back ache (don't ask why!) and he treats the problem by taking an extensive walk each morning, somewhat like a guided tour of the area of London in which he lived. Certain buildings (pubs, public toilets, the former BBC headquarters) and occurrences en route set him off on one of his iconoclastic rants (à la Kenneth Williams) but the whole is so well organized that we get an excellent picture of his life, life style, personality, likes and dislikes and of course, what drives him. Enjoy.