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Review of “Spilling the beans” by Clarissa Dickson Wright

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

Interesting autobiography but lacking in emotion at times.

 

I’ve just finished reading this book, the autobiography of Clarissa Dickson Wright, who I had just previously just known as one of the “Two Fat Ladies” cookery programme on BBC.

spilling the beans book

There is no doubt Clarissa Dickson Wright has lived an interesting life with many ups and downs. She was the youngest by far of four children, her closest sibling 13 years older than her. She goes into her family history which is quite interesting. Her mother was an Australian heiress, her father apparently a very well known and gifted surgeon.

Her family life was not good. By all accounts, her father was an alcoholic who physically and mentally abused his wife and children. He comes across as a very damaged man. Clarissa idolised her mother.

To spite her father who presumed she’d enter a medical field, she studied law and became the youngest woman to be called to the Bar aged 21. Her life disintegrated when her beloved mother died and she abandoned her law career and started drinking heavily.

The autobiography narrates her recovery from alcoholism and her career changes. From cookbook seller to caterer to TV personality in “Two Fat Ladies” to countryside champion.

Some of her escapades and tales are very amusing. She’s not afraid to speak her mind or voice her opinions on well known personalities.

What disappointed me, I guess, was that lack of personality in the book. Much of the narration seemed “I did this, I did that…” with not alot of emotion involved. Some of the chapters I found quite tedious to get through as it was just one fact after another.

That said, overall there can be no doubt that she has lead a rollercoaster of a life and is to be admired for surviving all its ups and downs.

Rated 3/5 on Feb 07 2008
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