Billy

Rating:
Summary: Great subject, lousy execution
Review: I am an American with only a little exposure to Billy Connolly (from his sitcom and HBO appearances), but what I saw some years ago was funny. I borrowed this book hoping to learn a little more about him. Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that Ms. Stephenson (brilliant though she may be) can't write.

As a few other reviewers noted, this book seems to be an endless series of name-dropping and/or testimonials about "how funny Billy is" (the word "roaring" as a synonym for "laughing hard" was so overused that I almost cringed upon each further reading). Anecdotes begin each chapter, often with little relevance to the chapter contents or the prior chapter's anecdote. Often they go nowhere at all - other than the ubiquitous "(insert famous person's name) told me he couldn't talk because he was laughing so hard at Billy!"

Actually, that is symptomatic of the book. Interesting facets of Mr. Connolly's life appear, only to spark our interest and then give us nothing more. An example: Billy was (sexually?) abused by his father, but we don't learn exactly what was going on. The only clue seems to be that it wasn't particularly violent. Just enough to pique interest, then it is dropped. If it is that difficult to detail, don't write about it at all!

Another: Billy may/may not have abused (physically/mentally?) his wive(s). Ms. Stephenson seems to spend a few sentences saying how "when Billy was drinking he was hell to be with" (or words to that effect), and then immediately apologizes for it with something along the lines of "it was understandable given everything he had been through". Yet later, she suddenly drops in a time she almost walked out on him for his drinking (and abuse?). This, after plenty more anectodotes (of which almost none are funny) but no real descriptions of what Connolly was doing wrong.

Finally, and easily the most grevious oversight, is a total lack of his ACT. We know he played the banjo, and sang some humorous songs in a Folk style. We also get one or two song snippets, but the humor completely fails to translate to the page. Furthermore, we get NO idea of what makes his stand-up show so mesmerizing. Oh, we get a lot of him pacing and worrying before a performance (with Ms. Stephenson the doting wife cheering him on), and then EVERY TIME "But once he was on stage, everything was OK and the audience roared for 2 hours!" What she discusses, if it were the sum total of his act, couldn't have supported a career for 20 minutes.

From what I read, there is a FANTASTIC story in Mr. Connolly's life. And I'd really like to read it. Unfortunately, I haven't. I would warn people to stay far away from this book.

Rating:
Summary: Billy's interesting, but Pamela can't write
Review: I love Billy Connolly, as so many people do. He's funny, irreverent, with an air of both danger and vulnerability. I used to like Pamela back when she was a comedienne, and as a psychologist, I'm sure she's terrific.

But please, stick to your day job, Pamela!

As a writer, she's dull. Sentences plod by:
"Bill was very happy."
"Billy still struggled with his academic work, but the atmosphere at St Gerards' was much more supportive..."
"The idea of doing the unexpected always had great appeal for Billy."

You get the idea.

I can sense she loves Billy, but she can't tell a story for peanuts. The book only occasionally has the flavour of Billy Connolly, and I missed him. The real Billy was just out of the frame, his head peeking around the corner, ready to tell the tale in his own inimitable style, but Pamela was in front, blocking the way, saying dolefully "Oh, poor Billy."

Having said that, it was an interesting story. Billy's tenement childhood has had a huge impact on his life, and there are plenty of anecdotes. Just don't expect it to be all that entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Good Subject, Lousy Book
Review: The problem is that the author is the subject's wife. It really ought to be titled, "My husband is wonderful and we have lots of very famous friends". The book has neither the insight or observation of a third party biography nor the intimacy of an autobiography. Recounting things that her husband has told her just makes the reader want to push the author out of the way and let Billy tell the story himself. The great shame is that Billy is undoubtedly a fascinating subject and has a great story to tell. Unfortunately, this isn't it. A opportunity squandered.