Tough Crowd - Graham Linehan

Even with comedians he is quite relaxed - eg he wouldn't expect Vic and Bob to wade into this fight. But so called political comedians he is nauseated by. And who can blame him.

He's also interviewed on the Telegraph Book Club. I didn't even know the Telegraph had a YouTube channel.

I've not watched it myself yet. It's had over 5000 views, vastly more than some other author interviews on the channel.

I bought his book purely to thank him and ever-so-slightly recompense him for his voice on trans issues over the last few years, which has cost him so much in so many ways.

Some very moving comments under that article. And quite a few who have bought his book or have done so as a result of the article.

Wee interview with Glinner in the Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/father-ted-graham-linehan-comedy-trans-finances-marriage/

https://archive.ph/V414e archive link

I particularly liked the bit where he says he doesn't mind musicians keeping their heads down, as they're descendents of travelling minstrels who had to be mindful of pitchfork mobs. But he's scathing about craven comedians who are "the descendents of jesters" who should be showing truth to power.

Not had time to start my copy yet, but this sentiment resonates. When musicians I love hold different opinions to me on this subject it doesn't stop me enjoying their music or going to gigs. The music speaks to me on a very deep level which somehow transcends the disagreement. I really wanted to afford the same liberty to comedians; the arts is utterly captured by this ideology and most artists live project to project. But I find I can't. Daring, offensive comedy becomes threatening and searing political comedy becomes smug and self righteous when spoken by misogynists.

Just finished this. The first half is very enjoyable and really made me think about the art of comedy writing and the ruthless editing required to craft a 30 minute sitcom episode. Obviously this section is naturally funny. Not too much detail on childhood, siblings, school etc which is actually quite refreshing in an autobiography. The second half is bleaker of course but very honest. If you're new to the subject it must be a bewildering overload of depictions of madness, especially reading about Aimee Challenor for the first time.

I particularly liked the bit where he says he doesn't mind musicians keeping their heads down, as they're descendents of travelling minstrels who had to be mindful of pitchfork mobs. But he's scathing about craven comedians who are "the descendents of jesters" who should be showing truth to power.

Ok they might not shout. But I'm going to avoid the risk of confrontation anyway.

I dunno. My local library is ridiculously captured. At the moment there's gender flags all over the windows (for what specifically, I'm not sure) and there's always very prominent displays of Juno Dawson books and the like. After the recent reports that GC books were being deliberately hidden in Libraries due to the dictats of a lobby group, I deliberately reserved as many GC books as I could find in the catalogue and definitely caught some side eye from one of the librarians when I was checking them out. I personally don't particularly care but I can see how someone new to all this might find it an intimidating prospect.

My librarian was a lady in her 70s who was very lovely and was very helpful and non plussed.

I asked my library had they got one when I went in today. They said the county hasn’t ordered any but will put in a request. Librarian said probably because it’s new. I said yes it is - I read a recent review in the Guardian which said it had verve and charm. Dh actually wants to read it but I have given away my copy 😂 so do actually want one!

I’m not sure - my neighbour bought the book recently and the bloke behind the counter made their feelings very clear. Nothing was said but the dirty looks and the flinging of the book into the bag could have been quite upsetting for someone who just wanted to read the book quietly - as it was, it gave my neighbour an inordinate amount of pleasure knowing he was wound up by it.

There's a chance that you are over estimating the risk of that.

That's great but again I don't need to be courageous or brave. I just want to read the book without risking aggressive shouty people.

I sort of know what you mean, windy, but courage calls to courage. I have an Adult Human Female notebook which I daren't show at work (I work for a very captured public sector org) but someone noticed it on the train and gave me a conspiratorial wink and a thumbs up 😁

Windy you could buy it from Apple Books (as a book or an audiobook) and then read/listen to it on your Mac, iPhone or iPad if you have one. You can do the same with the kindle version of the book even if you don’t have a kindle, there’s kindle app on iPad/iPhone 👍

I ordered mine from amazon and got it last week or so

I feel how I feel. I don't want to get into an argument with a shop seller. Or have the library system aware if I have borrowed it.

My library didn't have a copy and I couldn't order one as my card was out of date. I've just renewed my membership and gone to order a copy and I see someone has beat me to it - Tough Crowd is 'being acquired by the library'

No one has to justify reading a book. Not even Mein Kampf.
You don't have to be knowledgeable and secure in your opinions for or against something in order to read about it.

I would assume someone else is accessing your account and cancelling the items. I would change your password and make sure 2FA is enabled

Amazon has gone weird in the last few weeks. My last two orders the delivery guy knocked and said “there’s a note on the system saying not to deliver this parcel to you and instead return to sender, is that right?” Bizarre. Totally uncontroversial items: children’s pencils. And my last order Amazon accepted the order then sent an email saying your return request has been accepted here is the refund etc. 🤷‍♀️

I assume they upgraded their IT and fucked it up

Thanks for that info 👍

£8 on Amazon Kindle at the moment

Oh! That sounds perfect then - thank you very much. And to others for their help.