Book info

• Title Insufficiently Welsh
• Author Griff Rhys Jones
• Year 2014
• Genre Travel

Griff Rhys Jones is searching for that Welsh part of himself that he has felt ever since being forced to sing in the choir in church and pack down forthe school first XV, all in suburban Essex. Join Griff on his journey through Snowdonia, Anglesey, the Gower, mid Wales, Brecon, Pembrokeshire, north Wales and Monmouthshire. Packed with all manners of weird, wonderful and enlightening facts, you'll learn as much about Wales as you do Griff.

Thoughts

Once again, I’ve ended up reading a book that accompanies a TV show that I never saw. However, I liked the concept of this one, Griff Rhys Jones tracing his roots to find out what makes the Welsh people and their amazing country-land tick. From the highs of mount Snowdonia, to the lows of mining or panning for gold, this book really does cover a lot of ground.

It’s somewhat superficial, as books that rest up against TV shows can be, but equally it’s full of honesty and heart. Jones doesn’t shy away from the fact that he’s not always considered a “proper” Welsh, and from there it’s just a matter of trawling the countryside trying to find out what makes you “proper”.

It’s funny, but not laugh a minute, sensitive but not overly so. I really quite enjoyed reading it, but I think I missed out from not having seen the show. If you’re a fan, and watched the series, you’ll probably get a lot more out of it than I did!

Rating: 3 / 5