Book info

• Title Is It Just Me?
• Author Miranda Hart
• Year 2012
• Genre Humour

So, here is the thing: is it just me or does anyone else find that adulthood offers no refuge from the unexpected horrors, peculiar lack of physical coordination and sometimes unexplained nudity, that accompanied childhood and adolescence? Does everybody struggle with the hazards that accompany, say, sitting elegantly on a bar stool; using chopsticks; pretending to understand the bank crisis; pedicures - surely it's plain wrong for a stranger to fondle your feet? Or is it just me? I am proud to say I have a wealth of awkward experiences - from school days to life as an office temp - and here I offer my 18-year-old self (and I hope you too dear reader) some much needed caution and guidance on how to navigate life's rocky path. Because frankly where is the manual? The much needed manual to life. Well, fret not, for this is my attempt at one and let's call it, because it's fun, a Miran-ual. I thank you.

Thoughts

Interesting one this. I absolutely adore Miranda, love her sitcom, love her attitude, love her acting. So I was keen to read this and pretty much loved it. It’s really good to know that it isn’t just you with some of these things, although I can’t identify with all of them, I can with more than I’d previously admitted!

I really like the structure, the interludes with Little Miranda, the checklists at the end of the chapter, and the generally natural and conversational tone of the piece.

The only downside is that a lot of the asides are lifted straight from the Miranda show, or vice versa. As an avid fan, it’s like hearing the same joke but in a different format and it jars just a little bit. Explaining the “what I calls” and breaking into song at the drop of a hat, we’ve sort of seen that. But then again, if someone hasn’t watched the episodes obsessively like I have, maybe that wouldn’t even be an issue.

Rating: 4 / 5