Book info

• Title Spectacles
• Author Sue Perkins
• Year 2015
• Genre Memoir

This, my first ever book, will answer questions such as 'Is Mary Berry real?', 'Is it true you wear a surgical truss?' and 'Is a non-spherically symmetric gravitational pull from outside the observable universe responsible for some of the observed motion of large objects such as galactic clusters in the universe?' Most of this book is true. I have, of course, amplified my more positive characteristics in an effort to make you like me. Thank you for reading.

Thoughts

I listened to the audiobook of this, read by Sue Perkins herself, and whilst I haven’t read the book in isolation, I can only recommend indulging in the audio version instead. It was incredible to listen to the author’s words from the author’s mouth, including the odd moment where she made herself laugh.

There are a few audio effects just to add to the narrative, but for the most part it is Sue telling her tale, honestly and with great dignity - humble enough to acknowledge when and why things have gone wrong, and barely able to concede that her partnership with Mel has achieved great things, making the Bake Off what it is today.

The best part, though, is the heart of the book, Sue’s family. Her mother always on the outlook for a disaster, and her father counting the data along the way. I particularly enjoyed the trip to Wales, and the story about the travelling cheeses. Really, top notch stuff, heartily recommended.

Rating: 5 / 5