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66th out of 170 books
—
162 voters
Spilling the Beans
As a child, Clarissa Dickson Wright was surrounded by wealth and privilege. Her mother was an Australian heiress, her father a brilliant surgeon to the Royal family. But he was also a tyrannical and violent drunk who used to beat her and force her to eat rotten food. When her adored mother died suddenly, Clarissa fell into a mind-numbing decade of wild overindulgence that...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
September 6th 2007
by Hodder & Stoughton
(first published 2007)
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I am happy I finished reading Clarissa Dickson Wright's (more presicely Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright's) book titled Spilling The Beans. The book is the autobiography of a lady with a very unusual path of life. She was born in the middle of the nineties into a noble British family just to sink to the deepest depths later on. From there she could emerge again as one of the most famous chefs in the UK - actually that is how I to...more
This really is a fascinating and uncompromising autobiography. Clarissa is very honest about her difficult and often violent family life growing up, and later her own alcoholism. Her life during the 1970's and 80's seemed a constant round of parties, pubs and drinking buddies and at one point Clarissa admits that the Falklands war had passed her by - she'd had no idea it had happened. Although this does make for difficult reading on one level - it was strangely fascinating on another and it is p...more
I had my eye on this around Christmas but it didn't appear in my stocking so I was very pleased to find it on the shelf of a local library.
Well - I'm glad I didn't buy this one. It wasn't written particularly well, but was fairly interesting. What did come across strongly was the fact that she is of a different era and a different class, and isn't very good at pitching her story to her audience. We were meant to know what arctic convoys and Grenfell alluded to, yet she felt the need to explain...more
Well - I'm glad I didn't buy this one. It wasn't written particularly well, but was fairly interesting. What did come across strongly was the fact that she is of a different era and a different class, and isn't very good at pitching her story to her audience. We were meant to know what arctic convoys and Grenfell alluded to, yet she felt the need to explain...more
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A very frank autobiography by the surviving Fat Lady chronicling her passage from disfunctional childhood to early legal success followed by her sinking into total alcoholic dissipation when she blew her 2.8 million pound inheritance and descended to the depths followed by her drying-out and rehabilitation leading to TV fame. She is a remarkable woman with a deep love of the countryside and tells a good story.
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Having found the TV series, "Two Fat Ladies" enormously entertaining and interesting, I enjoyed reading Clarissa Dickson Wright's autobiography, "Spilling the Beans". It the tale of a life lived to the hilt, the bad, the good, the adventurous, the heartbreaking. She survived physical abuse by her famous surgeon father, and 10 years of alcoholism and promiscuous sex, and finally through hard work, good friends, and AA, managed to lick her demons. Much of the book is about her wild years and it en...more
As a fully paid up member of the 'fluffy bunny brigade' as Clarissa so disparagingly refers to anyone who doesn't approve of field sports, I must admit I found some of the author's opinions a little annoying. However, at the end of the day this was an enjoyable read and a fascinating account of how someone has battled a difficult childhood, alcoholism and significiant setbacks to create a well successful career as a chef and spokesperson for 'country issues'. I just wish that all people from the...more
This is quite a fascinating book, because Clarissa Dickson Wright was born to well off parents--who didn't get along and then she managed to gain and lose money, as well as occupations due to her alcoholism, finally overcome at age 40. Her father, though a respected doctor, beat her and her mother relentlessly. She ended up becoming a television star in a BBC series called Two Fat Ladies, where she rode in the sidecar, and Jennifer Paterson drove the motorcycle as they traveled around Britain do...more
I wasn't expecting much from this - I've never watched her cookery series, and don't normally read autobiographies. However, it was only 50p in the charity shop and I needed a holiday read. Much to my surprise I found it an excellent read - not Literature, but moving with the odd chunk of scandel thrown in, as well as her refreshing opinions of the world which, though I didn't always agree with them, were always entertaining. As other reviewers have pointed out, it could have been better edited,...more
This bio was a better read than expected - she had quite an illustrious life! She's very upfront with her addiction, and how that's shaped her career. I also had no idea she was so involved in the British food movement and efforts to save the countryside.
The last few chapters feel a little rushed and are very specific to the UK (I dont' know that coursing exists in the States). Also, she delves a little too much into ancestry for my tastes. But overall, a very fun read. Jennifer Paterson's bio i...more
The last few chapters feel a little rushed and are very specific to the UK (I dont' know that coursing exists in the States). Also, she delves a little too much into ancestry for my tastes. But overall, a very fun read. Jennifer Paterson's bio i...more
very few books get the full five stars from me. but this autobiography fits my listening ears so well that i can do no less than a full five stars. recommended. for so many reason: humor, the human condition frankly detailed, proof of strength of character ... and best: i listened to the audio version where clarissa herself read her story. ohmy. i am a devotee and she has my respect. am going to be checking into purchasing the complete seasons (24 episodes) of TFLs
(bbc's two fat ladies)
(bbc's two fat ladies)
I read this for my book club,and I did like it. Clarissa tells us a selection of good stories for a practically wholly misspent early life, and seems to not hold back on the darkest moments. Although she has lead a full and varied life I still felt that more detail would have made it a better book, given her family background and obvious intelligence. The result we have seemed a bit dumbed-down to me, aiming for something akin to a celebrity biography. Not that I have ever read one!
I watched some of the series and actually bought this book for my mum, but I really enjoyed it (she let me read it by the way, there was no subterfuge.) I didn't realise what a difficult life this lady had had. I suppose you hear the accent, the cut-glass vowels, and assume such a person has had a charmed life. It was a fascinating read as she beat her addiction to alcohol while so many compatriots didn't. I recommend it, if only for the glimpse into upper class life if nothing else.
Autobiography of the television personality who makes up half of the "Two Fat Ladies" which was one of my favorite cooking shows. While the stories and anecdotes themselves were very interesting and worth reading, I found that the book itself was not very well written/constructed with lots of jumping around, rambling, and a general lack of cohesiveness. I liked finding out more about this very amazing woman, but I wished the book had been a little easier to read.
I quite liked this book, it was okay.
She had an amazingly different and difficult early life and then blossomed after 40 once she had given up alcohol. Unfortunately for me that was when the book took a turn for the worse and her rather snooty upper class opinions shot forth and you realise that she is a rather militant tory - and blimey do I DETEST a militant tory all for keeping up the fox hunting and eating just about anything that moves. Disgusting.
But you kind of forgive her, after all that...more
She had an amazingly different and difficult early life and then blossomed after 40 once she had given up alcohol. Unfortunately for me that was when the book took a turn for the worse and her rather snooty upper class opinions shot forth and you realise that she is a rather militant tory - and blimey do I DETEST a militant tory all for keeping up the fox hunting and eating just about anything that moves. Disgusting.
But you kind of forgive her, after all that...more
Whether your interests are the history of farmers' markets and English cooking, the arguments for hunting in Britain, religious faith, the existence of ghosts, the demon drink and AA's 12 Steps program, recovering from child abuse, or simply insider knowledge about various politicians and the royal family, this book has it all. The author shows herself to be someone of considerable intelligence, sense of humour and pluck and this book should be read for more reasons than just that she is well kn...more
The first half of this book covers Clarissa Dickson Wright's childhood growing up in a wealthy although disfunctional and abusive English family, and then her battle with alcholism is riviting. The second half of the book after she becomes a celebrity with the success of the "Two Fat Ladies" series is a little more pedestrian. Still an interesting biography.
So I might not have given it quite so many stars if I didn't love the Two Fat Ladies so much but I still found it interesting. It was interesting to read about how the show fit into her life. And it was also interesting to read more about the stories she briefly mentions on the show. And Clarissa herself is just interesting and has led a quite varied life. I think it would have been even more interesting if I had known more of the British people she name drops throughout.
"All of us are an accumulation of the traits, genetic tendencies, geographicals and peculiarities of our forebears. These are the ingredients that we and the adventures and misfortunes of our lives process into the finished dish that becomes ourselves."
Not the greatest writing style, but definitely a very gripping read.
Not the greatest writing style, but definitely a very gripping read.
Mar 18, 2010
Katarina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who enjoy a story well told
Shelves:
biography-muistelmat
Well written, frank, amusing, shocking, gossipy. I did briefly mourn over her lost 2,8 million pounds and career in law (she did have talent!) but heck why - Clarissa didn't seem to cry over spilled beans. A lesson we should all learn.
The campaigning for fox hunting went on a bit, but otherwise no objections.
The campaigning for fox hunting went on a bit, but otherwise no objections.
This is one of the best autobiography's I've ever read. It reads like you are sitting listening to her tell her tale. I purchased the book because I liked her in "The Two Fat Ladies" cooking series. I was shocked to find that was possibly the least interesting part. Her story of growing up with an alcoholic father and then overcoming alcoholism herself is inspiring.
She is the remaining uno of the famous TV 'Two Fat Ladies' duo. I loved this book! The Daily Mail said it was ' the autobiography of the year" and I agree. You learn how the other half live - what a character she is - there were some brilliant funny annecdotes and pages of brutal honesty.
Anyone not moved by this book has a heart of stone. She's a bit of a name-dropper, and do we really need to know the details she gives us about King Edward VIII - but it's a wonderful account of a life moving from privilege to the depths of despair and then the road back to where she is today
From a privileged beginning, the author suffered huge family problems in her formative years. Having 'gone off the rails' early in a promising career at the bar, she preferred to spend time in the bar. This book outlines her fight back to normality, her unplanned friendship with the other 'fat lady' Jennifer Paterson, and her passion for the countryside.
Very frank autobiography. Often quite painful to read. There's much about her lifestyle now that I disagree with, e.g., support of blood sports, but I can't help but have enormous respect for what she has overcome personally to reach this stage in her life.
Jul 30, 2011
Rachel
added it
The first part was a real page turner, then the AA secion was a bit tedious mainly because it was repetative. The chapters on Clarissa's tv work and countryside campaigning were quite interesting. Jennifer sounded like a right old character!
Great anecdotes well written by a very interesting woman. I've watched and re-watched the Two Fat Ladies cooking shows and yet had no idea what a checkered past Clarissa Dickson Wright has had. She emerges very cheerful and full of fascinating, dishy tales.
Apr 28, 2011
Alison
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
book-group,
autobiography
Would never have chosen this to read myself but as it was a book group choice I read it and really found myself engrossed in Clarissa's desperately tough life - some infliced and some self-inflicted. Sad, happy,conflict, everything!
Nicely written, nicely put together but lacking the high drama that lifts some bios over everything else. Even her years in alcoholims where left bit behind, only thing that where to risen above everything else were the deaths of her loved ones. And even those were noted with one, maybe two paragraphs.
I read this after reading a review by fellow bookcrosser Lyzeebee.
I loved the first 200 pages but then got disinterested by the last 50 as I wasn’t interested in the pro-hunting rally part of her life.
I loved the first 200 pages but then got disinterested by the last 50 as I wasn’t interested in the pro-hunting rally part of her life.
One half (the surviving half) of Britian's "The Two Fat Ladies" this is a wonderful read of Clarissa's childhood and early adult life leading up to her role in this most treasured cooking series.
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Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright is an English celebrity chef and food historian who is best known as one half, along with Jennifer Paterson, of the Two Fat Ladies. Having trained as a lawyer, at the age of 21, Dickson Wright passed her exams and became the country's youngest barrister. She is also one of only two women in England...more
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