Stalin Ate My Homework (2010)

Book Info

Author

Alexei Sayle

Genre

Memoir & Autobiography

Rating

3.73 of 5 Votes: 1

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ISBN

0340919582 (ISBN13: 9780340919583)

Language

English

Publisher

Sceptre

Shops

Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble

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About book Stalin Ate My Homework (2010)

The story of Alexei's early years, in Liverpool in the 50s and 60s, the child of committed communist parents. I loved this book - it was warm, self-deprecating without being cruel, vivid, far too familiar in many ways. The audio version was particularly entertaining since Sayle reads it himself, and he's a spirited, energetic reader who suits his own material very well. I cringed in recognition too many times, but it was a great read. Here, Alexei Sayle has an affectionate trawl through his memories of his parents, especially his fierce and opinionated mum Molly. At one point he regrets his patchy memory, but it seems enviably good to me - his unusual childhood comes through loud and clear. I found it hard to put down. I learnt a lot about post-war British communism. And whilst it wasn't laugh-a-minute funny, I definitely laughed.