My Booky Wook by Russell Brand

My Booky Wook is a memoir written by English comedian and actor, Russell Brand. Brand is very well known in the UK. He achieved mainstream fame by hosting his own BBC Radio show that became an instant phenomenon. He is probably the most well known in the US for his role in the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I have been a huge fan of Russell Brand for a few years. His British humor is one that can make nearly anyone laugh. I first discovered this book when I was watching E News one evening a few weeks ago. A small clip of Russell came on urging everyone to read his new memoir, My Booky Wook. I found the title of his book very interesting. It was childish, yet witty, and it was just the title Russell brand would name his life story. The book seemed interesting enough, so I soon bought it. As I began reading, I was very surprised to find that Russell’s younger years were not as glamorous as his life is today.

Brand shares his past with anyone who is willing to listen. He was born in the small county of Essex, located in the East of England. His story begins when he mentions that even before he was born, his parent’s relationship was heading downhill, and they were bound for divorce. Three months after his birth, Russell’s father left his mother to care for their child by herself. Russell’s mother was diagnosed with cancer several years later. To add to Russell’s pain, his mother began dating a man named Collin soon after she was cured of her illness, whom Russell was not very fond of. Brand suffered from bulimia in his early teenage years. His mother suffered from cancer a second time, but was again cured. He soon began hanging out with the wrong crowd and took up the habits of drinking later followed by a heavy drug addiction. Russell has been arrested numerous times, and he has had to struggle with his mother being diagnosed with cancer several times. Russell found relief from his problems when he took up acting. He loved the feeling of being on stage, and was soon admitted to a prestigious drama school in England. His love for acting stemmed into what his life has now become. Russell is very successful, and he truly uses what he has learned from his childhood to shape his career today.

Brand is very inspiring in that he struggled throughout his childhood, but he used laughter as a solution to his problems. I learned so much about my favorite comedian that I never knew before. I still am curious as to how Russell has such a great sense of humor. He never mentions looking up to any comedians or actors as I child, so I am still eager to find out who inspired him. Nonetheless, reading My Booky Wook made me appreciate every joke that he tells today all the more. I recommend this book to anyone that loves to laugh. To those who have not yet heard of him, I suggest watching some of his comedy performances on YouTube. Even as a Russell fan, I wasn’t sure if I would like reading someone’s life story, but he tells his story in a very easy to read manner. I was skeptical, having never read an autobiography, that it would read as a, “then this happened, and then this,” rhythm. Brand manages to seamlessly weave in and out of his memories without confusing the reader. I especially loved how Brand wrote this book almost in a Huck Finn manner. Each sentence is written in his vernacular, so much so that I could hear his colorful, English accent from cover to cover. His humor and charm transfer very well onto paper. I think the book’s greatest strength is how he openly and knowingly describes all of the most questionable and regrettable moments of his life. Brand is brave enough to publish some of his most personal experiences out in the open, without caring what others will think of him. Russell is brimming with literary talent as he puts things into words most couldn’t describe, and he cleverly uses a plethora of metaphors throughout his novel. His conversational tone keeps the story fast paced, and there is never a dull moment in the life of Russell Brand.