Dear Fatty [Import] [Paperback]

Dawn French (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

One of the greatest comedy actresses of recent time, Dawn French has a career that has spanned nearly three decades, encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters. Loved for her irreverant humor, she has achieved massive success while pushing boundaries and challenging stereotypes. In this memoir in the form of letters to people in her life, she describes her journey. Beginning her career as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group the Comic Strip, she then helped firmly establish a place for women in British comedy with Girls On Top, which teamed Dawn with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax, and Tracy Ullman. As part of the wildly successful and much-loved duo French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repetoire of brilliantly observed characters, parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn's recent role in the Vicar of Dibley showcased both her talent and also her ability to take a controversial issue and make it mainstream—and very funny. From her apartment-sharing antics with Jennifer Saunders to the death of her father, from her outspoken views on sizeism to her views on Madonna, Dear Fatty will chronicle the extraordinary, hilarious rise of a complex, dynamic, and unstoppable woman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Something of a revelation . . . in among the the gags and photos of her bare bosom, there is intellectual rigor and real emotional intelligence . . . I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh so much."  —Sunday Telegraph

"Loyal, self-deprecating and garrulous, French’s story makes for entertaining reading . . . this is an original book, and will delight her fans and, indeed anyone with a sense of humor."  —Mail on Sunday

"Well written, warm and funny."  —Sunday Times

About the Author

Dawn French has been nominated for six BAFTA Awards and also won a Fellowship BAFTA along with her French and Saunders costar and cowriter Jennifer Saunders. She's appeared in such films as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; Coraline; and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: Random House UK; First Edition edition (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 009951947X
• ISBN-13: 978-0099519478
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Dawn . . . Thank You, December 3, 2008

By 

Joseph Albanese "The Joe Show" (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Dear Fatty (Hardcover)

I don't normally enjoy memoirs or anything written like pages from a diary. DEAR FATTY by Dawn French is the exception to that rule.

A gifted and talented performer, I have been a fan of Ms. French since I first saw her in a French & Saunders sketch. There, she was a dynamo who broke the limits and fractured (if not bent) every rule. It seemed to me that her comedy was too much to be contained, at least for one, central character.

WRONG! Her series: GIRLS ON TOP and THE VICAR OF DILBY proved me wrong. She is not only funny but one of those rare performers who can handle any type of comedy - whether it be broad or frace. Then I saw her in JAM AND JERUSALEM (or whatever we called it here in America) and I was taken aback by the multi-dimensional character she created. Dawn French's talents are limitless. Because of all the attraction Absolutely Fabulous received, I was always irked that the character of Patsy wasn't given to Ms. French (In her book, she notes that she was about to become a mother at the time and quite happy not to go that route).

In her series of entries in DEAR FATTY (who, by the way, is Jennifer Saunders) she writes to various important people in her life including: her father/ her brother/ her child/ old boyfriends/ her best friends/ Peter Tork of the Monkees.

Funny, touching and down-to-earth, it is a must read for any Dawn French fan. No, you won't walk away from the book shocked at the behind-the-scenes gossip or fascinated by the volume of lovers she entertained. But you will read a real story about a very real person. With no pretenses and with unflinching honesty, Dawn French shares with you her life. And for that, we should all be thankful.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dawn's Awesome Memoir, November 16, 2008

By 

Gia Maia "le soleil du coeur" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Fatty (Hardcover)

If you love the comedy of The Vicar of Dibley and French & Saunders, you'll really enjoy this book. Written in the form of letters to various people she has (and has not) met, Dawn is by turns funny, insightful, and serious, always truthful and discrete about everything and everyone but herself -- where she is quite willing to share some raucously funny anecdotes. By turns amusing and touching, the story of Dawn's life is very well written and organized, with plenty of interesting glossy photos along the way. Oh, and jokes. There are lots of jokes about a life that is not always funny. Whose is? Very well done. Easy, fun and meaningful to read. Highly recommended to those who applaud Ms. French's work, humor, intelligence and love. Her story is personal with a universal appeal grounded in humble realism.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Madonna (the singer, not the mother of Jesus),, July 18, 2009

By 

Matthew E. Coenen "'I'll Never Get It!' (Bang... (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Dear Fatty (Hardcover)

I think it unfortunate that you have not made Dawn French your bestest friend in the whole world. Or at least the world that is Britain.

She's funny and smart. Not the best writer (as one poor review states), but who cares? I applaud her efforts and her decision to make the book a series of letters written to family members, adolescent crushes, former lovers, and famous persons. Including you, Madonna (not of the virgin birth). You'd laugh, maybe.

I did. While the book has it's serious moments, it frequently gave me cases of the church-giggles. You know... the ones you get at those inopportune times that you can't control, no matter how hard you try. You hold your breath until you almost pas out, but the giggles persist. Sometimes to the degree you end up choking on your spit and coughing uncontrollably.

If you don't care to include Dawn in the close circle of friends you already have or watch all of her television appearances, at least read the book. You may develop a newfound respect for a person you know you want to meet. And maybe have as a backup dancer on your next tour.