Honest content to the point of shocking. He caught his dad knocking one out in the greenhouse. His Uncle Geoff sexually abused him by playing 'hide the sixpence', his mother died when he was nine and his subsequent step-mother mentally tortured him, his dad gave him regular beatings.....and he overcame it all to become a successful writer and tv personality. When he describes the food and sweets of his childhood it's like going back in time. Old English Spangles and Pascalls fruit bon-bons (the long rectangular ones with the chewy middle) christ I'm flooded with nostalgia.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I purchased this book after seeing the short drama called Toast that was on television over the Christmas period. I had heard from several people that the TV drama did not really reflect all that happened in the book. After I'd received it I started reading and initially I found the short chapters strange. I however soon got into the style it is written in and memeories came flooding back around the food that we had back in the 60s. I think this book would relate to younger people as weel and my son is currently reading it on my recommendation. The book is both very funny and very sad, his teenage years are so well portrayed all the feelings that we all went through with emotions and friends. This would be an ideal book to take away on holiday as I think most people would read it in a couple of days. Likewise it is a book that you can pick up and read a couple of pages and put it down for a week and you don't have to pick up the thread of the story again. Well worth a read, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. SteveRead full review
Nigel Slater must have a photographic memory as he is able to easily conjure up foods, tastes and labels familiar from my childhood. These memories made me smile. He is a natural storyteller and Toast is a charming recollection of his childhood memories. If you want to read a lovely little personal history with a smile this is the book for you!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This was a book group read for me. it was an easy to read book with small chapters so I could read a section before nodding off at night! His reminiscences relating to food made me check his age and found he was only 2 years younger than me which was why the food dished up at home made me so nostaglgic! From his point of view his childhood was a sad one. I would like to know what his family thought as it sounded much like a "kevin the Teenager" rant at times. Thoroughly recommmend it as a read and shall now try his recipes!
A book of many receipts,with good stories included
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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