NO SHAME: A QUEER LIFE IN SUBURBIA

This is a funny book! I really enjoyed it. Tom Allen is a very funny guy. I would recommend this book.

This was an absolute delight to read. Beautifully constructed, in an unsurprisingly flamboyant style. I cannot recommend this highly enough!

Really funny book great read

Entertaining autobiography from a person that I like.

Tom Allen is one of those comedians who seem to suddenly appear from nowhere and then they are everywhere. I first came across him (ooh er missus etc) on Mock the Week. A small immaculately dressed urbane man, he initially seemed a little out of place amongst the rest of the MtW pack, but then he delivered some first-rate stand-up, and lovely one liners and I knew this was a guy I was going to like.His autobiography, as is the way with these things, really takes you in to the heart of the man himself, and what a fascinating journey he has had from being a shy Bromley schoolboy to becoming the overnight sensation he has turned in to. The book is written in a wonderfully self-deprecating manner and tells the reader a lot about Tom’s inner thoughts and workings. For me, this was the really compelling part as so much of his internal struggles with confidence and sense of being ‘other’ really resonated with me and my own inner thoughts. There are tales of unrequited love – why are straight men so dammed attractive to us gayers? Tom’s schooldays were not the best, but rather than let the recollection of them get him down, they seem to make him stronger – even if he himself doesn’t realise it. And I love Tom’s parents, I hope they are as proud as punch of their fantastic son.Tom’s story could have been pretty depressing but, any time the mood starts getting too heavy, he throws a wonderful humorous aside, anecdote or observation into the chapter and you go from feeling sad – even tearful at times – to giggling away at something Tom has said.The book itself feels authentic – no ghost writer here – and you could imagine having a chat with Tom about his life and him sounding exactly as he does in the book. Thoroughly enjoyable and a real page turner, well finger swiper on my kindle, I would happily recommend “No Shame” to anyone who fancies something great to read.