Trowel and Error

by Alan Titchmarsh

Alan Titchmarsh has had a passion for gardening for as long as he can remember. Aged eight, he announced to friends that he was going to be the next Percy Thrower, although he thought it was no more than a dream. Here, he tells his own story from Ilkley Moor to Pebble Mill and to the final realizing of his dream of becoming TV's favourite gardener. Along the way, the cast of characters includes everyone from Auntie Ethel to Nelson Mandela and the Queen.

Genres: Biography, Gardening, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Memoir, British Literature

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book on gardening you could be disappointed as this is more a 'memoir' as Alan calls it. There is a great deal about his early life and I must admit to my mind rather too much of his mostly unsuccessful exploits with girls. We read of his schooling land early training as well as lots of interesting information about the programmes he has made, the people he has met and his passage through life to where he was at the time he wrote the book in 2002. One reviewer complained because there isn't to her mind enough about gardening. It doesn't pretend to be a book about gardening but Alan does mention in the book that he'd written around 30 gardening books by then so I expect she'd find what she wanted in one of them.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the age of ten Alan announced that he was going to take over the tv gardening crown from Percy Thrower, and as life has turned out, he has. The story starts in Yorkshire and the wonderful start he has surrounded by love and support from his family. I felt that I was part of his life.
He described his unhappy school days and then how he found his way to horticultural college, then a job at Kew.
He uses humour to describe his pathway to the gardening expert we know and love today. This, so far has been a revealing and wonderful insight into the life of a warm and caring man.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm giving it 2 stars because the first 90% of the book was so boring I almost didn't finish it. Alan reflected on his childhood which wasn't (as he put it) anything remarkable but he sure rambled on about it. I wanted to learn about gardening in his life and there's an entire chapter on boating?

I loved the last few chapters when he talked about taking over hosting Gardener's World. He talked about meeting the Queen and posing for Madame Tussaud's. He talked about taking many measurements and finding fake eyes that matched his. He also discussed writing fiction (which I didn't know about) and the Bad Sex Award for his romance novels LOL!!

I didn't know he did a garden for Nelson Mandela so I was able to find the episode on youtube. I think the book was better than the show talking about the African weather and the family millstone that became a focal point of the garden. And yes, Charlie really doesn't wear a bra!

There were a few good quotes in the book one of my favorites "My wife says she keeps secrets, it's the people she tells who tell everyone else!" He said fame is like losing your virginity, once your anonymity is gone you can't get it back.

The point of the book seemed to be his success has been a natural progression of being in the right place at the right time and he just happened upon many opportunities. He seemed genuine and humbly appreciative of how his life has played out.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on holiday. Light read reminded me of Pru Leith, Delia Smith and Mary Berry - all fantastic careers- there at the right time.

Nostalgic, interesting - I know some readers thought this was a gardening book, but clearly states this is a memoir.

Great TV personality, loved the tales of ground force and Mandela.

Recommended

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Titchmarsh calls this a memoir not an autobiography, and it’s a nice one to read.
As I’ve always thought from watching him in tv programs, he seems a nice man not swayed by his fame.
He had some lovely stories to tell I’m this book.

[Andy P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like the man on TV. I was interested to learn of his progress as a gardener, knowing of his beginnings, working for the council in Ilkley. And that aspect was entertaining and informative.
He acknowledges that he has been very lucky to achieve all he has, and he is undoubtedly a skilful presenter and knowledgeable gardener. But he's not a great writer and he delivers false modesty in spades. I wish I'd had his courage though.

[Boweavil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's just I'd much rather listen to Alan talk about stuff on the telly than read his prose.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this far more than I expected to.

The chapter on meeting Mandela very moving.

[Susan Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was on okay read, but a bit laboured at times

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny , family man, fantastic way with words

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan T. is a multi-talented, multi-faceted man and has been around and in various mediums for some time. I enjoyed his first book and this one does not disappoint.

[William Beesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contagiously optimistic book about Alan's successes and his life as a gardener. Self effacing, quirky, and likable, Trowel and Error is the kind of book you read and feel content with life despite the now looming fact that as a child you didn't dream of growing up to be a insurance sales rep, engineer, secretary, or toaster sales-goon. The basic theme of the book is find the things you like, even if they are things no one pays you for, dedicate yourself to them and your likely to feel a certain amount of happiness in doing them. Plus you get to learn a bit about Alan's Titchmarsh's eclectic taste for crooked trees and mish-mash gardens. As far as celebrity autobiographies go (even though I wouldn't have known Alan from original Adam) its the best I've read.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journey back to Blackpool from Somerset today passed more quickly than usual while listening to Alan Titchmarsh reading his delightful autobiography.

Amusingly told, his passion for gardening began at a very young age and he was single-minded enough to achieve his ambition.

Lots of early family stories that bring his Mum and Dad to life and his wife, too, gets a mention and it is most interesting to hear where she stands in the television stakes.

This is an abridged version so the actual book will be well worth a read at a future date.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Putting this back on the to-read shelf - as the audio copy I have is skipping every couple of minutes, and missing large chunks of the book. So I will wait until I can track down another copy...

Update - I never did find a better copy - so I listened to the book as is. I got the jist rather than the whole story. It is Titchmarsh's autobiography, read by him. Very nice look at how he got where he is today.

[John Stieven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of one of England's most famous gardeners. Why this book? First my wife's family is Australian (close enough!) and thought she would also like it. Plus, I love to spend time in my garden -- edible things more then pretty things. What an inspiration to see someone who was able to truly make a fortune by first doing what they loved -- at a time when everyone thought he was a little looney!

[JackieB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read as though you were sat in a room with Alan Titchmarsh and he was telling you his life story. I enjoyed it because it was coherent (I've read some memoirs which jump about all over the place) filled with a gentle humour and full of perception.

[Jenny Macdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice gentle autobiography much like himself. Fun to share a similar childhood.

[Gregory Bond · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alan joins up all the dots, but i couldn,t plod through to the end of the book

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

[Rena Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read