So Me

by Graham Norton

Graham Norton, whose impish charm and quick wit has earned him a place in our hearts, looks back at his life so far. In his own words, So Me is 'a real romp through a journey from living in a cockroach-infested council flat in Hackney to buying Claudia Schiffer's townhouse in Manhattan, from my mother dragging me to school to me dragging her to Sharon Stone's house for New Year's brunch'. From a not-so miserable Irish childhood to dropping out of Cork University and joining a commune of hippies in San Francisco, from his disastrous attempts at becoming a serious actor to the rise of his comedy career in London, this is a hilarious, insightful and moving account of a colourful life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Humor, Biography Memoir, Irish Literature

341 pages

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Graham William Walker is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton. He is the host of the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show and the BBC commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd Graham Norton biography I have read having previously enjoyed a more updated one on his later escapades. A very frank biography that really does cover warts and all, includes his gay abandonment with little known would be lovers.
I do like the way Graham Norton writes and have enjoyed the two novels he wrote which are surprisingly very good. This book is entertaining and easy to dip in and out of, no real secrets told but good fun all the same. The book is written as you would imagine Graham telling it and not by some ghost writer that he hardly knows. I only gave it 3 stars but I enjoyed reading a lot more than that and feel a little mean. This is an entertaining read with fun stories rather than a child to star life story.

[Arie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I could go in depth about how the writing isn't great, the "plot" meanders and skips things and grammar is questionable but lets be honest: people do not read these kinds of books for their literary merits. There usually are none. No, I read this book because I like Graham Norton, adore his show and knew nothing about him as a person.

Well, this definitely delivers. All the sordid details of his past, including an almost-time as a rent boy, failed relationships and steamy hookups, celebrity gossip and his personal opinions on a lot of random things.

He's been stabbed (no, literally - in a mugging. With a knife.) accidentally had his appendix out, spent christmas with his mother at Sharon Stone's place - ohh, no, I won't ruin it for you.

It's not the best celebrity memoir/biography I've ever read. It's not the most in depth, the best written, the shortest, the longest. But it does what it was intended to do: gives insight into the life and mind of the funniest chat-show host in Britain.

[Pattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love graham Norton’s show and thought I’d read his autobiography. Well, I am still digesting it. I admire the fact that he was so open and recorded events/feelings that sometimes made me squirm! Hats off to his honesty!

[Donna McNutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was living in belfast

I was working for a shop called stewart Miller and I worked in the toy dep

I was livin on my own monday to friday and was always lookin for something to read when the guy from the book department shouted on me on a monday to let me know that was his new books in and Graham Norton had caught my eye I couldnt put the book down it had me laughin so much it was unbelievable and I just had to tell everyone about the book it was all I talked about for weeks and weeks after lol lol


A must read for anyone

xx

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham Norton has been my favorite talk show host for quite a few years now, so I don't know how I didn't stumble across this book sooner! His life is put into perspective all the while being humorous and light-hearted.
It's always interesting to read an autobiograpy by someone famous, but even more so when they don't consider themselves to be as such.
This book made me laugh a numerous amount of times, made me sympathize, and -gasp- made me cry! Norton balances all of these elements very well, I must admit.
I would definitely read this book again and recommend it to anybody who wants a good laugh!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must begin by saying I’m a huge fan and have been a huge fan since I saw him on his debut TV show - Carnal Knowledge - a late night TV show for students, which I watched when I was a late night, TV watching student.

I was probably one of the few who recognised him in Father Ted instantly as the guy from Carnal Knowledge.
Then, I was glued on Fridays to his Channel 4 show from the moment it launched.

I love his humour, irreverence and self deprecation and feel like I know him well. I’ve continued to become a big fan of his writing ….. and his wine ;)

With all that in mind, this biography did not let me down. I felt I was sitting with him having the laughs and I did laugh out loud many times.

I think a good biography is one where I feel like I have been let into their world, told a few juicy secrets in the process and end up still liking them at the end of it. Using those measures, this was certainly a good biography.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

i already loved graham norton, but i love him even more after finishing this book. he's had a very interesting life! i laughed, i cried, i cringed. haha

when reading this you can tell that he is such a genuine person, and he's quite candid about some things i'm sure he'd rather forget. and yes, he name-drops a lot, but it never feels desperate.

i hope he comes out with another one soon!

[Kelly Roll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had set a goal for myself to read two nonfiction books this year and a celebrity tell all wasn't what I had in mind but... I've always enjoyed the graham Norton show and I suspect that he is much more well known in the UK than here so I thought I'd take a peek at his earlier life.
I suspect the Brits are also less "tell all" than Americans and I felt Mr Norton was still, in some respects, keeping up that pleasant, snarky persona. Yes there are some details that are (very) mildly shocking but I never felt real emotional depth from this book. entertaining to read nevertheless..

[Kariss Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will never find a celeb bio this honest again.

[Ceri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a life

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had forgotten I read this some years back, not a good sign. It's a fast read but Graham Norton pulls off his bitchy queen persona a little too well. I didn't like this half as much as I like his talk show. Average.

[Diane W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a literary masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination but an interesting read nonetheless.

[Akoaytao1234 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cheeky and personal look on Graham Norton's life from Ireland to pre BBC Graham Norton Show. I would not say that its like other standard autobiographies I had read. This one feels a bit too personal and at least knowing of fault. Though It still self serving for most part, Norton's take of things is still frank that almost borderlines cattiness and just like his Talk show persona, willing to not take himself to seriously.

I especially like his prefame period in the book. It shows a lot of self reflection that truly dissects his time then. It also shows a very interesting period of history , the AIDS pandemic in the eyes of young gay man and the Sept Attacks in the US as this book was written just three years after the fact. An interesting read, not so trailblazing though.

[Celia Lynch Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very honest and true to himself.

I've just finished this book. It was a good read. Of course I've watched a hundred GN programmes. I try to watch every week. He's managed to acquire some amazing guests. I'm particularly amused by American guests who can't quite believe what they've walked into. He gave some great descriptions in his book. Can you really say that on tv? How they don't quite know how to take him. Of course it's the Irish sense of humour too that quite shocks them.
Goodness, he did a really good account of his earlier life. The hardship and sense of trying to fit in. It could have ended horrifically.
He really was in the right place at the right time and managed to build up his fabulous career. I'd really like to know if he's happy. I hope so.

[Jtp · Rating 2 out of 5]

sorta disappointing....the urbane and tongue in cheek Graham I see weekly on BBC America and the surprising accomplished fiction writer Norton has become....he isn't in this volume....chalk it up to the age at which Graham wrote this....the lack of depth of experience expressed here....perhaps he should hae waited a few years before penning it...that said, I would queue up for a biographic work by him reflecting on his success in the last few years reflective of where we are as a queer community

[Kylie Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in a strange summer...a Protestant, 21, just graduated from QUB. Living and working in Republican west Belfast. How unique Belfast was. I didn't really know it at the time...yes the end of an era but also the end of the last fragments of my childhood self. And a new version of myself was soon to be remade in joy and pain, between Ireland and England. And a lot of this excellent autobiography captured this experience. Loved the London parts on drama school, being a broke waiter and actor, love and lust and ghosts!

[Renee Blij · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long time fan of Graham Norton and autobiographies, having recently bought a Kindle and delving back into the world of reading again, I was all too pleased to find out that he has written 2 auto-bios! So of course I would start at the beginning, with the first one, and it did not disappoint.
It's written in exactly the way I like my autobios: as if the author is sitting in the room, telling you their life story: warts and all, not holding back, and not taking themselves too seriously while doing it.
If you're after some light entertaining reading and wanting to find out more about the man and how he got to be a star, I highly recommend. I'll be reading the follow-up next.

[Ruth O'Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a laugh out loud treat.

Love this book it was recommended by a colleague and I laughed out loud so much Graham is so funny this is so well written and as a fellow Bandon I feel it was unjustified of the Grammer not to have him back. There huge mistake for such a funny polite and interesting guy.

[Hazel Went · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book even more enjoyable than I expected. Written as Graham Norton speaks, I found I was reading some parts in Graham's voice. Entertaining and hiding very little, there were times I laughed out loud reading. I'm definitely reading more Graham Norton in the future.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like hanging out with an outrageous best friend who tells you all their secret crushes and dating misadventures. Also I didn't realise just how he built a comedy career from absolutely nothing. Sadly, though, even tho my dad loves his books, this is too saucy to lend to him. Parental advisory!

[Kenn Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Me, so rude

Graham Norton seems to have been very honest in telling his life story so far. It is laugh out loud funny and occasionally quite sad, but it is throughout a page turner of a story and quite revealing.

[Moira Nugent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irish your cracked.

Graham Norton,this book has kept this 78 yr old Irish up all nite. It's brillant I've never laughted so much,good on you. Be happy.now I've to download your next one xx

[Carl Sagstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun read, doesn’t shy away from the x-rated details either.
It’s silly and meandering in places but there again of course is. It’s Graham Norton so what do you expect?
An entertaining and explicit journey of a boy from small town Ireland to one of the most famous faces on UK television.

[Margaret Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read a couple of his books this year I felt it was interesting to read his autobiography. An honest account of live so far! More interesting as we could have been at school together so I understand the times that he was living in.

[Ian Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Funny and entertaining book I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Looking forward to reading his next book to see how his life has progressed.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candid discussion of Graham's life thus far. Enjoyed the book overall.

[S-J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutally honest, funny and, yes Graham, a little sad in places.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many similar stories from his other autobiography but still enjoyable

[Cdubbub · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast & fun read! Cool to learn about a man whom I've seen so much but knew so little about.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without taking himself or life too seriously, Graham gives a very readworthy recounting of his first 40 years. I loved it!