Me Moir - Volume One

by Vic Reeves

Vic Reeves' vivid, enchanting, and utterly hilarious childhood memoir is a comic masterpiece.

Before there was Vic Reeves, there was a boy called James Moir who was much the same as any other lad.Obsessed with owning a pet crow, a master at writing his name and terrified of his father's immense moustache. Growing up in Yorkshire and then CountyDurham, the boy who would be Reeves somehow managed to escape the attentions of 'Randy Mandy' and get a crash course in pig castration, before having encounters with Jimi Hendrix and the Yorkshire Ripper.

Peopled with weird and wonderful characters, Vic Reeves' memoir is authentic, witty and inventive, and as unique as you'd expect from one of Britain's most exceptional comedy talents.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Humor, Audiobook, Memoir, Comedy

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2006

Reviews

[Jenna M · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of reeves, you'll be delighted with the easy charm and strange wit of the book.
If not, sod off.

[Joe Loftus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funniest book I’ve ever read.

[Hazyhazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking in the earlier years up to the eve of his escape to London, this isn’t so much a biography of Vic Reeves than of Jim (Rod) Moir. A series of chronological anecdotes, some more fanciful than others, nothing can be taken as fact and it’s all the better for it. Charming, unpretentious and very funny. If you spent your youth painstakingly painting band logos on your school bag, behaving like an idiot for the benefit of your friends and plotting a way to escape small town life by forming a succession of diabolical bands then you’re going to love it. And if you didn’t, well at least you’ll enjoy the pictures.

[Owen Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd heard the abridged audio version of this some years ago, but decided to splash out and buy a cheapy second hand version of the physical thing, knowing that it would have more detail in it as well as Reeves's glorious drawings. Vic, or Jim, or Rod Moir - had a strange and flamboyant youth in the suburban semi rural lands of Darlington, way up north between Leeds and Newcastle. I'm a gigantic fan of Vic's surrealist foolishness and general daftness he's sort of a hero figure to me. An idol, if you will. He paints a warm, but admirably unvarnished portrait of an adolescence in the 70's. It's a grim time in some ways but the pop culture is vibrant and we see psychedelia give way to glam and avant prog turn to acerbic punk through his eyes. It's an era (particularly musically) that I'm always deeply fascinated by and to have my favourite fella take me through it is charming in the extreme.

The presentation from Virgin Books, is functional, and not particularly inspiring. Each chapter is illustrated by a drawing of his, either from the time or contemporary with the writing of the book, most of which as also needlessly repeated in the glossy "photo" bits you get in all memoirs. Most infuriatingly each chapter has a "quote" from it at the start for some reason. Like you're reading a long magazine article which seems wildly superfluous. Otherwise though, it does the trick and I'd be genuinely fascinated to see a second volume one of these decades, bridging the decade gap between "going to London" at the end of the seventies to getting gigantic on Channel 4 at the start of the 90's. Although, just watching him paint gigantic birds on the internet is good enough for me, frankly.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anecdotal tales from the childhood of Vic (Jim Moir) Reeves. Told in the style you would expect from Vic, so if you're not a fan generally, you won't enjoy this style of storytelling or comedy.

[Ashley Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I was eight pounds when I was born, healthy and of good cheer, yet the midwife suggested that it might be a good idea for Mum to feed me on Complan, the weight-gaining food supplement. This she did, and I ballooned to a frightening ten stone by the age of three months. I became so corpulent so quickly that my mother was unable to pluck me from my cot and I was eventually prised out with an oar. To remedy the situation, a skip was later rented to accommodate my ever-increasing mass..."

[Keziah Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard for me to give an unbiased review of this book because it was just so interesting to read about his childhood antics in Darlington and recognising all the place names and really being able to see everything he was describing. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of his comedy. Had some laugh out loud moments!

[Savina King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Vic Reeves in the "Dove from above", can't remember the name of the show, blast it
I was so pleased to learn that he came from this area and drank in the green dragon pub
This book is funny and just makes you feel good Thanks Vic, nice one

[Sheldon · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is here is good, but it's over before it truly starts and 15 years later there is still no volume 2 to finish the story.

[Jim Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

You try harder - Volume One v. 1

Slightly disappointing effort, Mortimer history was more entertaining and concise. Surprisingly Moir tries to be a debonair punk about time, he's much better being who he is than trying though always failing to be a trend setter. Part of his problem seems to have come from his inability to settle flitting like some lost butterfly trying to find a last plant but always failing forcing him to move on again to pastures new. There is something of Peter Pan about the guy, never grown up and to his credit never wanting to. He relates his tails, most are exaggerated for increased comic effect, with an eye akin to a Goons script writer. I did enjoy this effort but it should have been better.

[Russell Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography covers the first 20 or so years of Vic Reeve's life. It reads exactly as Vic speaks which makes it a very enjoyable read. He tells the various anecdotes with warmth and a sense of fun which makes them entertaining to read. As always with Vic there is a sort of anarchy that runs through the book. It was this style that made him famous, and so if you are a fan you will enjoy this. I would imagine that people not familiar with Vic reeves would find this an easy enough read but perhaps, rightly, class it as a bit odd. Bring on volume 2!

[Sam Hunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that some were disappointed that this volume covers only childhood but I found it very familiar and charming. The classic experience of a young man’s childhood in a working class environment - a coming of age story.

Jim Moir obviously has an unique voice and it comes across really well in the autobiographical format. Was laughing out loud at a number of occasions, which I don’t usually get even from books that I do find funny.

Would 100% read again.

[Ksenia]

as usual charmed and bewitched by his mind overall but also always loveeee this sort of thing and related themes of coming of age in the twentieth century britain… genuinely lold irl at many of the anecdotes. and not going to lie in my mind’s eye couldn’t stop seeing him as just a smaller version of vic reeves in his sixties fop drag from the 1991 new year episode of big night out which makes it even funnier somehow.

also when he referred to bob mortimer as his ‘partner in amusement’ 😭😭😭

[Pauline Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. Hilarious first installment of Vic Reeve's memoir up to him leaving home. Being a similar age and living in the North East at the time there were lots of childhood memories which resonated, causing my own reminiscence. Great insight into the man though and highly recommended.

[Kyt Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas present from one of my children who knows me well. A slightly tongue in cheek and thoroughly enjoyable bio that takes you from his birth (!) up to moving to London. I look forward to Volume Two if there is to be one.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to read about Vic Reeves the performer then this isn't the volume you want to read. However if you want to read about the young Rod Moir who grew up to be Mr Reeves, then this is the volume you want to read! Some surprises and laughs along the way that makes you want to read Moir.

[Stephen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic
i want more ASAFingP
best use of the word
GENUFLECT ever

[Rory Tregaskis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Vic Reeves, but this book ends just before things get interesting.

[David Milburn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up . Couldn't get into it.

[Hannah Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few minutes to get into it, but once I did, I loved it. Typical Vic story telling, never sure what is true and what isn't but it is all part of the fun ❤

[Stephen John Clutterbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 70’s… The decade when nobody had a clue?

[Steve Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, but it has quite an abrupt ending. It has been quite a long time since Vic (Jim/Rod) wrote this and I look forward to part 2.

[Joanne Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off brilliantly but got a bit boring towards the end

[R7835 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok - not as funny as I hoped it would be.

[Melanie Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a fun read, but I was dismayed to find no further volumes were published

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable, funny memoir made all the better by a mention of Hinton's.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking forward to the inevitable follow up!

[Chris Jolliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, funny in some bits...not groundbreaking...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining autobiography. Moir doesn’t rein himself in from making things up, but he does point out what is true and what isn’t (and I feel I can trust him, because it’s always the more ridiculous and unlikely things he has made up and then he gives us a more realistic sounding version of events). This book covers his school days and working life up to his early twenties and ends just as he moves to London.
He runs away from a girl called Randy Mandy and is a bit shy but finally loses his virginity (he calls it getting his greens, I have never heard anyone else call it that ever). He was in a band that played a Hawkwind song for over five hours (I once saw Hawkwind live and it felt like it went on for over five hours) and he saw Judas Priest. These little bits of his history chimed with mine so I liked them. He saw a ghost and went hitch-hiking. He failed exams and didn’t care. I like the tale of one of his workmates who says “When you’re a skilled man like me…you’ll be able to make one of these”. I shan’t spoil the story by revealing what can be made by a skilled man.
As soon as I’d read this volume I looked for Volume Two and was disappointed that it wasn’t out yet. This volume has his own illustrations in and they are charming, if a bit odd. This is the impression you form of the young Moir himself.

[Dianah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, brilliant, quick read. I read it on the airplane to Vegas. It was so funny the guy sitting next to me asked me to shut up and stop laughing because nothing could be that funny. This only covers Vic's early years when he was still Rod Moir. His "garage" band was much more successful than mine (Ravage Savage), but we had many similar experiences. That made it even funnier to me.

If you don't like Mr. Reeves or his comedy it goes without saying to avoid this book.