Me. You. A Diary

by Dawn French

Dawn French has written a new book for 2017! It's INTERACTIVE - the reader and Dawn will spend a year together travelling through the days, the months and the seasons of the year to make SENSE of it. And have some fun along the way . . .

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

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 2017

About the author

Dawn Roma French is a British actress, writer and comedian. In her career spanning three decades, she has been nominated for six BAFTA Awards and also won a Fellowship BAFTA along with her best friend Jennifer Saunders. She is best-known for starring in and writing her comedy sketch show, French and Saunders, alongside her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders, and for playing the lead role of Geraldine Granger in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley.

Reviews

[Sally Flint · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book that I am sure will be on lots of people's Christmas list. I decided I needed some light relief so couldn't wait until then to read it. Dawn French sets herself a hard task as she is basically waxing lyrical on how a 'good life' can be lived and has to be amusing, profound, whilst avoiding being preachy or patronising. I think she succeeds. It almost comes under a self-help therapy genre with lots of thought provoking activities to do along the way. She splits life into the seasons starting summer at 25, autumn at 50 and winter at 75. The winter part is the least developed, I guess because she isn't there yet. It is a very very quick read (so you almost feel a bit cheated on splashing the cash), but one that could and should easily be returned to. It goes beyond being 'a pick me up' book, though is that, and moves into a measured reflection of life. As with her other books by Dawn French, and in the same way as you do when watching Victoria Wood on the tv, you finish the book wishing that she was a friend you could have a good old chinwag with.

[AnnaG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn is utterly irrepressible and it's a pleasure to see the world through her eyes. I love the humour and the confidence that she has.

I got the Paperback "You, Me, Not A Diary" which doesn't have space for writing a diary, but has some interactive lists to write down, for example, your potential Valentines and the people you met who have become most important to you. A helpful self-discovery tool.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really quick 20 minute read .. enjoyable, but not enough content from Dawn herself ..

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really amusing read. Some things Dawn says are hilarious but so true of life. Really enjoyed this book. It is like a diary but gives the opportunity for you to have your opinions, make comments and wallow in the humour. Mixed with sadness too.

[Lissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing!

[Malene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be on every woman’s book shelf. Holy grail.

[Tracy Shephard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good diary and this one is better than most.

I love how Dawn has written about herself and her own diary entries, it's such fun.

My own problem is that I have an OCD issue, and filling out the dates, they are not written in for you, I found that a couple of months didn't have enough days..so I had to put the last few days on the following month.

I bought this for a few of my friends and I know they love it too.

I hope she does another next year.... but with the dates printed

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and love listening to Dawn and her brilliant wit. It is warm, sincere, honest and really helps you reflect on life. Such a great idea.

[alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Cay-lamity · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm not sure what this book was, or why it was published, or why it broadcasts itself as "The No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller" when it has no reviews and little reason to be a bestseller.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and I am thrilled about this seeing as it was a bit of a random pick-up. I don't love, love, love Dawn French either as a writer or performer (sorry Dawn!) but I was interested in the premise of this book and it certainly proved to be much better than I thought.

Sometimes life offers you that chance to reflect and, as each month passes, French gives her readers the chance to do just that and take those breathers and opportunities for a bit of positive introspection as each month goes by. What I like is that there is no attempt made by French here to be particularly silly or funny or to 'entertain' - I think that the book is a bit more intelligent than that and somehow the book just seems to invite you in to take stock a little.

Personally, I think that the book is beautifully written and I've taken it at face-value that French uses the book a to basically say a bit of thanks for the people, things and circumstances that have contributed to her life - positive and negative. She puts a bit of silk spin on all and really seems to communicate the message that even if life throws you a bag of shit (do pardon my French) then a positive outcome can still be found. I think that I am just at that juncture where I find that admirable.

This is a book that is a complete treasure to read. After each month's reflection, the reader is invited in and allocated a bit of space to make a bit of reflection of their own. I am sure I can't be the only reader to find this style a little therapeutic and healing.

The book is hard to categorise (I have certainly tried!) - in fact I have set up the category of 'unique' on my bookshelves as this book certainly is that.

What is this book but pearls of wisdom and a little gem? I will charity-donate my copy as I do with most of my paperback books and I am happy to let this wisdom be shared.

Beyond this, I will give this book as a gift and a jewel but only to the people I care about.

A very, very lovely book indeed to be talked about and shared amongst your special people. Recommended!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn French (2017) ME. YOU - A DIARY
London. Penguin/Michael Joseph

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 5 out of 5 stars

The sleeve reads, "This is Dawn French's fabulous new non-fiction book for 2017, and it's totally interactive: take a lovely ramble through the year together with Dawn. Think of it as Dawn's diary, personalized by you . . . perfection. I can't count the amount of diaries I have crammed full with entries in January, that then fizzle out as the other months pile in. One of my teenage diaries has fulsome fizzing reports of every single conversation, thought and feeling about every friend, every crush, every meal, every argument until mid-March, when the entry on the 18th simply reads, 'Washed hair.' Thank god, this isn't that. This book is a way for us to tell the story of a year together. Feel free to write your appointments in it, lists, thoughts and reminders of, say, who to kill, and when, and in what order. But I've also written about age and life as I see it, through the seasons and the months, and I've added some places for you to join me in some fun and some thinking. By the end of the year, I am hoping you will have a fatter, scruffier book that is written by me but totally personalized by you. Come on in. The paper is lovely . . ."

Clever and brimming with the trademark Dawn French wit. She covers well intentioned New Year's resolutions, being happy with your lot, motherhood (the over-baked expectations of, the joy of), living after the suicide of a parent, mental ill health, not being a twat towards others, things that can f**k right off, holidays,

You laugh-out-loud, you laugh to yourself, you go "ohhh", you recall, you remember, you cry to yourself and you cry an actual tear or two. This one has a bit of everything.

#DawnFrench #MeYouADiary #DawnFrenchMeYouADiary

[Andrea Barlien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just delightful. I was going to read it month by month and season by season but I finished it in a day. Made me laugh, smile and weep. Perfect!

[Carmel Audsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the hard copy of this book as a Christmas gift. I like Dawn French's humour and the way she handles upsets in her life. She dispenses nuggets of wisdom as only Dawn can, providing an insight into her professional and personal life. Included in the book is a diary for the reader to fill in and look back on later. I didn't do this so from that point of view it was a bit of a waste of paper, but I'm sure the idea will appeal to a lot of people.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dawn’s humour and wasn’t disappointed by her ‘role’ in this book. I was a little behind some months but the book has got me back into the habit of journal writing.

I loved the Seasons representing stages in life - I’m in the Autumn but cusp of Winter now. Dawn’s comments and thoughts sometimes really hit home and made me emotional.

For me it has been a tough year but it was good to record my thoughts and feelings.

I never did write ‘that’ letter though.

[Vicki Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent offering from the fab Dawn French. Adore the format of this book where you are encouraged to not only keep a diary but also compile lists and celebrate the person that is you. Definitely will come in for a fun form of therapy and reminding myself that, like Dawn and all lovely ladies and gents out there, I am fantastical if you can survive one year, you can survive another!

[Bev Dulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely epic, this has been my bible throughout this year, it's helped me to defunk my crazy head, chronicle my adventures, write down random things I never want to forget and the things I'm grateful for. Dawn's bits are fabulous too

[Julie Upcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!!

Just light hearted and funny! Made me smile and want to buy the actual diary now!!!! Will be getting it ASAP!

[Joanne Tognarelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't really finished but have started to use daily and find it useful though space to write ideas & memories down could be bigger - whether I continue til end of year who knows!

[Karen's World · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is brilliant as a planner, I loved the bits that Dawn French has written in for each months. This is something to keep when it is full.

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year of things to think about - really enjoying the challenges it poses

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the busy reader

A great read for anyone, it makes you smile and so easy to pick up for the free few spare minutes you have or longer if you’ve got the time

[Taciana Fonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read. Although not an autobiography, you really get to know the Dawn that we thought we knew. Dawn uses the calendar year to map out life from birth to eventual end. She looks back on her own life discussing some life difficulties she has experienced and how these have shaped her. Dawn also explains how she tries to live in the moment and be the best version of herself she can be. Then towards the end of the year, Dawn explains how she wants to journey forward and appreciate and enjoy all she has, family, friends and the little things. This really was a beautiful read. Its is a cliche to say I could not put it down. But Dawn spoke to me, she engaged with me in a way very few books have. I could not put it down but I did not want to finish it, because finishing it would make me sad.

[Elfreda Tealby-Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly recommend. This book has been a gentle holding of my hand as I went through a year of self learning, awaiting a possible ADHD diagnosis and undergoing some physical health issues. I read the hard back edition with space for diarising or journaling (I did the latter). One reviewer commented they read it quickly and ‘not enough Dawn’ - I think they missed the point; the book requires patience. You are in correspondence with the author and engaging in self-reflective practice in response. It’s not so much a read as a process. Having said that, the writing was wonderful: witty, wise, joyous, heartbreaking, honest, challenging. Dawn French became my paper friend for my 60th year (the age when she wrote it) and I LOVED her company. I loved her writing and I loved the writing she encouraged me to do. Brilliant.

[Rebecca Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, I loved having the motivation to write every day in this diary. And because I adore Dawn French, I loved the insights into the highs and lows of her life and the way she guided me through the seasons.

I decided to read (write?) this book in 2020 of all the years. It's not lost on my that keeping a diary, in 2020 of all years, might be something I find of value in the future. In fact, I'm doing a little project this year to share tidbits each week from my 2020 diary in hopes that as we leave the pandemic behind, we remember the lessons it has taught us. You can follow along on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bxhoughton/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/BxHoughton

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!

[Melanie Feltham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mixture of biography, advice and reflection that this book had. There is humour and topics that bring a tear to the eye.

I mainly wanted a book I could easily achieve, having monthly targets to get me back into reading. I lived that there were no pages, no pressure.

I'm now giving myself the target of two books this year and aim to build on that over the months and years.

With such a hectic life with work and littles and health issues, it was nice to make a connection with a book again and reflect on life and to hear Dawn French's voice is a big bonus. Love her.

[Saarah Niña · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the idea with this book: you follow Dawn through the year (2017 it was, but that's not important) and fill in little stuff about yourself as you learn more about her. There were some wise messages and it makes for a thoughtful gift, from Dawn to her millions of fans.

I didn't do any answering to the questions (by writing in) and I don't plan to, it ddn't affect my enjoyment of the book.

Overall: Beautifully illustrated, wise, sometimes funny and moving: perfect for any fan.

[Jacqui Beglan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I knew Dawn French, have adored her since her days at Dibley. I find her warm, witty and amusingly honest. I read this book as we entered the months. I tried to be more lighthearted as I went through my reflection of the year and generally judged myself a lot less harshly. I wouldn’t go so far as to say this was a self help book but it certainly allows you to be mindful and count your blessings. I’ve loved having Dawn with me over the years.

[Wabbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very much, it made me laugh, think of memories that I’d long forgotten, and people that are very missed.
I liked filling in my thoughts etc, and have come away with “I’m going to need more carrots” and “I choose to be happy”. I adore Dawn French, and hope she writes another book soon.