I'm a Stranger Here Myself. Deric Longden

by Deric Longden

In 1990, spurred on by the success of his writing and his marriage to the writer Aileen Armitage, Deric Longden made a momentous move to a foreign country. Huddersfield, in Yorkshire, with its distinctive manners and customs and its wealth of remarkable characters, would surely provide him with all the material he needed for his planned book, one of the great classics of travel literature. But two years later, when he sat down to write, the major events of everyday life kept the demands of a houseful of cats, the problem of getting the cooker repaired, the memories evoked by sorting through old clothes in the wardrobe . . . Still, I'm a Stranger Here Myself is a travel book of a kind, where the most hilarious adventures can happen between the kitchen and the bathroom, and where a morning's shopping can provide enough anecdotes to last a lifetime. Once again Deric Longden demonstrates his genius for taking the most ordinary materials of life and transforming them with his own special brand of gentle, inspired humour.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Autobiography, Animals, Memoir, Cats

Paperback

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" we find Deric leaving the comfortable climes of Chesterfield and emigrating north to the vast unknown - Huddersfield. Filled with Longdenesque observations, the trials and tribulations of Deric and Aileen's everyday life; all told with the gentle and self effacing humour for which he has become famous

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one; it made me laugh out loud.

"Once again Deric Longden demonstrates his genius for taking the most ordinary materials of life and transforming them with inspired but gentle humour."

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A scattershot collection, largely made up of recycled material new to me, but recycled nonetheless and with far too little cat stuff for my liking. It also gave me a bit of a shock when one of my ex-bosses made a sudden appearance: she's Longden's stepdaughter. Now I come to think of it, she was always trying to plug a load of books by some relative of hers & It is a bit of a shock, I have to tell you, when someone that you know as a slightly horse-faced dishwater blonde is described as having "the languid looks of a catwalk model", but that's the rosy filter of fictionalised autobiography for you.

[Ross Mountney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy Deric's sparkly writing about even the mundane. Great 'time out' read!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This must be the 4th time at least that I have read this book, I love his work, he always makes me smile.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a light and funny book, love the conversations with the cats!
Not much substance, but I enjoyed it.

[Daphne Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s a autobiographical account of the author’s everyday life, home, wife, cats, shopping, and writing. It’s very funny at times and amusing at others. Deric Longden has a gentle, problematic life that is very comforting for the reader. I am glad he has written others that I can now read.

[Teri Pre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but dated.

[Rhonda Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new genre. Loving books about people who love their pets!

[Plum-crazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Amusing tales/anecdotes of day-to-day life & the problems therein, featuring cats but not so much as to put off non-cat lovers. I've spent a happy few hours sniggering my way through this book - just my type of humour :o)

To be fair I am a little biased about this book being as it's from my neck of the woods. I loved the fact that I recognised so many of the places - in particular the Midland Bank at Marsh, his "favourite bank in the whole wide world", (it holds a lot of memories for me too but that's a whole other story!) & my friend Karen even gets a namecheck.
I also remember my Mum buying the dreaded Metcolt Adult Cough Remedy - ugh!

One of those books that I can read over & over & always brings a smile to my face.

[Biggy Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about nothing! Longden has the same ability as Billy Connelly - both are watching life's trivialities and turning them into funny incidents. It was a great read after having read psychological thrillers, sugar-sweet romance, hard hitting detective novels etc. I chuckled like a hen the whole time, bringing an eager look on the family's faces in expectation of the eggs I apparently would deliver at any moment.
Take a break - forget the KitKat - and grab a Longden book! You won't regret it!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, Observant and entertaining .
Gives you a different perspective on the most mundane days, you won’t walk down the street quite the same qithout looking for life’s little messages.
His interactions consistently out of the ordinary, with the odd conversation with a fur coat, cat or slug thrown in.

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was absolutely fine but quite outdated now as it was written over 30 years ago. some of the humour still worked and was appreciated but some of it did not age well. i enjoyed reading about the authors families experiences and escapades, especially some of the elements that have changed so much in the interim.

[Peter Kieft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, this is so much fun. Basicaly Deric Longden writes about small everyday things that hapen around him whilst he is trying to write this book. There's no tension, there's no murder, there's no plot but reading this is so much fun. I now want to read all his books!

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, some humour but I didn't want to finish it...

[sheila philpott · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has a really unusual way of writing wish I really like.

Great writing in an unusual way love the cats ! So the dales come to life. as do the people.

[Gracel lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny

A very funny book it made me craçk up on every page. I will read more of his books now

[Jean Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book with all its gentle humour and, of course, the author is fond of cats so what's not to like.

[Callisto#464 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a huge story with twists and surprises and drama ..but a simple one narrating his daily life in a humorous and hearty yet simple manner...It gives off a relaxed and happy vibe...

[Shelagh P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jazzy Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another witty story from Deric Longden. I was occasionally slightly confused by the jumps in time but still a thoroughly enjoyable read overall.

[Taksya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molto british e discretamente datato come riferimenti e stli di vita... saranno gli anni 90, ma sembrano passati secoli.
Quello che non cambia e che continua a divertire è lo stile dell'autire e gli aneddoti, forse già letti in altri libri della serie, continuano a strappare un sorriso.

[Christopher Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and charming observations about real life! A great read

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny observations about life. If you are a cat person and/or like observational humor such as Jim Gaffigan, you will find this book hilarious.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trail's off a bit towards the end, but on the whole a pleasant read.