So Anyway by John Cleese

Cheese shop, pepper pot,
silly walks and dead parrot.
Only the surface.

As a huge Monty Python fan (I have the entire TV series on DVD and have seen all the films multiple times) it will come as no surprise that I enjoyed John Cleese's autobiography, So Anyway. I couldn't help but hear Cleese's voice reading the words in my head. It's no surprise that the book is quite funny.

What might be a surprise is that, except for the last chapter on the live Python reunion, the book ends with the formation of Monty Python. Even Cleese acknowledges that ending the book with his thoughts from the wings while watching the first Python sketch being performed would've been appropriate: "Maybe it's going to be all right." But maybe he thought he'd be lynched if he didn't include some Python insight.

We should all be so lucky to have created an iconic, widely loved and lasting legacy such as the one Cleese and his co-Pythons have. It's important to note also that all the Pythons had notable careers both before and after the TV show, making their accomplishments even more noteworthy.

I highly recommend Cleese's So Anyway for anyone who's a fan of comedy.

"Nothing can be said about writing except when it is bad; when it is good, one can only read and be grateful.”

I received no compensation of any kind for this review.