Stalin Ate My Homework, Alexei Sayle

Alexei Sayle was one of the altenative comics during the early 80s in the UK. They were a somewhat left wing movement, who took on a different set of targets than the generation of comedians before them. They would not tell sexist or racist jokes, but would tell often quite cruel jokes about other public figures, royalty and the police. A lot of people at the time complained they were not actually funny. I liked Alexei Sayle, but I found his stuff a pit patchy. I was usually bored by his bits in The Young Ones, which was otherwise my favourite sitcom. His comedy series, Stuff, could be good, but again was patchy. I liked his take on dinner parties: he'd eat his guests and keep a tin of corned beef to talk to, pretty much my own opinion of dinner parties. Sayle did get quite famous at one point. He was in several Hollywood films during the early 90s, usually playing dodgy East Europeans or Arabs.

Anyway, Sayle has been writing books the past few years, mostly fiction it seems, but not this one. Stalin Ate My Homework is a account of his growing up in Liverpool during the 50's and 60's. It's very amusingly written. Sayle seems to recall that period very well.There is a lot of social history in the book, for example how the telephones worked back then, or what was on the regional television stations. Sayle is helped enormously by having grown up in a rather unusual household. His parents were devoted Communist Party members, and his father's job as a railway worker enabled the family to take their holidays in the Soviet Block. His mother was good for source material too, being hot-tempered and uninhibited in stating her views.

Apart from all the anecdotes, one of the best things about the book was his discussion on various works of literature. Much of which shook his faith in the political views he grew up with, although not all. Sayle's love for his parents comes across very much, but was forced to find fault in their political stance, as difficult for him as others might feel in losing their religious faith.

All in all, a jolly, good book. Another good thing about it is the chapters are quite short, so perfect bedtime or coffee shop reading.

I'll be putting it on my list. He could be cleverly funny but was best when he reined himself in a bit. I remember a spoof of " Indecent Proposal" he did, where the Robert Redford millionaire character wanted a go on his bike.