Customer Reviews
A Northern Soul??? - By: Jennifer Hancock, 11 Dec 2007 
An ok read as far as biogs go but the overwhelming feeling i got from it was an air of hypocrisy. Throughout the book Nail talks of the unwelcome attention & invasion into his private life that stardom has brought him, mainly due to his brilliant role as Ozin Auf W Pet & the apprehensions he had of going back to the role when subsequent series were mooted. With thisin mind he is interestingly the only cast member other than the late Pat Roach who has actually released an autobiography. I would say that all the rest of the cast with the exception of Gary Holton have been as successful as Nail since Auf W Pet, Timothy Spall & Kevin Whatleyin particular. Maybe it is me who is pessimistic but surely someone who does not welcome attention to themself would be the first to turn down the opportunity to write an autobiography?
He also statesin the book that when they visited the North East to film the 3rd series of Auf Win Middlesbrough he was reminded of how grim the north really is. That is maybe so but its that grimness that made him the person he was (past tense) & got him the incredibly luck break & passport to better things. He also has not lived anywhere near the North East since his unexpected break backin the early 80's. Didn't take the Northern Soul long to up sticks & go did it?
Jimy Nail.....A Northern Soul - By: P. LAWRENCE, 20 Jan 2007 A great read for a die hard Auf Wiedersehen Pet & Spender fan. Jimmy's account of hardshipin the North East from humble beginings to a remarkable career is an inspiration.
His ability & commitment to stayin touch with his roots is apparent until his career takes off, duein no small part to his unfailing hard work to further his status.
Unfortunately, the showbusiness life he was at pains to convey his disapproval of catches up with him halfway through the autobiography & the dialogue descends into accounts of a self satisfied smug nature.
Autobiographies are interesting as an account of a life with opportunities grabbed & made the absolute best of. Jim certainly did this.
A talented guy, no doubt. But so conceited.
Great Book - By: , 29 Dec 2005 
Having liked Jimmy Nail for a while, I could not wait to read his book. It was such a good read & showed how down to earth he is. I would recommend this to anyone.
Good and bad - By: , 04 Dec 2005 
Jimmy Nail has undoubtedly come a long way from his relatively deprived backgroundin Newcastle, & he has some funny & moving stories to tell from his journey, however a depressing feature of the book (and why I deducted a star or two) is Nail's seemingly inevitable & permanent move into the world of the luvvie, & the adoption of the (largely middle class) PC mindset which bemuses & amuses so many of us. I mean, do all actors have to be so right-on?!
An example of how Nail's attitudes have changed is that he now seems to think he was wrongin telling a seedy old man (Francis Bacon) where to go for coming onto himin a club. Bacon eventually said to Nail that all he wanted to do was "paint" him, but grubby old (or young for that matter) men propositioning strangers - male or female -in bars is sleazy & creepy, & it's odd why Nail now thinks he was "prudish"in rebuffing Bacon.
You can't help getting the impression from this book that Nail has moved from one extreme to another,in that he's gone from being a hard drinker forever getting into fights to a quiet-living teetotaller who's been tamed by a nice middle class girl. I'm sure Nail much prefers the latter existence, but to the outsider his lifein recent years comes across as bland & boring. To summarise, Nail's book provides a cautionary tale,in more ways than one.
A Down to earth biography - By: , 24 Nov 2005 
I've read many biographies of famous politians, actors, sports personalities & never have I read an autobiography so down to earth. If you or I were to write an autobiography, this is how it would read (Apart from some of the amazing & terrible things that have happenedin Jimmy Nail's life.) Jimmy Nail treats his reader with respect &in a way as a mate. It's a very easy read & an addictive page turner.
