Review: Soft Lad by Nick Grimshaw

Well, here we are. My first actual written-down book review. I say that because I mentally review every book I've ever read but I've never actually tried to organise my thoughts in a written format before. This could go horribly wrong. On the other hand, Nick Grimshaw could phone me up tomorrow wanting to partner up on his next book (or just to invite me round for a cup of tea which would also be amazing).

The Author

Nick Grimshaw is a former radio host and TV presenter, born and raised in Manchester. He is most famous for his 14 years spent at BBC Radio One where he started with the youth show Switch before moving on to present late night, early evening and breakfast shows at various points. More recently, you may have seen him on Celebrity Gogglebox or caught the latest episode of the podcast Dish which Grimshaw hosts in partnership with Michelin-star chef Angela Hartnett and posh-person supermarket Waitrose.

First Impressions

It will come as no surprise to anyone that really knows me that my brain is very visual. This is hugely helpful when it comes to remembering things, and being able to create a mental picture. However, it does mean that I make very immediate decisions based on visual appeal. The best analogy I can give is that my brain is a bit like Tinder. I very quickly swipe left on things that don't visually capture my attention and this also applies to books. Nick Grimshaw's Soft Lad was a hard right swipe. The clean white border contrasted with his criminally gorgeous rainbow jumper (possibly a nod to Grimmy's internal journey in terms of his own sexuality, more likely just a fantastic piece of knitwear), his chunky rings and dark hair creates a striking first impression while the block capitalised title reigns it in from feeling too cutesy. I'm also a big fan of the calligraphic font running across the image because it gives a 'signed by the author' sort of feel that instantly evokes the feeling that this book was written just for you.

Pros

Like a chat with a friend

This book made me very happy. It covers some deep topics (anxiety, sexuality and grief to name a few) but manages to do so in a way that feels far from melancholy due to Nick Grimshaw's writing style. It truly feels like sitting down on the sofa with your best friend and having a catch up over a cuppa. Anyone who has listened to/watched Grimmy will know that he has a way of drawing you in and making you feel instantly at ease, and his writing is no different. His writing is easy, refreshing and full of little linguistic fillers and intensifiers and just enough dramatic tendencies to make it feel like a flamboyant friend is actually sat in front of you, telling you exactly how they ended up in Lady Gaga's dressing room.

Self Awareness

Nick Grimshaw is somehow both painfully and comfortably self-aware at the same time. He brutally brands himself as "annoying" and the first chapter is even titled "Dying for Attention", yet he presents this in a very matter-of-fact way. The memoir is self-deprecating and takes us through all the teenage agony and several awkward moments, but I didn't cringe once. It's clear that Grimmy knows exactly who he is, has made peace with his self-perceived flaws and is practising a very healthy level of self-acceptance. I think we all need a bit more of that! Nothing is swept under the carpet, but equally nothing is dwelt upon unnecessarily, and it makes for entertaining reading with some wickedly funny insights, but doesn't come across as self-indulgent.

Voice

I'm all about the written voice. That's the whole reason for this little start-up of mine. I find it so satisfying when someone writes in such a way that you can actually hear that person in your head. No pretence, no masks, just the way that person speaks but on paper. For me, this book does exactly that. I could hear every word in Nick Grimshaw's familiar Northern tea-and-toast voice, and that is absolutely not down to the way I read. From the very deliberate spelling of "yer" instead of your, to the missing 'g' every time his dad shouts bleedin', to the frequent use of the word lol, it's Grimmy to a t. I've just looked it up and there is an audiobook, narrated by the man himself, which I'm sure is fantastic and more accessible for many, but the way the book is written is enough for the audio version to be a fun alternative option rather than a necessity.

Hilarious

I laughed. Out loud. Many times over. I read with a near-constant smile on my face and an occasional tear in my eye (what? I'm not made of stone!) as I followed Nick on his adventures so far. There is a segment on Edward Scissorhands that I re-read countless times because it was so ridiculously funny that I thought I might lose control of my bodily functions. That's all I have to say on this point: a truly funny book.

Not cons, as such...

Non-chronology

As Nick Grimshaw writes on the "front flap" of his debut book, "Soft Lad isn't chronological like a traditional memoir, starting with birth and ending with death - I'm still (at the point of writing this) very much alive." This can, at times, make it different to follow if you're like me and like things to be as linear as possible. It's absolutely not a showstopper, and in no way did it stop me from enjoying the book as much as I did, but it did take some getting used to as the lens zoomed in and out of parts of Grimmy's life a bit like a flyover tour on Apple maps. As long as you go prepared to jump back and forth a bit, you'll be grand.

References to look up

As a little baby millenial, compared to Nick Grimshaw's slightly more established grounding in the 15 years that make up millenialism (it's a word.), I did find that there were quite a few pop culture references that I personally had to look up. Given that I first became familiar with Grimmy on my morning commute to university in 2012 - 2015 while he was hosting Radio One breakfast, and given Radio One's target demographic, I feel that I might not be alone here. Again, it's a bit petty to put this in the not-cons section because it's purely down to when I was born and my personal music taste, but especially in the chapter "Hardcore Ecstasy", I did have to have my phone beside me and look up the specific tracks mentioned to be able to truly experience the chapter as I believe it was intended. Simply because, in 1991, my brother 3 years my senior was only just joining the world and I was not to follow until 1994, shortly after the Channel Tunnel opened. I don't know why that fact is relevant, but what it does mean is that when Nick Grimshaw was bopping around his childhood bedroom to 90s rave music, my tastes were more Rosie and Jim than Rozalla. Just keep Google handy.

Chris Moyles vs. Nick Grimshaw

I realise that the way I have written this subheading makes it sounds like a long-awaited revenge match, in the realms of Fury vs. Whyte. In reality, I'm sure there's a lot more respect and friendship between the two DJs, and far less risk of brain injury. When Nick Grimshaw stepped into the Radio One Breakfast slot, I personally know many people that were outraged. "Who is this Nick Grimshaw? Chris Moyles is so funny! You drive to work in the morning and you see other people laughing in their cars and you know they're listening to him too." Perhaps, Sandra. Or perhaps they've just remembered the time that their friend pushed them down some church steps on a plastic sledge and they nearly died, as I frequently do. And maybe, Karen, Grimmy will have the same effect on morning commuters and we all need to be a little more open to change. The point is, I think you're either Team Grimshaw or you're not, and if you're not then you probably won't read the book which strikes me as unfair and a con for you personally, because you're missing out on written gold. Basically, Nick, there are probably still some people that are being Bitter Barbaras over you usurping Chris Moyles, and there's nothing you can do but pray for them.

Conclusion

If my feelings on the book are not clear by now, then either you need to re-read or I need to throw in the towel on this writing malarkey. This book really spoke to me because of the authentic manner in which Nick Grimshaw presents himself, its beauty sitting on my bookshelf, and the gentle, comedic and honest way that sensitive topics are handled. Not gingerly with kid gloves, but bare-handed with confidence, good humour and just the right amount of attention. My verdict? Buy it, love it, recommend it. And Grimmy? I'll be waiting for a cuppa and lols, anytime.