Of course, we all know the film: Back to the Future. It became a massive hit for the studio and launched Fox into movie stardom. His distinctive comedic timing made the character work and lifted much of the rest of the cast along with him. The book also captures a time when studios tightly controlled every aspect of an actor’s life, and when the punishing schedule Fox endured, juggling two major projects, would simply not be legal today. But in the 1980s, anything seemed possible.
If you love the film as much as I do, this book is for you. It’s packed with behind-the-scenes stories and making-of details you won’t find elsewhere. A fun, fast-paced romp through Hollywood with a much-loved actor at its centre, it’s well written and infused with humour throughout.
I’ve always thought of the restaurateur as a familiar figure, largely because I came to know his name while frequenting The Wolseley at the top of Piccadilly. I still visit for breakfast, and although Jeremy was later pushed out, I go for the staff, not the owners. This book, however, gave me a deeper understanding of what happened to King, the creator of my favourite English grand café.
That said, this isn’t just a book about The Wolseley. It’s a working autobiography, with only a light touch of home life and far more focus on King’s professional world. Rather than an in-depth personal portrait, it concentrates on the work he is known for and, most importantly, the realities of being a restaurateur. The book delves into the creation of some of London’s most iconic restaurants from the 1980s through to the present day. King doesn’t simply tell stories, he shares his work ethic and the lessons he’s learned along the way, often the hard way, about how to survive and succeed in his industry.
Jeremy King is an articulate and engaging speaker, something I’ve experienced both online and in person, and that same clarity and tone resonate throughout the book. His easy, confident style guides the reader through the sometimes chaotic world of restaurant life, introducing the many characters he has met and worked with during his long career in London’s dining scene.
Finally, we have the new book from first-time writer Tom Gilby, an autobiography about how he came to love wine, along with some wine knowledge. This is a wine book that is not really about wine. It is about the love of wine and Tom’s journey with it. The book is Thirsty, and after reading it, you will be too.
So much is written about wine, so it was refreshing to read wine stories instead. It felt like sharing a bottle with someone who knows wine but is not pretentious about it. He is open, happy to talk about terroir, but equally keen to tell stories about getting people to drive to Spain to pick up wine for an event the next day. It is completely insane.
If you are wondering who this guy is, you are not alone. He is an internet personality, and although that term can sometimes put people off, Tom started out as a wine salesman before becoming well known online for talking about wine in an exaggerated yet relatable way. He even ran the London Marathon while doing a wine tasting at each mile. Doing things like that gets you noticed, and earns you a nickname, one given by his own son: The Wine Wanker.
The book is a collection of stories from his upbringing in wine, his first experiences with it, and how he discovered his passion. Now Tom Gilby is an internet figure heading out on his Absolute Filth tour, where he will probably spend some time talking about Jam Shed, a wine he famously dislikes.
The book is funny in places and made up of short stories about his introduction to wine. It is well written and, while understandably indulgent about his successes, it is also informative. It is refreshing to have a wine book that is not really about wine, yet still teaches you something about it. If you are looking for a light wine read with less name-dropping, this is well worth your time.
Photo by Jaredd Craig