Although I have read other writings by Bennett which I hugely enjoyed, this one seemed perhaps a little too much for the die-hard fan only. To be fair, collected pieces, or diaries, often seem that way to me, and it is mistake for me to try to read such a book cover to cover, as I did try, and failed to. For dipping rather than continuous consumption

What can you say about the brilliant Alan Bennett - apart from superb!! A very well written book which I would highly recommend

While I have found other titles in this series of diaries by famous Britons interesting enough, I have to say I didn't find Bennett all that interesting. With ten years of diaries and assorted other writings, this long book will be great for his many fans. I did not, in fact, find them any more interesting or profound than the journal jottings of the average man in the street.

You might feel differently.

'National treasure' is a much overused term in Britain but surely the most loved writer of so many years must hold that title above many others.
This book of journal/diary entries and notes of his productions, plays and day to day life is as entertaining as it is informative.
Bennett's style is that comforting audio book voice on the page. The reader can almost hear him, especially with a funny turn of phrase or a subtle observation on the quirkiness of those he observes in daily life.
Yet we must not forget Bennett's long life of theatre, film TV and book contributions to our culture. From high brow amongst academia (his comments on sending 150 boxes of his past work for storing in the Bodlein Library in Oxford are very understated) yet he stands alongside Shakespeare and Pepys as a chronicler of our times.
Bennett's personal life with Rupert his partner, memories of his mother (and more of his father in this volume) show a man now accepting his older years (and subsequent health problems) against the joy he still beholds whether in trips out to visit churches across the country or the cycle down the road to buy stamps.
It's all brilliant and thoroughly readable. His political views are still strong and he has much to offer the younger generation not just the older ladies who love him the most it seems! "No danger. Not that I have ever been" quips Bennett after admiring a handsome young man reminding us the man himself is no different today than the very first time he set pen to paper all those years ago.

This is, of course, excellent. Alan Bennett writes, as always, with wit, insight, honesty and a rage against injustice and fakery which gives this collection the same brilliance as Writing Home and Untold Stories.

Again consisting of ten years of diaries plus some longer writings, there are very interesting thoughts on some major events, as well as Bennett's intelligent and often very funny observations on everyday life. There is real social comment here (his fury at police shootings is a regular theme, for example), leavened by the sort of Bennetry which makes me laugh out loud. Two small examples: having heard a critic on the radio say that he can have too much of Alan Bennett, his response is, "I wonder how he thinks I feel." And, after an angry couple of paragraphs about the fatuous infantilisation and Americanisation of the Speaking Clock, "One tries not to be an Old Git but they don't make it easy."

Probably all that need be said about Keeping On Keeping On is that it's Alan Bennett and that he hasn't lost any of his ability. I loved it; it made me think, it made me laugh and it gave me hope that there remains some civilization and humanity in the world. Very warmly recommended.

(I received an ARC via NetGalley.)

I'm sorry to say that this huge volume was not as funny as I thought, mostly because the diaries of very funny writers, last example was Sedaris' , are to me not funny at all. I always have this sensation of spying and it's not good. Moreover, the obituaries were about people I don't know, mostly because I am not English, and the radio plays not as usual. I liked some of the introductions but it was not enough for more than 700 pages....

Mi spiace dire che questo immenso volume non é stato per niente di mio gradimento, prima di tutto perché, come giá avvenuto per Sedaris, i diari di autori che di solito mi fanno ridere, mi danno sempre la sensazione di spiarli e non é piacevole oltre al fatto che, la maggior parte delle volte, non sono divertenti. Inoltre gli obituaries sono sempre su persone che non conosco, anche perché non sono inglese. Le due commedie per la radio non le ho trovate niente di che e tutto sommato, su 700 pagine di libro devo dire che salverei ben poco.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!