Ayoade On Top by Richard Ayoade

I think I'm just allergic to America. Well, maybe my state. Like, some type of thing is setting off my migraines more than normal. Besides the pandemic. Maybe it's just the pandemic. 

But I'm going to blame the stupid flowers and weather in my state because I'm in a mood. 

Whatever. I'm running on a lot of coffee. I slept like the dead last night after taking a triptan (a pain pill meant for migraines) and I feel like I got hit by a truck. That's not hyperbole --I was t-boned by a massive truck that ran a red light a few years ago and I feel about the same. I finished my work and I've uploaded some photos and so that's where I am in life. Drugged and behind. You know, the norm. 

For some reason I thought I had talked about Ayoade's book, but it's because I mentioned it in a Fri-Yay post. Obviously when I realised my error, I decided to make the post. We should all have Ayoade in our life. 

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Title: Ayoade On Top
Author: Richard Ayoade
Page Number: 229 pages (hardback)
Genre: humor, comedy, nonfiction
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Year: 2019

At last, the definitive book about perhaps the best cabin crew dramedy ever filmed: View From the Top starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

In Ayoade on Top, Richard Ayoade, perhaps one of the most 'insubstantial' people of our age, takes us on a journey from Peckham to Paris by way of Nevada and other places we don't care about. It's a journey deep within, in a way that's respectful and non-invasive; a journey for which we will all pay a heavy price, even if you've waited for the smaller paperback edition.

Ayoade argues for the canonisation of this brutal masterpiece, a film that celebrates capitalism in all its victimless glory; one we might imagine Donald Trump himself half-watching on his private jet's gold-plated flat screen while his other puffy eye scans the cabin for fresh, young prey."

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I discovered this book from watching Graham Norton's show when Richard Ayoade was a guest. I watch Richard's shows when they show up in my streaming or cable services (for instance, his travel show is on the Ovation channel). He has a dry wit and can drop a joke without any hesitation. 

I also love when he's on the panel shows that are popular in the UK (I'm more familiar with Channel 4's shows as they are more 'lenient' when their shows go up on Youtube. They also put clips and shows on their own YouTube channel). Some of these shows also can be streamed on Acorn or Britbox. I'll link some videos just because I really enjoy them. I wish America would bring back panel shows that are quick and witty. 

Back to the book, Richard Ayoade watches (and then writes) about the film, View From The Top. I thought I hadn't watched the film--but I have!  

You do NOT need to see the movie to appreciate the book because Ayoade really goes though the plot of the film as he muses on the film and his own life and thoughts. The movie is forgettable (sorry Gwyneth!) and I forgot it--but it follows a predictable plot of a "girl gone good". I would say that Ayoade is quite gentle with his critique on the actors, writing, and directing, etc. which is amazing as he could have gone really vicious on the film, acting, and writing. I took a picture from one of the scenes he talks about so you can get an idea of his level. It's a bit snarky but elevated. A gentle, but through and efficacious, skewering. It's a critique on the film, on these types of movies, on the low-ball effort of viewers, producers, and the industry in whole. 

​Ayoade divides his book into six parts, which follow along a "flight plan" (e.g. "Arrivals", "Departures"). These parts also mirror the movie plot and he fits his musings so that they make sense in their intended subpart. That was hard to follow, basically I thought the organization of the book -- between movie plot snark and Ayoade's insights on life-- was well done.  It's tight. Even the footnotes are a delight (see the blurry photo to the right ---->) 

In real life, Ayoade is a film nut. A cinematic lover. He does act (his most famous role in America seems to be Maurice Moss on the IT Crowd, which you can see on Netflix), comedy, and, host. He also directs. I believe one of his films is titled 'Submarine' and I think he's done more movies, TV shows, and other projects. 

The moments that Ayoade inserts are from his life. Not really his current moments (he's married to an actress and has children) but his past, growing up in the UK, and his parents. 

The video above, while short, really shows how Ayoade writes. Even though it's all video. The voice (book and video) are the same. Which, granted, is because the man in the video (Ayoade) wrote the book...but I'm trying to say that it's all the same. It's almost 230 pages of this type of 'voice'. 

I don't want to give anything away. I appreciated the backstory of some of Ayoade's life. His Christmas story, in Ipswich, made me laugh. Tears rolling down my face type laughter.  I liked his critique of this type of movie (and this movie in entirely). It's an enjoyable, esoteric, fully-Ayoade book. I really cannot recommend it enough. 

I loved, loved, loved the fact there was a grammatically correct triple possessive apostrophe. Which I included in the photo below. I didn't know you could have something like this! He's just very clever and I love clever people. That level of brain power, for me, takes a book that I would rate around four stars to four and a half. So even though I don't overly adore cinematic spectacle the way Ayoade might, he could really convince me. 

The video on the left is when Ayoade was on Graham Norton (with some others on Graham's couch) and the right is just Ayoade on Craig Ferguson's show. I miss Craig Ferguson! I started watching him when I was moving to Scotland because I wanted to get used to the accent (I also listened to BBC Scotland). When I got back to the states, Ferguson had left, which was sad as I just loved his show. I would love a podcast from him but I think he has the sweet, sweet, How To Train Your Dragon money from Disney. 

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Below, bottom left is Ayoade on a Scandinavian talk show (with Boris Johnson's father I think?) and opera singer Lise Davidsen. It's a bit longer but really enjoyable. The bottom right is a mashup from Panel Shows, yearly quiz, and Ayoade moments. There's some language and other panelists feature. It's 15 minutes but you can fast forward if needed. I love the yearly quiz the most (Big Fat Quiz of [Insert Year]). You can skip to 9:31 for one fun snippet and 13:10 for another. 

The last video is just highlights from Ayoade on Big Fat Quiz shows.