Boy in a China Shop: Life, Clay and Everything

This book was enlightening and entertaining, full of laughs and heart. And of course with Keith, there's always going to be tears. Even if you have never watched the great pottery throw down or touched clay in your life, you can still enjoy Keith's story.

First I must say that I absolutely adore Keith Brymer Jones! I ordered this book months ago and was supposed to get it several months before this but there was a delay for some reason but I finally got it today! 🙌🏼I haven’t read the book yet. I plan on starting this evening and I will update my review after I finish the book. But this feedback is based on the quality of the book and that to me is sometimes as important as the content of a book.This is my second copy because I returned the first one due to the printing being so faint that I seriously had to strain my eyes to read it. Also, the images on each chapter beginning were extremely faded looking. Well, much to my disappointment the new copy I just received is almost identical. The text is not printed in a black or even close to black. It’s like a faded dark gray. I have no idea why somebody thought that that would be easy to read (especially on eggshell colored paper) but it’s not and it’s a big fail in my opinion. That also makes the small images that begin each chapter extremely underwhelming. So for me, the quality of the book is well below the cost that we are charged. That’s not only disappointing but it’s frustrating.My second disappointment with the book is that there really are no photographs of any consequence. There is a collage of photos (the same on each page) that are about 1/2” x 1/2“ on the opening and closing pages of the book. These pictures are really hard to see (they are fuzzy like old newspaper photos) and have absolutely no information about them so the viewer has no idea what they’re looking at. I was excited about not only getting to read about Keith’s beginnings as a master potter but I also was looking forward to seeing photographs of his life as he began up until the present. Those photographs are 100% lacking and for me, that’s a HUGE disappointment.As I said, I will update my review once I have finished reading the book.

This book gives a real insite of the commercial handmade pottery business in the ninethies and early twenty first century. It is also a joy to read about Keith (after reading this book it feels like you are on a first name basis).

I would love to take a pottery class run by this man. He truly gets both the hard work and the deep passion that go hand in hand in the creative process.

I really wanted to love this book.I watch Pottery Throw down every year and it's been particularly great throughout the last two years.If you haven't seen it, treat yourself. It's gentle, absorbing, friendly telly, regardless of having any interest in pottery.Keith comes across wonderfully on television. He's warm, funny, extremely knowledgeable, talented and very generous. He's a good human. An emotional one too, if he hasn't been reduced to tears you haven't done your job properly!The book, sadly, just doesn't do him justice.There's something lacking, the warmth and emotion definitely don't transfer to paper.Maybe his life simply hasn't been exciting or riveting enough to make good reading - and that's no problem in itself, how many of us have led lives that others will want to read about?Mine has been quite lively but I doubt anyone other than my mum would want to read about it!So no, sadly not a great read for me.Sorry Keith!Thank you for reading, I hope you find this review helpful.

I really felt an affinity with Keith as a former ceramicist myself. What hard physical work he had to do in the early stages of his pottery career, no wonder he has huge arm muscles! Some of the escapades with the Wigs are a reminder of the crazy days of being in a Punk band. Keiths enthusiasm and love of his craft were evident throughout, and although I found some sections on techniques interesting, some might find them a bit tedious. I was amazed by his tenaciousness in the face of adversity and his eventual success with major retailers. There is much humour too ; I found the section on his mother’s demise hilarious.

I am the same age as Keith and like him I found my love of pottery and sculpture at school with my art teacher inspiring me. I went into nursing instead of ceramics and probably just as well as I didn’t realise just how hard it was until I read this book. I have being doing ceramics all my life since school and love the Throw down. I try and do each challenge myself to stretch myself. I found Keith’s book really inspiring and relatable. A great read.

A be great read for anyone interested in Keith’s life … you can almost hear him saying the words that you’re reading!Quickly delivered, too.

never realised there was so much to Keith & his life … fascinating couldn’t put the book down … you don’t have to be a potter to have this wonderful conversation type read with him … recommend 101%