Cheer Up Love, Susan Calman
Cheer Up Love, Susan Calman
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Cheer Up Love
Adventures in depression with the Crab of Hate

Author: Susan Calman

Narrator: Susan Calman

Unabridged: 6 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: John Murray

Published: 05/05/2016


Synopsis

'DEEPLY HONEST, SURPRISINGLY HILARIOUS AND UPLIFTING' The Pool
'HEART-WARMING: UNMISSABLE' Damian Barr, Metro

Susan Calman is a well-known comedian and writer who has appeared on countless radio and television programmes from The News Quiz and Just a Minute on BBC Radio 4, presented Armchair Detectives and Secret Scotland, hosts the podcast Mrs Brightside and stole the nation's hearts in STRICTLY COME DANCING 2017. Her solo stand up show, Susan Calman is Convicted, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and dealt with subjects like the death penalty, appearance and depression.

It was the overwhelming and positive reaction to the show she wrote about mental health that made Susan want to write a more detailed account of surviving depression when you're the world's most negative and anxious person.
The Crab of Hate is the personification of Calman's depression and her version of the notorious Black Dog. A constant companion all her life, the Crab has provided her with the best, and very worst of times. This is a very personal and affecting memoir of how, after many years and with a lot of help and talking, Susan has embraced her dark side and realised that she can be the most joyous sad person you'll ever meet.

CHEER UP LOVE IS FUNNY, POIGNANT AND (HOPEFULLY) INFORMATIVE.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK AND TO REALISE YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

*If you loved Cheer Up Love, try Sunny Side Up, Susan's Calmanifesto of Happiness*
(P)2016 John Murray Press

About Susan Calman

Born in Glasgow, Susan Calman escaped corporate law to become a stand-up comedian. She's a regular on radio and television panel shows like QI and The News Quiz and has presented the BAFTA-award winning Armchair Detectives, the recent travel series, Secret Scotland and the podcast Mrs Brightside. She recently appeared on Strictly Come Dancing where she made it all the way to Week Ten. Even more excitingly she won the Glitterball on the Strictly Live tour. An advocate for LGBTQ+ and mental health issues, she lives with her wife and cats in Glasgow. susancalman.com@susancalmanInsta: officialsusancalman


Reviews

Goodreads review by Frances

I loved this book. I enjoy Susan Calman's work anyway but this was so funny, so thoughtful and so unapologetic. I've read a few books that mix mental health with comedy and 'Cheer up Love' is one of the greats. From what happened to her Wham! Scarf to the sewers of Paris to the dark clouds that she'......more

Goodreads review by Gemma

As someone who suffers from anxiety and low mood this book felt like Susan Calman reached out, gave my hand a squeeze and said ‘you’re not the only one’. I loved how honest she was about her struggles & how she is utterly unapologetic in how she deals with the different kinds of depressive episodes......more

Goodreads review by Frannie

Nice and interesting audiobook to listen to! I must say, it didn't make "laugh", which someone might have been expecting, since Susan Calman is a stand up comedian. What it did was making me feel understood because I could see myself in what she was describing, when she spoke of anxiety and low self-e......more


Quotes

Susan Calman never fails to make me hoot with laughter Sarah Millican

Fantastic, funny, moving... A perceptive look at depression - with added laughs' Viv Groskop

The forthcoming, heartbreaking and heart-warming memoir from the Radio 4 favourite... Avoiding all the usual 'tears of a clown' clichés, she tackles homophobia, self-harm and finding your voice. Unmissable Damian Barr, Metro

Deeply personal and painfully honest but funny The Times Scotland

Calman's account of depression, though deeply honest, is surprisingly hilarious and uplifting Hannah Varrell, The Pool

There are so many depressing books about being funny, so it's refreshing to ready a funny one about about being depressed. I have never laughed quite so heartily at someone else's genuine distress - which I hope is her intention Miles Jupp

A really important message, but hilarious at the same time BBC The One Show

Talked with engaging candour and humour about her own struggle to keep it at bay Scotsman (Edinburgh Book Festival coverage)

A breezily accessible account Metro

Wonderfully funny BBC Woman's Hour