The Growing-Up Pains of Adrian Plass (by Adrian Plass)

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I so enjoy reading and re-reading Adrian Plass’s books. Originally shot to fame due to his ‘Sacred Diary’ series, which started out as a column in a magazine, he has proved himself remarkably versatile over the last thirty plus years. His books are all extremely well-written, in very different styles. Some are laugh-aloud funny, some gently amusing, some poignant and moving.

One of his earliest literary works was an autobiographical account, originally entitled ‘Join the Company’ when it was first published in 1986. But with the success of his ‘Sacred Diary’ books, the title was changed to the more wordy, ‘The Growing Up Pains of Adrian Plass’ - like ‘Sacred Diary’, a parody of a title from another series. I last read this book in 2009 and recalled enjoying it, but didn’t remember much about it.

What an excellent book this is. It moves fairly quickly through Adrian’s childhood describing odd moments from his memories: his harsh and insecure father; his loving mother; the way he played and quarrelled with his brothers, in normal childish ways. His father seems to have been a very ‘religious’ man but with a twisted, tragic view of God. He was also cursed with an irrational jealousy of any other man who came anywhere near Adrian’s mother.

During his childhood and teenage years, Adrian was an avid reader, often taking refuge in his books. He also mentions, almost in passing, a few significant insights about the world, ‘aha’ moments, when a comment or feeling fell into place, and he ‘got’ something for the first time. He describes these incidents as they occurred with surrounding everyday activities - and, as always, the writing is succinct, painting images and emotions without ever becoming fluffy or mawkish.

His actual ‘growing up’ pains aren’t really mentioned - the first chapter whizzes through Adrian’s childhood and early teens, and by the time Chapter Two begins, he’s sixteen and has left school. He is a confused young man, eager to be liked and to find his place in the world, but somewhat at a loss as to how to go about it. He finds friends, some of them odder than others; he meets religious extremists of different flavours, and he starts going out with his first girlfriend.

Unsurprisingly there’s a strong ‘God’ theme throughout the book. Adrian does not accept platitudes, and asks a lot of questions that others might wish to ask, but don’t dare. He meets people of all flavours of Christianity, and some of other faiths who show him small aspects of God’s reality, and the importance of acceptance and unconditional love.

Much of the book involves scenes related to a late-night TV show he and his wife Bridget were part of for some years, called ‘Company’. It’s not a show I ever saw, as I never liked to be up late, but it sounds like an excellent idea: a mixture of clergy or other well-known people of faith (mostly Christian, but not all) sitting around a table discussing life and faith.

Some autobiographies are full of facts and figures, but this one is personal, with anecdotes and an invitation into the author’s world; I could almost see things through his eyes, as I read, devastated when he hits rock bottom in a stress-induced breakdown; thrilled when he gradually finds reasons to keep going. God is there, next to him, assuring him that nothing is wasted - and I found it all enormously encouraging.

This book is not currently in print by itself, though it can sometimes be found with other Plass books. It's usually widely available second-hand in paperback form.

Very highly recommended.

Review copyright 2021 Sue's Book Reviews