[.ca] Trowel and Error (ISBN 0340765437)

From Amazon.co.uk:
Trowel and Error is described as a "touch of the memoirs" by the author. Alan Titchmarsh is now a national institution; with his characteristic good humour and charm, he is unquestionably the country's number-one television gardener and presenter with even an unlikely reputation as a sex symbol (a reputation that started as a joke). Apart from his considerable gardening acumen, of course, he has also proved to be a novelist of genuine ability, with such books as Mr MacGregor and Animal Instincts. Communication is, needles to say, his special skill, and it was to be expected that Trowel and Error (the groan-inducing pun is all part of the Titchmarsh armoury), would be revealing and evocative. Titchmarsh announced to school friends of the age of 10 that he would be the next Percy Thrower, although those ambitions were, he tells us, fudged in some uncomfortable encounters with the opposite sex (Titchmarsh always picked girls who were taller than him, and the relationships didn't last). In fact his Yorkshire childhood in the 1950s is one of the most purely enjoyable parts of the book, with his stamping ground of Ilkley Moor the seat of his passionate love for nature. His first experiences as a gardener at the Royal Botanical Garden at Kew are full of the kind of quirky incident that makes his writing appealing. As his fame grew, Titchmarsh began rubbing shoulders with the likes of Nelson Mandela Julia Roberts and the Queen, and such encounters are highly diverting. Many a book conceals a rampant ego behind an "aw, shucks" manner, but Titchmarsh comes across as a genuinely nice guy--one who is self-deprecating. This is a truly engaging (and often very funny) autobiography. --Barry Forshaw

Bring a smile to your face:
Like most people I have watched Alan on the TV and not really thought any more about him. I picked up a copy of this book not knowing really what to expect. What can I say? It is a delight that had me laughing, crying and most of all remembering things that I thought I had forgotten from my own childhood and teenage years. Alan covers all the aspects of his life as a child growing up in a small community, through to the successful man he is today. If like me you are of a 'certain age', read this book, I guarantee it will delight you and bring the memories flooding back. Very well written and extremely interesting, Alan definitely has more to him than meets the eye!

Almost Everything You Want To Know About Alan:
Reading this was like sitting down to tea and saying to Alan "tell me about yourself" and he does! It was an informative, enjoyable, and funny book. I am sure I will be reading it many more times to come

A pleasant cuppa with Mr. Titchmarsh:
A relaxing read, full of the good humour and descriptive prose I'd expect from Alan, along with a fact-filled poke around the hills and vales of his life experiences. I would recommend it highly to fans of his fiction, gardening books, and TV work.... as well as those who are curious if he has always had that marvelous hair and friendly smile (lots of great pictures)!