I Carried a Watermelon

(Paperback)

Available Formats

---

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Massively enjoyable Dawn French
I Carried a Watermelon is a love letter to Dirty Dancing. A warm, witty and accessible look at how Katy Brands life-long obsession with the film has influenced her own attitudes to sex, love, romance, rights and responsibilities.

It explores the legacy of the film, from pushing womens stories to the forefront of commercial cinema, to its Gold Standard depiction of abortion according to leading pro-choice campaigners, and its fresh and powerful take on the classic coming of age story told from a nave but idealistic 17-year-old girls point of view.

Part memoir based on a personal obsession, part homage to a monster hit and a work of genius, Katy will explore her own memories and experiences, and talk to other fans of the film, to examine its legacy as a piece of filmmaking with a social agenda that many miss on first viewing. One of the most celebrated and viewed films ever made is about to have the time of its life.

Reviews

It takes a true obsessive to open the mind especially to something one has always takenfor granted. I knew I loved DIRTY DANCING but I didnt know why. Now, thanks to Katy Brands hilarious, touching, bonkerslytrue book, I do. One of the best reads of the year. Emma Thompson

This is a book to massively enjoy (as I did) and then immediately hand on to your daughter (as I did)! Im off to watch Dirty Dancing again immediately, and so will you when you read this gem. Dawn French

A joyful book, and such a thoughtful one, too. Nigella Lawson

An honest, moving, hilarious journey into how our youthful passions shape the people we become. Katy is the finest dance partner to take you on this journey. Shappi Khorsandi

A joyous, funny, personal page-turner. I read it in one sitting. Deborah Frances-White, The Guilty Feminist

a witty, endearing and surprisingly political take on her lifelong obsession with Dirty Dancing The Bookseller

[this] affectionate homage encourages us to reassess Baby Housemans summer romance as a feminist manifesto [and] instruction manual for girls that sneaks in a potent pro-choice message. Neil Smith, Total Film

part-memoir, part film-studies dissertation [that] is very, very funny. The Sunday Times

I may be the only person on Earth not to have seen Dirty Dancing. Reading this book has been a revelation. I wish I hadnt missed that formative time in my womanhoodthe sense of self-assuredness and possession, daring and joy that Katy has found in this film. Fortunately she has carried it forward with her and shares it all with uswith insight, wit and relatabilityin this hilarious, poignant and revelatory read. Desiree Burch

A hilarious tribute. Daily Express

An invaluable guide. The Sun

Hugely evocative with Katys trademark wit and warmth Woman

Author Bio

Katy Brand is an award-winning writer, comedian and actor. After starting to write and perform comedy as a student at Oxford University, she became a regular on the UK live sketch comedy scene. In 2005 she took her debut Edinburgh show Celebrities are Gods to the Fringe which was immediately picked up for Channel 4 (Slap). This later became her award-winning ITV sketch show, Katy Brand's Big Ass Show, which she devised, wrote and starred in. It ran for three series and later became a nationwide live tour.