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Preview
  • The Lick of Love

  • How Dogs Changed My Life
  • By: Julian Clary
  • Narrated by: Julian Clary
  • Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (247 ratings)

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The Lick of Love

By: Julian Clary
Narrated by: Julian Clary
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Summary

From one of Britain's best-loved comedians comes this wonderfully funny, sharp and touching memoir and a celebration of the bond between man and dog - an autobidography, if you will.

The Lick of Love takes us on a tour of Julian's colourful life - and wherever life has taken him, Julian has had a dog by his side. Fanny the Wonder Dog, who came into Julian's life when he was somewhat adrift, propelled him up the ranks of the alternative comedy circuit and onto television. Valerie, the whippet cross-breed escorted Julian through his 40s, the Germaine Greer to his Bernard Manning. Albert, a jaunty geezer type who was sent to acclimatise Julian to middle age and helped him seduce his now husband, before being joined by naughty but nice Gigi, an unpredictable fur bullet of a dog. These canine characters have been there, bearing witness, on and off stage.

Whether writing about encounters in seedy London nightclubs, finding success on television with Sticky Moments, the death of his partner, that Normant Lamont joke, a narrow squeak with a thwarted eastern European plot to kidnap him, his move to the country, or finally settling down, falling in love and getting married, Julian's unique voice is heard throughout. Ultimately, The Lick of Love is the story of a fascinating life and a love letter to the dogs that have played a loving and near constant part of it. Told with humour and great honesty, this promises to be one of the best memoirs of the year.

Whatever else is going on, it is the water bowl in the kitchen, the dog hair on my jumper, the knowing gaze from the dog in the basket beside me that comforts me and tells me that all is well. - JC

©2021 Julian Clary (P)2021 Quercus Editions Limited
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Critic reviews

"I loved The Lick of Love. It's often insightful, sometimes hilarious, frequently filthy - I'm a cat person, but if anything were ever to convince me to get a dog, it would be this." (Joanne Harris)

"[W]ise and perceptive, and funny and moving. Each dog you meet marks a different chapter of your life and Julian writes about it so BEAUTIFULLY." (Joanna Cannon)

What listeners say about The Lick of Love

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  • Overall
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A Great Listen For Animal And Julian Lovers.

Very enjoyable and very sad hearing Julian's ramblings of love and loss of his dogs and the goings on at Goldenhurst including his Chickens told in only the way Julian could, more please.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely loved this book

Thank you Julian Clary for writing a book I couldn’t stop listening too!
Just delightful and so true the feeling we all have with wonderful dogs in our lives

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just Julian

Having had to stop listening at work with my ear phones in due to lots of laugh out louding, I finished it at home. Another Julian masterpiece. Hilarious, sad & full of dog stories! Thanks Julian. Loved it! 😊

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Wonderful story of Julian's love of dogs

Julian's story resonates with all dog lovers of the importance and meaning they bring into our lives.

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Very entertaining

Amusing, entertaining and very real. A most enjoyable listen narrated as only Julian could do.

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Wonderful

Great book. Enjoyed every minute of it. Gorgeous mixture of hilarious,
Heartwarming, interesting, sad and very naughty anecdotes. Was disappointed when it came to an end. Made me want another dog 🫣.

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A lovely reconnection

A thoroughly wonderful listen. It’s Ben a while since I’ve engaged with JC and having grown up with him and Fanny on my TV, this really was a great opportunity to reconnect with someone who has so much wit and camp comedy to share. It’s sharp and funny, heartwarming and at times tongue in cheek. The fact that there are plenty of tales about various dogs is an absolute bonus and a joy. I simply loved it.

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Brilliant!

I have listened to this twice now - it is brillaint. Julian is just so funny, and also generous in his honesty. I thoroughly recommend.

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absolutely brilliant

Julian is honest and true to his life experiences. fantastic stories and the dogs...unreal! Highly recommended 👌

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Sublime and life-affirming

I don’t usually stray far from the classics but having recently completed ‘Middlemarch’ and generally
feeling a bit life weary I felt the need for some light entertainment. What I got was much more than that.
Listening to Julian share stories of his life with the dogs that have been fortunate enough to share the best years of theirs with him, brought me a sense of calm and perspective. Julian’s memoir is not only very entertaining but told with thoughtful reflection, considered observation and a general dignified acceptance of ‘other’ people and situations that he had, and has, no control over. Although happily married now it is the dogs that have been his constant and helped him through over the years. Wonderful.

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