Kiss Myself Goodbye

This was a really unusual but enjoyable book. I was shocked how easy it was to change your identity in the years of Muncas life. I did find it very difficult to follow the characters but found it was not necessary, as the book was about the the authors aunt's unbelievable amazing life. It was written in a way that you can enjoy the story without having to remember any details.

This is a very unusual book. In fact I've never read anything quite like it. The author's Aunt, aka Munca, is not quite what she seems. Extensive research has revealed that she led a quite extraordinary life. The end result is fascinating - definitely one not to be missed. At the time of reading it feels as though a huge amount of concentration is required in order to keep track of all the characters. Don't let this put you off as the reality is that it doesn't matter too much - you will still get the gist of the "comings and goings" even if you think you are completely lost.

An exceptionally well researched and detailed account. After being initially enthralled by the life story of the audacious Munca, I became a little bored by the level of detail, so that by the middle of the book it was a real effort to continue reading. After skim reading a few more chapters I finally gave up.

It transpires that Ferdinand Mount (the author) has quite a colourful family history. It is impossible to say too much without giving away spoilers. However, suffice it to say that his Aunt Munca, with whose family he spent many a happy childhood holiday, was not necessarily quite what she seemed. Later in life he started to look into the minutiae of her life and this book is the result of his findings.

The book is like a breath of fresh air and un like any other book I have ever read. It is quirky, quintessentially British and very charming. It is also fascinating, entertaining and funny. The author has a very relaxed style of writing, almost conversational in nature. Add to that any number of wry comments and amusing asides, as well as the ability to laugh at the ridiculous antics of his own family and you really have a very special book indeed. On top of all that it is an exceedingly enjoyable romp through the social history of British high society during most of the 20th Century.
It is also one of the most extraordinary books I have ever read and Munca, one of the most extraordinary women I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know (albeit vicariously). I’m not sure whether she deserves a medal or a very long prison sentence but either way, I’m in awe of her. There are inevitably going to be problems with the kind of behaviour which she exhibited, not least of which is the collateral damage that is likely to be left in its wake. There are numerous potential contenders, Georgie probably being the prime candidate.
They say most families have a skeleton in the closet somewhere along the line. The skeletons in this book wouldn’t fit into a closet – they’d need a whole graveyard. This book proves the maxim that fact is stranger than fiction, and then some. If it was a novel, it would be dismissed as complete nonsense, so wildly implausible that it couldn’t possibly be taken seriously. But it’s not a novel, it’s all documented fact.

The real problem with this book and, as far as I am concerned, the only problem is its visual appeal (or lack of it) and its title. My book group were given copies of this book to review and I approached it with some trepidation. The title is terrible and the cover is drab and boring. Both are extremely unappealing. If I had seen it in a bookshop I would never have even noticed it, leave alone considered buying it and I would have missed an absolute gem. Since I finished it I have tried to recommend it to loads of people but have never once managed to remember the title so they will all have missed out on a real treasure.

I would recommend this book to almost anybody. It is fantastic. However, I should say that it does require a certain amount of concentration to follow the somewhat complex nature of the relationships and liaisons which come to light. Persevere – it’s worth it.

Quintessentially English, this book certainly proves the adage 'Fact is stranger than fiction'. It is a Very Good Read and I loved it.

Mount's mysterious Aunt Munca is a fascinating character, a master (or mistress) of serial self reinvention in order to escape the bonds of class in a country then, as sadly now, where birth was, and is, the primary indicator of life chances.

Best to know as little as possible before reading. A real life detective story, gripping, engaging, brimming with surprises and beautifully written, with obvious affection for its subject.

This book is clearly well researched and written however after a promising start I found it to be incredibly dull. Mount unearths many family secrets, mainly involving his Aunt Munca . Due to the amount of names/nicknames and ever changing relationship I found it increasingly hard work to read and ended up skipping parts which I found to be irrelevant.

This was interesting for me as I recognise some of the places mentioned. Otherwise, although I found the book content intriguing, it was very complicated and I found the threads of the investigations hard to follow. Written partly during the Covid lockdowns this search for true family roots among all the lies and subterfuge have strengthened the assumption that I believe little in the written word that is stated to be ‘the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth’.

A fantastic true story, Muncas life and that of her family members certainly keep you turning the pages.
Each chapter is more of a surprise than the last.
I couldn't put it down it was that gripping.
Best book I've read in ages.