Book Review – Car Fever by James May
Collection of Newspaper Columns by Popular Top Gear Presenter
Sep 23, 2009
In Car Fever (Hodder & Stoughton, 2009) James May shares his amusing reflections on cars, the state of modern society and life in general. Whether readers agree with May’s opinions or not, they are sure to find themselves laughing out loud at times at his clever turn of phrase and entertaining musings.
Car Fever – Newspaper Columns by James May
This collection of 72 articles offers readers a selection of automotive journalist James May’s opinions on everything from car design to French wine. Intelligently phrased and covering a diverse range of topics, the articles are at times laugh-out-loud amusing despite May’s occasionally controversial opinions.
With an affinity for all things mechanical, references to his work on Top Gear and other projects and an opinion to share on topics large and small, May demonstrates his talent for wry commentary on the vagaries of everyday life. Often mocked for being hopelessly obsessed with tedious details by his Top Gear co-hosts, May’s writing displays more than a fascination with mechanical minutiae.
Reminiscent of a mostly harmless, slightly out of touch father sharing his opinions about the state of the world at family gatherings, generally to the eye-rolling amusement of his children, May lacks the in-your-face style of his Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson. Although at times just as opinionated, James May is somehow less offensive and his articles are entertaining and interesting, despite their occasional deliberate flaunting of the conventions of political correctness.
James May
Affectionately referred to as Captain Slow by his Top Gear co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, May is known to the audience of the popular BBC2 motoring show as the least aggressive driver of the motorhead trio.
In addition to his Top Gear duties, James May is a writer and broadcaster, writing a weekly column for the Daily Telegraph and presenting TV series for several UK television stations, including Oz and James’ Big Wine Adventure and James May’s 20th Century.
The Car Bore’s Essential Companion
The Car Fever subtitle, The Car Bore’s Essential Companion, unfairly implies that these articles will appeal only to car enthusiasts. While the articles contain an undeniable automotive element, they also capture moments of everyday life and glimpses of the places May has visited in the cars he discusses that broaden the appeal of the articles to a wider audience.
Ideal as a birthday, Christmas or Fathers’ Day gift for a car enthusiast or Top Gear fan, Car Fever will no doubt find a comfortable a home on bookshelves next to titles by Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.
Car Fever (ISBN: 978-0-340-99454-2, 288 pages)
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