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This memoir from the British-born hospitality figure, a founder behind famous New York restaurants such as The Odeon and Balthazar, starts bleakly as the author recounts trying to take his own life at the summer house in Martha’s Vineyard in 2018. The narrative then rewind to 20 months earlier, when on a Saturday morning, he accompanied his youngest children to the National Gallery in London. As observing a painting of Jesus being betrayed by Judas, he felt my body showing indicators of betraying me: a unusual metallic tingling began to affect his fingertips.” McNally was experiencing the onset of a stroke that caused impaired speech and paralysis on the right side of his body.

I Regret Almost Everything sees McNally, now 74, reflecting on his physical condition as well as a long career, progressing from bellboy at the Hilton hotel in London to young performer – when he was 16, he played the lead in a production of The Winslow Boy – to dining room helper at the New York restaurant One Fifth, where he eventually became maître d’.

Voice artist Richard E Grant narrates his story in a subtle but heartfelt narration that expresses the author’s sadness over his old self and his recent self-reflection. As the title makes clear, he feels remorse: especially the end of his marriages, being a part-time father to his eldest children and calling out James Corden for disrespectful behavior in one of his restaurants. However he finds delight in cinema, theater and in his memories of sitting down with his staff at the Odeon when service ended as they had a drink and shared the night’s proceeds. Reflecting on that time, McNally notes: “Nothing since has ever compared to that feeling.”

Released by the audio publisher, 10hr 46min

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