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vickylovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
this was just upsetting to be honest, but love rent, love anthony rapp
sidneyellwood's review against another edition
5.0
[review written 2011]
So today I finished Without You by Anthony Rapp. I got this in New York as a rather large fan of the musical RENT but after reading it within a day (and even taking it with me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art) I realized it was much, much more than just a memoir of my favorite musical. It deals with Anthony’s mother’s battle with cancer, his relationships with friends and family, and of course with the musical as well. I loved the book as soon as I got it, and I’m grateful since it was a spur-of-the-moment purchase. It was inspiring and gave me chills, and Anthony Rapp’s writing style is powerful and flows really well, unlike this sentence.
So today I finished Without You by Anthony Rapp. I got this in New York as a rather large fan of the musical RENT but after reading it within a day (and even taking it with me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art) I realized it was much, much more than just a memoir of my favorite musical. It deals with Anthony’s mother’s battle with cancer, his relationships with friends and family, and of course with the musical as well. I loved the book as soon as I got it, and I’m grateful since it was a spur-of-the-moment purchase. It was inspiring and gave me chills, and Anthony Rapp’s writing style is powerful and flows really well, unlike this sentence.
genderqueer_hiker's review against another edition
4.0
A very engaging read, despite the fact that I haven't seen Rent many times. I'm a Star Trek fan and it was moving to learn more about Anthony Rapp. His writing was smooth and emotional and enveloping.
go2hellstephanie's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Rent has always been one of my favorite musicals, and it was one of the originals that kicked off my lifelong love of them. I connected with Mark, and so reading Anthony Rapp's autobiography was really informative.
I sobbed reading the passages about Jonathan Larson's death and his impact through Rent. I sobbed again hearing about Anthony's mother's death, and this was just a really touching read.
I sobbed reading the passages about Jonathan Larson's death and his impact through Rent. I sobbed again hearing about Anthony's mother's death, and this was just a really touching read.
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
2.0
If you enjoyed the musical RENT you will probably enjoy parts of this book.
I really loved the parts of the book about RENT and learning about how the show came together and some backstage information about the production and how they all reacted to Jonathan Larson's death and the show's wild success.
A huge section of the book is about Anthony Rapp dealing with the death of his mother and that will either work for you or it won't. It didn't work for me other than gaining some insight into how stressful his life was during the early days of the show.
Another big component of the book revolves around Rapp's romantic life which is filled with drama. Again, many people might enjoy that, but I didn't. I have very low tolerance for people who thrive on relationships that are nothing but arguments and making up again and Rapp is definately one of those people!
So, Rent parts good, personal life parts not so good. Overall an OK book but nothing special.
I really loved the parts of the book about RENT and learning about how the show came together and some backstage information about the production and how they all reacted to Jonathan Larson's death and the show's wild success.
A huge section of the book is about Anthony Rapp dealing with the death of his mother and that will either work for you or it won't. It didn't work for me other than gaining some insight into how stressful his life was during the early days of the show.
Another big component of the book revolves around Rapp's romantic life which is filled with drama. Again, many people might enjoy that, but I didn't. I have very low tolerance for people who thrive on relationships that are nothing but arguments and making up again and Rapp is definately one of those people!
So, Rent parts good, personal life parts not so good. Overall an OK book but nothing special.
harukacrush's review against another edition
5.0
The only way out is through.
Rent fundamentally changed my brain chemistry at the tender age of 15. As a young, queer theater enthusiast, this musical was ESSENTIAL to my survival growing up in a suburban conservative environment. I can still remember the excitement of being on stage as our musical theater class performed Seasons of Love for our school and how much I just wanted to keep singing that song over and over. (Followed by crushing disappointment when it was deemed "inappropriate" to perform the whole thing for the school, so we had to perform Evita instead).
I remember dragging my unsuspecting mother to a live show when it was in town and having an absolute blast while also taking moments to watch her face carefully for any reactions to the LGBTQ+ representation, hoping that I could fulfill my yearning to reveal my bisexuality to her, but becoming immediately discouraged when she pronounced that the show was "weird and horrible" and had "too many gay people in it".
I still cry when I listen to these songs and every time I watch the movie.
Always drawn to a good memoir, I love to step into another's shoes and live their experiences. Anthony Rapp's Without You is no exception. I especially appreciate the rawness that is expressed throughout this book, whether its about grief, overwhelming feelings, sexuality, shame, or guilt. The honesty with which Anthony expresses himself even not in his finest moments is both captivating and invigorating.
Everyone's grief looks different but I felt like Anthony's was very close to my own.
Rent fundamentally changed my brain chemistry at the tender age of 15. As a young, queer theater enthusiast, this musical was ESSENTIAL to my survival growing up in a suburban conservative environment. I can still remember the excitement of being on stage as our musical theater class performed Seasons of Love for our school and how much I just wanted to keep singing that song over and over. (Followed by crushing disappointment when it was deemed "inappropriate" to perform the whole thing for the school, so we had to perform Evita instead).
I remember dragging my unsuspecting mother to a live show when it was in town and having an absolute blast while also taking moments to watch her face carefully for any reactions to the LGBTQ+ representation, hoping that I could fulfill my yearning to reveal my bisexuality to her, but becoming immediately discouraged when she pronounced that the show was "weird and horrible" and had "too many gay people in it".
I still cry when I listen to these songs and every time I watch the movie.
Always drawn to a good memoir, I love to step into another's shoes and live their experiences. Anthony Rapp's Without You is no exception. I especially appreciate the rawness that is expressed throughout this book, whether its about grief, overwhelming feelings, sexuality, shame, or guilt. The honesty with which Anthony expresses himself even not in his finest moments is both captivating and invigorating.
Everyone's grief looks different but I felt like Anthony's was very close to my own.
megansoetaert's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Super interesting to see Rapp’s life captured up to a particular moment in time. While some things are dated, it’s very much a book from the 00s. I loved getting to learn more about RENT and how he was with the cast since the very beginning. His relationship with his mom & her illness were very emotional, too, and very authentic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
kyrbear's review against another edition
5.0
Anthony Rapp is raw and honest and leaves everything out there in this book. I cried, I laughed, I wished I could’ve known him. He did everything right in this memoir. It was beautifully written.
mentally_ill_catmom's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this book because I am a huge RENT fan. I liked this book because I got it learn a lot about the eveloution on one of my favorite musicals. Antony is very open in this book. He talks about cheating on his boyfriends online in detail. But you also learn about what a great son he was to his father and how much losing a mother means. I do not know that feeling yet but this book broke my heart when he talked about his mother's death.