Scan barcode
canjackread's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A pathetic and self loathing movie star returns to New York amid a messy divorce with his rockstar wife to feature on broadway as Hotspur in Henry IV. His pain and scrutiny ever public, both self-inflicted and tabloid, he navigates his troubles with his wife, kids, drugs, sex and injury with sprinkles of wisdom from his co-stars, family, strangers and heroes.
Hawke's theatrical expertise shines through in this revealing and explorative character study within a character study novel. I felt a marvelous insight shine through in his writing, a peek behind the curtain was a thrilling and engaging setting. The many anecdotes of advice from Harding's peers were inspiring, sometimes maddening, but always diverse and welcome. The first half was a slog, with the protagonist whining and self-sabotaging and failing to see his own stupidity. A necessary step, maybe, but an annoying one for sure. I'm not quite sure Hawke writes female characters entirely faithfully. Many of the intimate moments and flirtatious exchanges felt straight out of a teenage boys dream diary than from a tangible woman's mouth. Sex scenes were uncomfortable and vulgar and lacking tenderness. Not that the encounters themselves had any tenderness to them anyway.
All told, I enjoyed this book but I was fighting through a lot of it. I value Hawke's vocational insight and lived experiences that help the story a lot. I wouldn't chose to read this type of protagonist but I enjoyed it overall.
Hawke's theatrical expertise shines through in this revealing and explorative character study within a character study novel. I felt a marvelous insight shine through in his writing, a peek behind the curtain was a thrilling and engaging setting. The many anecdotes of advice from Harding's peers were inspiring, sometimes maddening, but always diverse and welcome. The first half was a slog, with the protagonist whining and self-sabotaging and failing to see his own stupidity. A necessary step, maybe, but an annoying one for sure. I'm not quite sure Hawke writes female characters entirely faithfully. Many of the intimate moments and flirtatious exchanges felt straight out of a teenage boys dream diary than from a tangible woman's mouth. Sex scenes were uncomfortable and vulgar and lacking tenderness. Not that the encounters themselves had any tenderness to them anyway.
All told, I enjoyed this book but I was fighting through a lot of it. I value Hawke's vocational insight and lived experiences that help the story a lot. I wouldn't chose to read this type of protagonist but I enjoyed it overall.
dirtyseagull's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
danipooo's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
More...