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music_teacher's review
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A fascinating look at the life of Sir Patrick Stewart. Well worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Infidelity, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death
barefootsong's review
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
grey_jayne's review
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This memoir is quality and I highly recommend the audiobook, read by Sir Patrick Stewart himself and he acts out so many bits and does all the voices, it's gotta be the superior version.
There are many years to cover but at 19 hours, this is probably the longest memoir I've read. At a certain point, some of the theater stuff begins to blur together. With Stewart reading, it was all part of the fun but I would have found those sections harder to get through in print.
There are many years to cover but at 19 hours, this is probably the longest memoir I've read. At a certain point, some of the theater stuff begins to blur together. With Stewart reading, it was all part of the fun but I would have found those sections harder to get through in print.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
author2223's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death
Minor: Bullying
tguccione's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent and Pandemic/Epidemic
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Classism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Misogyny, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Racial slurs
jodar's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.25
A gem I wasn’t expecting. I am surprised at how engaging, emotionally charged and in places how raw the memoir is. There are numerous laugh-out-loud anecdotes as well.
I had a book gift card burning a hole in my wallet, but the bookshop I had to use it at stocks few of the books I’d be interested in reading in hard copy. I bought this simply because it was in the price range and Jean-Luc Picard is my favourite Star Trek captain. I had no idea of Stewart’s upbringing in a poor Yorkshire family and his decades of struggle as an actor.
I felt particularly moved by Stewart’s descriptions of his earlier life, his friends and family, his hardships and delights. Also the people he didn’t get along with – understandably I doubt Stewart could be quite so forthcoming in his later life, about people who are still alive. Throughout Stewart provides some great insights into the art of acting and a good impression of his life as an actor. Some photographs complement the text well.
I appreciated Stewart’s own humility in his shortcomings and in acknowledging his indebtedness to those who had supported his career – the humility felt genuine to me. Likewise, his admiration for other accomplished and kindly people in his life.
Stewart isn’t perfect (who is?), and there is one part of his personal life in which I think he made a grave mistake. Deep down, despite what struck me as a bit of rationalisation on his part, I suspect he realises this too. That said, I was not particularly fascinated to know about his private life: it’s his professional life, what influenced it and his outlook as an actor that most interested me.
This is a book that I may well read again in a few years time.
I had a book gift card burning a hole in my wallet, but the bookshop I had to use it at stocks few of the books I’d be interested in reading in hard copy. I bought this simply because it was in the price range and Jean-Luc Picard is my favourite Star Trek captain. I had no idea of Stewart’s upbringing in a poor Yorkshire family and his decades of struggle as an actor.
I felt particularly moved by Stewart’s descriptions of his earlier life, his friends and family, his hardships and delights. Also the people he didn’t get along with – understandably I doubt Stewart could be quite so forthcoming in his later life, about people who are still alive. Throughout Stewart provides some great insights into the art of acting and a good impression of his life as an actor. Some photographs complement the text well.
I appreciated Stewart’s own humility in his shortcomings and in acknowledging his indebtedness to those who had supported his career – the humility felt genuine to me. Likewise, his admiration for other accomplished and kindly people in his life.
Stewart isn’t perfect (who is?), and there is one part of his personal life in which I think he made a grave mistake. Deep down, despite what struck me as a bit of rationalisation on his part, I suspect he realises this too. That said, I was not particularly fascinated to know about his private life: it’s his professional life, what influenced it and his outlook as an actor that most interested me.
This is a book that I may well read again in a few years time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
lizreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
4 stars for storytelling, as I quite enjoyed listening to Sir Patrick Stewart recall the stories of his life and career in this audiobook. Readers should know, though, that this leans heavily into his career and less so into his personal life and relationships. If you’re not here for Shakespeare, this can feel a bit plodding through the middle. However, I liked his honesty about his successes and failures on stage and off, as well as his admission of being an imperfect human like the rest of us. There’s not much here about TNG, but the bits about it are lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death
alyhowell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
As a fan of Sir Patrick Stewart I was impressed by his humble beginnings and how he continues to be humble through success. I drew many connections between my own life and his: a tough childhood seeing my mother abused by my stepfather, finding my own way through school, being given many opportunities by teachers and winning scholarships, experiencing heartache, finding success (albeit mine is no where near his 😅). All this to say is that he is relatable to those of us who had tough childhoods but were given chances to pull ourselves through. I followed his Star Trek career and through his X-men success. So happy to hear his experiences through these chapters of his life. Be aware that he does give some spoilers, but not enough to impact those stories too much. I absolutely loved listening to his narration as well, as he was able to show his emotions throughout. Highly recommend if are a Patrick Stewart fan!
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse