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katieg4's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Infidelity
sparklefarm's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
They say never to meet your heroes. There's an ongoing conversation about whether you can separate the art from the artist. I keep mulling this over in my mind, along with the fact that humans are by nature complex, as I consider Sir Pat's memoir. His accomplishments and talent are unquestioned, and I kept adding titles to my watch list as I spent time listening to him over the last 19 hours. But how to disentangle this from the fact that he is, by his own admission, a pretty terrible husband and father. This doesn't decrease the excellence of his work, but I don't know what to do with the knowledge that this work was done at the expense of relationships that were ostensibly important to him. Am I going to rewatch TNG and his Hamlet with David Tennant? Yeah, of course. Am I gonna feel weird about it? Probably.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Physical abuse
kylosten's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Physical 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
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
heather667's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Torture, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, and Suicide
ninebookishlives's review
funny
informative
reflective
4.0
I picked this up because I'm a huge TNG fan. So I was a little disappointed when there wasn't more of TNG in this (maybe a quarter), but so happy I read it. I learned a lot of Stewart's life; from his childhood and relationship with his family to just after the end of TNG. It was interesting to learn more of his personal life - although my heart broke when I found out why his marriages ended.
I think this is more aimed for people who are fans of the theater because that was the main focus of the book. Not knowing much about theater or Shakespeare means I was lost on some of the references. But I can't help but love this overall.
Stewart will forever be my favourite older actor and he will always elevate anything he's in - it's the accent (he talks about this too!). If you're like me and could listen to him read the dictionary, then you'll want to pick up the audiobook because he narrates!
I think this is more aimed for people who are fans of the theater because that was the main focus of the book. Not knowing much about theater or Shakespeare means I was lost on some of the references. But I can't help but love this overall.
Stewart will forever be my favourite older actor and he will always elevate anything he's in - it's the accent (he talks about this too!). If you're like me and could listen to him read the dictionary, then you'll want to pick up the audiobook because he narrates!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
katiemack's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I would listen to Patrick Stewart read the fine print of a legal document, so being able to hear him talk about his life for nineteen hours was a real treat for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
sarasreading's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A wonderful memoir for any Patrick Stewart fan. I learned so much about him that I didn't know before, and listening to the audiobook was wonderful. He's such a good storyteller.
There was a section or two that felt a bit slow to me, but who am I to judge how someone else chooses to write down their own life.
I am so happy I got to read this right before my annual Christmas day rewatch of his Christmas Carol movie.
There was a section or two that felt a bit slow to me, but who am I to judge how someone else chooses to write down their own life.
I am so happy I got to read this right before my annual Christmas day rewatch of his Christmas Carol movie.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Domestic abuse