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216 reviews for:
Philomena (Movie Tie-In): A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search
Martin Sixsmith
3.49 AVERAGE
216 reviews for:
Philomena (Movie Tie-In): A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search
Martin Sixsmith
3.49 AVERAGE
I think a well-researched and thoroughly sources biography of Michael Hess could be a great book. This book is not that nor is it a story about Philomena's journey. If you picked this up wanting to know more about mother and baby homes or the abuses of the Catholic church in Ireland, I highly, highly recommend We Don't Know Ourselves by Fintan O'Toole. The entire book is gripping for non-fiction and very professionally researched and presented as well as including personal anecdotes, but even if you don't want to read the whole book you can check out chapters that would be relevant to imagining Philomena's life, and keep a fond memory of the movie in your mind. I understand that the story of Michael's life is relevant to telling this story, but it's told in such an off-puttingly, obviously fictional way in this book and so many things are covered in excruciating detail with imagined conversations that could surely have been summarized objectively. The author obviously had a very excited journey writing this and pulling out things that seem sensational about the life of a man who had been dead for nearly 15 years before the book was released, and who previously had not exactly been a public figure. It's weird given that there are mutliple statements from people who actually knew him that this is mostly fiction (including the top review here on goodreads!) Meanwhile the author actually knew Philomena and she seems to be an afterthought
This is one of the very few times I have to say I liked the movie better than the book!
I'm not sure why this book is titled "Philomena." She's barely mentioned. This is the story of the brilliant, handsome, charming, successful, unstable, tortured, doomed son she was forced to give up.
It's not a pretty story, and I doubt it gave much comfort to his mother.
It's very well-written, and compelling, but ultimately depressing on so many levels.
I'm not sure why this book is titled "Philomena." She's barely mentioned. This is the story of the brilliant, handsome, charming, successful, unstable, tortured, doomed son she was forced to give up.
It's not a pretty story, and I doubt it gave much comfort to his mother.
It's very well-written, and compelling, but ultimately depressing on so many levels.
I feel bad giving this book 3 stars because I feel like if this was a biography of Michael Hess, it would have met its expectation; however, after having watched the movie, I was hoping the book would delve deep into the lives of both Philomena and Michael as well as the Irish baby trading. I was disappointed that Philomena was only there briefly in the beginning and again for barely a chapter in the end. In this way, this book sadly missed the mark of being an incredible story. I think Sixsmith missed a huge opportunity. That being said, I do Believe Michael's story should be shared, and I do recommend reading it.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
a book that highlights the awful experiences of the women, girls and children unfortunate enough to be placed in magdalen laundries.
i understand the intention of the book is to tell a story and not necessarily provide a critique. it’s difficult to overlook what feels like sympathetic and defensive undertones when the matter of michael hess’ involvement in the Republican Party is addressed in the book.
i understand the intention of the book is to tell a story and not necessarily provide a critique. it’s difficult to overlook what feels like sympathetic and defensive undertones when the matter of michael hess’ involvement in the Republican Party is addressed in the book.
The story is just so sad for both of them. Loved hearing about Michael's life and how he essentially lived a double life. Would have loved to hear more about Philomena's life given the title of the book!
Enjoyed the story and structure, but the dialogue was really stilted at times. Also took me FOREVER to get into it.
I picked up this book after seeing the movie "Philomena" -- on more recent editions the title of the book has been changed to "Philomena" and that is misleading. While the movie's focus is on Philomena Lee and her search for the son she was forced to give up in the 1950s, the focus of the book is on that son himself - Anthony Lee (whose name was changed to Michael Hess upon adoption by an American family).
This book is the yang to the movie's yin -- the other half of the story.
One of the things that puzzled me in the movie was how (and why) a gay man could rise to a leadership post in the Republican National Committee during the 1980s. The answer is here.
Some parts of the narrative are disjointed. For example, there are several references made to Chaim Rumkowski by one of Michael's colleagues. For those also baffled, here is an explanation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaim_Rumkowski
Overall, the book and movie together left me with a fuller version of the story. I would have liked to have learned more about Philomena's life after she left the home for unwed mothers, but understand that she may have wanted her privacy.
The story is a damning indictment of the treatment of unwed pregnant girls in Ireland during that time period. Even victims of rape or incest were not spared the judgmental rantings of the Reverend Mother. After giving birth, the girls were kept on as virtual slaves for two or three years to "pay off" their debt to the convent for their indifferent maternity care.
This book is the yang to the movie's yin -- the other half of the story.
One of the things that puzzled me in the movie was how (and why) a gay man could rise to a leadership post in the Republican National Committee during the 1980s. The answer is here.
Some parts of the narrative are disjointed. For example, there are several references made to Chaim Rumkowski by one of Michael's colleagues. For those also baffled, here is an explanation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaim_Rumkowski
Overall, the book and movie together left me with a fuller version of the story. I would have liked to have learned more about Philomena's life after she left the home for unwed mothers, but understand that she may have wanted her privacy.
The story is a damning indictment of the treatment of unwed pregnant girls in Ireland during that time period. Even victims of rape or incest were not spared the judgmental rantings of the Reverend Mother. After giving birth, the girls were kept on as virtual slaves for two or three years to "pay off" their debt to the convent for their indifferent maternity care.
So! The title change is misleading, and I'm sure they changed it so people would connect the book with the film, but the original title of The Lost Child is much more fitting, as this is really about her son, not Philomena herself. I was also under the impression that this would be more about the quest to find each other.
I just wish it had been a bit better written - the dialogue at times did not really feel authentic. I also wish we got more of a glimpse at Philomena's life after she left the Abbey; it was evident how much she went through afterwards, but it just gets kind of summarized in the epilogue. I'm very curious how the film is.
EDITED TO ADD: I took out the middle section of what I had written, because in the reviews, there's one by Susan Kavanaugh, who features prominently in the book. I would suggest reading what she has to say: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/870006187?book_show_action=true&page=1
I just wish it had been a bit better written - the dialogue at times did not really feel authentic. I also wish we got more of a glimpse at Philomena's life after she left the Abbey; it was evident how much she went through afterwards, but it just gets kind of summarized in the epilogue. I'm very curious how the film is.
EDITED TO ADD: I took out the middle section of what I had written, because in the reviews, there's one by Susan Kavanaugh, who features prominently in the book. I would suggest reading what she has to say: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/870006187?book_show_action=true&page=1
a rambling biography, but informative. I read it for research on the Magdalene laundries and found plenty of info. otherwise though, I would have found it a lot of reading for little pay off.