Take a photo of a barcode or cover
217 reviews for:
Philomena (Movie Tie-In): A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search
Martin Sixsmith
3.49 AVERAGE
217 reviews for:
Philomena (Movie Tie-In): A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search
Martin Sixsmith
3.49 AVERAGE
So sad and it should never have happened. Cruel ending to her quest.
I will preface my review by saying that I did not see the movie based on this book, however the movie appeared to be focused on the mother (Philomena Lee) and her son (Mike 'Anthony' Hess) and their attempts to find each other. That is not the focus of the book, however. The book is really Mike's story, and most of the narrative is not about his mother. I haven't read anything else by this author but I would not be surprised if he has only written biographies or historical non-fiction. The characters were flat. The narrative was boring. The dialogue was stilted.
Bottom line, Mike Hess's story could have been fascinating, the indictments of the Catholic Church in Ireland could have been more pointed, and the details about the radical homophobia of the GOP during the Reagan years could have been more powerful. But this book was none of these things.
Bottom line, Mike Hess's story could have been fascinating, the indictments of the Catholic Church in Ireland could have been more pointed, and the details about the radical homophobia of the GOP during the Reagan years could have been more powerful. But this book was none of these things.
I checked out this book after having seen the film "Philomena" on my cousin's recommendation. Where the film is almost entirely about Philomena's journey of discovery, the book was focused primarily on the life of her son. I loved being able to get to know Michael and have a real appreciation for his own efforts to find his birth mother and "come home".
Eh. I was really excited to read this book. I am adopted and active in my local community regarding adoption issues. However the book fell quite short of my expectations. I felt that the author was passing judgement in Michael's private choices and motivations. He seemed to be attributing emotions to Michael and some of the other characters that he could not have known. The writing was forced and mechanical.
I am curious to see the movie. I hope it portrays a better, more accurate story.
I am curious to see the movie. I hope it portrays a better, more accurate story.
Excellent book. Heartbreaking. If you read it, skip the pictures because they give away the ending.
I loved the movie made from this book. When it was due back at the library recently, and free time was tight, I almost skipped reading this. That would have been a shame because, as wonderful as the movie was, the book was soooooo much better (as usual). So much more detail, so well-written, so heartbreaking. This historical account of what these poor young women went through is absolutely horrifying, and so easily applied to small-minded persecutions that continue today.