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kanejim57's review
5.0
A very good look at Jimmy Stewart's service as a bomber pilot during World War 2.
It begins with a brief presentation of his childhood and adolescence followed by a narrative of his rise to stardom with frequent references to Stewart's passion for flying and his romantic interest.
Matzen then turns to Stewart's efforts to get into the US Army Air Corps and the battles he fought to be in a front-line combat unit and not a film unit. The rest of the book the focuses on Stewart's tour of duty in England and it's effects on him and then the start of the transition back into acting.
One of the things that made this book stand out was Matzen's description of the missions flown and the conditions Stewart and his fellow flyers faced such as numbing cold, ice forming on oxygen masks, frozen guns that would not fire, and intense physical exertion needed to keep not just one but a entire armada of B 24's in the air.
A very good addition to WW 2 history and a legendary actor.
It begins with a brief presentation of his childhood and adolescence followed by a narrative of his rise to stardom with frequent references to Stewart's passion for flying and his romantic interest.
Matzen then turns to Stewart's efforts to get into the US Army Air Corps and the battles he fought to be in a front-line combat unit and not a film unit. The rest of the book the focuses on Stewart's tour of duty in England and it's effects on him and then the start of the transition back into acting.
One of the things that made this book stand out was Matzen's description of the missions flown and the conditions Stewart and his fellow flyers faced such as numbing cold, ice forming on oxygen masks, frozen guns that would not fire, and intense physical exertion needed to keep not just one but a entire armada of B 24's in the air.
A very good addition to WW 2 history and a legendary actor.
brighteyes1178's review
1.0
Every time a bell rings, someone without a good grasp of what makes compelling narration tries to write a book...
I'm really disappointed - I thought I was going to read a book about Jimmy Stewart's war experiences and how they made him into the actor we love from "It's a Wonderful Life" and other movies, but instead I found the narration so (to quote another reviewer) "hackneyed and sophomoric" that I couldn't continue. The book is riddled with grammar errors and jarring pseudo-interviews with "Jim". Instead of a pleasant read of this book over the holiday break I'm looking for something else.
The book has an incredibly high reader-review rating at the moment of 4.39 stars - usually Goodreads readers don't steer me wrong, so I'm kind of shocked how painful this was to plow through (which I quit doing after a while).
I'm really disappointed - I thought I was going to read a book about Jimmy Stewart's war experiences and how they made him into the actor we love from "It's a Wonderful Life" and other movies, but instead I found the narration so (to quote another reviewer) "hackneyed and sophomoric" that I couldn't continue. The book is riddled with grammar errors and jarring pseudo-interviews with "Jim". Instead of a pleasant read of this book over the holiday break I'm looking for something else.
The book has an incredibly high reader-review rating at the moment of 4.39 stars - usually Goodreads readers don't steer me wrong, so I'm kind of shocked how painful this was to plow through (which I quit doing after a while).
apryde6226's review
4.0
Matzen did a very credible job of getting into Stewart's head and motivations. It was a really good review of the 8th airforce and how Stewart contributed and how it affected him.
skybalon's review
4.0
A mostly second-hand (Stewart would never talk about his war years) accounting of Jimmy Stewart as a bomber pilot in WW II. Worth reading if only for the description of what it was really like to be on the crew of a bomber. Good information about Jimmy Stewart too, but there are probably better biographies about his life overall.
kristinasshelves's review
4.0
While not a five-star read, I thoroughly enjoyed my time listening to this title on audiobook. Jimmy Stewart was a phenomenal actor, probably best known today for his role as George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. If you've not seen Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, I highly recommend checking it out. This book delves into Stewart's beginnings as an actor and his rise to stardom before delving into his time in the Army Air Corps during World War II. There was some content I could have done without during his Hollywood years, who knew he was such a cad? But overall, I was engrossed in his journey to serve and admired his insistence to be a true soldier rather than to be used for publicity for the armed forces.
Old Hollywood biographies are always ever so interesting to me, as are any accounts surrounding WWII. If you also enjoy either of these genres of non-fiction, or simply want to know more about a talented actor of yesteryear, I'd recommend this one!
Old Hollywood biographies are always ever so interesting to me, as are any accounts surrounding WWII. If you also enjoy either of these genres of non-fiction, or simply want to know more about a talented actor of yesteryear, I'd recommend this one!
soundertillidie's review
5.0
***Goodreads giveaway win in exchange for an honest review***
Jimmy Stewart the American hero off and on the screen. The selfless man who gave up the glitz and glam of Hollywood in order to fulfill what he thought was his duty. He didn't want preferential treatment. He wanted to fight like many generations before him. War aged many men. It aged Stewart none the less. From flying his single engine trainer to flights in a B-24 this book is exciting. Unlike most fiction books it has a good amount of dialog.
Jimmy Stewart the American hero off and on the screen. The selfless man who gave up the glitz and glam of Hollywood in order to fulfill what he thought was his duty. He didn't want preferential treatment. He wanted to fight like many generations before him. War aged many men. It aged Stewart none the less. From flying his single engine trainer to flights in a B-24 this book is exciting. Unlike most fiction books it has a good amount of dialog.
xcaggie08's review
4.0
Good story about Jimmy Stewart’s life with the focus on his time in the military. Really interesting insight into life as a bomber pilot in WWII.
caitz's review
4.0
I received an advance reading copy of this from NetGalley.
I remember being surprised to learn as a teen that Jimmy Stewart was an Army General. I always enjoyed his movies, but never thought of him as anything more than a good actor. This book explores his military career in the Army Air Force and it was quite a career. He felt the need to follow in his family's footsteps and serve in the military when he could have been excused. He became respected by both regular pilots and military leaders. The book also touches on lives of some of men under Jimmy Stewart's command. It is an engrossing read and anyone who enjoys biographies or military history will like this book.
I will be buying this for my library.
I remember being surprised to learn as a teen that Jimmy Stewart was an Army General. I always enjoyed his movies, but never thought of him as anything more than a good actor. This book explores his military career in the Army Air Force and it was quite a career. He felt the need to follow in his family's footsteps and serve in the military when he could have been excused. He became respected by both regular pilots and military leaders. The book also touches on lives of some of men under Jimmy Stewart's command. It is an engrossing read and anyone who enjoys biographies or military history will like this book.
I will be buying this for my library.