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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
A heartfelt and incredibly vulnerable collection of essays from Minnie Driver, detailing her tumultuous childhood sent away to boarding school and the ups and downs of her time in Hollywood. For me, the best chapters were about her experience becoming a mother and coping with her own mother's cancer diagnosis. While she does cover a range of very personal topics, I felt this book was more of a highlight reel rather than an in-depth accounting. I was hoping for a little more depth but overall still a good listen and great on audio read by the author with an interview included at the end.
This was well written, but there also wasn't a ton of substance to latch onto. Unfortunately this fell a bit flat for me.
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Brilliantly and hilariously written! I listened to the audiobook, which was read by Minnie herself, and was absolutely fantastic. I loved hearing the stories of her childhood. She sounds like quite a character as a child!!
What an intelligent and interesting and talented woman! I had seen her in the movies Good Will Hunting and Beautiful, but never knew much about her as a person. This was a wonderful look inside the person behind the screen.
I love biographies or memoirs that are written with wit and feeling and this one hit the mark!!
What an intelligent and interesting and talented woman! I had seen her in the movies Good Will Hunting and Beautiful, but never knew much about her as a person. This was a wonderful look inside the person behind the screen.
I love biographies or memoirs that are written with wit and feeling and this one hit the mark!!
I wish I could give this collection of essays by the delightful Minnie Driver 4.5 stars, as I really enjoyed listening to her narrate episodes from her life. Essays ran the gamut of poignant, funny, surprising and heartfelt. It was obvious to me that Driver had an excellent education both formally at school and in her home, which gave her writing a literary depth not generally found in celebrity memoirs. Driver is one who questions everything from teachers, parents, authority and societal norms, and that is something which one can admire for it is not the easy path to take in this life.
I think she has more to say and I hope she will once again put words to paper and share with readers. Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Author —- I daresay she does them all marvelously and all her way.
Definitely recommend!
I think she has more to say and I hope she will once again put words to paper and share with readers. Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Author —- I daresay she does them all marvelously and all her way.
Definitely recommend!
emotional
funny
medium-paced
This exceeded my expectations! Very well written snapshots/vignettes - highly recommend!
Audiobook highly recommended on this one, the voices and affects the author uses throughout really make this book. Some parts drag, some parts are entertaining throughout. What can I say, it’s a memoir; like life, not all of it is the stuff of epic poetry.
Highlights definitely include the wildfire espionage and a tantrum by way of fancy hotel shopping spree.
Highlights definitely include the wildfire espionage and a tantrum by way of fancy hotel shopping spree.
I love reading about people’s lives. Hers wasn’t anything riveting but I LOVED the last 1/3 of the book. The birth story had me in tears.
[b:Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays|59513806|Managing Expectations A Memoir in Essays|Minnie Driver|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646647195l/59513806._SX50_.jpg|93735521] by [a:Minnie Driver|6365617|Minnie Driver|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is a lovely memoir consisting of several essays focusing on different moments in her life. I didn't realise it was essentially a collection of essays until I started reading, but the format works well, and every section is fascinating and engaging.
Her style of writing is easy and immediate. I went to the same school as Minnie, so there was a lot I connected to in the early part of the book. Even if I hadn't gone to the same school, I would have associated with her experiences. She really knows how to reach inside without being overly sentimental or dramatic, which in an understated way, makes it more powerful. I was rooting for her, wanting to hug her, and laughing. A concise book in some ways, but it will stay with me.
Her childhood wasn't really a childhood in the way I would class a childhood; she was forced to grow up incredibly early yet holds no resentment and instead only understanding, kindness and love for her parents, which was quite touching. This is a no holds barred memoir that delves into feelings and emotions ranging from bliss to torturous heartbreak and everything in between. Don't expect a celebrity to tell all this is so much more. Her mother's passing truly broke my heart, and if you are anything like me, there will be tears, so I'm warning you now to be prepared.