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juliemariesmith3's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Alcoholism
macaronsandmermaids's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Drug use
Moderate: Stalking
r_j_setser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
In Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) recounts his acting career up to the point of this publication and gives special attention to his time at Hogwarts (filming the Harry Potter movies). Any fans of the Harry Potter series should consider this memoir a "must read" as it is both full of behind-the-scenes and nostalgic memories of the movies.
Tom's memoir is everything I hoped it would be. I laughed so much at his forward and no-nonsense way of telling stories. Listening to the audiobook (which he narrates himself) felt like listening to theatrical takes from the set of the Harry Potter movies. Many of his stories had me laughing out loud and I loved this rare glimpse into the life of a child actor. He was very good about explaining things that aren't common knowledge, so I feel that I learned a lot about the acting industry by reading this book, as well.
After the first half of the book, which is where spends his time describing his Harry Potter experience, the book takes a more personal turn and focuses on his life after the films and his journey through rehab and finding himself again. While there are a few chapters that made me incredibly sad and worried for him, I feel that with the conclusion of this book, he's doing much better now.
I will caution readers who haven't finished the Harry Potter series that there are many spoilers to the series mentioned throughout this book! Tom Felton assumes that his readers have watched all the movies and talks about the endings often, so don't read this if you're trying to avoid spoilers!
Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook so much and recommend it to anyone who loves Harry Potter or even just if you'd like to read about the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking!
Tom's memoir is everything I hoped it would be. I laughed so much at his forward and no-nonsense way of telling stories. Listening to the audiobook (which he narrates himself) felt like listening to theatrical takes from the set of the Harry Potter movies. Many of his stories had me laughing out loud and I loved this rare glimpse into the life of a child actor. He was very good about explaining things that aren't common knowledge, so I feel that I learned a lot about the acting industry by reading this book, as well.
After the first half of the book, which is where spends his time describing his Harry Potter experience, the book takes a more personal turn and focuses on his life after the films and his journey through rehab and finding himself again. While there are a few chapters that made me incredibly sad and worried for him, I feel that with the conclusion of this book, he's doing much better now.
I will caution readers who haven't finished the Harry Potter series that there are many spoilers to the series mentioned throughout this book! Tom Felton assumes that his readers have watched all the movies and talks about the endings often, so don't read this if you're trying to avoid spoilers!
Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook so much and recommend it to anyone who loves Harry Potter or even just if you'd like to read about the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Cursing, and Alcoholism
Minor: Bullying
Content warnings listed below:reading_on_the_moon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Bullying, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying and Death
cristina_reading24's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Cursing, and Drug abuse
sophialib's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Drug use
_verena_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
'I'm not a wealthy man,' he said quietly. 'I don't have much money. I don't have a big house. I don't have a fancy car. But I have my wife, and I have my children, and I have my grandchildren, and that means I am a rich man. A very rich man.' He fixed me with a piercing stare and inclined his head a little. 'Are you a rich man?'
I don't rate memoirs less than 5 stars, because this is a persons life experience, how could one even rate that?
An audience can go back and watch a film any number of times they want. It's always there for them. For the cast and crew, the rela- tionship with a film is more complex. The magic is in the making, and that process is a discreet unit of time in the past. You can reflect on that unit of time, you can be proud of it, but you can't revisit it.
However, I think the book could have been shorter at times. But maybe that is, because I'm a absolute Potter-nerd and have known many of the anecdotes already :D
The last chapters were really deep and unexpected ones. I think it's great, that Tom is so candid and open about his struggles, while still realizing how lucky he has been in his life so far.
To this day I never know which version of myself I'm going to wake up to. It can happen that the smallest chores or decisions - brushing my teeth, hanging up a towel, should I have tea or coffee overwhelm me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Drug use, and Alcoholism
hufflepuffbiologybuff's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
I listed to the audiobook read by Tom Felton. It was so good!
I did not know much of the Harry Potter behind the scenes information that Felton shared, which I felt I knew quite well. I found it interesting! He went in depth for the behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films, the people on set, and his life that he lived before, during, and after Potter; which was insightful.
I hope wherever he is happy, well, and rich.
I did not know much of the Harry Potter behind the scenes information that Felton shared, which I felt I knew quite well. I found it interesting! He went in depth for the behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films, the people on set, and his life that he lived before, during, and after Potter; which was insightful.
I hope wherever he is happy, well, and rich.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
cocaworm1017's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
For Harry Potter fans this is a must read. However, also as Harry Potter fans, some is hard to read. The persona of who you think someone is, may be broken. Now I'm ready for the others to write their own autobiography :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
Minor: Cursing
larissarose's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Mental illness