You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I enjoyed hearing NPH read but the format didn’t work well for an audiobook in my opinion
This is a clever conceit, writing an autobiography as a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book. It is cute, and it works. The writing is sharp, the memories suitably wistful, and just enough kvetching about other celebrities to feel real. What I liked most, though, is the... well, I won't say "humble" -- but how about "considerate" and "honest" -- acknowledgements and consistent gratitude throughout the whole book. The look behind-the-curtain of how turning a single corner (or, in Neil's case, getting in one line instead of the other) can lead to the big break all aspiring actors yearn for was wonderful. Recommended.
Listening to this read by its author was quite the roller coaster. I am a fan of choose-your-adventure books and wasn't sure it could be pulled off in the audio format, but it works out well in that you do get to hear every eventuality...even when you're ready to finish the book.
NPH makes me think of the kind of person you meet and who seems so friendly and down-to-earth and impressive and funny that you can't believe it. You want to soak up his giant personality and hear his stories until...well, until you don't anymore. He does have good tales to tell, and quite a lot of dishing, which is always fun. But some parts get too long--how brilliant he was in all the creative ways he hosted award shows...how he broke out into so many creative careers..how much he loves his crazy-hot, sexy husband and their two perfect kids..how cool it is to hang out with Elton John or go to DisneyWorld without having to wait in any of the lines.
You can probably tell that, by the end of the book, I started to think of NPH as your funny, lovable, great friend who you can only take being around so much of the time. Don't get me wrong--I do think he is uber talented, and in that he agrees with me.
NPH makes me think of the kind of person you meet and who seems so friendly and down-to-earth and impressive and funny that you can't believe it. You want to soak up his giant personality and hear his stories until...well, until you don't anymore. He does have good tales to tell, and quite a lot of dishing, which is always fun. But some parts get too long--how brilliant he was in all the creative ways he hosted award shows...how he broke out into so many creative careers..how much he loves his crazy-hot, sexy husband and their two perfect kids..how cool it is to hang out with Elton John or go to DisneyWorld without having to wait in any of the lines.
You can probably tell that, by the end of the book, I started to think of NPH as your funny, lovable, great friend who you can only take being around so much of the time. Don't get me wrong--I do think he is uber talented, and in that he agrees with me.
There are two ways to read this book: 1) as a choose your own adventure book, where you follow what page to turn to at the end of each section and then double back to take different routes after you've completed one of them, or 2) from cover to cover.
I started reading this book last year using the first method. It worked at first, but then I got to the happy ending where Neil meets David and falls in love, and I couldn't figure out how to go back and start on a different path. I didn't touch the book for almost a year, and when I did I started on the journey with the second method. It worked much better.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read, well-written, and I highly recommend it.
I started reading this book last year using the first method. It worked at first, but then I got to the happy ending where Neil meets David and falls in love, and I couldn't figure out how to go back and start on a different path. I didn't touch the book for almost a year, and when I did I started on the journey with the second method. It worked much better.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read, well-written, and I highly recommend it.
Fun and funny with all the pertinent details about NPH's life. I loved him as Doogie, even more so as Barney, and will watch anything he's hosting. Sometimes I was frustrated by the format because I couldn't figure out how to get myself to certain parts that I wanted to read about within the "Choose Your Own" part. I recommend keeping a finger on the last page of a chapter so you can choose differently without having to rifle through the chapters! It was a great, quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was conflicted about this book, because I couldn't pass up the showmanship of NPH narration, but it didn't exactly work out the best for the choose your own adventure set up. They made it work with some modification (ex: "To hear what happens next in your career, hold tight it's coming. To see what happens if you choose something else, keep listening.") The performance was worth any awkwardness in translation from print to audio.
The"choose your own" story format didn't really work for me, but NPH will always be great.
Time to rewatch Dr. Horrible.
Time to rewatch Dr. Horrible.
4.5
MY ONLY COMPLAINT is that the "death scenarios" didn't exist. But if they didn't exist then this wouldn't really be a Choose Your Own Adventure book. But I feared that there wasn't a possible way to read the book all the way through with this setup. But I applaud Neil for his creative approach on his memoir. It's fantastic, funny, humorous, hilarious, and did I mention funny? But I also am biased and in love with NPH so it's hard for me to give an honest review when I knew I was going to love it anyway.
I read it through and "died" within 25 pages so I turned to the audio book which I highly recommend doing because it made me realize why I loved NPH so much is his voice of how he narrates stories. It was wonderful and enjoyed listening to Neil talking to me while I was at work.
MY ONLY COMPLAINT is that the "death scenarios" didn't exist. But if they didn't exist then this wouldn't really be a Choose Your Own Adventure book. But I feared that there wasn't a possible way to read the book all the way through with this setup. But I applaud Neil for his creative approach on his memoir. It's fantastic, funny, humorous, hilarious, and did I mention funny? But I also am biased and in love with NPH so it's hard for me to give an honest review when I knew I was going to love it anyway.
I read it through and "died" within 25 pages so I turned to the audio book which I highly recommend doing because it made me realize why I loved NPH so much is his voice of how he narrates stories. It was wonderful and enjoyed listening to Neil talking to me while I was at work.
My favorite parts where when he broke the premise and just talked about his experiences. I don't think I'm the right sort of reader for the format, but I love the story. And I appreciate the cleverness of the delivery even though I didn't enjoy that aspect. I recommend reading it if you enjoy NPH.
Quirky format to this straightforward autobiography chronicling the actor's life and work.