A review by konnercarnahanrasor
Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman by Alan Rickman

informative slow-paced

2.0

I truly believe Alan Rickman never intended for his private diaries to be published for the world to read. Because of that, I want to make one thing clear—this review is more of a commentary on the editing than on the quality of Rickman’s writing.

The editors quite literally just published his diary with little to no context, and I found that incredibly disappointing. His diaries could have been presented alongside insights into his life and career in a way that deepened the reader’s understanding and admiration for his work. Instead, we’re given fragmented thoughts that were never meant for publication.

That said, I loved the moments where he referenced Harry Potter and other actors he worked with. In those instances, I felt the connection and joy that come from understanding the context of his words. That’s why I wished for more background on other aspects of his life—it would have made the reading experience far more meaningful.

I imagine those who knew him closely appreciated this book immensely, but for the average reader, it leaves much to be desired.