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A review by lory_enterenchanted
Making It So by Patrick Stewart
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
4.0
With his patrician voice, I had no idea that Patrick Stewart came from a working-class Yorkshire background. In this memoir, he tells how he made it from obscurity to worldwide fame, and from a way of life that was practically Victorian into shows and movies that imagine a space-age future.
The first part of this book was the most interesting for me, with all the details of that time and place, another world by now. It was moving to learn of the people who generously helped him along the way, mentors and teachers, simply because they wanted to give a talented boy a chance. Learning about his training and growth was a fascinating and inspiring story.
On the other hand, it was sad to read of the hardships of his childhood and the violence of his father -- which he doesn't actually dwell on in much detail, but that clearly had a huge impact on him and remains very difficult to heal from. Maybe many actors want to enter the imaginary world of the stage to escape the hardships of real life; Stewart admits that it could be so in his case.
After he became successful, although it was fun to read about his famous friends and some backstage stories, I found it less compelling. And though STTNG amped up his fame and fortune tremendously, and had some clever and thought-provoking episodes, it was a bit of a step-down from Shakespeare and Co. Stewart did keep his hand in the theatre game, manages to have a wide appeal to all kinds of audiences, and comes across as classy without being snobby.
In Hollywood he seems to have learned how to loosen up and enjoy life more. He refers several times to a story about how he sternly told his STTNG compatriots that they "were not there to have fun," at which they all cracked up. In time, he accepted that they were right and he was wrong, and clearly this was a turning point in his life.
Stewart admits he's made mistakes in relationships, and gone through a spell of substance abuse too, but he comes across as trying to recover his integrity and do the right thing. He seems humble about his achievements and grateful for his success. The most troubling thing is that with all the love showered on him by his audiences, he seems to have ended up estranged from his children. I have to wonder what they think of this memoir and if they will ever find their way back together.
The first part of this book was the most interesting for me, with all the details of that time and place, another world by now. It was moving to learn of the people who generously helped him along the way, mentors and teachers, simply because they wanted to give a talented boy a chance. Learning about his training and growth was a fascinating and inspiring story.
On the other hand, it was sad to read of the hardships of his childhood and the violence of his father -- which he doesn't actually dwell on in much detail, but that clearly had a huge impact on him and remains very difficult to heal from. Maybe many actors want to enter the imaginary world of the stage to escape the hardships of real life; Stewart admits that it could be so in his case.
After he became successful, although it was fun to read about his famous friends and some backstage stories, I found it less compelling. And though STTNG amped up his fame and fortune tremendously, and had some clever and thought-provoking episodes, it was a bit of a step-down from Shakespeare and Co. Stewart did keep his hand in the theatre game, manages to have a wide appeal to all kinds of audiences, and comes across as classy without being snobby.
In Hollywood he seems to have learned how to loosen up and enjoy life more. He refers several times to a story about how he sternly told his STTNG compatriots that they "were not there to have fun," at which they all cracked up. In time, he accepted that they were right and he was wrong, and clearly this was a turning point in his life.
Stewart admits he's made mistakes in relationships, and gone through a spell of substance abuse too, but he comes across as trying to recover his integrity and do the right thing. He seems humble about his achievements and grateful for his success. The most troubling thing is that with all the love showered on him by his audiences, he seems to have ended up estranged from his children. I have to wonder what they think of this memoir and if they will ever find their way back together.