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A review by bookwormjimmy
Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent by Anthony Rapp
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
My first experience with Rent was the film version that came out in 2005, and have been a fan of the soundtrack ever since. I recently watched Tick Tick Boom that focused on Jonathan Larson's life before he had written Rent. So it was a pleasant surprise when I happened to find this book in a local Little Free Liibrary. Perhaps it was the right time to read it.
Written in 2006, the book covers Rapp's life up until the filming of the movie adaptation of the film. Having read this book in 2024, there are parts of his life that he has now opened up about that aren't covered in Without You, yet as a reader its's something that we know has impacted his life at this point. It's that awareness that allows for a delicate reading of his text.
Rapp is brutally honest about his life in this memoir that focuses on getting the role as Mark in Rent, the impact of Jonathan Larson's death, the decline in health and eventual death of his mother, and the highs & lows of his past relationships. He's very open about not only the emotional trauma that he went through, but also his own personal failings as a son and partner. I appreciated how raw he was in sharing his story, and appreciate how far he has come in his life and career today.
If you're looking for a touching memoir about love, loss, and the musical Rent, then this would be a great read.
Written in 2006, the book covers Rapp's life up until the filming of the movie adaptation of the film. Having read this book in 2024, there are parts of his life that he has now opened up about that aren't covered in Without You, yet as a reader its's something that we know has impacted his life at this point. It's that awareness that allows for a delicate reading of his text.
Rapp is brutally honest about his life in this memoir that focuses on getting the role as Mark in Rent, the impact of Jonathan Larson's death, the decline in health and eventual death of his mother, and the highs & lows of his past relationships. He's very open about not only the emotional trauma that he went through, but also his own personal failings as a son and partner. I appreciated how raw he was in sharing his story, and appreciate how far he has come in his life and career today.
If you're looking for a touching memoir about love, loss, and the musical Rent, then this would be a great read.