Good but Not Great Life Story of Shy and Anxious Performer
589729
Osmond comes across as a shy and anxious performer in this often unemotional book that covers  his career but lacks some inside details.

The first chapter is kind of an overview, which helps to know his perspective.  But then the first third of the book is about the early years  during which Donny can remember little.  He says pretty much nothing about Andy Williams, a 60s star who Donny claims the family had never heard of before they were invited on his show (how could they not have known this TV star with hit records and how they have performed with him every week for five years and not have some  stories to tell???), he praises his parents over and over (even though they did push him by refusing to let him stay home as he wanted and at one point even deceived the tutor so they could illegally work the kids longer), and he tells very little about his faith.

He is too glib and distant--but he at least admits to his shyness from a young age and often wishes he would have grown up differently.  There is little insight here into his personality, other than that he is extremely anxious.  He needs to open up more and try to explain more about his faith that he claims guides him instead of simply claiming he is a "Christian" (his faith is not considered traditional Christianity). And then he needs to explain the inconsistencies of how his family has lived compared to what that faith teaches.
2879592
As a child, Darcy Buckner was a highly creative loner with a dysfunctional family who ignored his idiosyncrasies and special talents, causing him to retreat into a make-believe world in which he was famous.  He also conducted pretend radio shows in which he interviewed other celebrities, or gave advice based on questions that essentially reflected his own hang-ups. Through sheer ambition and talent, Darcy actually did become a well-known internet radio personality by the time he was in his early 20's, and did get to interview many of the stars that were the focus of his pretend celebrity. While his professional life continued to impress, Darcy was still very much a loner, whose only social interaction was with people on the internet, with whom he usually played mind games and alienated. He was open about being gay, but never had a boyfriend of any kind, until he happened to mesh well with one of his internet contacts, with whom he traded visits, constantly trying to be liked, despite his unique approach to life.

The fictional Darcy clearly has lots of things in common with this first time author, who is gay and makes his living with a media empire that includes internet radio interview shows. While the author maintains that most of the facts and situations are entirely fictional, it's clear that he identifies strongly with Darcy, which adds some nice perspective to the story.  Still, it is not an easy book to read, the disorganized storyline obviously mimicking the character's "stream of consciousness" way of thinking, often speaking in short staccato sentences or asking himself a series of questions, and obviously expressing a lot of loneliness and hurt, although he deals with it as best he can. Scary that I saw a little of myself in Darcy childhood, and likely many of you will as well.  A unique read, which I'll give it four stars out of five.

- Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
2813771
Kacey and Sara - or Sticks and Stones, as they called each other - shared almost everything from the time they were in the third grade.  When Kacey commits suicide, Sara is left to shoulder the stares, the pity, and the grief alone.  Convinced that Sara might follow in her best friend's footsteps, her parents set up regular therapy sessions.  Making her way in the world without Kacey may just be the most difficult thing that Sara will ever have to do.

Written in a diary format, When Kacey Left chronicles Sara's grief over her best friend's very permanent solution to depression.  The format was very limiting, however, as the reader is given only what Sara chooses to write in the diary.  I am not sure I found the reaction of the classmates to be realistic, as enough time had passed for her peers to have moved on to someone else's problems.  Sara's grief and anger was clearly conveyed, as well as the anxiety that her parents felt over the situation as a whole.  The fact that Kacey's reasons for turning to suicide are not totally explained lends a feeling of believability to the story, as this occurs often in real life.  The story was not too memorable, leaving me to give it a three star rating.
917449
I was expecting a few rugger stories and a bit of gossip.
The main thrust of the story was his mental illness issues, for which I am sorry,
and generally breaking the silence on mental health to the general public.
He was very brave "coming out" as he did, and he was well supported by all those around him.
He was brave but the book didn't hit the mark with me. John 2Hill.
2815097
This book is interesting in the sense that it puts a personal face and story to the spies of the CIA.  The downside of this book is that the author is much more concerned with partying, her diet and love interests than real CIA business.  The process of training to become a spy in the CIA is well documented here but obviously leaves out some of the details.  The story doesn't really go anywhere as the author is not involved in too many intense or important situations.  However, if you are interested in the practical life of a young CIA agent, this book is worthwhile.
4454563
The undeniable truth is that Dick Van Dyke may consider himself lucky or charmed by good fortune, but he was (and still is) a very talented and versatile man. This memoir glazes over his very successful career in show business, but primarily focuses on his personal life ------ his one marriage, his children, his 35 year relationship with Michelle Triola Marvin, his midwestern roots, the lean years as he tried to establish himself as a performer, and the gravy years after his career took off.
While this memoir wasn't particularly deep (he didn't dwell on the 'what ifs' or ruminate on the misfortunes that fame can present)or highly detailed, it was loaded with a lot of interesting anecdotes that fleshed out the story of his life. In passing, he recalls missing a job interview with a network in Chicago and a fleeting (and I mean fleeting) one- sided exchange with broadcaster Dave Garroway. He talks about the people he grew up with in Danville, Il which included Bobby Short, Gene Hackman (via his friendship with Hackman's cousin), and Donald O'Connor.
Told in a rambling, conversational tone, this book is very readable and easy to get into. I also think that it illustrates that Van Dyke is one of those guys that can be described as 'what you see is what you get'. He comes across as a very nice person who is very easy to relate to because he is not full of himself. In many ways Van Dyke's life hasn't been perfect, but he has the hindsight to realize it has been a good one.
515634
Interesting personal story. Less useful for dealing with my own anxiety.
497116
I was interested in learning more about Anthony Hopkins because he's an incredibly accomplished individual. This book is more of a timeline of his journey in acting. There's short (like a paragraph or two) glimpses into his psyche (what makes him tick) here and there, but we never really understand who he is as a person. Not sure if this is due to secrecy, but I was looking forward to learning more about who he is, not what plays and movies he acted in.
815817
It's tough to write a biography of a likable, talented person who made consistently bad choices.  You wish that she had a better life to write about.  Sadly, once she left Motown she was never a great success and she was barely old enough to vote when she left the company.  It isn't the writing that disappoints, it's the life he has to write about.
4270164
This is an interesting look at a self-absorbed and humbled investor who fell for the allure of the markets and the get-rich-quick mantra of the late 90s.  It chronicles, cliched though it is, the rise and fall of a man's portfolio, along with his ties to some of the more notorious corproate crooks of the past few years.  It is worth 4 stars if only because the author is remarkably candid about his greed, his desire for quick riches through the market, and his admiration and jealousy of the 'rock star' CEO embodied in Sam Waksal.
There's not much original in here, or interesting beyond that rare candor.  Candor, however, is a rare quality in writers, and such makes this an interesting trifle of a read.
4095057
The author writes fluidly, and is good at presenting anecdotes about shy middle- and upper-class men, largely Englishmen.  If that is how the book had been framed/presented,  it would have been less disappointing.

Why was it disappointing?  Well....if the author's claim is--as it generally is--that people are shy the world over, in many different cultures and contexts, it would have been nice to see some evidence for that view.  For that, the author would have needed to cast a much wider net, and maybe strayed farther from the confines of his English 'This Boy's Life' angle of vision.  Though he does cite female researchers, female subjects are given the smallest crumb of attention.  Others have (also) commented on the parochialism of the author's providing principally anecdotes about middle- and upper-class generally somewhat famous men. People are shy the world over, so looking at the lives of shy women and non-Brit twits isn't necessary?

The author's conflation of shyness, introversion, social anxiety, eccentricity, bad luck (intolerant family)...and a couple of other things is another dimension of the analytic weakness of his claims.  I'd hoped, perhaps unreasonably, for a book that built on and extended--or at least meaningfully engaged with--the insights and concerns raised in Christopher Lane's 2007 book on shyness.  No such luck.

If one takes the subtitle, 'The Secret Life of Shyness' seriously, I think that one will be disappointed.  I did, and I was.
3000583
In this short autobiographical memoir, the British actor James Fox, perhaps best known for his role  in "Performance," sketches the details of his upbringing and of his becoming an actor.  Although his maternal grandfather was a playwright, and his father, Robin Fox, a theatrical agent for MCA, his becoming an actor was a matter of serendipity. He had accompanied his father to the set of a film  one of his clients was involved in.  They felt he had the look for a part that had not yet been cast, so he ended up playing the son in "The Miniver Story," with Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson. After attending the elite public school, Harrow, he enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His most notable roles in the following years, aside from Performance, were in The Servant and The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. Even prior to Performance, he had become a bit too caught up in the excesses of the '60s.  While in Blackpool for a brief theatrical engagement towards the end of 1969, he found himself drawn to the New Testament.  He became involved with an American evangelical group called the Navigators.  He left acting for a number of years, but had little difficulty in acquiring roles upon deciding to relaunch his career.  This book was published in 1983.  In the years since, James Fox has established himself as a first rate actor in a variety of settings.  I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in British film or theatre.  Although plainly written, and lacking in detail, particularly in the section detailing his acceptance of Christ, it's a quick and entertaining read.
40902
This was an interesting fictional history of a headstrong, fearless woman.  However, she was not endearing to me and sometimes her naivety didn't make sense.  I am glad I learned about Beryl, though.
649022
Beverly Linet has crafted an adequate if somewhat one-sided biography of Oscar-winning actress, Susan Hayward.
Covering her life as a poor girl in Brooklyn with big dreams it moves on through her tempestuous years as a starlet unable to get the lucky breaks.  Her torrid personal life, marriage and divorce to Jess Barker are the main focus of her life in the 1940s-50s.  Susan (born Edythe Marrenner) finally achieves success and recognition as an actress with her Oscar nominated portrayal of an Alcoholic in "Smash-Up" and achieves happiness in her personally life with marriage to Eaton Chalkley.  After four nominations she finally winners the coveted Oscar in 1959 for "I want to live".  Tragically, he beloved husband dies in 1966 and after several years in seclusion Susan begins a comeback which is cut short by her death from cancer at the age of 57.
Throughout it all Susan remained intensely private.  Her aloofness was a combination of myopia, nature and the years of struggle.  But this only helped to make he as mysterious off screen as she was on it.  This does present some problems for her Biographer.
This book is an adequate pop biography.  The author is frank in revealing her admiration for her subject right in the introduction.  However, that would soon be evident even to the casual reader in any event.  Ms Linet has spoken to some family members who never before gave interviews, but she is all to willing to not pursue lines of questions that make those people uncomfortable.  This does tend to create a one-sided view of controversial events.  Too many interesting things are left inadequately covered for the book to be well rounded.  It is however, interesting and informative within these limits and it gives a nice picture of Hollywood during the heyday of the "Studio System".
While I enjoyed this book well enough, I think that Susan Hayward is far more entertaining as an actress than this book was as a biography.
3420567
In this personal narrative, we learn the author grew up in a repressive, conformist church and had significant problems. The lack of a strong faith walk of her own caused her to flounder and rebel throughout her teens and twenties. She is somewhat vague on a lot of details, short on scriptures, but she has obviously been encouraged to write her story. This book is somewhat thought-provoking, but the events and life-changes appear to have been very recent for the author, and I am not sure she has the perspective on her experiences that would allow them to provide a clearer message. She is certainly courageous. I wish her success in life, as a writer, and with this book.
1328277
Interesting story of Loretta Lynn's early life and her perspective on her country music experience.  I felt Loretta had spoken her story onto a recording and it was transcribed as spoken.  Her speech patterns and expressions were interesting at first but later interfered with the story for me. It was a bit rambling as well, going forward and back in time without a clear pattern.  Although it gave insight into Loretta I didn't feel certain it was as revealing as it tried to make us believe.
3208979
Good but slow. Anxiety is the root of the problems she teaches yet her presentation was extremely slow. It does help.