Barbara W.

The gloomiest downer I’ve read.

Revisado: 04-12-25

I usually enjoy memoirs, especially those of people whose work I’m familiar with. Demi Moore certainly has a point of view but it is firmly fixed on herself, her pain, her shortcomings, her supporting players (and that’s how everybody is presented in this work). No matter what, her literary eye never leaves herself.

This book really needs some joy. Surely in her life - with her many successes and with all the people who have reached out to Moore, there must have been some times where she had fun and calm. But I don’t see more than a smattering of that in this book. I felt like this was a transcript of a series of therapy sessions. I should have stopped reading but I kept thinking she would offer at least a few fascinating, fun stories…maybe some adventures and certainly more insight into her films that weren’t total downers. But nope. It never let up.

For those interested in the glamor or artistry of show biz, look elsewhere. This is just everything bad that happened to Moore. It was overwhelming.

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Started out great but went in odd directions. To me, not as good as previous Pendergast stories.

Revisado: 03-24-25

The beginning of Two Graves is thrilling…really exciting and fun. But then, it all came to a screeching halt and started off in tangents I hated. It turned into a badly done The Boys From Brazil rip-off, trying desperately to shoehorn previous Pendergast plot points into this one.

I love Rene’ Auberjonois. I miss hearing his voice on TV shows and in movies. So, for me, his performance was the best part of this novel.

I understand that this series has more than its share of “out there” plots and characters. The problem is, with every addition to the series, the authors feel compelled to bring along many (too many) previous characters and story lines, attached like tin cans to a wedding car bumper. They really have no place in the new iteration.

The book is best when focused on the plot of the latest book. There is too much of, “Who was that again? And “I forgot about that thing that happened 4 books ago.” Pendergast is being made to try to drive forward while looking in a rear view mirror. It’s annoying and, for me at least, doesn’t work.

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Love the crime story but hate the saccharine sweet kids story.

Revisado: 03-07-25

I was hoping to find a new detective series to read. I had high hopes for this Patterson series. After three novels, however, I have been totally engaged by the crime and detective aspect but the 10 kids storyline has worn out its welcome with me. The kids’ seem generic and rubber stamped into the book, with no growth or tension. It is so artificial and fairy tale and never rings true. I am done with the series.

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The narration just kills this book.

Revisado: 02-11-25

I was disappointed that Gates did not do his own narration but his life interests me; his philosophy, his thinking interest me, I really looked forward to diving in. What a letdown.

I am around the same age so I remember many of the events Gates experienced. Gates’ recollections seem more like that of an observer than as a participant. I get more of a sense of how others felt and reacted to events more than Gates felt or reacted. Still, I could understand what sparked his curiosity, what motivated him at a young age.

The thing that just lost it for me was the narration. It was dreadful - like a cold reading by an inexperienced actor who had no chance of getting the job. But I know Wil Wheaton is actually a very experienced actor so I don’t understand why there was no real communication in his performance. I just know, I could not listen to it any more and returned the book. That narration grated on me so much, I couldn’t stay focused on the story.

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The story was interesting but the star is Rene Auberjonois

Revisado: 12-14-24

I like the character of Pendergast but like all the books in the series, you really have to suspend disbelief. And the happenings in the ship are pretty reminiscent of the goings-on in the subterranean realms of the museum, the subway, and the mansion in earlier books. I guess if I read more books, I’ll have to figure out what is below ground because that’s where the action will be.

I miss Rene Auberjonois a lot so, for me, the highlight of this book was his voice and performance. He was wonderful.

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I loved the Palliser series.

Revisado: 12-06-24

I read the Palliser novels a long time ago after watching the TV series. In re-reading it now, I realize my maturity helps me to appreciate the books infinitely more. And having the stunning gift of Timothy West’s narration, I feel that all these hours were spent amazingly well.

Of the six Palliser works, I liked The Duke’s Children the least. It seems to have the least dimension. More than that, however, I miss Lady Glencora and her machinations. The Duke seems somber and the book is filled with ghosts of past characters. Some appear in The Duke’s Children but they have lost their importance and their spark.

Still, I wanted to read the complete series and am glad that I did. To round out my experience, I am going to rewatch the PBS series, which I just purchased. Susan Hampshire anchored it so well and the sumptuous settings are a delight to see.

I will miss reading this books. I will miss Timothy West’s voice. This has been like a vacation for me.

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You just don’t get better than this.

Revisado: 11-25-24

The combination of Trollope’s insight into a past age and the brilliance of Timothy West’s performance is absolutely delicious. It is perhaps surprising - or maybe not - how relevant the political machinations are in play yet today. It all changes…it all stays the same.

I have to say, the antisemitism is shocking. That, too, of course, exists today but perhaps not so blatantly in literature. And the role of women is distressing. In Trollope’s politics, women are reduced to behind-the-scenes scheming. Yet, have we actually advanced all that far? America is still loathe to elect a female president.

I have one more novel to go in this Pallisers series. I read it all years ago but now, having it read to me with such dimension and charm, is an enormous treat.

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A moving, insightful portrait of both a star and of a man.

Revisado: 11-11-24

Few celebrity autobiographies reach the level of intimacy that Sonny Boy achieves. And this is a real achievement. Pacino shares revealing anecdotes about the celebrities in his life and we also get the unique reminiscences of the not-famous people in his heart.

One of the best inclusions are Pacino’s understanding of the art of acting - for both stage and screen. He is very respectful of the creative talents of all those involved in mounting a production. I have never before read this level of an actor’s interpretation of his role in bringing characters and stories to life.

In an age when bad-mouthing others is almost standard, Pacino goes another way. I so appreciate his humility and generosity to others. This book doesn’t have a drop of “mean” and that elevates every page.

Hearing Pacino’s voice is like having him sit down and just tell you his life story. It draws the reader in to his world. This is a wonderful book.

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Love the Pallisers novels. And Timothy West is amazing!

Revisado: 11-03-24

Very different from the previous two and it took me longer to get into. But once I did, I found it funny and charming, but there are plenty of villains in this one. Nobody is better than Timothy West at really embodying each character, with no quip or nuance missed. Simply perfect.

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Pretty good but too much Ballard, not enough Bosch.

Revisado: 10-29-24

I loved all of the Bosch books but have cooled since introducing Renee Ballard, who, to me, is a pretty flat character. Bosch has more nuance, more backstory, more dimension.

The plot line for The Waiting is intriguing and I appreciated the revisiting of the Black Dahlia but in a new way - more about her death than about her life, which has been the subject of countless (read Too Many) TV shows, books and movies.

The reader could follow the trail picked up on the outside edge of a spiral and watch as that thread marched slowly inward, closing on suspects, eliminating some and highlighting others. The character of Colleen was annoying - so annoying, in fact, you just knew she would play a significant role in the case’s outcome.

The hand-off from Harry to Maddie isn’t successful for me. Harry’s world-weary determination simply can’t be replaced by Maddie’s junior detective work. She’s fine in a minor role but has not got anywhere near enough gravitas to hold interest as a cop or investigator.

Connelly always sets the scene in a way you can smell, hear, see and even taste the characters and the ambience. Those details bring a richness which I love to his stories.

I liked the book quite well but I kept wishing Harry Bosch was front and center throughout and that didn’t happen. Having Titus Welliver do the narration is great. To me, he is the gravelly, wounded but ever-brilliant voice of Harry Bosch.

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