Angela Rabatin

YAAAAAAAS QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Revisado: 04-20-22

This was a truly FABULOUS *wink* candid look at the man behind the persona so many of us love, the unexpected medicine we all needed for the past 6 years and counting. It is a real treat to hear his own narration, not to mention the occasional easter egg of a recording or... something extra special later in the book. I think I was most surprised and touched by his emotion when talking about certain sad events in his personal life. Many of us can certainly relate to losing loved ones, whether they have two legs or four. I won't lie, I actually cried while listening to this. It's also nice to hear his opinions on comedy and its constant evolution to change with the tastes and morality of the audience. Learning things in this book makes me appreciate him even more as an artist and as a person. For those who don't know who this guy is, I suggest you go to YouTube and search his name. Pick a parody, any one, and enjoy this self-made comedian who's much more than just a "parody artist." A perfect introduction is his "Covfefe" parody, which in my opinion sums up his entire style. Then definitely check out this memoir, and get ready for some big names of stage and screen to make appearances as what would become great PERSONAL friends of his, and that's not being sarcastic.

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Magnificent!

Revisado: 03-20-22

An extraordinary tapestry of tales woven together to paint a vivid potrtait of Gaiman's extraordinary creations, concluding with the prestigious "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which won the Best Short Story Hugo award. Spectacular!

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Pure CLASS!

Revisado: 07-23-21

In a time when we've had so much stress, fear, tension, anxiety, uncertainty, I got this. Not knowing what to expect from someone who is known more for his acting prowess than fiction writing, I thought it would be a light read but nothing special. Now I can't stop raving about this delightful collection. There are different genres, from sci-fi to historical fiction. Lighthearted romps of friends taking a civilian trip to the moon, a few immigrants hoping to make good in the States, the occasional commentary from a news reporter, and a few stories about (surprise) show biz people. Ahh, what more can I say. I have not smiled so much during a book in a long time. I regretted stopping to run errands. I was even riveted by a story about BOWLING! I can think of no better word to describe this collection other than CLASS. If you want a lighter read with character study rather than serious themes or conflict, I don't think you'll regret checking this out.

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Fantastic Narration!

Revisado: 09-19-20

This narration was so unexpectedly soothing, I found it great for meditation. The description is so vivid, I could see why Disney wanted to make it into a film. Interesting how this actually rivals "Watership Down" in terms of its more brutal moments, but that's not a bad thing for an adult. Children, however, who were traumatized by the film will be even more traumatized by the actual book it was based on.

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The Best Pick-Me-Up for Depression, Grief, & Blah!

Revisado: 06-21-20

"Laughter is the best medicine. You can never OD, and the refills are free." -- Rob Paulsen Celebrity memoirs, I always thought, are a dime a dozen. Pick up a book from a former child star, you're guaranteed to read about shitty parents and addiction. Pick up a book by a rock star and you're pretty much guaranteed the latter. Check out a bio of an athlete, and you'd have to be a fan of the sport they're in to enjoy their life story. Rob Paulsen is a cartoon voice actor for television. Certainly not a career that gets highlighted on Entertainment Tonight or whose talents tend to appear on talk shows promoting their latest projects. Most people couldn't pick out Rob, or Jim Cummings, or even Mel Blanc or June Foray from a lineup, as they say, but show images of the characters they've played, and you're guaranteed to know at least 75% of them. So what makes Rob special? What makes Rob Paulsen's memoir worth reading, or in this case, listening to? 1. He randomly does the voices of his characters when he is quoting them or speaking about them. The introduction of the book features a conversation he, Rob Paulsen, had with Pinky, a dimwitted mouse with a Cockney accent. He'll even sing a few bars of "Yakko's World" as he talks about how the song came to be, and what it was like for him to perform it in front of live audiences. If you grew up in the '80s or '90s, and watched cartoons, you're guaranteed to know at least one of his characters. Not only was he Raphael in the original cartoon series for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," he was also Donatello in the 2012 Nickelodeon revival, the only one from the original cast to return for that series. He voiced numerous characters from "Animaniacs," and countless others. But Rob's book isn't just a memoir of his life. He doesn't just talk about how he got into show business and settled into voice acting. He talks about a personal journey through life with these characters who've touched countless children over the decades. From sick kids and their parents to veterans fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, anyone from Pinky, Raphael, Yakko, Carl Weezer, Donatello, they've all been there as a source of inspiration and comfort to so many people. I can honestly say that I smiled through nearly the entire book, and the times I did not, I was weeping. What an emotional journey it was for a man who literally talks for a living to get throat cancer, only to come back at nearly 100%. He certainly doesn't shy away from how difficult it was to be treated for his cancer, but he doesn't lay on the self-pity or grief. Instead, he writes about how lucky he is, how blessed he is, and how he knows it could have been far worse. There are a number of "Voice Lessons" in here that reflect how Rob has learned to conduct himself both professionally and personally. Even his interactions with fans has been influenced by his humble beginnings in Michigan, singing in cover bands and goofing off in school. I personally have too much empathy at times for suffering in the world, and with so much of it lately it's enough to pull me into an abyss of depression and anxiety. After a house fire at my boyfriend's family's hojme, a home they built themselves, where I was living at the time, my boyfriend asked the traumatized me if there was anything I wanted from the house. I distinctly remember asking for my "Apollo 13" DVD, and my "Animaniacs: Volume 1" DVD collection. Yakko and Pinky and Dr. Scratchensniff, I admit, gave me more comfort than Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, and that's saying something. I discovered the "Talkin' Toons" podcast, then found out about this book. I was THRILLED, and looked forward to the day I could finally listen to it. I joined Audible because I am partially blind, and I notice many books are not available on CD anymore but are Audible exclusive, so I joined Audible and, days after I completed my "Animaniacs" DVD collection, I got this book. It is the perfect book for anyone in despair, whether you know his characters or not. My sister-in-law is unlikely to have ever seen any of the cartoons he gave life to, but I still got the book in print for her after she lost both of her parents to cancer in quick succession, followed by my mother a year later, then dealing with her sister's cancer as well. Whether you're seeking a book to give you comfort, joy, or a character study of the evolution from a boy to a man, to learn to "want what you have and take what you're given," as Rob puts it, the good and the bad, this book will not disappoint, especially in its audio form. Don't forget, Rob is a voice actor by trade, so the emotion of the narration, the spontanaeity of the cartoon characters popping up, it's AUTHENTIC. It's NATURAL, because this is HIS life, and HIS characters. True, as he says and points out in detail, he doesn't write the jokes, he doesn't draw the animation, he just reads the lines he's given, but he also is able to create and improvise, and it's resulted in characters that have stood the test of time and given joy to countless children, AND adults. I guarantee if you get this book, you will not regret it.

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Welcome Respite, but Stay Vigilent

Revisado: 06-20-20

When seeing Lithgow on Colbert I knew this book would be a treat. I saw it as a welcome respite, like Randy Rainbow's music, and I was not disappointed. There are great sound effects and music in the background of the poems, which are mostly humorous. Those that aren't, however, do have a touch of warning that I believe must be heeded, and the poems illustrate why. I won't spout off my own political stances (the fact that I got this book in the first place should tell you all you need to know about where I stand). The poems are meant as entertainment, but also a call to remain vigilent and observant. The author even speaks directly to Trump voters in the introduction, not to condescend or condemn, but to ask frankly about their opinions regarding the President's character and conduct. I applaud that outreach. This should be a good listen for any reader regardless of political stance. If nothng else, give the introduction a listen, and see where it takes you. Happy listening.

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