leggocomemangio's review against another edition
3.0
Cosa vi serve: fumo che esce dai tombini, un’orchestrina jazz, un paio di occhiali iconici
Questo libro è una cheesecake. Sia chiaro e premesso che io amo le cheesecake ma non pretendo che tutto il mondo lo faccia e capisco le ragioni di chi si stufa a mangiarla. C’è il formaggio a ogni morso e c’è poco da fare o la ami o la odi, difficilmente ti è indifferente. Qui il formaggio è Woody Allen, è in ogni pagina e non solo perché lo ha scritto lui, ma proprio perché lui è sempre al centro di tutto ciò che fa (un po’ lo invidio per questo, non lo nego, ma questa è un’altra storia). Quindi queste pagine inizieranno con le immagini su carta dal passato come su stessimo leggendo un “Radio days” di carta. Il resto continua accompagnandoci in questa New York brulicante di vita e di opportunità, un sogno ad occhi aperti per tutti dove da ogni fallimento nasce una splendida opportunità. Mastichiamo tutto ridacchiando e empatizzando con l’autore, gli aneddoti sui suoi film e sulla sua vita privata si intrecciano. Si parla anche (e secondo me troppo a lungo) dell’affaire con Mia Farrow, ma sinceramente in quella parte c’era decisamente troppo formaggio, mancava il topping glitterato e gustoso della brulicante vita newyorkese. Ma Woody è così, o lo ami o ti stufa, a volte anche nel corso dello stesso libro. Ah ovviamente leggetelo con una colonna sonora jazz.
Questo libro è una cheesecake. Sia chiaro e premesso che io amo le cheesecake ma non pretendo che tutto il mondo lo faccia e capisco le ragioni di chi si stufa a mangiarla. C’è il formaggio a ogni morso e c’è poco da fare o la ami o la odi, difficilmente ti è indifferente. Qui il formaggio è Woody Allen, è in ogni pagina e non solo perché lo ha scritto lui, ma proprio perché lui è sempre al centro di tutto ciò che fa (un po’ lo invidio per questo, non lo nego, ma questa è un’altra storia). Quindi queste pagine inizieranno con le immagini su carta dal passato come su stessimo leggendo un “Radio days” di carta. Il resto continua accompagnandoci in questa New York brulicante di vita e di opportunità, un sogno ad occhi aperti per tutti dove da ogni fallimento nasce una splendida opportunità. Mastichiamo tutto ridacchiando e empatizzando con l’autore, gli aneddoti sui suoi film e sulla sua vita privata si intrecciano. Si parla anche (e secondo me troppo a lungo) dell’affaire con Mia Farrow, ma sinceramente in quella parte c’era decisamente troppo formaggio, mancava il topping glitterato e gustoso della brulicante vita newyorkese. Ma Woody è così, o lo ami o ti stufa, a volte anche nel corso dello stesso libro. Ah ovviamente leggetelo con una colonna sonora jazz.
thomasgoddard's review against another edition
5.0
Apropos of Nothing by Woody Allen
I didn't know much about Woody Allen, but I did 'know' two things.
1) He was a director
2) He was a bit of a creepy dude
And I should know better. I should realise by now, engaging my brain for a nano-second, that life isn't that cut and dry. That what you read about someone in a passing headline, or on a Facebook post comment thread, or hear from someone else who is equally ill-informed.... Well, take it with a bucket of salt.
This book is the best argument for keeping an open mind that I have ever read. I no longer hold the same view (albeit ephemeral) as I did when I opened this book.
The book itself is warm and funny. It presents a man who, despite all he has been through, doesn't have much of a bad word to say against anyone. Not even the woman behind the story (Mia not Dylan). I'd be really angry. But he seems really honest about it. He's sometimes sad, but for the most part he just remains thankful for his wife and kids. He's a simple man, plagued by self-doubt and insecurities. Just like the rest of us. And he's endlessly thankful to people for the advice they have given early in his career. The performances actors have given (even Mia). And the support.
I preferred all the stuff in his life before the Mia fiasco. And then after it was tackled. The whole accusation itself was just a little ridiculous when it became apparent it was more likely to be false than real. And I checked what he was saying as well. Which I feel bad about now. Like I didn't fact check the press.... But I did while I read his word. I didn't like myself for that. (again, I don't have a horse in the race, so I don't come down on one side or the other).
I feel like it would have been an even better book if we'd had more of a biography, rather than a book that had to use valuable space to address such a personal issue. It was an issue for the authorities. They dealt with it. He was cleared. Now it is a family issue. And really the public should leave it there. Otherwise its just mob nonsense.
I didn't know much about Woody Allen, but I did 'know' two things.
1) He was a director
2) He was a bit of a creepy dude
And I should know better. I should realise by now, engaging my brain for a nano-second, that life isn't that cut and dry. That what you read about someone in a passing headline, or on a Facebook post comment thread, or hear from someone else who is equally ill-informed.... Well, take it with a bucket of salt.
This book is the best argument for keeping an open mind that I have ever read. I no longer hold the same view (albeit ephemeral) as I did when I opened this book.
The book itself is warm and funny. It presents a man who, despite all he has been through, doesn't have much of a bad word to say against anyone. Not even the woman behind the story (Mia not Dylan). I'd be really angry. But he seems really honest about it. He's sometimes sad, but for the most part he just remains thankful for his wife and kids. He's a simple man, plagued by self-doubt and insecurities. Just like the rest of us. And he's endlessly thankful to people for the advice they have given early in his career. The performances actors have given (even Mia). And the support.
I preferred all the stuff in his life before the Mia fiasco. And then after it was tackled. The whole accusation itself was just a little ridiculous when it became apparent it was more likely to be false than real. And I checked what he was saying as well. Which I feel bad about now. Like I didn't fact check the press.... But I did while I read his word. I didn't like myself for that. (again, I don't have a horse in the race, so I don't come down on one side or the other).
I feel like it would have been an even better book if we'd had more of a biography, rather than a book that had to use valuable space to address such a personal issue. It was an issue for the authorities. They dealt with it. He was cleared. Now it is a family issue. And really the public should leave it there. Otherwise its just mob nonsense.
mshayne's review against another edition
2.0
Writing mediocre, but makes a strong case for his innocence.
princesszinza's review against another edition
2.0
I felt almost obligated to read this book after reading tomes by Mia Farrow and Diane Keaton. Since Woody is a pivotal figure in all of these books I figured I'd read his point of view.
As you would expect this book is witty and is full of antidotes about early television and even earlier Hollywood (Woody was a huge movie aficionado growing up). Woody's descriptions of women, from his mother, to his girlfriends, to his wives reek of old school misogyny.
I don't know the answer to the big question about Woody. Like I mentioned, I've read Mia's account. She does not come off well. Neither does Woody. I do know that every mishap in Woody's life is blamed on someone else.
Woody is a clever man and a good writer but it's hard to enjoy this account of his life. He does not come off well in the age of me-too.
As you would expect this book is witty and is full of antidotes about early television and even earlier Hollywood (Woody was a huge movie aficionado growing up). Woody's descriptions of women, from his mother, to his girlfriends, to his wives reek of old school misogyny.
I don't know the answer to the big question about Woody. Like I mentioned, I've read Mia's account. She does not come off well. Neither does Woody. I do know that every mishap in Woody's life is blamed on someone else.
Woody is a clever man and a good writer but it's hard to enjoy this account of his life. He does not come off well in the age of me-too.
finnianwills's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.5
A greatly fun, name-dropping read - right up until two thirds of the way through when it becomes Allen’s defence on the you-know-what case. If you’re interested in that, great. If you’re not (like me), it gets boring and uncomfortable pretty quick.
mariadomarbelchior's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Funny, lighthearted and full of anecdotes. It gives you a glimpse into his life from beginning to now. I found it really interesting and funny. It’s a shame what happened to him with the Mia Farrow case…
whogivesabook's review against another edition
5.0
Apropos of Nothing by Woody Allen
I didn't know much about Woody Allen, but I did 'know' two things.
1) He was a director
2) He was a bit of a creepy dude
And I should know better. I should realise by now, engaging my brain for a nano-second, that life isn't that cut and dry. That what you read about someone in a passing headline, or on a Facebook post comment thread, or hear from someone else who is equally ill-informed.... Well, take it with a bucket of salt.
This book is the best argument for keeping an open mind that I have ever read. I no longer hold the same view (albeit ephemeral) as I did when I opened this book.
The book itself is warm and funny. It presents a man who, despite all he has been through, doesn't have much of a bad word to say against anyone. Not even the woman behind the story (Mia not Dylan). I'd be really angry. But he seems really honest about it. He's sometimes sad, but for the most part he just remains thankful for his wife and kids. He's a simple man, plagued by self-doubt and insecurities. Just like the rest of us. And he's endlessly thankful to people for the advice they have given early in his career. The performances actors have given (even Mia). And the support.
I preferred all the stuff in his life before the Mia fiasco. And then after it was tackled. The whole accusation itself was just a little ridiculous when it became apparent it was more likely to be false than real. And I checked what he was saying as well. Which I feel bad about now. Like I didn't fact check the press.... But I did while I read his word. I didn't like myself for that. (again, I don't have a horse in the race, so I don't come down on one side or the other).
I feel like it would have been an even better book if we'd had more of a biography, rather than a book that had to use valuable space to address such a personal issue. It was an issue for the authorities. They dealt with it. He was cleared. Now it is a family issue. And really the public should leave it there. Otherwise its just mob nonsense.
I didn't know much about Woody Allen, but I did 'know' two things.
1) He was a director
2) He was a bit of a creepy dude
And I should know better. I should realise by now, engaging my brain for a nano-second, that life isn't that cut and dry. That what you read about someone in a passing headline, or on a Facebook post comment thread, or hear from someone else who is equally ill-informed.... Well, take it with a bucket of salt.
This book is the best argument for keeping an open mind that I have ever read. I no longer hold the same view (albeit ephemeral) as I did when I opened this book.
The book itself is warm and funny. It presents a man who, despite all he has been through, doesn't have much of a bad word to say against anyone. Not even the woman behind the story (Mia not Dylan). I'd be really angry. But he seems really honest about it. He's sometimes sad, but for the most part he just remains thankful for his wife and kids. He's a simple man, plagued by self-doubt and insecurities. Just like the rest of us. And he's endlessly thankful to people for the advice they have given early in his career. The performances actors have given (even Mia). And the support.
I preferred all the stuff in his life before the Mia fiasco. And then after it was tackled. The whole accusation itself was just a little ridiculous when it became apparent it was more likely to be false than real. And I checked what he was saying as well. Which I feel bad about now. Like I didn't fact check the press.... But I did while I read his word. I didn't like myself for that. (again, I don't have a horse in the race, so I don't come down on one side or the other).
I feel like it would have been an even better book if we'd had more of a biography, rather than a book that had to use valuable space to address such a personal issue. It was an issue for the authorities. They dealt with it. He was cleared. Now it is a family issue. And really the public should leave it there. Otherwise its just mob nonsense.
jshatan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
studwickl's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5