setauuta's review against another edition
5.0
This was tremendously satisfying to read. The combination of the history of the show, the history the show portrays, and the annotations on the libretto came together beautifully.
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
[Rating is a compromise between the 5 stars I would give the print version and the 2.5 stars due the audiobook.]
This book is a celebration of process, collaboration, passion, and craft. It is, quite frankly, a work of art in and of itself. It is intentionally designed to be a physical object of beauty: substantial weight and shape, beautifully bound, deckled edges, liberal full-page stills from the show, marginalia, annotated photos of Miranda's own notebooks, moments captured from behind the scenes, and even the careful construction to lie flat like a family album. Gorgeous. Inviting. The kind of treasure that one opens and pages through with reverence, always with the promise of something new capturing the eye or piquing a closer read.
It is a love letter to the show, of course, but the care invested in making it worthwhile on so many levels also serves as love letter to the fans -- both those who have experienced the wonder in person and those who are eager to find any virtual wardrobe to allow them to step into a fully realizedNarnia Hamiltonia.
The generous sharing of spotlight and credit is amazing, and it also serves to educate those who have no idea what it takes to bring a show to Broadway. The interspersion of text chapters with sections of song lyrics is balanced with precision. The margin commentary of each song is a master class in writing, language appreciation, research, and wit, and one cannot help but be even more impressed by what Miranda has accomplished.
audiobook note: It was well-intentioned to attempt an audio adaptation; it simply wasn't successful. Actress Mariska Hargitay has a strong and distinctive voice, but she wasn't quite able to embrace the confident ease nor the giddy lightness of Miranda's tone. She is capable as a reader, but this isn't a book that should feel read. It should feel celebrated and performed. Where it really went wrong, however, was that all the lyric sections were bundled onto the last disc rather than interspersed with the narrative as in print. Even more of a loss was that the lyrics weren't actually reproduced for audio. Instead, Miranda reads through all his annotations without the context of to which phrase the comment refers. A PDF disc is included, so the listener is expected to open the document and follow along as all the notes are read in a string. This is NOT how audiobooks are consumed. It isn't simply that we are missing content; it weakens the structure and distracts from the experience, and that isn't a desirable impression for your audience to take away after the curtain call.
This book is a celebration of process, collaboration, passion, and craft. It is, quite frankly, a work of art in and of itself. It is intentionally designed to be a physical object of beauty: substantial weight and shape, beautifully bound, deckled edges, liberal full-page stills from the show, marginalia, annotated photos of Miranda's own notebooks, moments captured from behind the scenes, and even the careful construction to lie flat like a family album. Gorgeous. Inviting. The kind of treasure that one opens and pages through with reverence, always with the promise of something new capturing the eye or piquing a closer read.
It is a love letter to the show, of course, but the care invested in making it worthwhile on so many levels also serves as love letter to the fans -- both those who have experienced the wonder in person and those who are eager to find any virtual wardrobe to allow them to step into a fully realized
The generous sharing of spotlight and credit is amazing, and it also serves to educate those who have no idea what it takes to bring a show to Broadway. The interspersion of text chapters with sections of song lyrics is balanced with precision. The margin commentary of each song is a master class in writing, language appreciation, research, and wit, and one cannot help but be even more impressed by what Miranda has accomplished.
audiobook note: It was well-intentioned to attempt an audio adaptation; it simply wasn't successful. Actress Mariska Hargitay has a strong and distinctive voice, but she wasn't quite able to embrace the confident ease nor the giddy lightness of Miranda's tone. She is capable as a reader, but this isn't a book that should feel read. It should feel celebrated and performed. Where it really went wrong, however, was that all the lyric sections were bundled onto the last disc rather than interspersed with the narrative as in print. Even more of a loss was that the lyrics weren't actually reproduced for audio. Instead, Miranda reads through all his annotations without the context of to which phrase the comment refers. A PDF disc is included, so the listener is expected to open the document and follow along as all the notes are read in a string. This is NOT how audiobooks are consumed. It isn't simply that we are missing content; it weakens the structure and distracts from the experience, and that isn't a desirable impression for your audience to take away after the curtain call.
karimorton33's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cool and interesting book, sharing the story of the making of Hamilton! I haven't had the ability to see it yet, but this book just made me want to see it more, knowing how much work went into it and how revolutionary and creative it really is. The only thing that could have made me enjoy this book better is if Lin Manuel Miranda read it himself.
milkshakevoid's review against another edition
5.0
How can a book about a perfect show be any less than perfect?!
About the only thing that could have made it better would have been Broadway ticket included in the back.
About the only thing that could have made it better would have been Broadway ticket included in the back.
pghreader's review against another edition
5.0
I love Hamilton and this book provides a look into how the musical came to be. It's a quick listen and kept my attention.
orionoconnell's review against another edition
4.0
As a fan of the musical, this gave me a lot more insight into the mind of Lin-Manuel, a backstage pass, if you will. This is a must-read for any true fan of 'Hamilton: An American Musical'. Within, we are introduced to the original casts and their background, as well as Lin's thought process as he painstakingly created his masterpiece. We learn what inspired him, and why. He gives us an insight to songs, musicals, literary works, and artists that helped him tell the story of the Hamiltons (because yes, I still believe in the end it was just as much Eliza's story).
Also, bonus points if you play the trivia in the app daily- most of your answers are in here. Also, for those trying to learn the lyrics- they're all here, as well as some footnotes to Lin's writing choices (which I truly enjoyed).
The only complaints I have was that the writing was so small, and sometimes I struggled with a few of the facts I already knew, wanting to read the next set of lyrics and the footnotes for curiosity's sake. It's really a beautiful piece of literature, to a beautiful story that a wonderful man wrote and this amazing cast helped bring to life.
Also, bonus points if you play the trivia in the app daily- most of your answers are in here. Also, for those trying to learn the lyrics- they're all here, as well as some footnotes to Lin's writing choices (which I truly enjoyed).
The only complaints I have was that the writing was so small, and sometimes I struggled with a few of the facts I already knew, wanting to read the next set of lyrics and the footnotes for curiosity's sake. It's really a beautiful piece of literature, to a beautiful story that a wonderful man wrote and this amazing cast helped bring to life.
readingwithlibby's review against another edition
5.0
Hamilton: the revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
I knew the moment picked this book up that it would be a favourite of mine. I discovered hamilton the musical over a year ago and fell in love, so it was a given that a book about the show would be right up my street.
This book is the makings of hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda graces us with an insight into his mind, the mind that created such brilliance. I do tend to get quite bored with non fiction, however I couldn’t put this book down!! It was a pleasure to read how the masterpiece came to be, the developmental process and the workings behind it. I also love the notes written in the margins of the songs. Not only is the book a great insight into the musical, it’s pages are filled with beautiful photographs and scanned images from the 1700’s itself.
If you are a hamilton fan, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, and if you aren’t a hamilton fan, well, I suggest you also read this book, and then listen to the musical and buy tickets to the show... you won’t regret it😂
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I knew the moment picked this book up that it would be a favourite of mine. I discovered hamilton the musical over a year ago and fell in love, so it was a given that a book about the show would be right up my street.
This book is the makings of hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda graces us with an insight into his mind, the mind that created such brilliance. I do tend to get quite bored with non fiction, however I couldn’t put this book down!! It was a pleasure to read how the masterpiece came to be, the developmental process and the workings behind it. I also love the notes written in the margins of the songs. Not only is the book a great insight into the musical, it’s pages are filled with beautiful photographs and scanned images from the 1700’s itself.
If you are a hamilton fan, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, and if you aren’t a hamilton fan, well, I suggest you also read this book, and then listen to the musical and buy tickets to the show... you won’t regret it😂
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
rebeccatc's review against another edition
4.0
2019 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge: Book Written by a Musician
stepanana's review against another edition
5.0
This book was fantastic and made me so excited to see the musical... Both for entertainment and what it has the power to do. It has the power to both empower young people's minds with new ideas and concepts as well as one 's the door wide to one more genre in musical theater. Fantastic.