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
miguelf's review against another edition
4.0
At age 15 in the 80’s, getting my hands on ‘Getting Even’ seemed revelatory at the time, and I recall moving on to ‘Without Feathers’, and then finally ‘Side Effects’ and by that one all I could remember was thinking “what happened to his early, funnier work?”. Apropos is clearly a different type of book - less an attempt at short stories and funny essays and more of an 85 year old man reminiscing – and what a life it was. Though utterly self-deprecating, it’s hard not to read the experiences of the author and come away nonplussed. And then of course there’s the big elephant in the room.
The book could have clearly used a heavier hand in the editing. There’s a lot of repetition similar to how Woody is allowed to rip just like his films (although his films are a lot shorter). At the outset and many times throughout the writing is just so… dated. It’s like reading a pulp detective novel from the 40’s or 50’s in the first few chapters and he reverts to this patois often throughout (although dropping it in most of the last half). We get it: you were born in Brooklyn dude, but it is a new century. No one uses the terms "dames" and "gams" on a day to day basis any longer.
What makes this worthwhile are the stories and the background on his life, especially starting out and of course about the films. One can take much pleasure in reading about this and the admiration he has for his fellow travelers really jumps off the page and is a hoot.
Less enjoyable is the elephant in the book. Look – perhaps one day there will be a definitive reckoning of what exactly transpired in that CT house in the early 90’s – until then there is a large amount of evidence that a young child was misled. What is certain is that a couple of lives in that household have since been deeply affected and no one involved emerged unscathed. True to a lot of tragic literature that he’s portrayed on screen, Woody’s life has taken a sad turn as well and it’s a shame that he’s been lumped in with other miscreants such as Harvey Weinstein or Epstein. On the other hand, it is kind of fitting that his life took this path as it kind of fits in with a lot of his oeuvre.
The book could have clearly used a heavier hand in the editing. There’s a lot of repetition similar to how Woody is allowed to rip just like his films (although his films are a lot shorter). At the outset and many times throughout the writing is just so… dated. It’s like reading a pulp detective novel from the 40’s or 50’s in the first few chapters and he reverts to this patois often throughout (although dropping it in most of the last half). We get it: you were born in Brooklyn dude, but it is a new century. No one uses the terms "dames" and "gams" on a day to day basis any longer.
What makes this worthwhile are the stories and the background on his life, especially starting out and of course about the films. One can take much pleasure in reading about this and the admiration he has for his fellow travelers really jumps off the page and is a hoot.
Less enjoyable is the elephant in the book. Look – perhaps one day there will be a definitive reckoning of what exactly transpired in that CT house in the early 90’s – until then there is a large amount of evidence that a young child was misled. What is certain is that a couple of lives in that household have since been deeply affected and no one involved emerged unscathed. True to a lot of tragic literature that he’s portrayed on screen, Woody’s life has taken a sad turn as well and it’s a shame that he’s been lumped in with other miscreants such as Harvey Weinstein or Epstein. On the other hand, it is kind of fitting that his life took this path as it kind of fits in with a lot of his oeuvre.