bookw0rmj1nx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
delicatewatkins's review against another edition
4.0
Nice quick read. Really enjoyed the audiobook. High production value, impressions were fun, funny stories that made me look crazy laughing while listening with headphones while grocery shopping, liked the Q&A at the end. Glad to see that Leguizamo was able to make changes in his life. Enjoyed the candor about mental health and depression.
redroofcolleen's review against another edition
3.0
The nature of the graphic novel lacked emotional depth for me, and while I enjoyed learning about his life, the details felt so cursory.
broprahwinfree222's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
saavybookworm's review
5.0
This book is practically an exact transcript of his one-man show of the same title. He does a brilliant performance through visual media, music, and many diverse interpretations of all the people in his life. I enjoyed having the advantage of both: while watching the show through HBO, I looked through the book to see Spanish translations, how something that was limited from the stage was visually represented in the graphic novel, etc. Both have their advantages and both have their drawbacks but together it made for a great reading experience!
shealwaysreads's review
3.0
Yay me!!! I won this from a @goodreads giveaway way back before the world went lockdown. The publisher postponed sending it out until recently. But when they sent it out they were kind enough to bump it to a hard copy. So I’m super thankful for that.
This was an interesting graphic novel. It was an autobiography based on his journey into the acting world. Which isn’t something I was familiar with. Because let’s face it how often do you think “I wonder how their life path took them the big screen?” I know I don’t think about it.
This was also my first book read in for August. I easily read it in one sitting. I really enjoyed the lay out and the monochromatic scheme. But I did struggle with the story. Which I believe was any fault of the author but if mine.
Why?
Because while the majority is written in English, their are bits in Spanish and having to read and then follow to the Asterix then back to where I was reading kinda really sucked.
So for me I should learn Spanish, for those who know it or don’t mind doin the back and forth thing I’d think you enjoy it.
Leguizamo is an interesting person who seems to deal with issues with humor. Know anyone like that? (Hint: I’m exactly like that.) But even underneath the humor you could still feel the hurt.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an interesting graphic novel. It was an autobiography based on his journey into the acting world. Which isn’t something I was familiar with. Because let’s face it how often do you think “I wonder how their life path took them the big screen?” I know I don’t think about it.
This was also my first book read in for August. I easily read it in one sitting. I really enjoyed the lay out and the monochromatic scheme. But I did struggle with the story. Which I believe was any fault of the author but if mine.
Why?
Because while the majority is written in English, their are bits in Spanish and having to read and then follow to the Asterix then back to where I was reading kinda really sucked.
So for me I should learn Spanish, for those who know it or don’t mind doin the back and forth thing I’d think you enjoy it.
Leguizamo is an interesting person who seems to deal with issues with humor. Know anyone like that? (Hint: I’m exactly like that.) But even underneath the humor you could still feel the hurt.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
greeniezona's review
4.0
I have maintained an intense fondness for Leguizamo ever since A Pyromaniac's Love Story -- a film that everyone else in the world seems to have forgotten, even as it is one of the top three movies I scour any sale of used dvds for. Still, I knew almost nothing about him personally until watching Latin History for Morons. This graphic novel had been calling to me from the library shelves for a while.
Of course, this isn't exactly a memoir, it's a graphic novelization of his Broadway show, Ghetto Klown. And it has all the strengths and weaknesses of such -- bumping and rocketing through some amazing anecdotes, even as I'd lie to occasionally pump the brakes and get some more context. Fair warning -- you'll probably want to at least gently strangle just about everyone in his life except his grandpa and Teeny. (And Wesley Snipes, I guess?) His humor really comes across throughout -- and the art (while sometimes a bit uneven) adds a gritty reality to everything.
Some interesting insights into a complicated person. Recommended to all Leguizamo fans.
Of course, this isn't exactly a memoir, it's a graphic novelization of his Broadway show, Ghetto Klown. And it has all the strengths and weaknesses of such -- bumping and rocketing through some amazing anecdotes, even as I'd lie to occasionally pump the brakes and get some more context. Fair warning -- you'll probably want to at least gently strangle just about everyone in his life except his grandpa and Teeny. (And Wesley Snipes, I guess?) His humor really comes across throughout -- and the art (while sometimes a bit uneven) adds a gritty reality to everything.
Some interesting insights into a complicated person. Recommended to all Leguizamo fans.