A review by kylasmv15
My West Side Story: A Memoir by George Chakiris
4.0
“No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.”
My West Side Story, is both a memoir of George Chakiris (the actor who played Bernardo in the 1961 West Side Story film) and a chronicle of the history surrounding the West Side Story legacy. The book follows the entirety of George’s life - before, during and after the film that ultimately earned him an Oscar and a prosperous career. George also uses the book as an opportunity to relay the rich history surrounding the tale that eventually went on to become a true classic.
This memoir is both a film and theater buff’s dream. George had such an amazing career, both on the stage and on camera, so it’s no surprise that he had a treasure trove of stories to tell.
I listened to this on audiobook and had such a fun time with it! The book just flew by and I really enjoyed George Newbern’s narration.
What I Loved:
✨All the Anecdotes from George’s Career - George worked with so many Hollywood greats throughout his time in the entertainment world - from Judy Garland to Rita Moreno (and the list goes on) - that he accrued many fascinating stories to share.
✨All the Theater References - George’s resume is chock-full of theater and his repertoire of songs contains numerous timeless theater standards. My theater loving heart was beyond content with all the theatrical name dropping.❤️
✨Learning All Things West Side Story - I loved hearing about the show’s history and about the making of the film! George had such a vast wealth of knowledge on the topic!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that any entertainment junkie would have a ball reading it! It’s packed full of show biz trivia and history, while also containing the story of a boy who fell in love with the movies and made it his goal to one day be a part of them.
A definite must read for anyone who loves all things theater and film! Know that you will
My West Side Story, is both a memoir of George Chakiris (the actor who played Bernardo in the 1961 West Side Story film) and a chronicle of the history surrounding the West Side Story legacy. The book follows the entirety of George’s life - before, during and after the film that ultimately earned him an Oscar and a prosperous career. George also uses the book as an opportunity to relay the rich history surrounding the tale that eventually went on to become a true classic.
This memoir is both a film and theater buff’s dream. George had such an amazing career, both on the stage and on camera, so it’s no surprise that he had a treasure trove of stories to tell.
I listened to this on audiobook and had such a fun time with it! The book just flew by and I really enjoyed George Newbern’s narration.
What I Loved:
✨All the Anecdotes from George’s Career - George worked with so many Hollywood greats throughout his time in the entertainment world - from Judy Garland to Rita Moreno (and the list goes on) - that he accrued many fascinating stories to share.
✨All the Theater References - George’s resume is chock-full of theater and his repertoire of songs contains numerous timeless theater standards. My theater loving heart was beyond content with all the theatrical name dropping.❤️
✨Learning All Things West Side Story - I loved hearing about the show’s history and about the making of the film! George had such a vast wealth of knowledge on the topic!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that any entertainment junkie would have a ball reading it! It’s packed full of show biz trivia and history, while also containing the story of a boy who fell in love with the movies and made it his goal to one day be a part of them.
A definite must read for anyone who loves all things theater and film! Know that you will