Customer Reviews

CRYING AT MOVIES

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a big John Manderino fan. He's sly and funny, he writes sharp and witty dialogue, he can build a scene like nobody's business, and he always finds an eccentric, winning way to tell a story. Using movies as the central architecture of a memoir gives ordinary events surprise and sudden contect. I loved this, as I've loved all his books. -- Monica Wood

What a great idea Manderino had -- to document his life story by way of movies from various key moments along the way. Yes, maybe you and I could do it, too, but he thought of it, and has pulled it off magnificently.

"Pulled it off" -- that sounds mechanical, even pejorative. What I mean is that the author taps into the way we all tap into movies, the secret, furtive allegiances we form with some, the cool disdain we have for others. And he cleverly aligns those attitudes with his own, often umcomfortable maturation through the years. Plus, who can resist short chapters? Bravo!

Manderino does it again! A refreshing read - I didn't want it to end! I enjoyed his wit and honesty in this memoir, not your usual memoir. It triggered memories from my life and led to interesting conversations with family and friends about movies and life. Manderino needs to keep writing, he is exceptional, I appreciate his truth and humor! I think every reader will find something to connect with in this book. Bravo Manderino!

This is refreshingly funny, sharp memoir. The descriptions of the movies and the author's life are rich in little details. There's angst, but it's told with such a deft touch that it's clear the writer has gained persective over the years. It's refreshing to read portraits of family members that expose their frailities, but fondly and with a light hand. A great read for any movie fan or reader of memoirs, or for anyone who wants to laugh.