96 of 103 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I could not put it down, September 30, 2009
This review is from: The Time of My Life (Hardcover)
If you ever wanted to get to know Patrick Swayze better, read this book. He takes us through his childhood, including stories of being beaten up in school because he was a ballet dancer. To look more macho, Patrick took up football. This had disastrous consequences and on Halloween night in 1970, Patrick's knee was destroyed in a football game. He fought his way back through tremendous pain, but this injury inevitably destroyed his hopes of becoming an Olympic gymnast and a professional ballet dancer. He refused to let these disappointments stop him, and worked on becoming an actor. At one point, Patrick and Lisa were completely broke. If it were not for an orange tree in the backyard of their apartment complex, they would not have had anything to eat. Patrick also tells of the tragedies in his life which include losing his father to a heart attack at age 57, losing his older sister to suicide in 1994, and losing their baby boy in the third month of pregnancy. Much of this book focuses on his career. He and Lisa did not originally like the Dirty Dancing script, but they made changes to it and really liked the finished product. There were also stories of how he and Jennifer Grey did not initially get along. What puzzled me was that even after Patrick achieved fame and fortune, he still struggled with depression. Although he was enormously talented, he felt inadequate. Working cheered him up, but he would get depressed when the filming was over. He worried a lot about being taken seriously as an actor, and about future roles. Drinking was his way of dealing with it, and that caused problems in his marriage. There was not too much focus on the cancer. He was so determined to beat it on some days, and was too tired on other days. One thing that rings true in this book is that Patrick and Lisa were soulmates who truly needed each other. Patrick was a great guy, and everyone will miss him. Rest in peace, Patrick.
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79 of 88 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sharing Memories of a Good Life, September 29, 2009
This review is from: The Time of My Life (Hardcover)
The autobiography of Patrick Swayze which he did not have a chance to see allows the reader to have a glimpse of his impressively successful life. Although written in the final months of his life when he was fighting losing battle with cancer the book does not concentrate on the final illness, offering instead an honest overview of his life.
Swayze and his wife (and co-author) take the reader on a journey through the actor's life, sharing memories of what was good and bad in it. You'll probably be surprised to find how many troubles Swayze had to go through to achieve his success. The story of his life certainly has an inspirational value because till the very end he remained a fighter, ready to face both the external world and his own weaknesses - the effects of a serious injury while shooting "Letters from a Killer" or a plane crash but also his alcoholism.
"The Time of My Life" offers good reading - if you remember Swayze from "Ghost" or "Dirty Dancing", this is your chance to get to know him a little better.
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46 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for Patrick Swayze fans!, September 30, 2009
This review is from: The Time of My Life (Hardcover)
"The Time of My Life" by Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Niemi is an inspirational and entertaining book about Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi's journey - hard times and good times, right up to his final heroic battle against cancer. The remarkable love the two had for each other shines through and it is very sad that he didn't get to see this book hit the shelves and know what kind of impact it will have on many who read it.
Many people know that Patrick met Lisa when he was 19 and she was 15 and attending dance lessons at his mother, Patsy Swayze's, dance studio. They married a few years later and were together right to his passing. It was a remarkable marriage, but definitely not without its trials and tribulations. Injuries, alcoholism, insecurities, anger, and wondering who he was all plagued Swayze at times, just as demons attack us all. It was refreshing to read that Swayze's life was not a bed of roses, even though at times is sure seemed like it to the public.
Obviously, people who are interest in Swayze are most likely interested because they enjoyed his movies. You might be a "Ghost" and "Dirty Dancing" fan, or maybe you prefer his macho action flicks such as "Roadhouse" and "Next of Kin." It doesn't matter, he discusses them all in this book, and you'll learn things you probably didn't know about the making of his films.
Reading the final pages is tough, because we know he didn't have many more days after writing that he was determined to have as many beautiful days together with Lisa as he possibly could. But I'm glad they left it like that, and didn't add something about his passing. We know he's gone, but I appreciated that right to the end he fought and lived, and most importantly loved, loved the person who he shared his life with and who stood by him in good times and bad. Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi have my utmost respect, and I consider them role models on how to endure and stay together, and how to continue to love even when others might have thrown in the towel.
For Patrick Swayze fans, this book is a must. It has some great pictures, entertaining stories, and shares honestly the life of one of Hollywood's favorite stars and portrays the love he held for Niemi, who he said about, "You are my woman, my lover, my mate and my lady. I've loved you forever, I love you now and I will love you forevermore." I wish forevermore would have been longer, but I'm grateful that they were able to complete this book as the final act of his career. Thank you Patrick and Lisa.
Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.
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