There are many people who have interesting and note worthy lives. Some of them happy to also be the people we see on our screens, in our music, and from our books. these are the people who get to tell their amazing life stories, and the books actually sell. we read about celebrity lives because their day to day are so different from our own. fan or hater, so often we delve into these stories with as much interest as a fictional movie they bring to life, or comedy sketch that sticks in our minds for the rest of our lives.
So, i decided to read some of them even though i haven’t really be interested in celeb bios and autobiographies until recent years. here are just a few of the ones that i read (note, they do not have ratings as per fictional books because how the heck to do you “rate” someones life story).
matthew perry – friends, lovers and the big terrible thing
i don’t know exactly how you manage to be heartbreaking and hilarious in the same sentence – the same breath – but matty managed to do just that. i had no idea the extent of his life and struggles (in the same boat as many others) but finding out the finer points in a way that is both touching your heart, and making you laugh, is a skill. i have watched friends more times than i can remember, though i will admit i haven’t turned on the show for quite a few years now. that’s the reason i picked up the book. because i knew matty as Chandler, and someone who always made me laugh on the show.
struggling with addiction is such a big terrible thing (pun intended) and when you don’t understand it properly, it’s difficult to grasp some of the realities. hearing some of the behind the scenes experience of an addict was so enlightening and boosted my already inflated compassionate heart. i don’t think i will ever approach that in the same way again, whether from a family member, friend or stranger on the street. as fascinating as it was to hear about his career, what i walked away really remembering is the maze of addiction that has tried to maintain grip on him his whole life. i almost feel like a proud relative with the place he has reached even in deciding to share this story in his book. i sincerely hope he finds the joy he saw in glimpses of God, and the people around him who don’t put up with crap.
mel brooks – all about me
this was a big surprise for me – in that i didn’t expect to like it as much as i did. hearing this one read by mel brooks himself was such a treat, and the main reason i actually decided to listen to the audiobook instead of the physical copy itself. i know only of mel brooks in vague terms, like that he guest starred in shows i liked, or such a brief recollection of his name flashing across screens as writing or creation credits on other shows.
his life and career was a whirlwind that gave such a fun glimpse into an earlier time of hollywood and entertainment, surprised me with just how many projects wouldn’t exist without his genius (including get smart – which i absolutely loved growing up). rags to riches comes to mind in describing his story, and all of it with quick wit, and a sharp head on his shoulders.
john cleese
not really what i thought it would be, but actually a more hilarous and heart warming look at someones life than i predicted. i will admit, i know very little about john’s life (at least i did before reading his life story that is), but there was something so engaging about his voice (love the accent john!) and self deprecating humour that i fell in love with the story as we went along. because i didn’t know a lot about his acting or comedic history (bar a few series and bits and pieces – faulty towers the most notable), it almost made the journey a little more fun.
john had a great way of sharing things in his life that were unimportant to his celebrity life, but very important to his life as a life. this was a really nice way to approach the book, and to be honest it was also freakin hilarious!
barbra eden – jeannie out of the bottle
i grew up on shows like I Love Lucy, Gilligan’s Island and I Dream of Jeannie. Just enough whimsy to be fun and entertaining, but not too much “magic” that my strict Christian parents wouldn’t allow me to watch it (barr a few episodes here and there that were off limits). So, after meeting Barbra Eden in person in 2019 and getting a photo with her (along with two other television LEGENDS from the same time periods) I was excited to read her autobiographical book that had been released in 2011.
Firstly, i love hearing stories about experiences and stars from the 40s and beyond. hollywood and entertainment was a whole other ball game, and because i grew up watching a lot of the older stuff, it was pretty much a nostalgic dream to hear stories about these actors and people. Barbra’s career and life was not only highly entertaining, but fascinating as well. sharing the difficult moments, the funny ones, and everything in between it was an incredible look into the life of someone who really did make a huge mark on entertainment through her entire career. i very much enjoyed hearing the stories and sharing the heartbreak, now to enjoy continuing the journey of life however it looks for her.
fran drescher
cancer schmancer is a serious look at a serious issue, with a lovely person and some humor thrown into the mix as she comes through her success of The Nanny and into a season where she is unsure of herself and her career, and then going to SO MANY doctors before getting an accurate diagnosis. There was a lot of medical and symptom information (which did boarder on oversharing) but there was a point to it. Fran makes it clear that she wants to bring attention to health and realising that doctors are also human and capable of mistakes. when you can hear things in your own body that don’t line up, to go and not be afraid to get a second opinion if there is any room for doubt in the opinion you got.
i thought fran’s raw and slightly overshared story of her life after The Nanny, and her cancer journey were touching and heartbreaking. this book was written some time ago now, while she was only one year cancer free, but her frank discussion of this time (as a child of a survivor of cancer) was really honest. please be careful reading though if you, or someone you love is going through this disease, because it might be a difficult read, OR it might be an inspiring one – depending on where you’re at in your own journey.
while i have read other celeb autobiography type books too, i didn’t include them all. the first one that i actually enjoyed reading was debbie reynolds, the one i couldn’t finish was will smith, but what they all have in common is this – people have such complex and interesting lives. no matter who you are and what you do, there are things in your life that nobody else has experienced. we all over share these days on social media, and just because your life doesn’t involve other famous people, it doesn’t mean your story isn’t worth telling.
my dad was a missionary for over ten years, and his life has been an incredible story and journey. he talks about writing it all down, but maybe he won’t. either way, we should be sharing our stories – triumphs and trials alike – to inspire and entertain each other. when it comes to celeb stories, it’s only as interesting to the reader as the person has been to them in their lives. i picked people who i liked on screen, and enjoyed hearing their stories off screen too because of the connection i had to their characters or music, but everyone’s story has twists and turns, and we can always learn, grow and be inspired by them all.
See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace
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