Publishers Weekly
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It's hardly surprising that Ebert, the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, begins this candid examination of an extraordinary life with an allusion to Ingmar Bergman's Persona, about an actress who loses her voice in mid-performance. Though three thyroid cancer surgeries resulting in the removal of his lower jaw have left Ebert unable to speak, eat, or drink, these are not famous last words. Forgoing a traditional linear format, each chapter-particularly "My Old Man" and "Big John Wayne"-could function as a stand-alone essay. Born in Urbana, Ill., in 1942, Ebert spent a carefree childhood, often with his nose in a book. Drawn to newspapers beginning in high school, he became the sports reporter for his school paper before rising to the rank of co-editor. The position of film critic fell into his lap at the Sun-Times-a paper he joined after leaving a graduate English program-and Ebert hasn't looked back. And while films have governed his life for close to 50 years, he wisely doesn't choose the greatest hits version of his reviewing career, focusing instead on the life he's lived in between screenings: his battle with alcoholism; tight-knit friendships forged in the newsroom (and bar); and his marriage to Chaz, whom he calls "the great fact of my life." Hollywood gets its due, but it's an ensemble player, sharing the screen with reminiscences both witty and passionate from one of our most important cultural voices. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal
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Ebert, one of the most influential film critics of our time, has written an engaging memoir that is poignant and richly reflective. He recounts his vivid childhood memories of growing up in Urbana, IL, getting into the newspaper business as a teenager, and, of course, his career at the Chicago Sun-Times, which led to At the Movies, his popular television show with the late Gene Siskel. Lovingly eloquent essays profile some of the greats of show business with whom he became acquainted-John Wayne, Martin Scorsese, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Mitchum, and others. He writes with remarkable candor about personal issues such as struggles with alcoholism (both he and his mother), his marriage, his views on religion and politics, and his bout with thyroid cancer resulting in the loss of his ability to eat, drink, and speak. Excellently narrated by Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Edward Herrmann, Ebert's story is highly recommend for fans of biography and film. ["Of most interest to those fascinated by the old-time legendary leading men of Hollywood and to movie fans influenced by Ebert's often acerbic film critiques," read the review of the New York Times best-selling Grand Central hc, LJ Xpress Reviews, 8/15/11.-Ed.]-Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly
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Narrator Edward Herrmann masterfully handles the rather poignant predicament of reading the autobiography of a public figure whose own voice has been rendered silent due to a series of cancer surgeries. It's not that Hermann makes an effort to imitate the mannerisms of veteran film critic Roger Ebert. Rather, he simply captures the no-nonsense essence of Ebert's writing, broadcasting career, and life. Hermann's rendering of Ebert's colorful Windy City colleagues and friends-particularly legendary print journalists Mike Royko and Studs Terkel-are especially engaging. Hermann conveys both the author's emotion and determination not to wallow in self-pity, while dealing with everything from family strife, alcoholism, and-of course-cancer. Hermann's polished performance and Ebert's thoughtful prose combine to provide listeners with a memorable and a thoroughly enjoyable audio. A Grand Central hardcover. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
The Pulitzer Prizewinning film critic reviews his life and career, finding much to be grateful for.Ebert (The Great Movies III, 2010, etc.) presents a disjunctive, impressionistic, episodic but often moving memoir. Throughout, he alludes to his current medical difficulties (cancer, several failed surgeries, the inability to speak or eat), though he focuses on them more sharply in the final chapters. He seems to have achieved a kind of peace, referring to himself as the Phantom of the Opera and, later, "an exhibit in the Texas Chainsaw Museum." He begins in fairly conventional fashion, revisiting moments from his childhood and adolescence, but it's not long before he abandons chronology. After his assumption of the film-critic gig at theChicago Sun-Times(1967), he adopts a new strategy, offering stand-alone chapters about influential individuals in his life. Here we find the expected (Studs Terkel, Martin Scorsese), the unexpected (Russ Meyer, Lee Marvin) and the necessary (Gene Siskel). Ebert has a separate chapter devoted to his late critic partner from TV days, noting that he felt they were brothers, but competitive ones. Siskel then appears continually the rest of the way, a sort of touchstone to measure the value of some of Ebert's experiences. The author deals candidly with his alcoholism (on the wagon since 1979, and he credits AA), his weight and his early-career arrogance. He also celebrates his wife, Chaz (he dedicates the volume to her), and in his chapter about her he praises her in about every possible way for every possible reason. He also examines his new career as a blogger.Two thumbs sideways.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal
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Perhaps best known for his thumbs-up, thumbs-down film criticism on television with the late Gene Siskel, journalist Ebert looks back at his eventful life. Unable to speak at all or eat and drink normally after being treated for thyroid cancer diagnosed in 2002, he here recalls his newspaper career, his many years on television, and his interviews with prickly celebrities like Robert Mitchum, Lee Marvin, Ingmar Bergman, and John Wayne. This basically chronological account begins with his Illinois childhood among a close-knit family. A smart and ambitious journalist, Ebert met many of the prominent figures of his day and, ultimately, became a Pulitzer Prize-winning media personality himself. He remains determined to carry on despite his formidable physical obstacles. Verdict This readable but rather dryly written memoir will likely be of most interest to those fascinated by the old-time legendary leading men of Hollywood and to movie fans influenced by Ebert's often acerbic film critiques. [See Prepub Alert, 3/21/11.]-Roy Liebman, Los Angeles P.L. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
*Starred Review* Ebert is best known, of course, as the nation's most prominent film critic; but in recent years, he's turned to exploring more personal concerns on his widely read blog, leading to this poignant memoir. Five years ago, surgeries following thyroid cancer left him unable to speak, eat, or drink, but as he recounts, he began to replace what I lost with what I remembered. This enhanced recall allows him to relate with exhaustive detail his halcyon if unremarkable childhood in a small town in the Midwest and his life-changing college days. When the narrative turns to journalism and, inevitably, movies, as Ebert falls into his reviewing gig at the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967, the focus becomes sharper, and even the tangential chapters devoted to topics ranging from his encounters with film legends to his stormy relationship with TV partner Gene Siskel are cogently engaging. But it's the most personal segments, dealing with his struggle with alcoholism, his supportive wife, Chaz, and his recent illness, that give the book its considerable emotional heft. Ebert illuminates and assesses his life with the same insight and clarity that mark his acclaimed movie reviews.--Flagg, Gordo. Copyright 2010 Booklist