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kurtwombat's review against another edition
4.0
There is not a dramatic draw to this memoir. These are not the years when Sir Alex Guinness was breaking in as a young actor. These are not the years when he made his name in England’s Ealing Studio comedies--nor the years of his greatest triumphs working with David Lean. This is the memoir of the quiet years of a gentleman in repose. Day to day diary entries reveal how one comes to terms with one’s waning years with a gentle and amusing grace. There is a game of tag with memories but the present always wins. This memoir covers the window where the actor has come to terms with acting being too demanding upon his age. There is a kind of freedom in that. Something comfortable about cats and weather and koi fish being the arbiters of your day—friends and memories of friends something you pull on like old sweaters. An unassuming diary of dignity and connection and breathing in what remains of the day.
zenithharpink's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a surprise-I received this book from my grandfather, who tended to hand me books that I often had no desire to read-Bill O'Reilly was occasionally presented to me if I can paint a picture. This book was handed to me and quickly forgotten, but as I recently saw this book sitting on my shelf, I decided to read it. Additionally, I felt compelled to read as my grandfather has recently passed.
Initially, I had no idea who Alec Guinness was-I recognized that we has an actor, given the title, but I read this book on a business trip and didn't have the dust jacket with me, so I didn't read the small bio available.
As I read, I found myself reminiscing of my grandfather, and being charmed by the musings of the author. This book is simply a series of diary entries covering about 18 months of the actor's life with his wife in semi-retirement. Mr Guinness is a gentleman, and I found the banality of his life comfortable and amusing.
This book is an exceedingly easy read-about 2 hours to finish for me. I would recommend to any who are looking for an amusing (& brief) account of a man aging away from relevance-although that sounds less charitable than I intend. I don't believe this will be a gratifying read for die-hard fans of either Alec Guinness or Star Wars, as little time is spent on his carreer, instead there are more anecdotes of his day, current events, and his social calendar.
Initially, I had no idea who Alec Guinness was-I recognized that we has an actor, given the title, but I read this book on a business trip and didn't have the dust jacket with me, so I didn't read the small bio available.
As I read, I found myself reminiscing of my grandfather, and being charmed by the musings of the author. This book is simply a series of diary entries covering about 18 months of the actor's life with his wife in semi-retirement. Mr Guinness is a gentleman, and I found the banality of his life comfortable and amusing.
This book is an exceedingly easy read-about 2 hours to finish for me. I would recommend to any who are looking for an amusing (& brief) account of a man aging away from relevance-although that sounds less charitable than I intend. I don't believe this will be a gratifying read for die-hard fans of either Alec Guinness or Star Wars, as little time is spent on his carreer, instead there are more anecdotes of his day, current events, and his social calendar.
margaret_j_c's review against another edition
5.0
Alec Guinness is one of my very favorite actors. I grew up watching his films, mostly Lawrence and Bridge on the River Kwai, but didn't realize until I was older that the same actor played so many different roles. Guinness was a shapeshifter; he assumed the identity of the characters he played. He wasn't a method actor, just the possessor of a tremendous gift.
Generally I like to remain in the dark about public figures I like or admire - people are invariably incapable of living on the pedestal I put them on. I approached this book with some lurking sense of fear and trembling. After all, this man's films were a formative part of my childhood!
I was relieved to find the exact opposite of my fears: My Name Escapes Me is utterly charming. Guinness brings a calm presence and dry wit - trademarks of his characters - to the pages. It is self-effacing without being falsely humble, critical without being crotchety, and just generally delightful. I laughed aloud at several bits, some because they were funny and some because his turns of phrase are simply wonderful. I also discovered that Guinness, in his eighties, picked up a habit which I myself practice - reciting verses from Psalm 143 every morning upon waking.
All in all, I am thrilled to have come across this book. Finishing it felt like ending a conversation with a very dear old person.
Generally I like to remain in the dark about public figures I like or admire - people are invariably incapable of living on the pedestal I put them on. I approached this book with some lurking sense of fear and trembling. After all, this man's films were a formative part of my childhood!
I was relieved to find the exact opposite of my fears: My Name Escapes Me is utterly charming. Guinness brings a calm presence and dry wit - trademarks of his characters - to the pages. It is self-effacing without being falsely humble, critical without being crotchety, and just generally delightful. I laughed aloud at several bits, some because they were funny and some because his turns of phrase are simply wonderful. I also discovered that Guinness, in his eighties, picked up a habit which I myself practice - reciting verses from Psalm 143 every morning upon waking.
All in all, I am thrilled to have come across this book. Finishing it felt like ending a conversation with a very dear old person.
bookbrig's review against another edition
3.5
A slow read simply because it was so easy to pick up and put down without losing the thread of the story. A charming diary style memoir, with lovely mentions of theatre and film.
fallchicken's review against another edition
3.0
[b:Blessings in Disguise|854076|Blessings in Disguise|Alec Guinness|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178922248s/854076.jpg|591936] is a real autobiography, and so more interesting for that. This book is extracts from a diary. Lots of name-dropping. Still, Guinness is intelligent, observant, sensitive, so his comments are fun reading.
alijc's review against another edition
2.0
Basically an 18-month diary with interruptions of reminiscences. Much more interesting than my own diary. But then: Interesting stories happen to those who can tell them. Vast quantities of name-dropping, mostly the list of old friends who died during the course of the diary. Self-deprecating laments of the travails of old age, and the real pain of lost friends. Vast quantities of Shakespeare, old films, art and music.
n8duke's review against another edition
4.0
Journal entries from one of my favorite actors. Adorable, sad, funny, interesting. I could have read *years* more.