Scan barcode
alyson7's review
4.0
The first movie I had ever seen with Marlon Brando was Apocalypse Now , where he played the enigmatic Kurtz. Brando was a figure larger than life, and I became fascinated by this elusive man who both reveled in his celebrity and shunned Hollywood.
Songs My Mother Taught Me reveals Marlon Brando's life from his turbulent childhood, through the beginning of his fame on stage, his transition to film, and his later success. The only thing Brando did not reveal in his autobiography is his private life: his wives and children. Reading Brando's autobiography was like sitting down with the real Marlon Brando as he took you on a journey from A to Z about his life, his fears, his beliefs and memories. I could hear his iconic voice in my mind narrating anecdotes about his life that made me pause and think (sometimes out loud) "could this be true!?" For instance, Brando was given a raccoon as a pet by his mother, which he named Russell. Of course, I had seen pictures of Brando with his pet raccoon, but I hadn't realized that the raccoon had lived with Brando for a time. I could just imagine the sort of antics a raccoon living in a New York apartment could get up to. Honestly, this biography is worth the read for these crazy moments Brando recounts.
One of the aspects of Songs My Mother Taught Me that I admired was Marlon Brando's introspective nature. His own insights about himself were fascinating. When explaining his own behaviour and motivations, he does not try to paint himself into a saint. Instead, he reveals the quality which makes him human and relatable. It was as if he were stripping back the celebrity and legend that is Marlon Brando to reveal a human being who was just trying to make his way in the world the best way he knew how. Although some of his actions were somewhat questionable, the fact that he recognizes the weaknesses in himself allowed for me to oddly connect with Brando, even though our realities were starkly different.
For those who are interested in film making and in the acting process, Brando does not take a lot of time to explain his techniques in his autobiography. He does go into a bit of detail on the making of certain films and how he had prepared for certain roles, however, the majority of his biography is dedicated to the growth of Marlon Brando the person, instead of Marlon Brando the actor. Therefore, I would recommend this book to those who are fans of Marlon Brando the person, rather than Marlon Brando the actor.
Songs My Mother Taught Me reveals Marlon Brando's life from his turbulent childhood, through the beginning of his fame on stage, his transition to film, and his later success. The only thing Brando did not reveal in his autobiography is his private life: his wives and children. Reading Brando's autobiography was like sitting down with the real Marlon Brando as he took you on a journey from A to Z about his life, his fears, his beliefs and memories. I could hear his iconic voice in my mind narrating anecdotes about his life that made me pause and think (sometimes out loud) "could this be true!?" For instance, Brando was given a raccoon as a pet by his mother, which he named Russell. Of course, I had seen pictures of Brando with his pet raccoon, but I hadn't realized that the raccoon had lived with Brando for a time. I could just imagine the sort of antics a raccoon living in a New York apartment could get up to. Honestly, this biography is worth the read for these crazy moments Brando recounts.
One of the aspects of Songs My Mother Taught Me that I admired was Marlon Brando's introspective nature. His own insights about himself were fascinating. When explaining his own behaviour and motivations, he does not try to paint himself into a saint. Instead, he reveals the quality which makes him human and relatable. It was as if he were stripping back the celebrity and legend that is Marlon Brando to reveal a human being who was just trying to make his way in the world the best way he knew how. Although some of his actions were somewhat questionable, the fact that he recognizes the weaknesses in himself allowed for me to oddly connect with Brando, even though our realities were starkly different.
For those who are interested in film making and in the acting process, Brando does not take a lot of time to explain his techniques in his autobiography. He does go into a bit of detail on the making of certain films and how he had prepared for certain roles, however, the majority of his biography is dedicated to the growth of Marlon Brando the person, instead of Marlon Brando the actor. Therefore, I would recommend this book to those who are fans of Marlon Brando the person, rather than Marlon Brando the actor.
apolasky's review
4.0
Great insight int othe life and times of one of Hollywood's most mysterious stars.
It is the first time since [b:Just Kids|341879|Just Kids|Patti Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1259762407l/341879._SY75_.jpg|332242] that I tabbed so many poetically beautiful quotes (although not as many and not as beautiful as the ones in [a:Patti Smith|196092|Patti Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1564508308p2/196092.jpg]'s.)
This book humanizes Brando in a way I was not expeting it to.
Real rating: 3.5
It is the first time since [b:Just Kids|341879|Just Kids|Patti Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1259762407l/341879._SY75_.jpg|332242] that I tabbed so many poetically beautiful quotes (although not as many and not as beautiful as the ones in [a:Patti Smith|196092|Patti Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1564508308p2/196092.jpg]'s.)
This book humanizes Brando in a way I was not expeting it to.
Real rating: 3.5
More...