Making It So

I always love an audio book being narrated by its author. Especially when it comes to memoirs. I enjoyed listening to Sir Patrick tell about his life. What I like the most about memoirs is finding the human experience in them. No matter how big a star the person is, or how important an office they held, they are also just a human. A human with the same hopes and dreams, fears and insecurities, wins and failures, struggles and successes, as you and I. Listening to all the ones experienced by Patrick Stewart was never boring for me. I didn't know a lot about the man, so all the stories he told I listened to with interest, I was happy for him, and sad, anxious too, I laughed, and shed some tears. A good book does that.

There are plenty of Star Trek fans who I am sure would have been delighted with 400+ pages of gossip and stories from Stewart's years on the show/movies. I would have eaten up that too, but thankfully Stewart gave us something different and, in my view, better. It is a true memoir of his entire life and career, and as such gives us a fascinating look into the world of a working actor. If you are a theater geek (not just a Star Trek fan) this book will be catnip. From Stewart's start in amateur theater, to drama school, to the Royal Shakespeare Company and beyond, there are wonderful stories here. Stewart gives full credit to the teachers, directors, and others who showed an interest in his development. There are plenty of stories about gaffes on stage (his and others), which he tells with humility and grace. Wonderful book for the Star Trek stuff (which is absolutely there) but everything else about a life on the stage as well.