Life N Libraries

I read the physical e-book completely through before but I am listening to the audio book now when I am on the way to work or from work.

Currently on Page 19

  This book was very well written. I was very pleased with it because I have read other books about Jimmy but they always felt very one sided. For instance, one book I read leaned very heavily on his gay relationships almost pushing the point that Dean was more gay then bisexual. However, Mr. Hyams does a good job of explaining Jimmy's relationships and he says that "Yes Jimmy did have relationships with men but their were relationships with women too. A couple and one in particular that might could have won him over for marriage if the women had been willing." Another thing I really liked about Mr. Hyams book is that he is very unbiased and being a Journalist he is able to take all the interviews, recordings and testimonials of Jimmy's friends, family and co-workers and make a very clear and understandable portrait of who James Dean was.

  He was a different type of person than I thought he was but it doesn't make me like him any less than before I read this book. I felt like it was more that I understood where Jimmy was coming from with all the experiences he had been through and all the people he met. I was just more saddened because it seems like he was a man who wanted people to know him but didn't want to let anyone get close to him because they might either reject him or hurt him (He feared.) I do feel, after reading Mr. Hyams book, that James Dean really was a little boy lost in a world that didn't know how to approach such a young man as him or how to respond to him. Every time someone tried to get close he would pull away or if he did let the close he would eventually do something to hurt them just to give them a warning of "Don't get to close to me, you might not like what you see."

  The other thing that bothered me, however, was the way Hollywood used the darker parts of Jimmy and used them to their advantage and the just left him be. It seems like every time this extortion went on it would just leave Jimmy in a bad place.

I still love James Dean even in spite of all the madness, the hurt and pain surrounding him. I wish he could have found the salve for his wounds and broken heartedness. I am sad that he died the way he did and that his life was as chaotic as it was. I wish he could have had a better life. One that was fulfilling, happy and peaceful. Mr. Hyams is gone but I am so grateful that he wrote this biography about Jimmy Dean, his friend and an actor. This would definitely be my recommendation to anyone who is a Dean fan who wants a non-biased whole life biography of James Dean. Please chose James Dean: Little Boy Lost - An Intimate Biography!

This was my first book to listen on audible.com and I was really happy with this selection. Although the audio book is abridged and only about an hour and a half long it is a quality hour and a half listening to Dixie reading from her book. The neat thing is when Dixie reads from her book it doesn't sound like some of those drab book readers you hear that sounds like your reading from a text book. No, her reading sounds more like she is talking to a friend which is you the listener. She is telling you things from her life and things she has learned throughout her life mixed with a bit of southern charm and humor/wit.

 I really appreciate everything she has to say and I am rereading it again for the second time right now. I have the book but don't know where it is. I hope to read the complete entire book sometime. Definitely an entertaining listen and I would recommend it to anyone but most especially to those who were Julia Sugarbaker or Dixie Carter fans. This book will give you insight into this incredible actress and woman!

  I put the "feeling love" emoji because I LOVE this book and I LOVE this actress. Julie Walters is one of my favorite actresses of all time and she is so freaking hilarious. However, she is also a very versatile actress she can do comedy, drama and just about anything she sets her mind too. It was interesting to hear her story about when she was growing up in Birmingham England and how life was different back then compared to now. She gives us an intimate portrait into how she creates the characters she has played like Mrs. overall and how she gets her inspiration from her own grandmother. She also talks about some of the people she has worked with over the years like Celia Imrie, Victoria Wood, Michael Caine and so many other fantastic people. Also, a lot of the book has a special wit or humor that only could be described as Julie Walters. I found it interesting to see how so many of the events and people within her life have shaped who she is. 

  I became a fan of Julie's when she first started playing Mrs. Weasley from the Harry Potter series. He portrayal of Mrs. Weasley made me love the character even more. From the characters motherly love and warmth to her feisty wand wielding temperament she is an all around well rounded character to be a background character. Anyway, I digressed, I loved the character and wanted to see what others works that Ms. Walters had done and I started finding her old comedy skits on Youtube and LOVED them. Normally (with me being from the states) I don't normally get British humor as well. For instance when I have watched monty python I get the humor only about half of the time. However, with Julies' Comedy skits they were awesome and I laughed so much over them and still do. She definitely wowed me her humor and acting abilities but she also seems to be a genuine down to earth wonderful soul and I hope to have the privileged of meeting her someday. This book was a true pleasure to read and reread. I have read this book probably 4 times (Audio).

  Anyway, I encourage you if your a Julie Walters fan or if your new to her it is definitely a book worth reading or listening too for sure!

P.S. she has also written another book (Fiction) entitled Maggie's Tree if your interested. I haven't read it yet.