Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (audiobook)

Scrappy Little Nobody
by Anna Kendrick [Compact Disc Biography Kendrick] 

I’ve been a fan of the actress Anna Kendrick for several years now, ever since enjoying her performances in Up in the Air, Pitch Perfect and Into the Woods, so seeing that she put out an autobiographical memoir in 2016, and that she narrated the audiobook version herself, made me eager anticipate listening to it. The book-on-cd did not disappoint. Kendrick seems to specialize in “quirky” characters, and she exudes similar quirkiness in real life. She is packed so full of sassy self-deprecating sarcasm that she talks a-mile-a-minute, as if she can’t pause at all in her verbal explosion, for fear of not being able to get all her commentary out. Kendrick is alternately funny, bawdy (I’d rate this title “PG-13” or possibly a soft “R”, based on some of the subject matter and her…liberal use of colorful language), painfully honest and simply fascinating. She’s only 31, but has already had plenty of memoir-worthy experiences, and it’s fun learning about how she got her start in the entertainment business. If you enjoy her acting, and you like sass and spunk and an outsider’s view of the world of acting, I highly recommend this book, especially in audio format, where you can hear Anna’s voice directly..

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try some of Anna’s films, especially the Pitch Perfect entries, or her Oscar-nominated turn in Up In the Air, opposite George Clooney.]

[ publisher’s official Scrappy Little Nobody web site ] | [ Anna Kendrick on: Twitter | Instagram | Internet Movie Database ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Make 'Em Laugh by Debbie Reynolds (on CD)

Make ‘Em Laugh: Short-Term Memories of Longtime Friends
by Debbie Reynolds [Compact Disc Biography Reynolds] 

I was looking for a short, funny, autobiography as a book-on-cd, and this latest collection of remembrances by legendary entertainer Debbie Reynolds fit the bill perfectly. In a series of interconnected chapters, Reynolds reminisces about some of the many people whom she’s crossed paths with over the course of a lengthy entertainment career. Debbie has two autobiographies to her credit already, so in this volume she picks some stories that didn’t make it into either Debbie: My Life (1988) and Unsinkable (2013). Explore her friendship with — or, in the case of Milton Berle, bare tolerance of — the classic comedians. Read about her experiences as a young starlet making her way through the treacherous waters of “casting couches”. Learn about the various personal assistants Debbie has had over the years, and how much of an impact they’ve had on her life. Laugh at Debbie’s recollections of funny encounters with daughter Carrie (Star Wars) Fisher, and how Debbie’s granddaughter has carried on the family acting tradition, even to the point of landing a role in the new Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens.

I would have loved to have had Debbie narrate this short volume herself, but she doesn’t. Instead, actress Judith Ivey provides very capable narrating skills. In fact, Judith makes an obvious attempt to sound somewhat like Debbie, so it’s easy to feel lulled into a sense that it is Debbie sharing her stories directly. There’s not a lot of depth here, but if you’re looking for some light-hearted, feel-good entertainment industry stories, I recommend this one!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Debbie: My Life and Unsinkable, also by Reynolds.]

[ Publisher’s official Make ‘Em Laugh web site ] | [ official Debbie Reynolds web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Unsinkable: A Memoir

Unsinkable: A Memoir
by Debbie Reynolds [791.451 Rey]

Debbie Reynolds is a triple threat — in movies, music ("Aba Daba Honeymoon", anyone?) and books — two autobiographies, that is. In 1988, she published her first memoir, Debbie: My Life and now catches us up in 2013 with Unsinkable: A Memoir. She completely lives up to the latter adjective, borrowed from the nickname of one of her most beloved portrayals — "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", one of the real-life Titanic survivors. From her practically dirt-poor beginnings, through three husbands who all cheated her emotionally, financially and sexually, and in spite of a lingering dream to collect and preserve iconic Hollywood treasures which ultimately died, Reynolds has endured to leave a legacy whose impact may not be fully realized while she is still living. Her perseverance, determination, and talent are definitely her hallmarks. From the heroine of "Singin' in the Rain" and "Tammy" to her pop-culture identification as Princess Leia's mother, Mary Frances Reynolds of Burbank, CA via Texas is an entertainment legend and a lesson in survival. Both books are filled with anecdotes of her Hollywood and movie-making experiences and friendships, and go into sometimes alarming detail about the three scoundrels who were her husbands, the second of whom at least showed affection to her children (Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher) and treated them well. The newer bio is almost like two books in one, in that the last third of it is a chronological catalogue of her movies along with specific recollections about them. There were some things I was surprised to learn about Reynolds, such as her relationship with Robert Wagner when they were both young adults, or her ownership of a dance studio. Other disclosures are well-known, like the fact that when Eddie Fisher left her for Elizabeth Taylor and La Liz in turn left Fisher for Richard Burton, she and Taylor were able to become friends again after some time had passed. These memoirs are eye-openers to the fact that "having it all" can be a gigantic illusion even for someone as wholesome and capable as Debbie Reynolds but that at the same time having a strong will, a strong faith, and a strong family group can get you through pretty much anything. -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Wishful Drinking and Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher; Getting Along Famously: A Celebration of Friendship; Best of Debbie Reynolds (CD); and some highlights from Debbie's movie career (underlined DVDs are in LCL collections): Two Weeks with Love; Singin' In the Rain; I Love Melvin; The Tender Trap; Tammy and the Bachelor; The Rat Race; How the West was Won; The Unsinkable Molly Brown; The Singing Nun; What's the Matter with Helen?; Charlotte's Web (as the voice of Charlotte); Mother; In & Out; One for the Money; Behind the Candelabra.]

[ Debbie Reynolds page on Wikipedia ] | [ official Internet Movie Database pagefor Debbie Reynolds ] | [ official Debbie Reynolds web site ] 

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Wishful Drinking (on DVD)

Wishful Drinking (on DVD)
[DVD Biography Fisher]

Following publication of her 2008 best-seller, Wishful Drinking, actress/author Carrie Fisher turned her tell-all sharefest of an autobiography into a one-woman stage show, which she performed in L.A., San Francisco, Berkley, Seattle, Washington D.C. and on Broadway. This 76-minute DVD was an edited taping of one of those performances. Fisher shares awkward yet funny memories of growing up in a dysfunctional Hollywood family -- her flow chart of family relations based on father Eddie Fisher's famous womanizing is hilarious. And she is brutally honest about her drug and alcohol abuses, as well as per bi-polar mental issues. Overall, I'd have to say I enjoyed the book a little more than the stage show -- the book covers more details than she can fit into her live performance, and at times her stage delivery is a little too "inside joke" and nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Still, Fisher can be quite the raconteur, and her personal background provides the fodder for plenty of entertaining stories. Star Wars fans, in particular, will enjoy her sometimes-loving, sometimes-aggravated relationship with the multimedia juggernaut that brought her her greatest fame. The only "special feature" on the disc is a bizarre, awkward, and yet compelling on-camera interview with Fisher's mother, the famed Debbie Reynolds. It's fascinating watching Debbie matter-of-factly discuss Carrie's mental illness issues!

Shortly after watching this documentary, I also snagged the book-on-cd version of Fisher's second (2010) autobiography, Shockaholic, in which she discusses the electro-convulsive thearpy treatments that have helped to stabilize her personality in recent years. Shockaholic also gives her a chance to indulge in some more emotional recollections of some of the damaged relationships she's had over the years, and how she and her father Eddie finally bonded in the the last few years of his life. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try both of these titles in traditional print format, not to mention Fisher's novels, and, of course, the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD!] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [Subscribe to Scott's monthly booklist newsletter It's All Geek to Me! - on the Books, Movies & More newsletter sign-up page]

[Also available in traditional print and book-on-cd formats.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this show ] | [ official Carrie Fisher web site ]

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Guts (on CD)

Guts
by Kristen Johnston [Compact Disc Johnston]

This is an autobiography of 3rd Rock From The Sun star Kristen Johnston and is read by the author. In it she talks about being bullied as a child, getting her first acting job, her drug addictions, hospital stays, her stint in rehab and the challenge that is staying sober. She even writes her own faux-obituary after her guts blow up because of drug usage and she's all alone in her London flat. I know that you probably get tired of reading about celebrities and their drug problems, but her writing style and comedic anecdotes make listening to the 4 discs worth while. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try 3rd Rock From The Sun seasons 1 and 2, which are available through the library, or Carrie Fisher's autobiographies Wishful Drinking or Shockaholic.] -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in print format.]

[ Wikipedia page for Kristen Johnston ] | [ Kristen Johnston on the Internet Movie Database ]

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Wishful Drinking (on Compact Disc)

Wishful Drinking
by Carrie Fisher [Compact Disc Biography Fisher]

Originally, I picked up this book on CD hoping to hear about Star Wars anecdotes, but was pleasantly surprised to hear about so much more. The book, as read by the author, includes stories about becoming a Hollywood icon at only nineteen, her struggle with drugs and alcohol, her bipolar diagnosis, memories of her mother Debbie Reynolds and growing up in a famous family, and her past marital problems. I listened to this book all the way through because she doesn't just tell us about her life but she does it in a way that keeps you laughing and intrigued throughout the entire story. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try "Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding my True Voice", or any of the fiction novels written by Carrie Fisher.] -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library and South Branch Library

[Also available in print format.]

[ official Carrie Fisher web site ]

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Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain
by Portia DeRossi [Biography DeRossi]

After being cast as Nelle Porter in "Ally McBeal," Portia DeRossi's life of bulimia and being in the closet became much more complicated. DeRossi writes, without a ghost writer, about how her battles with bulimia, anorexia, and sexuality were affected by her new celebrity status. DeRossi traces her time on "Ally McBeal" and her ventures into celebrity (a L'Oreal spokeswoman deal, a Blockbuster film, red carpets, meeting Ellen DeGeneres) alongside her daily weight, food allotments, and exercise. This is the most personal, honest memoir I've ever read. DeRossi simply explains what her life was like and what she was thinking along the way. DeRossi does not stop to apologize or agonize over the roughest parts. Rather, DeRossi picks them apart to explain, in the best detail I've ever seen, the truth about eating disorders. While the memoir is emotionally tough and heartbreaking at times, it is an amazing read written. "Unbearable Lightness" is by not just another Hollywood actor, but an amazing woman who has taken the time to reflect on her life and retell it for the world to understand and learn from. -- recommended by Courtney D. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Publisher's official Unbearable Lightness web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Portia DeRossi ]

This review was the 1000th review submitted by a Lincoln City Libraries staff member to the Staff Recommendations feature on our website!!

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The Way We Wore

The Way We Wore: Styles of the 1930s and 1940s and Our World Since Then
by Marsha Hunt [746.92 qHun]

Marsha Hunt was signed by Paramount Pictures when she was just 17; later she signed with MGM. In this book she showcases some of the costumes she wore in her pictures. One section is devoted to the hats she wore. She includes some casual wear from the period and mentions a costume that she designed herself. In fact, she was a teenage model for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Anyone who likes films from the 30s and 40s will enjoy this book. [If you enjoy this one, and are looking for more, search our catalog under the subject heading "Motion Pictures -- Costumes".] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Marsha Hunt page on the Internet Movie Database ] | [ Wikipedia page for Marsha Hunt ]

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'Tis Herself

'Tis Herself

by Maureen O'Hara [791.432 Oha]

First my daughter read it, and sent it to my mother. Then my mother read it and gave it to me. 'Tis Herself is the kind of autobiography that keeps you turning the pages. Don't skip any paragraphs or you'll miss the eavesdropped story about Mickey Rooney or the fight with Lucille Ball or the time the stunt crew trussed O'Hara up so her incision would not break open in a mudslide. O'Hara's seventy years in Hollywood stretches long past its Golden Age and she gives us all an entertaining view from the inside. So relish the book, then enjoy the movies she writes about: Miracle on 34th Street, The Quiet Man or How Green was My Valley. -- recommended by Kay V. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in Large Print format.][ official Maureen O'Hara online magazine ] [ Internet Movie Database page for Maureen O'Hara ] [ Maureen O'Hara page on Wikipedia ]

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Staff Recommendation - sTORI Telling

sTORI Telling

by Tori Spelling [Biography Spelling]

This is a great autobiography from Tori Spelling herself, most notably famous for her television character, Donna Martin in Beverly Hills 90210 which was produced by her father, Aaron Spelling. The actresses' personal life has been filling celebrity gossip columns ever since she landed her breaking role in one of her father's weekly TV series during her late teens. Belonging to one of California's most wealthy families, Tori has chronicled juicy snippets of her lonely, but elaborate childhood, the much publicized relationship with her mother, a nose job at the age of 15, the fight to be taken seriously in Hollywood as a talented actress, her paltry disinheritance from her father, and most notably a fairytale wedding to the wrong man and then scandalously stealing a married man from another woman. Finally settling down to family life with the man of her dreams, Tori describes her recent changes in life, most notably her excitement over finally having the "normal" family life she has always wished for and learning to subside in Hollywood on a much more modest income. Tori discusses her newest ventures and projects such as the Oxygen channel's series Tori & Dean Inn Love and Tori & Dean Home Sweet Hollywood. -- recommended by Jessica H. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Tori Spelling web site ]

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