Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Gallery Books, 2023.
Description
"From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, Making It So, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life--from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim--proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member bookworm12
I grew up watching The Next Generation with my family and I love Shakespeare, so I am definitely in the niche or individual who this book is a fit for.
LibraryThing member Othemts
I was inordinately excited to read this new memoir by Patrick Stewart, or more specifically to listen to the audiobook narrated by the author. I was delighted by his engaging narrative of his life and acting career, particularly Stewart's insights into the craft of acting, richly illustrated with
Stewart was born in wartime Northern England in a poor family in the town of Mirfield. He witnessed the domestic abuse of his mother at the hands of his father as something that affected him throughout life. At an early age, a teacher handed him a work of Shakespeare which set him on a course to study and perform in theater. As a poor kid from the North, the likelihood of Stewart making a career in theater was unlikely but he was admitted to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and received grants to be able to attend.
After completing his studies, Stewart worked with various theater companies before achieving his ultimate goal of joining the Royal Shakespeare Company at the age of 26! He was a member of the company from 1966 to 1982 and performed in regular RSC visiting productions in Los Angeles, foreshadowing his future work in Hollywood. Stewart's stories of his Star Trek: The Next Generation are probably going to be familiar to most Trekkers, but they're nice to hear from his point of view. Of his post-Trek career, Stewart is most enthusiastic about his one-man show of A Christmas Carol and his collaborations with Ian McKellen, productions I've regretted not being able to see, but maybe it's not too late?
Stewart has always come across as a warm and generous person (and deceptively funny). He tells stories about his fondness for the people he's worked with over the years and they'll make you feel warmly for people ranging from Vivien Leigh to Rod Steiger. His admiration for Ian Holm never wavers as he sympathetically describes a stage fright breakdown that lead to Holm not performing in the theater for many years. The big flaw in his character is that his dedication to work made him an absent father and husband. Stewart is honest about how his first two marriages fell apart not long after his infidelity. His current marriage to Sunny Ozell, who is younger than his own children, seems odd but they appear to be happy.
This a good book for anyone interested in an inside look into acting from one of our best living actors.
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charming anectdotes. If you're a fan of Stewart from Star Trek: The Next Generation or X-Men, you're going to have to wait a while to get to them. Stewart did not gain global fame in TV and films until after he was 46 years old so the bulk of his life, and this book, focuses on his stage career. Personally I find these stories the most fascinating part of the book, as does Stewart apparently since theater portion of his live gets the most detailed description.Stewart was born in wartime Northern England in a poor family in the town of Mirfield. He witnessed the domestic abuse of his mother at the hands of his father as something that affected him throughout life. At an early age, a teacher handed him a work of Shakespeare which set him on a course to study and perform in theater. As a poor kid from the North, the likelihood of Stewart making a career in theater was unlikely but he was admitted to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and received grants to be able to attend.
After completing his studies, Stewart worked with various theater companies before achieving his ultimate goal of joining the Royal Shakespeare Company at the age of 26! He was a member of the company from 1966 to 1982 and performed in regular RSC visiting productions in Los Angeles, foreshadowing his future work in Hollywood. Stewart's stories of his Star Trek: The Next Generation are probably going to be familiar to most Trekkers, but they're nice to hear from his point of view. Of his post-Trek career, Stewart is most enthusiastic about his one-man show of A Christmas Carol and his collaborations with Ian McKellen, productions I've regretted not being able to see, but maybe it's not too late?
Stewart has always come across as a warm and generous person (and deceptively funny). He tells stories about his fondness for the people he's worked with over the years and they'll make you feel warmly for people ranging from Vivien Leigh to Rod Steiger. His admiration for Ian Holm never wavers as he sympathetically describes a stage fright breakdown that lead to Holm not performing in the theater for many years. The big flaw in his character is that his dedication to work made him an absent father and husband. Stewart is honest about how his first two marriages fell apart not long after his infidelity. His current marriage to Sunny Ozell, who is younger than his own children, seems odd but they appear to be happy.
This a good book for anyone interested in an inside look into acting from one of our best living actors.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ftbooklover
Making It So: A Memoir is an insightful look into the life of an actor that most of us would recognize as either Jean-Luc Picard or Charles Xavier. This book, however, illustrates that Patrick Stewart has played many more roles in his life as an actor and a man and gives the reader a peek into
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both. From poverty and abuse in his early life, to young Shakespearean actor trying to find his way among older veterans, to successful television and movie star, this memoir takes an honest look at a life well lived but not without heartache and tragedy. For those with little knowledge of the world of English theater, the narrative will either be an eye-opener or unknown territory, but Stewart's storytelling makes it all entertaining. Overall, Making It So: A Memoir is a well written, engaging story about the life of a unique individual. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beth3511
I really appreciated the descriptions of his early life; his developing interest in the theater as a working-class kid from a small industrial town in Yorkshire; his theater training and his work in regional theater. I loved his account of going on tour with and working with Vivian Leigh. I liked
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that he described the way people directed, acted, and trained with specifics. The book is less about Star Trek than I expected, which was fine. He did drop some nuggets about what it was like to work with that franchise, and how his attitudes towards that work evolved over time. He comes across as self-deprecating. The book makes me want to find additional books about working in regional theater in the mid-to-late 20th century. Part of what makes Stewart interesting is that his big leading roles and fame didn't come till he was in his mid-40s. Show Less
LibraryThing member cmayes
Very much enjoyed reading about Mr. Stewart's arc from a humble West Riding beginning to his multiple houses in multiple countries that he shares with his young third wife. The infidelity is sad to hear about, but at least he owns up to it.
Patrick seems like a fairly humble guy who looks back
Patrick seems like a fairly humble guy who looks back
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ruefully on the self-seriousness of his youth. It's also refreshing to read about his anxieties and insecurities. Like most humans, he remembers the rejections much more vividly than his achievements. Show Less
LibraryThing member SESchend
Definitely worth hearing Sir Patrick read his own memoir for the emotion behind his words.
LibraryThing member capewood
2024 book #9. 2023. From his hardscrabble childhood in Yorkshire, his career as a Shakespearian actor, to fame in Star Trek The Next Generation and X-Men and his current life as a respected elder and knight (Sir Patrick), told in his own voice. A very enjoyable read.
LibraryThing member blbooks
First sentence: We called it t'bottom field, never wondering where, in relation to "t'bottom," t'middle field and t'top field might be.
Premise/plot: Making It So is Patrick Stewart's memoir. It doesn't get more straight-forward than that. He writes of his family, growing up, friendships and
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Not all chapters are equally enthralling or fascinating. But all chapters were well written. The book covers so much more than just his years playing Jean-Luc Picard or Charles Xavier. He does mention that he watched the WHOLE Star Trek The Next Generation series before starting his memoir. He does talk about THE INNER LIGHT the absolute best episode of TNG. I think I will like it even more now--and I didn't think that was possible.
Premise/plot: Making It So is Patrick Stewart's memoir. It doesn't get more straight-forward than that. He writes of his family, growing up, friendships and
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romantic relationships, and his career on stage and on screen. He has spent more time, I believe, on stage--doing live theatre productions--than on screen. But only because there have been decades where he was able to do both. My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Not all chapters are equally enthralling or fascinating. But all chapters were well written. The book covers so much more than just his years playing Jean-Luc Picard or Charles Xavier. He does mention that he watched the WHOLE Star Trek The Next Generation series before starting his memoir. He does talk about THE INNER LIGHT the absolute best episode of TNG. I think I will like it even more now--and I didn't think that was possible.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Patrick Stewart describes growing up poor in Mirfield in the north of England, how he became an actor, and the highs and lows of his career from British theater to Star Trek and beyond.
I really enjoyed reading this memoir. Stewart did not utilize a ghostwriter, and the style is like he's sitting
I really enjoyed reading this memoir. Stewart did not utilize a ghostwriter, and the style is like he's sitting
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there telling you about his life, loosely chronological, but sometimes going on a bit of a (delightful) related tangent about something that happened later. He spends a fair amount of time on his childhood and training in acting prior to joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, and I found it fascinating to read about what he learned and what his process was for certain roles. Stewart has a way of telling you stories where, yes, he meets all sorts of famous people, but usually there's some sort of funny, self-deprecating anecdote that I found delightful. I am most familiar with his work in X-Men and A Christmas Carol, though of course I know he was Jean-Luc Picard. It's just that my family didn't really watch The Next Generation, so I've only seen random episodes 30-plus years ago when my babysitters were watching it. He clearly expects that his readers will be familiar with his Star Trek work, and has observations to make about specific episodes, rife with spoilers. Whether talking about that or his theater work, he's generous to his fellow actors. He's reflective, and talks about both what he's proud of and what he regrets. I ended the book feeling like I'd gotten to know and appreciate someone whose work I've enjoyed. Show Less
LibraryThing member infjsarah
So enjoyable. I am not into auto/biography or memoirs - I haven't read many. But am fan of Patrick Stewart through Star Trek, so when the audiobook popped up in my library app, I borrowed it. It's actually quite long but I enjoyed it a lot and was never bored. There were a couple of points which
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had me smiling wryly as I thought "you've been in USA too long Patrick" but mostly he still comes across as down to earth person. Show Less
LibraryThing member Doondeck
Thorough review of Stewart's life. You really get an appreciation for his love of the stage, particularly Shakespeare.
Subjects
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2024)
Language
Physical description
469 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
1982167734 / 9781982167738