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Biography & Autobiography. Literary Criticism. Performing Arts. Nonfiction. HTML: A charming, poignant, and mesmerizing memoir in essays from beloved actor and natural-born storyteller Minnie Driver, chronicling the way life works out even when it doesn't. In this intimate, beautifully crafted collection, Driver writes and narrates with disarming charm and candor about her bohemian upbringing between England and Barbados; her post-university travails and triumphsā??from being the only student in her acting school not taken on by an agent to being discovered at a rave in a muddy field in the English countryside; shooting to fame in one of the most influential films of the 1990s and being nominated for an Academy Award; and finding the true light of her life, her son. She chronicles her unconventional career path, including the time she gave up on acting to sell jeans in Uruguay, her journey as a single parent, and the heartbreaking loss of her mother. Like Lena Dunham in Not That Kind of Girl, Gabrielle Union in We're Going to Need More Wine and Patti Smith in Just Kids, Driver writes with razor-sharp humor and grace as she explores navigating the depths of failure, fighting for success, discovering the unmatched wonder and challenge of motherhood, and wading through immeasurable grief. Effortlessly charming, deeply funny, personal, and honest, Managing Expectations reminds us of the way life works outā??even when it doesn't. Also included at the end of this audiobook is a conversation between Minnie Driver her friend Emma Forrest… (more)
User reviews
Instead of an ordinary autobiography, full of dates and anecdotes, Minnie's 'memoir in essays' is exactly that, a collection of intimate vignettes which encapsulate her childhood, career, stardom, motherhood and family life. Most made me laugh, while the last chapter about her mother made me cry. The only quibble I have is that the story of her life in Hollywood focussed more on her relationship with Matt Damon than John Cusack (he's mentioned once, when she recalls that he told her to 'just be herself', a character that the actress has always struggled with).
My favourite quotes are of course about the battle of having wild hair, especially in the days before the tools to control curls really existed (Minnie had lurid green gel, I had Frizz Ease, which didn't): My hair was just part of my identity that had shown up too soon for the rest of me to accommodate. I had banished it for a while, but it would be waiting for me in the future, when perhaps Iād have the tools, both literally and emotionally, to embrace it. I also loved her ongoing personality crisis - āBut isnāt a person supposed to be kinda more . . . whole? Donāt you think I might start making bad decisions if itās just one little disconnected piece making the decision?ā - and the blunt advice she received in return from her father and sister Kate: "You make it all up in your head, Min. All the fears Iāve ever heard you be fearful of are things you made up in your head." I caught myself nodding my head in acknowledgement while reading, sharing Minnie's honest self-assessment and her family's struggle to break her out of the cycle.
And the final tribute - after reading the Kindle edition, I have now ordered a (signed) hardback copy because I need this book in my life and will definitely read Minnie's story again and again.
Fans of well-written and insightful autobiographies of public figures.
In a nutshell:
Actress and author Driver shares the details of a few stories that provide the reader with real insight into her life.
Worth quoting:
I listened so didnāt take down any particular phrases, but there were
Why I chose it:
On one level, Iām a bit of a fan in that I think she is fantastic in Grosse Pointe Blank. On another, I have vague memories of claims that Matt Damon broke up with her on Oprah, and I was sort of hoping maybe sheās touch on that? (Spoiler: she does, in the classiest way possible.)
Review:
What an absolutely lovely autobiography. Given Iāve listened to some this year that left me a bit wanting in terms of both the quality of the writing and the choice of stories shared, I was a slightly hesitant, and thought perhaps this was no longer my genre of choice. Driverās writing put all concerns to rest, as she provides a well-written, well-edited, and well-read (seriously, get the audio version she reads herself) collection of essays that provide insight into a privileged life. And even with that privilege, I didnāt get the sense ever that she was out of touch, or unaware of how lucky she has been in some aspects of her life. She seems to have a strong sense of self, and that comes across in this book.
The book isnāt just about her time as an actress - in fact it starts with a story about her being a bit of a brat as a child. Iād say nearly half the book is about her childhood, and the stories are fascinating. She doesnāt go from episode to episode - she seems to have carefully selected things that for her represent an important time and story in her life. There are just a handful of chapters, and each chapter is pretty narrowly focused, so donāt expect to get her literal life story.
She obviously does discuss her career, but Iād say itās maybe 1/3 of the book max? The final chapter is heart-wrenching and beautiful, covering the short illness and death of her mother.
As with any memoir, I have no idea what was left out, how truthful the stories are, etc. But I get a sense that Driver has shared a lot of herself, and while itās obviously not all of herself, it doesnāt feel censored or self-edited in an untrue way. I donāt āknowā Driver in any real way, but the book makes me feel now that I do, just a little bit, and I appreciate her contribution to this genre.
Recommend to a Friend / Keep / Donate it / Toss it:
Recommend to a Friend
Gently recommended whether you know who Minnie Driver is or not.