Day #26 (?) of the Book Challenge
Nov. 24th, 2020 08:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatThis is Day #26 (I think, your guess is probably better than mine) of the Book Challenge - it looks longer than 30 days to me.
The prompt is Name a Memoir
Hee. I just finished reading one. So perfect timing. Also I can combine two posts. (Okay, listening to one. Yes, I've finally discovered the joy of audio books - which I can listen to while attempting to work, making dinner, walking around the Cemetery, or just sitting. And if you have a good reader - and Bernard was good, it flies by.)
This one is entitled...Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard
I'm not a fan of memoirs generally speaking. Mainly because I tend to agree with a Creative Writing Prof that I had once - who said when we write about ourselves, we're either amazing or horrible. And I think Bernard kind of landing between the two extremes.
Also memoirs have a tendency to be whiny, gossipy, and exploitative - often revealing secrets and ripping apart real life folks for profit. Bernard skirts this temptation completely. In fact, he wisely sticks to the process of acting and the mechanics of the industry to the degree that he discusses it - also how it affected his illness. He doesn't go into depth regarding any of his relationships with his co-workers, or share any gossip regarding them.
The book wasn't what I expected. It's an uplifting story about a man's life-long fight with mental illness - in particular bi-polar disorder, which also involves extreme bouts of anxiety and depression. The author goes into detail regarding the illness. Having experienced anxiety and depression myself over the years, I found the author's advice helpful and his story inspiring. Also, I've family members who struggle with severe bi-polar disorder, but have not found the help they needed. Mental illness is a serious issue in our society that needs to be addressed and Mr. Bernard's story goes a long way towards doing just that.
He wisely focuses on the disease, and not on his career. Yes, we get information regarding it - and what he went through. The multiple auditions, the rejections, the struggles, and how he bounded with his makeup artist - which makes sense. Actors in television and soaps, often spend more time with their makeup artist than just about anyone else. It's like going to the hair salon, I suspect. This is not a gossipy book - he does not say anything negative, and resists the temptation to share derogatory stories or gossip. Instead he speaks highly of his closest co-workers, and takes responsibility for his own derogatory behavior over the years - often giving others the benefit of the doubt.
Reading the book, gave me a whole new appreciation of what it is like to be a soap opera actor, and the industry in general. It also provided me with new information regarding mental illness, valuable information.
Is it flawless, no. At times it does feel as if the writer is reeling off a resume of his accomplishments, but at the same time - those accomplishments bear a certain weight due to what he had to overcome, that in turn can inspire others.
The prompt is Name a Memoir
Hee. I just finished reading one. So perfect timing. Also I can combine two posts. (Okay, listening to one. Yes, I've finally discovered the joy of audio books - which I can listen to while attempting to work, making dinner, walking around the Cemetery, or just sitting. And if you have a good reader - and Bernard was good, it flies by.)
This one is entitled...Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard
I'm not a fan of memoirs generally speaking. Mainly because I tend to agree with a Creative Writing Prof that I had once - who said when we write about ourselves, we're either amazing or horrible. And I think Bernard kind of landing between the two extremes.
Also memoirs have a tendency to be whiny, gossipy, and exploitative - often revealing secrets and ripping apart real life folks for profit. Bernard skirts this temptation completely. In fact, he wisely sticks to the process of acting and the mechanics of the industry to the degree that he discusses it - also how it affected his illness. He doesn't go into depth regarding any of his relationships with his co-workers, or share any gossip regarding them.
The book wasn't what I expected. It's an uplifting story about a man's life-long fight with mental illness - in particular bi-polar disorder, which also involves extreme bouts of anxiety and depression. The author goes into detail regarding the illness. Having experienced anxiety and depression myself over the years, I found the author's advice helpful and his story inspiring. Also, I've family members who struggle with severe bi-polar disorder, but have not found the help they needed. Mental illness is a serious issue in our society that needs to be addressed and Mr. Bernard's story goes a long way towards doing just that.
He wisely focuses on the disease, and not on his career. Yes, we get information regarding it - and what he went through. The multiple auditions, the rejections, the struggles, and how he bounded with his makeup artist - which makes sense. Actors in television and soaps, often spend more time with their makeup artist than just about anyone else. It's like going to the hair salon, I suspect. This is not a gossipy book - he does not say anything negative, and resists the temptation to share derogatory stories or gossip. Instead he speaks highly of his closest co-workers, and takes responsibility for his own derogatory behavior over the years - often giving others the benefit of the doubt.
Reading the book, gave me a whole new appreciation of what it is like to be a soap opera actor, and the industry in general. It also provided me with new information regarding mental illness, valuable information.
Is it flawless, no. At times it does feel as if the writer is reeling off a resume of his accomplishments, but at the same time - those accomplishments bear a certain weight due to what he had to overcome, that in turn can inspire others.