Life Itself

Life Itself: A Memoir by Roger Ebert 448 pages


 I loved this book.   I had to make myself put it down to sleep.    I even checked out the video which is also quite good, but, the book has so much more in it.   What a colorful and fun life Roger Ebert led.  The public knew him as a film critic extraordinaire but he was ever so much more.   From his days growing up in small town America to his uproarious college years where he was quite the ladies man to his hard drinking days as a news journalist turned film critic journalist to his internationally famous love affair with film that has won him fame and notoriety world-wide and where he could be found on many a panel speaking at Cannes and other festivals, etc. around the world.   I have always found Roger Ebert one of those people who you feel an immediate kinship with and think he would make a jolly friend if only you knew him.   I highly recommend this book, he tells the good, the not so good and his downfalls and recoveries all the way to the operations that took not only bits of his face and body away but also his ability to speak.   God love him he didn't let it depress him nor break his stride, he continued to communicate ala his writing and the occasional dalliance into the computer voice world of Stephen Hawking.   An unbelievable strong, gifted and happy spirit all the way to the grave.   An amazing man who led an amazing life.   Worth anyone's time who love biographies, film and of course, Roger Ebert himself.   Great book.