Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 250

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”

So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who traveled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more.

In an extraordinary story that only he could tell—and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it—Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humor, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all.


My Review

I know Matthew Perry from Friends and maybe seen him in one or two others things, I loved and watched FRIENDS for a few series (until the Rachel/Joey thing but I have the boxset). I loved his character and obviously heard about his addictions in later years. The book is pretty brutal graphic and honest, he almost died and he goes into his multiple slips and battles with addiction. I also thought it was just alcohol until his passing and everything that transpired/came out.

If you have issues/triggers to do with substance abuse, self harm with substances, rehab stints, the steps towards sobriety etc. He catalogues it all and is very frank in it, it is so sad and quite heartbreaking. I think it also sheds a huge light on the whole someone can look like they have the world, fame, fortune, everything you could seemingly want and be struggling, have everything and nothing.

Lots of celebrity bits in it, his story from childhood, time on friends, things he did before and after, I was more than a bit shocked when he mentioned the loss/deaths of Heath Leger and River Phoenix yet Keanu Reaves walks amongst us (or something similar to that). Like there was no mention of Keanu before, no hint of issues they had and it was such a dark thing to put. I can only assume maybe he wrote that when in a dark place? Apparently he came out later after backlash and said he hadn't meant anything against Keanu or something and it wasn't personal, it was just so out of the blue.

I think the book is important for opening folks eyes to the battle with addiction and how much it can take from you. I felt so sad reading this and more so knowing he died because of drugs, more so because he mentions Ket in the book and how it was not for him (I think a bad experience, I can't mind now) and then for what happened, just so so sad.

He was also a bit of a Lothario, I didn't know that and he goes into reasons of why he was the way he was and some of his linked partners and romances. I feel for anyone with addictions, I think the book is really informative, emotive, shocking and eye opening on so many things, 4/5.

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Inside Out by Demi Moore

Inside Out by Demi Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 283

Publisher - Harper

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

For decades, Demi Moore has been synonymous with celebrity. From iconic film roles to high-profile relationships, Moore has never been far from the spotlight—or the headlines. Even as Demi was becoming the highest paid actress in Hollywood, however, she was always outrunning her past, just one step ahead of the doubts and insecurities that defined her childhood. Throughout her rise to fame and during some of the most pivotal moments of her life, Demi battled addiction, body image issues, and childhood trauma that would follow her for years—all while juggling a skyrocketing career and at times negative public perception. As her success grew, Demi found herself questioning if she belonged in Hollywood, if she was a good mother, a good actress—and, always, if she was simply good enough. As much as her story is about adversity, it is also about tremendous resilience. In this deeply candid and reflective memoir, Demi pulls back the curtain and opens up about her career and personal life—laying bare her tumultuous relationship with her mother, her marriages, her struggles balancing stardom with raising a family, and her journey toward open heartedness. Inside Out is a story of survival, success, and surrender—a wrenchingly honest portrayal of one woman’s at once ordinary and iconic life.



My Review

I know Moore from Ghost, I LOVED that movie growing up, we watched more for Sam (Patrick Swayze) but I think the penny scene and the single tear drop hit all the audiences. Other than that I haven't really seen her body of work nor really know much about her so this was on offer and I snapped it up. I think most of us knew she was married to Bruce Willis and later Ashton Kutcher and I love Charlies Angels so seen her on that.

The book takes us back to her beginnings, personal life, how she got into acting and movies. It is very much warts and all, the book opens with a drug induced/reaction seizure and then goes back in time. She is very honest about her sketchy upbringing, her faults, her battles with addictions, her relationship with Bruce and then Ashton. I actually really felt for her with Ashton, it must have been so hard, like breakups are devastating anyway but when the press totally rips you and has been against you ooft.

I think biography/memoir books are so interesting because you get to look behind the curtain and I think even for super fans of these celebrities they would find so much they hadn't been aware of. Moore seems to have gone through, like so many, a lot in her life, I hope she has found happiness and inner peace now and made up with her family, 4/5 for me.

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Look Who It Is My Story by Alan Carr

Look Who It Is!: My Story by Alan Carr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 301

Publisher - Harper Collins

Source - Bought copy

Blurb from Goodreads

The brilliantly funny and inimitable Alan Carr tells his life story in his own words, from growing up in a football-mad family in Northampton to his rise to become one of Britain's best-loved comedians.


My Review

I love Alan Carr, put him on the tele and you are bound to be in stitches, his voice, facial expressions, I could listen to him all day. So when I saw this book years ago I bought it and it has stayed on my TBRM for years. I finally got round to it. I read it all in his voice which just adds to the humour.

He takes us on his lifes journey, from being a kid, growing up, problems with his appearance, figuring out who he was. His father is big in football and many people expected a young Alan would follow in his footsteps. He goes through his time growing up, education onto his career and how he got into comedy.

I don't do a lot of non fiction, autobiographies but I really did enjoy this one. I also saw he has another book, Alanatomy out and bought it a few weeks back, it will not sit on the shelves for years! If you like learning more about celebs, humour and all things Alan Carr this is for you, 4/5 for me this time. I am looking forward to reading his next book and may re watch his dvds, I just love listening to him, guy is hilar!

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