Still Me

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Summary: CHRISTOPHER REEVE -- MY HERO
Review: CHRISTOPHER REEVE - My Hero
By Matthew P. "Black"

In a world shrouded by villains, few heroes could lift the veil and stand so tall, so much larger than life as to be unforgettable. Such a person was Christopher Reeve.

When I was very young, Chris literally flew into my life as the very personification of my favourite super hero. He was at first just an actor, a mere mortal, playing a character with God-like qualities. But although Chris became famous for merely playing a Superman, in the aftermath of his tragic accident, he metamorphosed into a being whose very determination and humanity transcended the fictional. Christopher Reeve became a Superman.

His smile, bright blue eyes and handsome face remained intact for the entire world to see as he battled his condition, not just for himself, but for all mankind.

Chris was determined to one day walk again, for all the reasons in the world that one could imagine, but to me, for the best ones of all: because he wanted too, because he believed he COULD. He would never let anyone tell him that it wasn't possible. THAT is why Christopher Reeve was a Superhero. He believed that all big obstacles could be overcome.

When I heard that he had died, for the first time in my life, I shed tears for a celebrity I had never met. Such was Chris's spirit, such was his intellect and determination, that I couldn't help but feel sorrow for his passing. Christopher Reeve was beautiful, both in body and in spirit. His painful journey of the last nine years forged a human being to truly look up to. In the years to come, when we watch his fine acting performances again, read his inspiring words, and heed his call to throw off the shackles of paralysis, we will remember the real-life Superhero that had moved amongst us for 52 short years.

Goodbye, Christopher. We love you and we will NEVER forget you. Even when you could not walk, you made us believe that anyone could fly.




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Summary: Inspiration for people working on regenerative medecine
Review: For someone working in the medical industry with stem cells, this book makes me stay longer at work, sleep later at night, and fight more in my meetings for what truly I believe in to make sure I am really doing everything I can to make this future medicine available to our generation.

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Summary: An Intelligent and Informative Autobiography
Review: Having already read Reeve's second book "Nothing is Impossible", I wanted to read his autobiography "Still Me". I truly enjoyed reading the second book. However, I am a little disappointed with "Still Me". In addition to the general tone of the book, I was suprised by the incoherent nature in which this book is presented. While I am sure the biography was once in a more chronological order, I believe the book was deteriorated by poor editting decisions.

The story of Christopher Reeve is tragic. Being confined to a wheel chair for nearly ten years has severely limited the career of a talented actor. Reeve is likely to be remembered type cast to his role as Superman despite this being only a small measure of his acting capabilities. Because of his injury, more than Reeve's acting career was limited. His interactions with family and others have been altered. Additionally, the simple pleasures have been taken away from him. However, Reeve finds unlimited joy in a loving wife and beautiful children. The title of the book is a reflection of this joy.

I found the chapters in which he wrote about his disability and recovery prospects most interesting. Reeve has served as a great ambassador to educate the public about spinal cord injuries. These chapters were intertwined with the chapters of his life and career before the accident. I found the arrangement of chapters distracting from the overall story and tone. Because of the arrangement of the chapters, Reeve comes across as being very bitter. While I know he has reason to be angry, I do not believe that is how he is. For this reason, I believe poor decisions about the layout of the book take away from its quality. Nevertheless, I still found the book to be interesting and entertaining.

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Summary: Power of belief
Review: I bought this books since I was simply interested in Christopher Reeve's fate. I knew him from his films when he was still healthy, then I heard about his accident and, then, I saw his performance at the Oscar's Night some years ago. This impressed me very much so that I wanted to know more. Well, and what I got to know was a person who has my deepest sympathy and admiration. The way he describes his own story is very honest, full of emotions but also very clear like a report. He reflects all part of his former and current life with all the nuances he experienced it. I'm full of respect for Christopher Reeve who had this incredible power of belief to find back into life. I cannot imagine that I had this power, I hope I'll never need it, but his book even helps to overcome some daily trouble, to gain a realistic perpective when the world seems to be against me. I wish Mr. Reeve all the best for his future and hope so much that the science will increase his chances to recover more and more.

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Summary: Interesting, honest, reflective but not mellow
Review: I listened to "Still Me" on tape, read by Christopher Reeve. I truly enjoyed the book. It was interesting, honest, reflective but not mellow. And listening to Christopher Reeve read it enhanced the experience a lot. His voice is delicate yet strong, which I think reflects his delicate physical condition combined with his inner strength (the latter one supported by his family and friends). This book brings to my mind the lyrics from one of Sting's songs: "lest we forget how fragile we are".

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Summary: Wonderful Hope Emanates from this book
Review: I listened to this book during my 45 minute commute
from Fond du Lac to Sheboygan and back for several days.
I was captivated with Reeve's courage. It's books
like this that we need so badly during these very tense days in our world. My son is severely autistic and Chris helped me come to terms with our family's crisis and limitations. I am writing a book about my son Stephen and am listing Chris as one of my
inspirations. It's not necessarily what happens to us in life, but how we react to it...that is what is important and what will
be remembered by others. Bravo Chris!!

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Summary: intelligent, insightful book
Review: I'm normally not a huge fan of biographies or historical novels simply because I find it hard to keep straight all the details, dates, and people involved. I know that a diligent author will not omit important facts, so I tend to avoid the genre. I also avoid books about disabilities because I have one, and find most authors either take on a "pity me" or a "pretend I am completely normal" attitude when the truth of living with a disability is somewhere in the middle.

However, I was drawn to this book by Reeve's own writing style. I read an exceprt of his newest book in a magazine, and decided to purchase "Still Me". I'm glad I did- I *really* enjoyed this book. Reeve has a remarkable writing style- he managed to seamlessly layer events from his entire life along with descriptions of his life post-injury and scientific information in every chapter. Even though the book continually shifted focus and timeframe, it was not a struggle to keep up with all the details.

I have his next book ("Nothing is Impossible") on hold at the library, and can't wait to continue reading about Reeve's life. His writing style is open, honest, and warm all at once. He writes about his condition, and both his acceptance and rejection of it, with honesty and dignity. It's so refreshing to read about someone who is not afraid to be angry and proud about their situation. I truly hope that he is able to step out of his chair at some point in time, but even if he does not, he is truly a Superman in every respect of the word.

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Summary: still me
Review: My name is SHAWN,
On July 20,2002 was in a car rec. I broke my back at the T9 veritably, and now I'm paralyzed from the wisest down. When I first can out of my coma all that I could think about or ask for was to kill me. Than when I read about how Mr. reeves had gone through somewhat the same thing I was going through. So than I started to think if he had the power, heart, and desertion. Maybe I could do it to.
Most of all my family was there through all of it from the first second to this day.
Thank you MR. Reeves I just want to thank you for sharing his story.
Shawn Nadeem 16

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Summary: Inspiration
Review: This book is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Chris is a true hero.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommend.
Review: Unlike about any other American I did not care for any of the Supermans in the trilogy that much, so when Christopher Reeves got seirouly hurt, I did not pay as close of attention as hundreds of the fans did to the facts surounding the unfortunate, and very unexpected tragedy that happend to Christopher Reeves. However when Christopher Reeves released his first popular book "Still Me" I just thought it would be cool to know what exatly happend to Christopher Reeves on that fatful day of the horse accident that broke Mr. Reeves neck.

This book gave me all of the facts that I was curious about and then some. The book made me think differently about life. Its certainly one of the most profound pieces of reading I have come across before.

Only Christopher Reeve could have explained his story has good as this book was. Buy it.