Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: What a self glorifying hack job! Raphael spends more time name dropping than revealing anything about the great Stanley Kubrick. By the end of the memoir, we know three things about Kubrick; He loved animals and cried when his dog died 2.) (according to Raphael) was a self loathing Jew. 3.) Raphael is a tediously long winded writer for such a slight little book. Scan it quickly in your local bookstore. Also, Raphael betrays Kubrick's trust by going to print before the release of "Eyes Wide Shut." Well, the dead have no rights, I suppose, but I wish Warner Brothers could sue.
Rating:
Summary: Graverobbing made more grotesque by self-aggrandizement
Review: When I bought this book, I was unaware of either the controversy regarding its propriety or the fact that "memoir" here refers only to the relatively brief time that Raphael worked with Kubrick on Eyes Wide Shut. I'd assumed, wrongly, that the author had been friends with Kubrick for many years. Once barely into the book, I became a bit suspicious of the author: He is prone to needless name-dropping, and frequent, familiar mention of his famous aquaintances and former associates (e.g. Stanley Donen, "Greg Peck.") He also wants us to know how many houses he owns in how many countries, etc. The book is much more about Mr. Raphael and his ego than about Kubrick (and/or his, in spite of Rahpael's pretense of having figured out Kubrick's inner thoughts and motivations.) It's difficult to know exactly how much insight the recalled conversations with Kubrick actually provide, since they are allegedly *recalled* presented as if *recorded.* Assuming that Raphael can be trusted (and according to Kubrick's widow, he cannot,) Stanley was indeed paranoid about public exposure (aren't most aesthetic gods who are "real people?") and a bit oversensitive about being Jewish in a mostly-goy world (although it's possible that Raphael exaggerates this point.) The bottom line, folks, is that this book is not only not worth its price, but exists as an insult to Kubrick's integrity, and the dignity of those who *actually* knew him, as Raphael can only pretend to have, apparently for a quick buck.
Rating: 
Summary: MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR THAN KUBRICK
Review: While this "memoir" is an interesting look behind the adaptation of "Traumnovelle" into "Eyes Wide Shut", Frederic Raphael seems to have a problem getting out of his own way. There is interesting information here; behind-the-scenes, intimate discussions between Kubrick & Raphael, etc. However, Raphael lulls the reader to sleep most of the time blathering on about his own life & career, and trying to impress with his over-use of flowery language. Rather a boring read...
Rating: 
Summary: Rambling Raphael
Review: While this is a "must-have" for any hardcore Kubrick fan, it's no five-star work of literature. The book gets down-right dull whenever Raphael starts talking about his own life and work and you will be skipping a few paragraphs here and there to find the next direct reference to Kubrick. At the end you will find you've learned little to nothing about Kubrick's complex personality... other than it was indeed very complex. But I don't think Raphael is trying to portray Kubrick as a "self-hating Jew," which recent newspaper articles accuse this book of doing. As usual, the media has taken isolated quotes completely out of context.The book's only real worth is that it provides a rare glimpse past the tall hedges and security fences of Kubrick's estate in England, but nothing about rooms and hallways filled with clutter and pets should come as any surprise. Some insight into how Kubrick approached a film during the screenwriting phase could prove enlighting for the serious student, but overall the book ends up feeling like a hack job that was slapped together just to take commercial advantage of Kubrick's recent death and the release of his last film.
Rating: 
Summary: A "Must Read" for Kubrick's fans.
Review: With the fast approaching release of Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut", this book gives the reader an insight to what the legendary director was thinking when he embarked on this, his final project. Frederic Raphael did an excellent job of describing what it was like working with the man. For any Kubrick fan around the world...this one's a must have.
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