Rating: Summary: Disappointing Review: A clever look at Murray's life long fascination with golf, but lacking in depth. For those looking for any insight into Murray look elsewhere. Padded with extra commentary by golf pros, PGA officials and friends this book will often bring a smile to your face but it is ultimately forgettable.
Rating: Summary: Not a Masterspiece Review: bill murray is probably my favorite actor of all time, so naturally i wanted this book, albeit my lack of interest in golf. i was disappointed however, because it does not offer any of the things one (well, i) hoped for. the book does not head in any direction - the biographical info is completely wacko-chronistic. it does not go into any detail on bill's movie (ghostbusters? stripes?) or television (snl??) career. there is not even any conclusion/closure or insight at the end to leave fulfillment. basically, the book is a bunch of golf stories tossed together into a book, and promoted as a biography. of course, that is just not my type of book. others will love this for what it is.
Rating: Summary: Everything I expected Review: Hey, it's a book on golf written by Bill Murray. I didn't expect an intense discussion on golf...I didn't expect an intense discussion on Bill's life. I expected a funny, witty, clever, and subtlely wise book about some of Bill's adventures and lessons learned from golf and life. And that's what I got.It's one of the few books I read from cover to cover in one sitting. It was that funny, witty, clever, and subtlely wise...to me anyways...
Rating: Summary: Comme ci, comme ca Review: I had to read some sections twice to figure out what Murray was talking about. It reads like one of his side-of-the-mouth monologues. You have to be hooked into Murray's wavelength to appreciate it. It would be much funnier to see him read this, to see his dancing eyes, his sly expressions, etc. These words often just lie there on the page. If you don't use your imagination, you won't find this funny. A good editor would have cleaned up a lot of the confusion, but Peper fell down on the job. It's worth a read if you can expend the effort. If you want something easy and accessible, this isn't for you.
Rating: Summary: Erratic and rambling stories bog down wonderful concept. Review: I really had high hopes for this book. Sounded to good to be true, and it was. Murray's writing is rambling and unfocused, and while there are the occasional amusing stories I mostly found myself asking what in the world he was talking about. Shame, too, because I really am a big fan of Bill Murray.
Rating: Summary: Terrific trip through the life and times of Bill Murray Review: I thought this was a terrific book. It stands head and shoulders over most of the books that comic actors churn out that amount to little more than monologues posing as chapters. This book is a must for any Bill Murray fan, or, judging by some of these reviews, it's at least a must for Bill Murray fans who are capable of weeding through Bill's elliptical anecdotes. Sure, his stream-of-conciousness style may require a little patience, but the payoffs are worth the patience, I assure you. After reading it, I felt like I just spent the afternoon on Bill's back porch hearing all of his best stories, from his escapades on the links to his days growing up in Illinois to grand tales about making "Caddyshack." One of my favorite stories was about he wound up going to head to head in a golf tournament against John Denver, and how he tried to break Denver's concentration by exhorting the crowd to belt out some Rocky Mountain High harmonies. Great read.
Rating: Summary: Funny stories of growing up with golf and being Bill Murray Review: If you are a fan of Bill Murray's and a golfer you want to like this book a lot. Little disappoints in this volumn and it is a lot of fun to read. I laughed out loud at least once in every chapter. The remarkable thing about this book is just how much a part of Bill Murray's life golf really is -- and just how much a part of golf Bill Murray has become. This is by no means a literary masterpiece, in fact, in several spots the reader is sure to wonder if any one proof-read this for continuity. However, this book does a great job in bringing the reader into the "never a dull moment" golf-life of Bill Murray. I'm left to wonder what would a Bill Murray celebrity pro-am be like -- probably a "caddy challenge match" and more fun people have had in years. A good read, that leaves you happier, if not better, for having read it.
Rating: Summary: Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf By: Bill Murray Review: Not only is Bill Murray a great comedian, he is also a good writer. I found this book very enjoyable and extremely funny. For a man who has never written a book before, I believe Bill has done an excellent job. From the very beginning you can tell that Bill has his very own style of writing, the dedication page says it all. (Pg. V to VI). In my opinion, Bill also puts a lot of voice into this book because he is reflecting on his own personal experiences. (Pg. 4, second paragraph). Bill, much like in acting, never has a serious moment throughout the book; it's all about the laughs. (Pg. 3). Above all though, I noticed that when reading this book, it's as if you aren't reading the book, but listening to Bill give a stand-up comedy routine or sitting at a bar sharing a drink with him. There is no book, its just stories. He is just reminiscing about the past, be it about golf or otherwise. Bill's stories really have no start or finish, but just lead into another, funnier one. (Pg. 210 to 211). If I had to sum this book up in one word, it would be simply hilarious.
Rating: Summary: Freeze, Murray! Review: The old saying about *assuming* goes a long way in Bill Murray's "Cinderella Story." In the hundred or so celeb penned books I've read one can usually see the author speaking their words. I assumed such here. Unfortunately, finding Bill was a tad difficult. Readers will hear him in his retorts to friends & colleagues and in the reminisces of family times with brothers Ed & Brian. Otherwise, Bill is buried and rarely surfaces. Convoluted and confusing, the book jumps from one thought thread to the next never allowing the reader to knit an entire understandable story. Think Carl Spackler without his medication. On his meds, Carl may have made a more humorous read. Not making this any easier to digest were the numerous editorial errors. Grammatical mistakes & typos hindered this work tremendously. I spent more time re-reading sentences hoping it was my fault and not Doubleday's. They've either got to start paying these copy folks more money or hire people who can edit with some actual sense of ability. Too much of co-author George Peper? Perhaps. Not on par. Definately. Barbara (TwisterB) (c) 1999
Rating: Summary: Incoherent and not funny Review: Yes, Bill Murray is one of the best comedic actors of any Hollywood era. Yes, "Caddyshack" is every bit the cinematic masterpiece people in the know tout it as, even if no published critic in the world agrees. Yes, Murray's persona and his golf background would seemingly make for a diverting read. But Cinderella Story is decidedly not that read. It's a mess of a book, written sloppily and fairly joke-free. Big type and generous spacing make Cinderella Story about as long as this review (not very). But even in that small a frame, it becomes clear that Murray's gifts are strictly in performance and not in writing. Stories run into each other, coming out of nowhere, and only to mention some of the famous folks Murray has hit the links with (Michael Jordan, Clint Eastwood, etc.). Those stories are rarely interesting, and are told without any sense of structure. Murray (or his ghostwriter George Peper, who apparently needs a ghostwriter of his own) jumps from one story to another and back without helping the reader keep everything sorted out. Superior literary humorists, like Bill Bryson, have a talent for telling anecdotes in a concise, purposeful fashion. That's what's missing here. Only a brief, and I mean brief, recalling of the original "Cinderella story" scene from "Caddyshack" offers readers any enjoyment. The rest is muddled and ultimately boring. Other sections of the book include pictures and filler anecdotes from other people telling stories about how funny Murray is. If only this book was. Look, Bill Murray is an outstanding comedian who is woefully underrated as a true actor. But Cinderella Story only makes you want to see him do what he does best, and not read what does poorly.
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