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Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Memoir & Autobiography (2022)
Madly Deeply
is a rare invitation into the mind of Alan Rickman—one of the most magnetic, beloved performers of our time.
From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today.
But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances. As you'll find, Rickman's diaries detail the extraordinary and the ordinary, flitting between worldly and witty and gossipy, while remaining utterly candid throughout. He takes us inside his home, on trips with friends across the globe, and on the sets of films and plays ranging from Sense and Sensibility, to Noël Coward's Private Lives, to the final film he directed, A Little Chaos.
Running from 1993 to his death in 2016, the diaries provide singular insight into Rickman's public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close companion. Meet Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveler, the fan, the director, the enthusiast; in short, the man beyond the icon.
Madly, Deeply features a photo insert, a foreword by Emma Thompson, and an afterword by Rima Horton.
From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today.
But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances. As you'll find, Rickman's diaries detail the extraordinary and the ordinary, flitting between worldly and witty and gossipy, while remaining utterly candid throughout. He takes us inside his home, on trips with friends across the globe, and on the sets of films and plays ranging from Sense and Sensibility, to Noël Coward's Private Lives, to the final film he directed, A Little Chaos.
Running from 1993 to his death in 2016, the diaries provide singular insight into Rickman's public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close companion. Meet Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveler, the fan, the director, the enthusiast; in short, the man beyond the icon.
Madly, Deeply features a photo insert, a foreword by Emma Thompson, and an afterword by Rima Horton.
469 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
About the author
Alan Rickman
21 books309 followersAlan Sidney Patrick Rickman was an Emmy-, Golden Globe-, BAFTA- and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning English film, television and stage actor. He was perhaps best known to American film audiences for his roles as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hans Gruber in Die Hard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,571 reviews
Shelved as 'lost-interest'
September 27, 2022I'm not famous but when I die please burn my diaries instead of sharing them with the whole world.
October 7, 2022
This is an unusual book in a lot of ways. It is “authorised” (by Alan Rickman’s estate), and includes an afterword from Rickman’s widow Rima Horton, but, despite some articles claiming that Rickman intended for his diaries to be published, the introduction states that “We do not know whether Alan would like to have seen his diaries published”. That makes what follows a little uncomfortable, especially given the vulnerability and harshness of some of the entries.
I also found it odd that this book has an editor (who wrote the introduction), but no real attempt is made to explain what was edited and why. There are some editorial interventions intended to clarify who people are, or what film Rickman is talking about (etc.), but this isn’t done consistently, and some clarifications are instead given by footnote at the end of the year (which is not very helpful for anyone, like myself, reading an ebook copy). After the diaries (1993-2015), there is an appendix with “a selection of extracts” from Rickman’s occasional earlier diaries (1974-82), but again no explanations are attempted with regards to the editorial process.
Despite having mixed feelings about the way this book has been published, I found Rickman’s diaries a really interesting and enlightening read. There is much that doesn’t really matter, or is not entirely clear (which, again, emphasises the need for a clearer editorial process), but the entries are generally brief, and it is fascinating to get a glimpse inside this man’s head. Rickman makes some excellent points, and I’m left with an urge to (re)watch so many of his (and others’) films, as well as to make more of an effort to visit the theatre.
Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries are moving, thought-provoking, and utterly absorbing. I’m glad that I decided to give this one a go.
I also found it odd that this book has an editor (who wrote the introduction), but no real attempt is made to explain what was edited and why. There are some editorial interventions intended to clarify who people are, or what film Rickman is talking about (etc.), but this isn’t done consistently, and some clarifications are instead given by footnote at the end of the year (which is not very helpful for anyone, like myself, reading an ebook copy). After the diaries (1993-2015), there is an appendix with “a selection of extracts” from Rickman’s occasional earlier diaries (1974-82), but again no explanations are attempted with regards to the editorial process.
Despite having mixed feelings about the way this book has been published, I found Rickman’s diaries a really interesting and enlightening read. There is much that doesn’t really matter, or is not entirely clear (which, again, emphasises the need for a clearer editorial process), but the entries are generally brief, and it is fascinating to get a glimpse inside this man’s head. Rickman makes some excellent points, and I’m left with an urge to (re)watch so many of his (and others’) films, as well as to make more of an effort to visit the theatre.
Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries are moving, thought-provoking, and utterly absorbing. I’m glad that I decided to give this one a go.
Want to read
October 2, 2022Huge sigh of relief that these are being published with the approval of not only Alan Rickman's widow but of Rickman himself since he wrote his volumes of diaries with the intention of having them published one day.
From The Guardian:
I've never read a celebrity memoir before, but this is a life I'm interested in delving into. I'm hoping that although it's 27 volumes being condensed into one book, it still gives us lots of insight into his life and career.
From The Guardian:
Rickman began writing the diaries by hand in the early 1990s, with the intention that they would one day be published [....] He wrote right until his death in 2016, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 69.
I've never read a celebrity memoir before, but this is a life I'm interested in delving into. I'm hoping that although it's 27 volumes being condensed into one book, it still gives us lots of insight into his life and career.
October 29, 2022
This should really have been put into a biography format.
October 19, 2022
I love Alan Rickman and he definitely is funny but it felt like this diary wasn't supposed to be published. Just his thoughts and choppy notes for himself.
December 8, 2022
You're likely to know Mr. Rickman through his work in the Harry Potter films, Die Hard or Love, Actually. I found him through a smaller, throwaway role in a movie called The January Man. Then, of course, as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility. I imagine he would prefer to be remembered for his theatre work, though the majority of that took place in London and far from the world's maddening crowds. He did not construct this book; these are entries from his private journals spanning the years 1993 to 2015, the time of his passing. His notes are brief and bulleted, barely expressing a thought, and those couched among a litany of famous names with whom he had a drink, or dinner, or worked. He rarely opines on these characters, merely listing the people and how the time was spent - so you may think, and be forgiven for doing so, what's the bloody point of all of this?
And that's where things get interesting.
Madly, Deeply is a subtle piece of business and requires more dedication than one is used to expending on content from a posthumous diary. Forty pages in and you're not there yet; not in the state of mind that will make this material matter. His brevity encourages speed, you see; encourages sailing through for a film or a reference; a little dish, an anecdote, an insider's remark, and there's not enough of that to maintain such a pace. You will stall. Count on it. And if, at these moments, you were to pause, to still, to listen very hard, you might actually hear that low-throated voice say, in its trademark cutting tone, "Yes, well, it might be of help if you could manage to pay attention."
There is depth here. A personality emerges, a nature unfolding. Startling in its shift from pragmatism to wistfulness and yearning, then straight back again. But the startling is good, and I'm going to suggest you run with it and resist a preview of the center photographs until you're a few years in. It matters, because it will astonish you in such a wonderful way. More of him comes into view when you see what those journals were and from where this material was taken.
Then, naturally, he writes this:
...I can only hope that when I look again at the '90s (journal) volumes that I can remember the coded details and the sharp thoughts hidden between the safer lines.
Now you will look for them. And a few of them will be found. And there he is.
This was a moving experience for me. Also sad at the end because he wrote next to nothing about the disease that took him; the entries simply grew shorter, terser - not so much an aid to memory as an attempt to etch things in. It is obvious Mr. Rickman's journals were meant to act as reference for a potential memoir; a memoir life did not permit him time to compose. And now he's gone, and grief descends.
And that's where things get interesting.
Madly, Deeply is a subtle piece of business and requires more dedication than one is used to expending on content from a posthumous diary. Forty pages in and you're not there yet; not in the state of mind that will make this material matter. His brevity encourages speed, you see; encourages sailing through for a film or a reference; a little dish, an anecdote, an insider's remark, and there's not enough of that to maintain such a pace. You will stall. Count on it. And if, at these moments, you were to pause, to still, to listen very hard, you might actually hear that low-throated voice say, in its trademark cutting tone, "Yes, well, it might be of help if you could manage to pay attention."
There is depth here. A personality emerges, a nature unfolding. Startling in its shift from pragmatism to wistfulness and yearning, then straight back again. But the startling is good, and I'm going to suggest you run with it and resist a preview of the center photographs until you're a few years in. It matters, because it will astonish you in such a wonderful way. More of him comes into view when you see what those journals were and from where this material was taken.
Then, naturally, he writes this:
...I can only hope that when I look again at the '90s (journal) volumes that I can remember the coded details and the sharp thoughts hidden between the safer lines.
Now you will look for them. And a few of them will be found. And there he is.
This was a moving experience for me. Also sad at the end because he wrote next to nothing about the disease that took him; the entries simply grew shorter, terser - not so much an aid to memory as an attempt to etch things in. It is obvious Mr. Rickman's journals were meant to act as reference for a potential memoir; a memoir life did not permit him time to compose. And now he's gone, and grief descends.
Want to read
October 18, 2022UPDATE: I *know* what ARCS are and how they work. 🥴
someone explain to me how a book that isn't even out yet is already getting 1, 2, and 5-star reviews?
someone explain to me how a book that isn't even out yet is already getting 1, 2, and 5-star reviews?
Shelved as 'dnf-not-my-cup-of-coffee'
November 30, 2022DNF @ 4%
I love reading (auto)biographies, but diaries are another matter altogether. Indeed, some diaries are detailed accounts, almost narratives of events in one's life. This one isn't. The entries in this book are plain, deep, intimate brief thoughts of Rickman's feelings, and it felt wrong somehow to read them.
There is a Guardian article saying that the author wrote the diaries with the thought in mind to publish them at some point. Somehow I very much doubt it. Or maybe he wanted them as the base for an autobiography he didn't get to write anymore. From the few notes I did read, felt like invading someone's inner self, or eavesdropping on someone talking to himself at the end of a long, full day. Maybe if he would have published them when he was alive it would have been a whole different matter. But like this? I just can't.
To me, this book feels like it was published for material purposes only. We all miss Rickman terribly, so a book about his most intimate thoughts would be an instant hit among his fans, which are not few, wouldn't it? And it was, until I opened it. I would have preferred a biography with bits and pieces from his diary, not his soul into the open like this. But this is just me, because I have a deep sense of privacy, for myself and others around me.
Another thing which bothered me was Emma Thompson's foreword; it was gaudy and badly written, misleading even. She was supposed to be one of his closest friends. But is this how a friend talks? I almost thought that she was his wife, and somehow I knew wrong...
"One Christmas Eve party I had a sprig of mistletoe hanging up at home. I was loitering under it and turned to find Alan bearing down on me. I lifted my chin up hopefully. He smiled and approached. I puckered. He leaned in under the mistletoe and a sudden change came over his face. His eyes started to glitter and his nostrils quiver. He lifted up a hand, reached in and pulled a longish hair out of my chin.
'Ouch!' I said.
"That's an incipient beard,' he said, handing me the hair and walking off. That was the thing about Alan. You never knew if you were going to be kissed or unsettled."
Anyway, I think this book will appeal to many, but it is not for me, and it has nothing to do with Alan Rickman's thoughts, feelings or writing. He is and will remain one of my favorite actors and men ever. And my soft spot for his voice will be there forever, along with Fassbender's.
I love reading (auto)biographies, but diaries are another matter altogether. Indeed, some diaries are detailed accounts, almost narratives of events in one's life. This one isn't. The entries in this book are plain, deep, intimate brief thoughts of Rickman's feelings, and it felt wrong somehow to read them.
There is a Guardian article saying that the author wrote the diaries with the thought in mind to publish them at some point. Somehow I very much doubt it. Or maybe he wanted them as the base for an autobiography he didn't get to write anymore. From the few notes I did read, felt like invading someone's inner self, or eavesdropping on someone talking to himself at the end of a long, full day. Maybe if he would have published them when he was alive it would have been a whole different matter. But like this? I just can't.
To me, this book feels like it was published for material purposes only. We all miss Rickman terribly, so a book about his most intimate thoughts would be an instant hit among his fans, which are not few, wouldn't it? And it was, until I opened it. I would have preferred a biography with bits and pieces from his diary, not his soul into the open like this. But this is just me, because I have a deep sense of privacy, for myself and others around me.
Another thing which bothered me was Emma Thompson's foreword; it was gaudy and badly written, misleading even. She was supposed to be one of his closest friends. But is this how a friend talks? I almost thought that she was his wife, and somehow I knew wrong...
"One Christmas Eve party I had a sprig of mistletoe hanging up at home. I was loitering under it and turned to find Alan bearing down on me. I lifted my chin up hopefully. He smiled and approached. I puckered. He leaned in under the mistletoe and a sudden change came over his face. His eyes started to glitter and his nostrils quiver. He lifted up a hand, reached in and pulled a longish hair out of my chin.
'Ouch!' I said.
"That's an incipient beard,' he said, handing me the hair and walking off. That was the thing about Alan. You never knew if you were going to be kissed or unsettled."
Anyway, I think this book will appeal to many, but it is not for me, and it has nothing to do with Alan Rickman's thoughts, feelings or writing. He is and will remain one of my favorite actors and men ever. And my soft spot for his voice will be there forever, along with Fassbender's.
February 12, 2023
Where to begin? These diaries are probably not for everyone. At times Rickman comes across as testy and critical but then you remind yourself of your own private thoughts.
That said, I doubt he really intended these to be published which makes me a little frustrated with myself for reading them.
What does shine through is what a wonderful friend he was. He genuinely seemed to care for a vast number of people often visiting them in the hospital.
He attended a lot of funerals and spoke at many of them.
He was kind and loving to his mother and his aunts and uncles. Truly endearing.
If you watch British shows you will love hearing about all the actors he fellowships with.
Finally as the book gets thinner, the reminder that life is short becomes clearer. To read a diary and know you know something the writer doesn’t know, the date it all ends, is sobering.
I thought halfway through I would like him less for having read his thoughts but I was wrong. I like him even more now.
That said, I doubt he really intended these to be published which makes me a little frustrated with myself for reading them.
What does shine through is what a wonderful friend he was. He genuinely seemed to care for a vast number of people often visiting them in the hospital.
He attended a lot of funerals and spoke at many of them.
He was kind and loving to his mother and his aunts and uncles. Truly endearing.
If you watch British shows you will love hearing about all the actors he fellowships with.
Finally as the book gets thinner, the reminder that life is short becomes clearer. To read a diary and know you know something the writer doesn’t know, the date it all ends, is sobering.
I thought halfway through I would like him less for having read his thoughts but I was wrong. I like him even more now.
November 10, 2022
What a wonderful look into the mind of a talented man, interested in so many things, and able to express his thoughts with humor and flair. This was an immersive experience for me. Reading his most intimate thoughts makes me realize what an important figure we have lost.
My thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt, for my copy of this special book. #Goodreads Giveaway.
My thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt, for my copy of this special book. #Goodreads Giveaway.
December 15, 2022
Not worth the effort for the few random insights he has. Almost none of his ponderings about theatre or movies or politics are fully developed. Frankly, Facebook statuses have more depth than most of these entries. This should never have been published.
Edit: I’ve mentioned this in other places so I should here, as well: I’m guessing these diaries were intended as memory joggers for the memoir he was intending to write, but never got around to. Which is a bummer, but this book is no substitute. Any throughline or overarching conclusions one might arrive at are independent of his experiences.
Edit: I’ve mentioned this in other places so I should here, as well: I’m guessing these diaries were intended as memory joggers for the memoir he was intending to write, but never got around to. Which is a bummer, but this book is no substitute. Any throughline or overarching conclusions one might arrive at are independent of his experiences.
November 20, 2022
I was saddened to hear that Alan Rickman had passed away in 2016. He was an incredible actor and was in many of my favourite films. He played the bad guy so well and will always be my favourite Sherriff of Nottingham. I was so happy to receive this copy of his diaries from the lovely team at Allen and Unwin.
This is not a book that I can review, These are the diaries of a man. A famous man with many famous friends. He travelled alot, and met some amazing people. He has some very strong opinions on certain subjects. He hated being constantly asked about Harry Potter. He had a sense of humour and was much loved in the acting community. It was an honour to be able to learn more about this man. Such a sad loss, just 6 months from diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
This is not a book that I can review, These are the diaries of a man. A famous man with many famous friends. He travelled alot, and met some amazing people. He has some very strong opinions on certain subjects. He hated being constantly asked about Harry Potter. He had a sense of humour and was much loved in the acting community. It was an honour to be able to learn more about this man. Such a sad loss, just 6 months from diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Want to read
August 20, 2022This is a "must buy book" for me.
January 27, 2023
This is not in any way bad. Rickman was an excellent actor, but it’s a diary with lots of dates, lots of mentions of famous people, lots of food and restaurants, lots of funerals, comments on acting technique, but not a lot of introspection.
It’s real shorthand.
If you loved Rickman fine, but for others I can’t see the appeal.
It’s real shorthand.
If you loved Rickman fine, but for others I can’t see the appeal.
November 1, 2022
While it is always fitting to pay tribute to a departed talented performer, it's unclear if this book is an appropriate way to do that for Alan Rickman. Filled with simplistic diary entries, the compiler even admits up front, "We do not know whether Alan would like to have seen his diaries published." It seems his wife decided for the late Rickman that the world had a right to see them.
The book's editor also says that the original diaries were actually over one million words and whittled down here to 450 pages. Yet the book is bloated, mostly filled with nothings--boring everyday facts that have no stories or context. The gems include his going to the dentist for the first time in four years, his seeing a king on an airplane, how he feels during various illnesses, and the comings and goings of his wife. There is a lot about planes, trains, and automobiles that transported him to spots, but rarely anything significant about what happened at those spots or on the way.
There's no sense that you know him much better at the end beyond the dull everyday habits. Since Rickman seemed so mysterious and pent-up, I understand why some cherish any private insight. But what should have happened was a competent biographer use a bit of the material as part of a larger book which would put some of the information in context. Many, if not most, of these diary pages didn't need to be seen by the public. Only mad, deep, diehard fans (pun intended) will want to slog their way through this.
The book's editor also says that the original diaries were actually over one million words and whittled down here to 450 pages. Yet the book is bloated, mostly filled with nothings--boring everyday facts that have no stories or context. The gems include his going to the dentist for the first time in four years, his seeing a king on an airplane, how he feels during various illnesses, and the comings and goings of his wife. There is a lot about planes, trains, and automobiles that transported him to spots, but rarely anything significant about what happened at those spots or on the way.
There's no sense that you know him much better at the end beyond the dull everyday habits. Since Rickman seemed so mysterious and pent-up, I understand why some cherish any private insight. But what should have happened was a competent biographer use a bit of the material as part of a larger book which would put some of the information in context. Many, if not most, of these diary pages didn't need to be seen by the public. Only mad, deep, diehard fans (pun intended) will want to slog their way through this.
December 17, 2022
Alan Rickman, hombre de talento, inteligencia, buen gusto e increíble juicio crítico. En estos, los diarios escritos por el actor entre 1993 y 2015, se nos desvela una fracción de la compleja mente de un hombre que se entregó en plenitud tanto al teatro como al arte cinematográfico, que personificó villanos que han dejado huellas imborrables en la gran pantalla, quién cosechó amistades, inspiró colegas y permaneció generoso de espíritu pero agudo intelectualmente.
Los diarios nos permiten un recorrido por los años más exitosos de su carrera en una constante secuencia de viajes, ensayos, filmaciones, estrenos, lecturas de guiones descartados, análisis de los aceptados y una fuerte e implacable opinión de todo lo anterior. Esto, por supuesto, en compañía de amigos, de Rima, su alma gemela, y de incontables grandes nombres que forjan el universo cinematográfico que conocemos.
La lectura de sus memorias resulta en una experiencia satisfactoria para cualquier admirador de su trabajo y del arte interpretativo en sí mismo. Puede no agradar a todos debido a que Rickman no le temía a conjurar pensamientos críticos o a plasmarlos y porque su veloz y lúcida mente insistían en analizar y sobreanalizar todo aquello de lo que formaba parte. Aun así, no dejaba de ser un hombre cuya profundidad emocional y ansia de significado se halla también plasmada en multitud de páginas.
Gracias, Alan, hasta donde sea que estés por tu arte, tu integridad y la magnitud de tu legado.
Los diarios nos permiten un recorrido por los años más exitosos de su carrera en una constante secuencia de viajes, ensayos, filmaciones, estrenos, lecturas de guiones descartados, análisis de los aceptados y una fuerte e implacable opinión de todo lo anterior. Esto, por supuesto, en compañía de amigos, de Rima, su alma gemela, y de incontables grandes nombres que forjan el universo cinematográfico que conocemos.
La lectura de sus memorias resulta en una experiencia satisfactoria para cualquier admirador de su trabajo y del arte interpretativo en sí mismo. Puede no agradar a todos debido a que Rickman no le temía a conjurar pensamientos críticos o a plasmarlos y porque su veloz y lúcida mente insistían en analizar y sobreanalizar todo aquello de lo que formaba parte. Aun así, no dejaba de ser un hombre cuya profundidad emocional y ansia de significado se halla también plasmada en multitud de páginas.
Gracias, Alan, hasta donde sea que estés por tu arte, tu integridad y la magnitud de tu legado.
December 7, 2023
Дочитав вночі щоденники Алана Рікмана. На останніх сторінках був я, він і його найближче оточення.
Останній допис Рікман зробив 12 грудня, а вже за місяць - 14 січня - помер. У післямові його дружина Ріма розповідала про цей місяць, про їхні зустрічі з друзями та рідними, про те як Рікман до останнього жив повноцінним життям (навіть хотів на НР вирватись потусити), і як сам особисто зрежисував власні похорони (пишу і мурахи шкірою), він обрав хто казатиме промови, яка буде музика, які фрагменти його творчого доробку варто показати…
Я міг поставити цій книжці 1 - вона починається зі слів редактора, який пише, що "невідомо, чи хотів би Алан, щоб його щоденники опублікували". Так, все виглядає ніби Рікман справді хотів цього (писав до останнього), і спадкоємці дали згоду, але остаточної відповіді немає, і це дещо турбує.
Я міг поставити цій книжці 2 - дуже багато імен, п'єс, локацій будуть незнайомі українським читачам.
Я міг поставити цій книжці 3 - у щоденників був редактор, але він не надавав контексту та пояснень (точніше - надав дуже мало контексту та пояснень), і невідомо, що саме редагувалось.
Я міг поставити цій книжці 4 - так, вона дуже класна, емоційна, "шалена, глибока", але звичайний читач буде рухатись десь по діагоналі, десь вчитуватись, десь перечитувати, а це ознака нерівномірності, тому 5 не може бути, але…
…але я поставив 5 з 5. Попри все вищезазначене. Чому? Бо у підсумку книга дала мені нові і дуже сильні емоції. Бо це унікальний досвід - подивитись на світ очима Алана Рікмана, який зіграв Северуса Снейпа, без харизми якого світ ГП був би зовсім іншим. Я ніби занурився у Сито спогадів у 1993 році, і спостерігав за днями з життя Рікмана до його останніх днів 2016 року. Це були десь важливі та знакові моменти, десь щось пусте. Дивився, як він зустрічається з топовими акторами, як готується до п'єс, як відмінно жартує і стібеться (до речі, тіпікал Снейп), як постійно літає по світу, як дивиться телевізор, як пише враження на переглянуті фільми/вистави, як відпочиває з дружиною, як бореться з безсонням, у якому до біса шаленому ритмі живе. Спостерігаєш за тим, як чим далі - тим більше смертей в його оточенні. І як боляче це по ньому б’є. Бо час в цих щоденниках летить, але чи в нашому житті не так? Щодо ритму життя Рікмана - це тотальне навантаження, моментами мені було фізично боляче читати. Особливо як десь за 1-2 роки до смерті, коли він вже мав певні проблеми зі здоров'ям, він пив антибіотики і грав у виставах декілька днів підряд до безпам'ятства. Рікман просто не міг підвести інших, скасувати виставу тощо.
Людина, про яку можна сказати "таких вже не роблять". Людина повністю віддана справі акторства.
І коли ти дочитуєш останні сторінки, коли виринаєш з цього Сита спогадів, то ти не можеш поставити іншу оцінку. Хоча правильніше було б навіть виокремити цю книгу, як таку, яку не варто оцінювати. Бо ти, як читач, можеш пережити унікальний досвід, завдяки тому, що Рікман не лінувався і протягом десятків років робив регулярні нотатки та рефлексії. І є щось містичне в цьому, коли ти за декілька днів можеш фактично прожити життя відомої людини, від її розквіту і до дня смерті. А оцінки та премії - це другорядне, Рікман сам висміював оскарівський комітет і критиків.
Ще більше відгуків та окололітературного шукайте в моєму книжковому блозі в Телеграмі
Останній допис Рікман зробив 12 грудня, а вже за місяць - 14 січня - помер. У післямові його дружина Ріма розповідала про цей місяць, про їхні зустрічі з друзями та рідними, про те як Рікман до останнього жив повноцінним життям (навіть хотів на НР вирватись потусити), і як сам особисто зрежисував власні похорони (пишу і мурахи шкірою), він обрав хто казатиме промови, яка буде музика, які фрагменти його творчого доробку варто показати…
Я міг поставити цій книжці 1 - вона починається зі слів редактора, який пише, що "невідомо, чи хотів би Алан, щоб його щоденники опублікували". Так, все виглядає ніби Рікман справді хотів цього (писав до останнього), і спадкоємці дали згоду, але остаточної відповіді немає, і це дещо турбує.
Я міг поставити цій книжці 2 - дуже багато імен, п'єс, локацій будуть незнайомі українським читачам.
Я міг поставити цій книжці 3 - у щоденників був редактор, але він не надавав контексту та пояснень (точніше - надав дуже мало контексту та пояснень), і невідомо, що саме редагувалось.
Я міг поставити цій книжці 4 - так, вона дуже класна, емоційна, "шалена, глибока", але звичайний читач буде рухатись десь по діагоналі, десь вчитуватись, десь перечитувати, а це ознака нерівномірності, тому 5 не може бути, але…
…але я поставив 5 з 5. Попри все вищезазначене. Чому? Бо у підсумку книга дала мені нові і дуже сильні емоції. Бо це унікальний досвід - подивитись на світ очима Алана Рікмана, який зіграв Северуса Снейпа, без харизми якого світ ГП був би зовсім іншим. Я ніби занурився у Сито спогадів у 1993 році, і спостерігав за днями з життя Рікмана до його останніх днів 2016 року. Це були десь важливі та знакові моменти, десь щось пусте. Дивився, як він зустрічається з топовими акторами, як готується до п'єс, як відмінно жартує і стібеться (до речі, тіпікал Снейп), як постійно літає по світу, як дивиться телевізор, як пише враження на переглянуті фільми/вистави, як відпочиває з дружиною, як бореться з безсонням, у якому до біса шаленому ритмі живе. Спостерігаєш за тим, як чим далі - тим більше смертей в його оточенні. І як боляче це по ньому б’є. Бо час в цих щоденниках летить, але чи в нашому житті не так? Щодо ритму життя Рікмана - це тотальне навантаження, моментами мені було фізично боляче читати. Особливо як десь за 1-2 роки до смерті, коли він вже мав певні проблеми зі здоров'ям, він пив антибіотики і грав у виставах декілька днів підряд до безпам'ятства. Рікман просто не міг підвести інших, скасувати виставу тощо.
Людина, про яку можна сказати "таких вже не роблять". Людина повністю віддана справі акторства.
І коли ти дочитуєш останні сторінки, коли виринаєш з цього Сита спогадів, то ти не можеш поставити іншу оцінку. Хоча правильніше було б навіть виокремити цю книгу, як таку, яку не варто оцінювати. Бо ти, як читач, можеш пережити унікальний досвід, завдяки тому, що Рікман не лінувався і протягом десятків років робив регулярні нотатки та рефлексії. І є щось містичне в цьому, коли ти за декілька днів можеш фактично прожити життя відомої людини, від її розквіту і до дня смерті. А оцінки та премії - це другорядне, Рікман сам висміював оскарівський комітет і критиків.
Ще більше відгуків та окололітературного шукайте в моєму книжковому блозі в Телеграмі
November 21, 2022
Ugh, this makes me sad. It just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought his diaries were being published because they would serve to show the depth of who he was, and instead it was just short journal entries of his day-to-day. There was very little to help one learn anything deeper of he was. Since the beginning states that they don't know if he would have wanted these journals published, I'm going to bet he would have said, "No! They'd be bored to bloody tears!" (LOL - Try reading that NOT in his amazing voice!) You can tell in his writing that these were for him and him alone, and never intended they be put out for public consumption. Not because of anything contained within, but because there's hundreds of journal entries where he refers to people that he knew personally (with no context), and sometimes just initials of people. I hate to say this...but it really feels like a cash grab. You learn more about the person he was from Emma Thompson's Forward, than the whole of the journals. Such a shame, because I would have loved to read a true biography rather than whatever this was intended to be.
On a positive note, I learned how to journal everyday in short soundbites via the way he did it. He didn't always have something profound to say, and sometimes his entries were just about the beautiful day or weather. What has always caused me to fall off everyday journaling is feeling like I had nothing to say about anything. I'm glad I read this for that purpose, because now I sort of have permission (in a way) to write about the mundane...because clearly nothing about another day should be so casually dismissed. *Sigh* I'm still so sad he's gone.
On a positive note, I learned how to journal everyday in short soundbites via the way he did it. He didn't always have something profound to say, and sometimes his entries were just about the beautiful day or weather. What has always caused me to fall off everyday journaling is feeling like I had nothing to say about anything. I'm glad I read this for that purpose, because now I sort of have permission (in a way) to write about the mundane...because clearly nothing about another day should be so casually dismissed. *Sigh* I'm still so sad he's gone.
Shelved as 'unfinished'
November 13, 2022Simon and I began listening to this on our road trip to Springfield, Illinois. We enjoyed the introduction which is written by Emma Thompson and provides her perspective as a friend and fellow actor.
However, we came away unclear as to whether or not Alan Rickman actually intended these diary entries to be published, and to be honest, we had to ask ourselves the question of why we would want to read someone else's diary.
This book contains thoughts written down in the moment rather than a narrative of events, which makes them difficult to listen to and some comments about others perhaps should have been kept private. Simon quickly lost interest. I held on a bit longer, but it was also hard to decipher comments about people who are referred to simply by their initials, where's the fun in that?
Abandoned at about 45 minutes in. The book is 19 hours long, so I will leave it unrated.
However, we came away unclear as to whether or not Alan Rickman actually intended these diary entries to be published, and to be honest, we had to ask ourselves the question of why we would want to read someone else's diary.
This book contains thoughts written down in the moment rather than a narrative of events, which makes them difficult to listen to and some comments about others perhaps should have been kept private. Simon quickly lost interest. I held on a bit longer, but it was also hard to decipher comments about people who are referred to simply by their initials, where's the fun in that?
Abandoned at about 45 minutes in. The book is 19 hours long, so I will leave it unrated.
November 17, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did, though I also didn't dislike it. I've been a Rickman fan since I was a kid--Galaxy Quest was what sealed it for me, and he's one of the few celebrity deaths that genuinely left me distraught.
The excerpts of these diaries that were published were very good, and they were pedaled with the message that he'd written them for publication, so I have been anticipating this book quite eagerly since I first read about a couple of months ago.
But the opening foreword admits that it is not clear if he ever intended for them to be published. The project has the blessing of his widow Rima, but I have really mixed feelings on whether they should have been released without a clearer mandate from him. I have been writing diaries on and off since I was 6 (and seriously since I was 12), and I'd be uncomfortable if someone released mine. Not that anyone wants to read my thoughts compared to Alan Rickman but still. LOL
Overall, their tone is very bitchy. It's a very witty, articulate, well-written, intelligent brand of bitchy--I'd expect nothing less of Rickman. But they're very bitchy all the same. Sometimes that is hilarious--I did genuinely laugh out loud multiple times while reading them--and other times they are quite mean-spirited and acidic. Rickman spends a lot of time sullenly ranting about productions and directors and fellow actors, but many of the details are quite cryptic, so it is often hard to follow what he is mad about, which makes it hard to conclude if he is being reasonable or not. Some of his harshest comments are reserved for seemingly close friends, and I did wonder how they felt about that. He does admit to being difficult in the diaries several times, and the moments he is more self-aware about his rants and his own reputation come off a lot better.
He also is very generous with praise when he thinks it is warranted, which helps even out the harsher aspects of the material, and I liked how often he delved into the mundane aspects of his life. No matter how big of a star you are and how many premieres and fancy parties you attend, you still have to battle home improvement projects and reading your mail, and he often has a sly wit in talking about it.
One highlight for me was his frequent movie reviews. He loved to watch movies and would often sound off with a pithy, insightful 1-2 sentence review. He also enjoyed reading and often mentions titles, though he has much less to say about the books he reads. Rickman was also an avid traveler, with a second home in Italy, and his descriptions of the various places he traveled are especially evocative and well done. Per some of the photos in the book, in the originals, Rickman--who had a background in graphic design--often sketched accompanying images with his entries, and I really wish the publisher had tried to reproduce this aspect.
Overall, I think the diaries would have benefitted from more editorial intervention. The editor does occasionally clarify who or what Rickman is referencing, but it is not consistent and there are large swaths of passages that are almost impossible to follow because Rickman is so inscrutable in his references. Intriguingly, there is an appendix with excerpts from Rickman's earlier diaries in the 70s and 80s when he was a less frequent writer, and I honestly would have preferred reading more of them. He tended to be more open, reflective, and analytical in them than he was once he became a more regular writer.
In any event, these are an uneven, interesting, intriguing behind-the-scenes look at a very talented but cryptic man. The final months of the diary, after Rickman is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, are genuinely heartbreaking. He still tries to maintain his privacy and normal social calendar--even attending a play a couple of hours after receiving the diagnosis and not notifying others of his prognosis for several weeks--and continues to be circumspect in recording the details of his illness in his own personal diary, but the trailing off in his energy is quite palpable and really hard to read.
The excerpts of these diaries that were published were very good, and they were pedaled with the message that he'd written them for publication, so I have been anticipating this book quite eagerly since I first read about a couple of months ago.
But the opening foreword admits that it is not clear if he ever intended for them to be published. The project has the blessing of his widow Rima, but I have really mixed feelings on whether they should have been released without a clearer mandate from him. I have been writing diaries on and off since I was 6 (and seriously since I was 12), and I'd be uncomfortable if someone released mine. Not that anyone wants to read my thoughts compared to Alan Rickman but still. LOL
Overall, their tone is very bitchy. It's a very witty, articulate, well-written, intelligent brand of bitchy--I'd expect nothing less of Rickman. But they're very bitchy all the same. Sometimes that is hilarious--I did genuinely laugh out loud multiple times while reading them--and other times they are quite mean-spirited and acidic. Rickman spends a lot of time sullenly ranting about productions and directors and fellow actors, but many of the details are quite cryptic, so it is often hard to follow what he is mad about, which makes it hard to conclude if he is being reasonable or not. Some of his harshest comments are reserved for seemingly close friends, and I did wonder how they felt about that. He does admit to being difficult in the diaries several times, and the moments he is more self-aware about his rants and his own reputation come off a lot better.
He also is very generous with praise when he thinks it is warranted, which helps even out the harsher aspects of the material, and I liked how often he delved into the mundane aspects of his life. No matter how big of a star you are and how many premieres and fancy parties you attend, you still have to battle home improvement projects and reading your mail, and he often has a sly wit in talking about it.
One highlight for me was his frequent movie reviews. He loved to watch movies and would often sound off with a pithy, insightful 1-2 sentence review. He also enjoyed reading and often mentions titles, though he has much less to say about the books he reads. Rickman was also an avid traveler, with a second home in Italy, and his descriptions of the various places he traveled are especially evocative and well done. Per some of the photos in the book, in the originals, Rickman--who had a background in graphic design--often sketched accompanying images with his entries, and I really wish the publisher had tried to reproduce this aspect.
Overall, I think the diaries would have benefitted from more editorial intervention. The editor does occasionally clarify who or what Rickman is referencing, but it is not consistent and there are large swaths of passages that are almost impossible to follow because Rickman is so inscrutable in his references. Intriguingly, there is an appendix with excerpts from Rickman's earlier diaries in the 70s and 80s when he was a less frequent writer, and I honestly would have preferred reading more of them. He tended to be more open, reflective, and analytical in them than he was once he became a more regular writer.
In any event, these are an uneven, interesting, intriguing behind-the-scenes look at a very talented but cryptic man. The final months of the diary, after Rickman is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, are genuinely heartbreaking. He still tries to maintain his privacy and normal social calendar--even attending a play a couple of hours after receiving the diagnosis and not notifying others of his prognosis for several weeks--and continues to be circumspect in recording the details of his illness in his own personal diary, but the trailing off in his energy is quite palpable and really hard to read.
November 24, 2022
DNF - this book should probably not have been published. It felt to me like a series of notes that Mr.Rickman was making for himself to use to jog his memory in order to publish his own biography one day. Transcribing them into a novel and calling it a diary does his legacy a disservice. I will forever love and cherish this man and would not allow myself to continue reading and have my memories of him altered. Read with this in mind.
Want to read
October 15, 202210/18/22
ALWAYS
ALWAYS
Read
April 25, 2024I revisited “Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman” this weekend after re-watching ‘The Song of Lunch’ starring Rickman and Emma Thompson. I only first watched years ago, but it catapulted to the top of my favorites quickly. I’ve always been a fan of Alan Rickman’s appearances; there’s something special about the two of them together.
The foreword of these curated diary entries is by Emma Thompson. It’s written after he died in 2016. The afterword by his wife. The diary entries span 1993-2015, not every single one or every day, but a general feel.
Prying into someone’s edited diaries… well, it’s not like you’re going to see confessionals; you’ll see mostly the day-to-day. The minutiae, the last minute jotted down thought. Sometimes you’ll see a glimpse of feelings toward something if you read between the lines; sometimes it’s clear as day. Feelings toward, for example, his participation in the Harry Potter films is one of the most interesting aspects for me.
Seeing entries about things that connect with me, like Rickman going to see one of my favorite plays “The History Boys” by Alan Bennett in 2004 (I wouldn’t see it for nearly a decade after 😅) or fly into my home state in the US and talk about what he saw while walking around… it was interesting, but nevertheless one of those things bordering on parasocial 😅
However, since this is an edited and approved collection, it’s not much of a pry. I think he would’ve been confused as to why anyone would be interested in his notebook jottings.
You’ll see notes about ⤵️
✍🏻 Famous People — lots and lots of names. A lot.
✍🏻 Day to Day Stuff — Lunches here, plays there, car ride here, meeting the royals…. on the red carpet or winning a huge award, no big deal 😂
✍🏻 Acting / Job — Movies, producers, theatre, writers, calls, ideas
✍🏻 Harry Potter — yes, a handful of HP. My favorite is about the famous Snape slap on Harry + Ron’s heads
✍🏻 Thoughts — true thoughts about things, not always positive. Sometimes outright snarky or in disagreement with someone or something
Try it if you’re a fan and haven’t read it yet. It may be something you’re surprised to enjoy. The last act of Alan Rickman.
The foreword of these curated diary entries is by Emma Thompson. It’s written after he died in 2016. The afterword by his wife. The diary entries span 1993-2015, not every single one or every day, but a general feel.
Prying into someone’s edited diaries… well, it’s not like you’re going to see confessionals; you’ll see mostly the day-to-day. The minutiae, the last minute jotted down thought. Sometimes you’ll see a glimpse of feelings toward something if you read between the lines; sometimes it’s clear as day. Feelings toward, for example, his participation in the Harry Potter films is one of the most interesting aspects for me.
Seeing entries about things that connect with me, like Rickman going to see one of my favorite plays “The History Boys” by Alan Bennett in 2004 (I wouldn’t see it for nearly a decade after 😅) or fly into my home state in the US and talk about what he saw while walking around… it was interesting, but nevertheless one of those things bordering on parasocial 😅
However, since this is an edited and approved collection, it’s not much of a pry. I think he would’ve been confused as to why anyone would be interested in his notebook jottings.
You’ll see notes about ⤵️
✍🏻 Famous People — lots and lots of names. A lot.
✍🏻 Day to Day Stuff — Lunches here, plays there, car ride here, meeting the royals…. on the red carpet or winning a huge award, no big deal 😂
✍🏻 Acting / Job — Movies, producers, theatre, writers, calls, ideas
✍🏻 Harry Potter — yes, a handful of HP. My favorite is about the famous Snape slap on Harry + Ron’s heads
✍🏻 Thoughts — true thoughts about things, not always positive. Sometimes outright snarky or in disagreement with someone or something
Try it if you’re a fan and haven’t read it yet. It may be something you’re surprised to enjoy. The last act of Alan Rickman.
December 29, 2021
what a terrible book to describe an amazing man
January 17, 2023
Here is a life fully lived. The breadth of work and his dedication to the art of acting, endless social occasions, constant travel and bouts of ill health and the numerous people he knew is exhausting to read. He never stops, even his holidays sound tiring. Ultimately the diaries reveal a man of contadictions: a Labour socialist who lives a life of riches, a massively successful actor who always seems insecure or troubled by his work, a man who can be difficult to get along with but has a huge band of lifelong friends and is immensely popular. The diaries are also refreshingly honest, with many barbed comments left uncensored. Some entries are so brief and some gaps are large, with months passing by with no entries, that there is a sense of a heavy handed editor. These are very much personal thoughts, which were clearly not written to be published, and the writing is less polished than, say, Michael Palin's diaries. It also pays to have Google search standing by as Rickman often omits full names or play and film titles, or a full explanation of events being commented on. The sadness and suddenness of all this life coming to an abrupt end is heartbreaking.
October 22, 2022
Apparently, I reviewed this book/diary in the wrong place. (My iPhone Goodreads app is strange and confusing). So, I’ll try again.
I’m biased because, as I said before, I fell madly, deeply in love with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon.
I’m sure others have their own moments and feelings as he played to perfection the “Bad Guy” in other films.
I’ve seen a lot of 3 star reviews and lower of this work - his official published diary. I guess it didn’t reveal anything juicy or scandalous or, perhaps, it was thought that those parts were taken out.
I’m not hard to please when it concerns Rickman. Just his gorgeous face on the jacket cover of the book is 5 Stars 🌟.
The only thing that would have made the book a 10 is Alan Rickman alive and able to to be the narrator. But, sadly for everyone who loved 🥰 him and his work, he was gone way to soon 😢
I’m biased because, as I said before, I fell madly, deeply in love with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon.
I’m sure others have their own moments and feelings as he played to perfection the “Bad Guy” in other films.
I’ve seen a lot of 3 star reviews and lower of this work - his official published diary. I guess it didn’t reveal anything juicy or scandalous or, perhaps, it was thought that those parts were taken out.
I’m not hard to please when it concerns Rickman. Just his gorgeous face on the jacket cover of the book is 5 Stars 🌟.
The only thing that would have made the book a 10 is Alan Rickman alive and able to to be the narrator. But, sadly for everyone who loved 🥰 him and his work, he was gone way to soon 😢
November 5, 2022
Niemand, der Alan Rickman schätzt, sollte dieses Buch lesen. Es wird ihn/sie nur deprimieren. Es handelt sich um eine Aneinanderreihung von kurzen Schnipseln, die in erster Linie von zwei Dingen handeln: Film- und Theaterarbeiten, bei denen Rickman meistens vom Regisseur und den Schauspielkollegen wenig hält; und von Abendessen mit anderen berühmten Menschen, die aber oft nur mit Vornamen genannt werden (mal in eckigen Klammern dahinter ergänzt, mal in den Fußnoten, mal gar nicht).
Ich nehme an, dass das Tagebuch auch mehr private Einträge enthielt, die – das ist ja richtig – die Öffentlichkeit nichts angehen und deshalb nicht enthalten sind. Aber so wie es veröffentlicht wurde, bleibt es oberflächlich und erklärt mir nichts über den Schauspieler. Ich sehe nicht, wie er Rollen auswählt und sich vorbereitet, sondern man wird immer wieder überrascht in einen ersten Drehtag geworfen und hört da zum ersten Mal den Namen des Films. Ich lerne nichts darüber, wie Rickman zu seiner Kunst, seinem Handwerk steht. Es gibt keine Reflexionen.
Doch, am Ende sind noch Passagen aus einer früherer Tagebuchzeit, den 1970ern, angehängt. Da handelt es sich tatsächlich um Gedanken über den Beruf des Schauspielers, die Erfahrungen in bestimmten Stücken, Rollen… Das gefiel mir ganz gut, aber es handelt sich nur um eine handvoll Seiten in diesem überlangen und unerquicklichen Werk, das wohl nur dazu dient, mit einem großen Namen Kohle zu machen.
Ich nehme an, dass das Tagebuch auch mehr private Einträge enthielt, die – das ist ja richtig – die Öffentlichkeit nichts angehen und deshalb nicht enthalten sind. Aber so wie es veröffentlicht wurde, bleibt es oberflächlich und erklärt mir nichts über den Schauspieler. Ich sehe nicht, wie er Rollen auswählt und sich vorbereitet, sondern man wird immer wieder überrascht in einen ersten Drehtag geworfen und hört da zum ersten Mal den Namen des Films. Ich lerne nichts darüber, wie Rickman zu seiner Kunst, seinem Handwerk steht. Es gibt keine Reflexionen.
Doch, am Ende sind noch Passagen aus einer früherer Tagebuchzeit, den 1970ern, angehängt. Da handelt es sich tatsächlich um Gedanken über den Beruf des Schauspielers, die Erfahrungen in bestimmten Stücken, Rollen… Das gefiel mir ganz gut, aber es handelt sich nur um eine handvoll Seiten in diesem überlangen und unerquicklichen Werk, das wohl nur dazu dient, mit einem großen Namen Kohle zu machen.
November 25, 2022
Alan Rickman has been one of those lowkey actors that I enjoyed when he was in a movie. My first taste of his work was when I was 6 years old, my dad knew I loved Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. I wore that VHS out. He was so damn hilarious evil in that movie and he *knew it*.
I was in the Harry Potter craze while it went down and when they announced the role of Snape, I knew I wanted him to play the role. When he was cast I was so pleased.
So when he had passed, I took it hard. I may have not seen every movie he was in by then but I knew a lot more of his choices and his focus more or less towards theater.
This book would be a star more probably if I lived in he UK. He focuses on a lot of poltical changes that he had opinions about. He was very anti-Torry. He loved to bitch about US politics - mainly the war in Iraq and the Bush family. He loved the Obama period. He was such a caring individual that he had so many various charities and funds he supported.
I also learned the following:
- He was very self critical of himself. He hated when people dicked around while filming.
- He disliked Elaine Paige - lol.
- He loved seeing musicals (disliked Love Never Dies and Mamma Mia!)
- He HATED award ceremonies and critics, he found them pompous and the critics were always off the mark.
- If extras were being treated on set or there was injustice on a set he was NOT afraid of calling it out.
- He sued Fox for using his likeness / scenes from Die Hard in Die Hard 3 because he wasn't paid.
- He was very private, shy, but witty and funny around the right people.
- He loved singing in Sweeney Todd and Pretty Women was his favorite bit.
- He was a HUGE Jane Austen fan. Turned down Persuasion because he felt the 1995 script was shit. He accepted Sense and Sensibility because the script was good and the cast was as well. Though he did feel the scenes with the men were cut drastically.
All in all, there are some hilarious bits too where he criticizes various actors and or movies. I learned so much about him and he was everything that Emma Thompson said he was in the Foreward. If you a fan of film and Alan's work, I recommend this.
I was in the Harry Potter craze while it went down and when they announced the role of Snape, I knew I wanted him to play the role. When he was cast I was so pleased.
So when he had passed, I took it hard. I may have not seen every movie he was in by then but I knew a lot more of his choices and his focus more or less towards theater.
This book would be a star more probably if I lived in he UK. He focuses on a lot of poltical changes that he had opinions about. He was very anti-Torry. He loved to bitch about US politics - mainly the war in Iraq and the Bush family. He loved the Obama period. He was such a caring individual that he had so many various charities and funds he supported.
I also learned the following:
- He was very self critical of himself. He hated when people dicked around while filming.
- He disliked Elaine Paige - lol.
- He loved seeing musicals (disliked Love Never Dies and Mamma Mia!)
- He HATED award ceremonies and critics, he found them pompous and the critics were always off the mark.
- If extras were being treated on set or there was injustice on a set he was NOT afraid of calling it out.
- He sued Fox for using his likeness / scenes from Die Hard in Die Hard 3 because he wasn't paid.
- He was very private, shy, but witty and funny around the right people.
- He loved singing in Sweeney Todd and Pretty Women was his favorite bit.
- He was a HUGE Jane Austen fan. Turned down Persuasion because he felt the 1995 script was shit. He accepted Sense and Sensibility because the script was good and the cast was as well. Though he did feel the scenes with the men were cut drastically.
All in all, there are some hilarious bits too where he criticizes various actors and or movies. I learned so much about him and he was everything that Emma Thompson said he was in the Foreward. If you a fan of film and Alan's work, I recommend this.
October 8, 2022
This was such a hard read.
There was an obvious slash of privacy crossed in this eye-opening, honest book of colourful thoughts, mixed feelings, uncensored opinions and very harsh critiques -most about himself. I found out, this man with the 'to die for' facial bone structure - which he was openly known for (and celebrated!) was insecure, funny, inspirational, thoughtful, wise and sometimes grumpy. I think I like him even more now.
His life was acting. He gave himself to it, was obsessed and breathed with passion for it, I lost count how many directors he fell out with and laughed along with his frustrations and lengthy descriptions. This is a raw look at an actors life that gave so much to the industry but alos gave to others. He was a socialite, driven and liked by 'most' who met him. The books has A LOT of celeb name dropping but that is to be expected from the theatre tycoon.
Although I enjoyed this immensely I found it wasn't an easy read. It's a 'twitter feed' for some of his past years and even though there were sub notes at the bottom it was hard to know if the next day followed on from the previous entry with the same people or new. It was raw and unfiltered and for that it was well worth the read. I certainly feel like I know him personally and I so gutted I didn't get to meet him.
How rare opportunity to see things through an experienced actors eyes.
Like I said. A hard read but well worth it.
There was an obvious slash of privacy crossed in this eye-opening, honest book of colourful thoughts, mixed feelings, uncensored opinions and very harsh critiques -most about himself. I found out, this man with the 'to die for' facial bone structure - which he was openly known for (and celebrated!) was insecure, funny, inspirational, thoughtful, wise and sometimes grumpy. I think I like him even more now.
His life was acting. He gave himself to it, was obsessed and breathed with passion for it, I lost count how many directors he fell out with and laughed along with his frustrations and lengthy descriptions. This is a raw look at an actors life that gave so much to the industry but alos gave to others. He was a socialite, driven and liked by 'most' who met him. The books has A LOT of celeb name dropping but that is to be expected from the theatre tycoon.
Although I enjoyed this immensely I found it wasn't an easy read. It's a 'twitter feed' for some of his past years and even though there were sub notes at the bottom it was hard to know if the next day followed on from the previous entry with the same people or new. It was raw and unfiltered and for that it was well worth the read. I certainly feel like I know him personally and I so gutted I didn't get to meet him.
How rare opportunity to see things through an experienced actors eyes.
Like I said. A hard read but well worth it.
June 13, 2023
Nádherné na tom je, že jsou to deníky Alana Rickmana. Poznáme jeho vnímání (nejen uměleckého) světa. Jak se mu pracovalo na různých filmech a divadelních hrách a zároveň jak „obyčejný“ život žil (např. co jedl). Překvapilo mě, kolik času strávil na cestách. Líbilo se mi, že jsem mohla nakouknout do Alanova světa. (A utěšovalo mě, že jsem se předem někde dočetla, že deníky psal s vidinou, že třeba jednou vyjdou jako kniha. Tudíž jsem neměla pocit, že se mu šťourám v soukromí.) Ale na druhou stranu… Jsou to soukromé deníky. Zatímco pro Alana mohlo být ledacos cennou vzpomínkou, pro cizí čtenáře je to naprosto nezáživná a nicneříkající informace. Tleskám vysvětlivkám, bez těch by byli čtenáři úplně nahraní. Zkrátka není to beletrie, nečte se to „lehce“. Ale jsem ráda, že jsem si deníky přečetla.
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