Author Ben Bryant’s Hollywood Memoir: 2nd Review
- Posted on 11th September 2013
- in celebrity books, celebrity stories online, celebrity story, Entertainment, entertainment books, funny celebrity stories, Hollywood books, Hollywood memoirs
- by Ben
I’m happy to announce that the second review of Three Stages my (unintentional)
Hollywood Memoir,
volume one of my autobiographical series, was excellent. Here it is.
‘Three Stages’ Shares a Look Behind the Scenes of Show Business
A Book Review of Ben Bryant’s First Volume of Memoirs
Mary Beth Magee, Yahoo! Contributor Network May 27, 2013
“Ben Bryant has worn many hats over the decades: student, athlete, musician, singer, actor and more. In “Three Stages: Bristol – Hollywood – New York,” he tells the early part of his story and invites readers to share his experiences. This is the first of a series on his kaleidoscopic life.
Author Ben Bryant’s “Three Stages”
“Unlike many Hollywood memoirs, this book examines more of the fun side of the entertainment industry. Bryant doesn’t sugarcoat the events, but he doesn’t go looking for downside negatives, either. He doesn’t spend his pages bashing others.
“Because he worked behind the scenes as well as in front of the set, he can share many perspectives. Commercial work, traveling companies, summer stock – Bryant has done these things and more. He’s played leading parts and supporting roles along the way and seems to have had a blast with nearly all of it.
“Bryant brings an enthusiasm to his narrative that is often lacking from memoirs. He also shares honestly about the quality of his memories with a disclaimer along the lines of “This may not be exactly how it happened but it is how I remember it.” People involved in the story often add their point of view on the events in the text.
“As might be expected of a story set that covers thirty-seven years of an attractive young man’s life, there are sexual encounters. Unlike many such books, Bryant handles the events with refreshing discretion. There are no embarrassing discussions, only an observation that such did occur. Very classy.
“Because part of story takes place in the 1960s, there is some description of recreational drug use. The book is not about a bunch of drugged out losers. It follows a talented man and his associates who happen to use drugs sometimes.
“Three Stages” includes a number of photographs of people and places that played roles in Bryant’s life. They illustrate an ongoing conversation about a life lived to the hilt and how Bryant has grown into new roles along the way. From Bristol, Tennessee to the glitter of Hollywood and the hustle of The Big Apple, Bryant shares the ride with his readers in a joyous recounting of the journey.
“Bryant anticipates a trilogy for the series. The second volume, tentatively titled “Circumstances Beyond My Control,” will pick up with his retirement from the stage in 1972 and continue through the 1990s.
“The book is delightfully written and easy to read. If you like show business stories, you’ll find “Three Stages” captivating. Fans of late twentieth century history will revel in the cross country panorama Bryant shares. If you simply enjoy a good adventure yarn, you’ll enjoy Bryant’s story. You’ll laugh, you’ll shake your head in bemusement sometimes and you’ll just have a good time reading “Three Stages.”
Circumstances Beyond My Control, the second of my (still unintentional) celebrity books, was published in September 2013 and is filled with my adventures in the film making world, this time from the other side of the camera.
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