Product Description: In vivid, cinematic sketches, international star Gabriel Byrne, executive producer of the Academy Award-nominated In the Name of the Father, leads readers through his career from stage to screen and his current interests in diction and production, and shares his impressions of Hollywood, New York, and his native Ireland. 36 photos.
Charm and humor told with wit and warmth... Because I had written a few blog entries complaining about the popularity of the my-horrible-childhood genre of books someone suggested I read this book. I knew Byrne as an actor but little else about him but his skill as a writer and a storyteller is equally evident. The story of his growing up years in Dublin is charming and told with affection and humor --- such a refreshing change from other recent books about Irish childhoods! Byrne's youth was neither better nor worse than other such stories but the warmth of his narration made the story so much more believable.
His stories about his beginnings as an actor, his anecdotes about his fellow actors, and his love of the people of Ireland is told with wit, amusement and a tenderness that allows the reader to see into the lives of others through the eyes of someone who seems a genuinely warm and loving person --- not something often found in Hollywood memoirs. I particularly loved the little vignettes of his fellow actors including Liam Neeson, Michael Cain (whose mother couldn't understand why no one hung out laundry in Hollywood), and his ex-wife Ellen Barkin. In fact, I was so charmed by the quality of the narration that I bought the audio book just so I could hear his lovely Irish brogue as he told the stories. What a treat that was! He has a gift for narration that made me think I was actually listening to Richard Burton, the cast of "The Quiet Man", and one utterly lovely story told in the voice of a "tinker", one of the traveling people of Ireland.
This is a beautiful, warm collection of stories told with affection and humor that gives the reader insight into a world few of us get to see and even more insight into the character of a genuinely loving and admirable writer.
A compelling triump "Pictures in My Head" demonstrates Gabriel Byrne's uncanny ability to convey the essence of time and place with an economy of words. This slim volume of vignettes from Mr. Byrne's life transports the reader from his early childhood through his success in Hollywood as an adult until 1995.
Mr. Byrne's writing is unique and lyrical. His style of writing mimics the disjointed, natural flow of internal thinking, jumping from one fragment of an idea to another. For that reason, in addition to vocabulary and cultural references unfamiliar to the American reader, the text is sometimes difficult to digest upon first reading. Many passages require a second pass, but upon re-reading I found myself effectively transported into Mr. Byrne's world. The title of the book "Pictures in My Head" perfectly embodies the essence of what this book is about.
The stories from the early part of Mr. Byrne's life are particularly enthralling. The retelling of events of his early childhood in Ireland include incredible detail. Mr. Byrne has the rare talent of recalling small details that most people wouldn't notice, much less recall. Rarer still is his ability to then take those small details, recount them and essentially capture a moment with words. However, I agree with another reviewer who found the second half of the book less satisfying. In addition to seeming a bit more rushed, Mr. Byrne's desire to protect the privacy of his friends, family and himself in the second half of the book unfortunately hinders his ability to write with the same freedom and compelling detail that made the first half of the book so captivating.
Despite this criticism, the same honesty, intelligence and sensitivity that contribute to Mr. Byrne's success as an actor translates well into his foray as an author. "Pictures in My Head" is a compelling triumph. Gabriel Byrne's capacity for conveying the beauty and poignancy of life as a human being is remarkably gripping. I sincerely hope Mr. Byrne will continue to write.
Nice, But Lacking This is a very sweet book, written by a wonderful actor. Sadly, it lacks a few things. Details, for one. It's very good in some places, and then it seems to rush on when you want to know more. And it jumps around like "Pride and Prejudice"...I had a hard time keeping track of where he was in his life.
All in all, it's a nice story. However, if you read this and "Angela's Ashes" right tight together, you realize something. You realize that even though you thought at first that Gabriel had it kind of bad growing up, he is almost a spoiled little rich kid, compared to Frank McCourt. Let's see some real life, here!
Vivid I get the impression that Mr. Byrne is superbly sensitive to his surroundings and absorbs everything. I envy his photographic memory and ability to live completely in the moment. :o) This is the perfect book to curl up with under your favorite green soft blanket.
I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK I must say this book really surprised me! I got it as a Christmas present last year, and I never expected it, because I had only been a Gabriel Byrne friend for about three months or so, but after I had read it, I felt I knew Gabriel personally. I have never met him, but I am longing to see him. The book is very well written, so I wonder why he doesn't write more. Probably because he doesn't have time... I'm awaiting his new film or book. Whatever it is, I'll buy it. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed. If you're a Byrne fan, it's a must! If you're not, after reading the book, you will be!
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