Up Till Now: The Autobiography by William Shatner, David Fisher
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Book Reviews of Up Till Now: The Autobiography
Book Review: Worthwhile and Substantive, but Somewhat Uneven
Summary: 4 Stars
I just finished reading Up Till Now and feel inclined to comment. I enjoyed the book enormously, but have some minor complaints. For the last dozen years I've taught literature and composition at the college level, so I'm used to carefully examining what I read in terms of style and usage.
The tone of this book is quite different than Bill's previous autobiographical works. This is presumably due to co-writer David Fisher's approach and prose style differing from Chris Kreski's. The earlier books presented a consistent, if somewhat workmanlike, organization and textual style while Up Till Now is more inconsistent and less linear. Like most celebrity memoirs, it appears the book was compiled from Bill's recorded anecdotal ruminations and numerous sections are presented verbatim in a voice that sounds much like Bill's. Fisher's approach was likely to organize the material and provide bridging prose to logically link the anecdotes. Kreski seemed to collate the memories and render the material in his own version of Bill's voice. Along with editorial tinkering, the different approach would account for the fluctuations of tone in the new book. The informational arrangement is somewhat chronological, mitigated by attempts to also arrange the material thematically. This is always an awkward strategy and I've never seen it done with complete success. Someone also had the lamentable idea of frequently interrupting Bill's many interesting stories with trivial asides and jovial sales pitches for [...]. While we all know Bill as a marvelous pitchman, this technique quickly becomes irksome when frequently repeated on the printed page. Perhaps it will be more effective in the audiobook version. These elements necessarily make for inconsistent reading, and while this is a book of quality, this is also a book to be read in short spurts. Please don't misunderstand me. It's certainly readable and without glaring typographical or grammatical problems, but Bill's earlier memoirs made for more consistent reading from a stylistic perspective. Also, as I'm sure someone must have pointed out by now, the photo from Cannes is missing from the insert section. Although Bill didn't appear in the animated film, I doubt the empty white box was meant as a joke.
As for the actual content: There's a nice mix between the oft-repeated familiar stories and new material. As a longtime Shatner fan I'm grateful to have the book and relish the insights it provides. Much of the writing is extraordinary. The section describing Nerine's alcoholism and death is one of the most beautiful and poignant things I've read in a long time. It moved this jaded and critical reader to tears. The insights into Bill's acting philosophy, his quest for metaphysical meaning and his evolving friendhips with Leonard Nimoy and James Spader are welcome and satisfying.
If anything, the book's main flaw in terms of content is that it tries to cover too much ground. A career and life as substantial and varied as Bill's simply cannot be covered in a single 342 page memoir. I would rather this were one of two volumes--the first covering his early life and career up to perhaps the cancellation of the original Star Trek, and the second to cover the years since. It's too late now, but perhaps Bill might consider another book comprised of anecdotes about his acting jobs through the years (along the lines of the Basil Rathbone story in the book), because a career of his longevity necessarily means they were given short shrift in the present work. The ones here are terrific. So much is covered in this one book that it becomes dizzying at times, but then I imagine Bill's life is pretty dizzying at times.
In conclusion, even with my minor complaints, I heartily recommend this book to anyone ever touched or amused by a Shatner performance through the years. It's a unique opportunity to glimpse the soul behind the constantly metamorphizing showman and man that is William Shatner. It's a fitting epitaph, up till now, for a life that hopefully has many more chapters.
Book Review: Shatner's Log: Stardate 9529.1
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very enjoyable book, easy and fun to read and at times, I laughed out loud. There are also moments of great sadness. It is flawed only by Mr. Shatner's own interruptions that often destroy the flow of a good story.
The book traces Mr. Shatner's career in show business and the path to "make him a star." It is not an easy path. Even after getting several breaks, Mr. Shatner turns down a $500 a week, five-year contract with MGM and the role that Robert Reed got on the Defenders. He had hoped for something bigger and was always waiting for it.
Of course, it came with Star Trek, although it was a bit hard to realize at the time. One of the most interesting parts of the book is his insight and behind the scenes information on Leonard Nimoy. More than learning about their differences in the beginning, and later friendship, we discover the event that strained the relationship between Mr. Nimoy and Gene Roddenberry. We learn about Leonard Nimoy's alcoholism and how he struggled with it. This becomes even more important when we learn about Mr. Shatner third wife and her struggle with the same disease.
The book does not shy away for the animosity that many of the Star Trek regulars had towards him, why they did and how he addressed it. It also doesn't hide the fact of his long struggle to make money and keep it for him and his family. Star Trek does not at all monopolize the book but it is certainly always in the background as it will as be in his. It was refreshing to read his take on why the first ST movie was not a great one and how the company really messed up his attempt to direct ST 5. It was not what I had thought.
There are some very funny, and insightful, stage moments, some with Yul Brenner, Frances Nuyen, and my favorite, laugh out loud moment, when he was on stage with Walter Mathieu. As with any good biography, it gives you an insight not just of the man, but also of the profession.
We also learn about the struggles and the bad times. His first two marriages end in divorce and he blames himself, but he does not go into detail, he does not say anything really damaging about those wives. The story of his third wife, an alcoholic is just overwhelming sad, especially, of course at the end. It was very interesting to see a "celebrity's" view of an intruding press at this kind of sad event. . We also learn about the loss of his father. His love for his daughters is always there and we learn how he became enthralled with horses. His meeting with Chris Reeve, after the accidents, was compelling.
Shatner finds humor everywhere, even in the most tragic places and that helps us get through the book. I had difficulty with two items. He interrupts the book, in the beginning, in mid sentence and gives, what I thought was a comic take on commercials, using his own website. However, he doesn't know when to stop. He does it throughout the book and just when you are getting interested in a topic, he "goes to commercial." Boy, did it stop being funny fast. In addition, in listing the licensing items for Star Trek, he not only goes on FOR PAGES, just listing items, but as if it was a commercial interrupts with that too. He also had trouble starting the book, for the first few pages, he tells you how he will not start the book. Well, then,he is actually starting it then, the way he doesn't want to.
Finally, it is only about 350 pages so you cannot go into great depth on everything. However, there are very interesting stories on TJ Hooker and the cast and Boston legal and its cast. We even get background on 911, Third Planet and Tek war. We learn about the man and why he needs to work so much and so often.
Let me leave on a humorous note. Shatner is driving to an outdoor site, to film part of a Start Trek movie at 4:30 in the morning, wearing his Captain's uniform . Speeding, he is stopped by a cop who asks, "Where are you going?"
"To my spaceship" said Shatner.
"OK, Go ahead. Oh, and live long and prosper."
He has.
Book Review: Wish I could give this one five stars...
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been a huge Shatner fan for so many years so I knew I had to read this book. Let me start off by saying that Shatner has his fans and he has his critics. You might have people in group one that thinks he's a terrific actor and group 2 consists of the people that thinks he's a ham, can't act at all, he's an egomaniac, etc. I think both of these groups can at least agree on one thing: Shatner's been around for a long time. He's had/still has staying power. He easily could've been a flash in the pan but he has lasted for so long. He's a legendary icon.You gotta give him props on that.
I wish I could say that this book deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately I can't do that/say that. Truth of the matter is that he did a couple of things in this book that left me scratching my head. The advertising space was something that should've been left out or moved to the back of the book. I kinda got annoyed by the fact that I'm reading something interesting and the story pauses for him to plug his website/merchandise on website. I don't think I would've been as bothered if he'd had waited until the book was over and the last few pages showed pictures of some of the stuff you can find on his website. I wouldn't have been bothered. It makes me wonder why he chose that route to begin with? You have to admit it's a strange way of doing it. Advertise in the back and you'll still get people to maybe go to your site and purchase things. He'll make money. I'm not sure if it was some clever commentary on his part--you know how you're watching an interesting tv show or movie and you're on the edge of your seat and then whatever you're watching goes to commercial. You let out a groan and sit back down in your seat because you know it'll be 5 or 6 minutes before the action picks up again. He might've been thinking: "Okay, it won't take you 5 or 6 minutes to read my plug but I've got you hooked enough that you'll want to read the plug as fast as possible so you can pick back up reading the story." I'm just not sure.
Second thing I didn't like was the way he interrupted some of the stories. This is different from the advertising space issue. I prefer to read one story before jumping onto another story. I have to admit I got to the first part where he lists a lot of Star Trek memorabilia and I just thought it was ridiculous. It made me think of something that was popular when I was a kid. You've got white space on a page and somebody will write "I'm just writing this to take up space." And the person will write one word at a time for each line and add a word for the next line. Example: (Line 1) I'm. (Line 2) I'm just. (Line 3) I'm just writing. You get my point. It seemed bizarre to me. You're 77 years old and you've lived a long life and had a long career. You don't have to resort to filling your book up with mumbo jumbo in order to fill up space. I don't have ADD/ADHD but it drove me nuts when he'd interrupt a story to tell another story. Expect jumping around anytime you see (...) in the book.
I know it might seem like I have a lot of complaints. I apparently disliked the book to complain about anything at all. That's not true. I thought the book was very interesting and I don't regret reading it. I'll definitely skip the plugs the next time I read it though. I'll finish reading one story before turning back and reading the interruption story. I'd recommend this book to diehard Shatner fans. I don't think you're gonna be interested at all if you are a casual fan or you dislike him at all. I'd recommend checking it out through the library before buying it. Just a heads up on that. I don't want anybody regretting the fact they bought it.
One more thing: I kinda wish he had two sections for pictures. This book only has one section. The picture section looks nice. He chose some nice pictures to go along with the book. It just left me wanting more in that department.
Book Review: Shatner Plays It "Lite" . . . with Tongue in Cheek and a Wink
Summary: 4 Stars
Up Till Now will appeal to Shatner fans and those who are thinking about acting careers. He provides a "lite" look at what it was like where even the tearful moments are mostly played for laughs.
William Shatner and David Fisher provide lots of entertaining fare that manages to explain his roles and attitude toward life. Being an actor brings an appreciation for irony: An ordinary role may create stardom while a great role may lead to a cancellation. Mr. Shatner's long and successful career has taught him to appreciate simply being able to work and save a little money. He also humbly understands that building and maintaining a marriage while acting is even more difficult, an area where he has not excelled.
The book contains lots of humorous details that were hidden to the camera at the time and the writing sparkles with bon mots like: "This was a series that spared every expense." "Call me 'Lost my life savings in uranium' Shatner. But don't call me collect!" "Where divorce is concerned, it takes two to tangle."
The writing also simulates a conversation in which Shatner continually changes the subject just as you get the juicy part, such as interrupting a story about performing nude with Angie Dickinson with another story about learning how horses can help physically and emotionally handicapped kids. I assume this is Shatner's personal style.
There's also a lot of peek-a-boo in the book, where an allusion is made to some secret that reveals much of the secret without getting into the whole detail such as in the book's final question (I won't say what it is, that would be a spoiler).
Star Trek fans may be a little disappointed that the book doesn't revolve around the series and movies. But most of Shatner's career involved non-Enterprise appearances.
The book kept me laughing throughout. Unlike most books where I race through the book, the entertainment value in this one kept me reading closely.
Why didn't I rate the book a little higher? Shatner was so coy for so long that I didn't feel like he was playing consistently fair with me. Perhaps he doesn't know any more what his own feelings are compared to what he knows will entertain.
Book Review: The Past, Worked
Summary: 4 Stars
I've always liked Shatner's portrayal of James T. Kirk; I remember as a kid being startled by one of his post-Trek guest roles, playing a nasty thug on an episode of Banacek -- and a line his character recounted from its imaginary past, "see stars?" I'm pretty sure I've never seen most of his other roles, or at least have never been familiar with them. A book I read in the 1990s, "Captain Quirk", was also pretty nasty in spots, and a friend of mine borrowed it to read it back then, and never returned it. Just as well. It wasn't much above the level of the supermarket scandal sheets. I've had a similar reaction to perusals of various tell-all type screed from some of the other actors from the Star Trek cast.
Up Till Now has a meandering quality to it, a sort of out-of-sequence storytelling that is the main reason it works. The occasional absurd asides to call attention to Shatner's website, and other ware-hawking, contribute to that structure, and are usually not that annoying. There's just one that goes on far too long, but it was both easy to skip, and helps set up the very short asides which follow it.
I burst out laughing a number of different times, and it is apparent that considerable effort was made to lighten the load, but this a good memoir by a competent actor who has never held a day job in his life, and remains working in a key role in a hit series as he's literally pushing 80 (born in 1931, it sez here).
Considering that broadcast networks blow their budgets on making loads of useless pointless reality [sic] TV shows enjoyed by mouth-breathers everywhere -- and may yet make the series idea referenced on page 204 -- that is not a coincidence.
Bravo, Bill.