Friday, December 17, 2010

ARE YOU LISTENING? FRIDAY'S AUDIO BOOK: THE ELEPHANT TO HOLLYWOOD-REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO
BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S
"ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS FRIDAY'S
"ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"
AUDIO BOOK CHOICE IS.....
GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE ELEPHANT TO HOLLYWOOD
BY MICHAEL CAINE

ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK:
Charming, engaging, and surprisingly forthright, Michael Caine gives us his insider's view of Hollywood and the story of his brilliant second act.

When he was in his late fifties, Michael Caine believed his glamorous, rags-to-riches Hollywood career had come to an end. The scripts being sent his way were worse and worse. When one script really disappointed, he called the producer to complain about the part. The producer said, "No, no, we don't want you for the lover, we want you for the father." 

Salvation came in the unlikely form of his old friend Jack Nicholson, who convinced him to give acting one more shot. What followed was not only an incredible personal transformation but also one of the most radical comebacks in film history. Learning to accept his new role both on camera and in his own life, Caine went on to win his second Oscar, be knighted by the queen, and deliver some of his best performances to date. 

Now he shares the spectacular story of his life, from his humble upbringing in London's poverty-stricken Elephant and Castle, his military service, touching marriage and family life, and lively adventures with friends, to legendary meetings with fellow stars, forays as a restaurateur, and hilarious off-screen encounters from his glittering five-decade career. Caine brings his gift for storytelling and his insider's view to a tale that is funny, warm, and deeply honest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sir Michael Caine has won two Academy Awards during his distinguished five-decade career on screen. Knighted in 2000, Caine was born in working-class Sussex, England, and served in the British Army before landing his first film role in Zulu (1964). His films include The Ipcress File, Alfie, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Cider House Rules, and Harry Brown. He is the author of the bestselling What's It All About?. He lives in Surrey with his wife of thirty-seven years.
 
MY REVIEW/THOUGHTS:
In Michael Caine’s latest book THE ELEPHANT TO HOLLYWOOD, he writes a biography that he refers to as his “second act”. He means that just when he was ready to retire to being a happy grandfather, some great films came along and with good friends like Jack Nicholson, who talked him into playing some of these fabulous roles, found himself back on top again. With “Elephant” referring to an area in a borough in London where Michael Caine grew up, the title surely now makes sense.

With the rebirth of Caine’s career when he was in his late fifties, we can think of how lucky we are that things fell into place and gave us more of this wonderful actor. Winning his first Academy Award for “Hannah and Her Sisters” in 1986 and then his second for the most unforgettable Caine film, in my opinion, “Cider House Rules”, his career was back on track and retirement postponed. The rejuvenation of his acting career also played out in his personal life. He tells about his life from the time he was first born up until the present and does it in a most appealing, relaxed writing manner. Easy and enjoyable to read, you can hear Caine speaking with that enchanting accent and tone of voice.  


You can tell from his writing that he loves his craft and his family as well. I found him to be just as nice a man as I thought he would be after reading this entertaining and well written biography. THE ELEPHANT TO HOLLYWOOD is a treat and one made even more so by the fact that it is read to you by the man himself. I recommend this one if you like the man or want to know more about him, and definitely would choose to do it with the audio book if I were you. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO STEPHANIE AND THE GOOD
 FOLKS AT MACMILLAN AUDIO BOOKS,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS FASCINATING
AUDIO BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!
 
--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE ELEPHANT TO HOLLYWOOD ABOVE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS AUDIO BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY


+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO MICHAEL CAINE'S WEBSITE HERE AND LOOK AROUND AT ALL THE INTERESTING INFORMATION. NAME A MOVIE OF HIS YOU HAVE SEEN, OR ONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO MACMILLAN AUDIO BOOKS WEBSITE HERE (LOOK NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE) AND LISTEN TO THE AUDIO EXCERPT AND COMMENT ABOUT IT HERE
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JANUARY 4!
  GOOD LUCK!!!