The Hardcore Diaries by Mick Foley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Hardcore Diaries
Book Review: Disapointed but OK
Summary: 3 Stars
As books goes, this was, at best, OK. If you are a wrestling fan and are a true "mark" for Mr. Foley, this will be a great book. If you have read Mick's other biographies, this one is probably the worst of the three. Mick is definitely a storyteller but this book lacked many things, including a good hook, and a good way to keep the suspense going, as he did in his previous book.
It was predictable from beginning to end, which I found boring. I enjoyed hearing more about Mick's private life, including the great charity work that he does. His relationship with his family was also more descriptive in this biography. The stories are uneven, Mick going off on tangents at times before coming back to the story he originally started, something that I did not note as much in his previous books.
Overall, good for wrestling fans, otherwise very predictable and poorly written. Finally, a tip: do not note all the typos and mistakes in the book or you'll find it difficult to pay attention to the biography. Note to WWE: get another proof reader!!!!
Book Review: Well...
Summary: 3 Stars
The book itself followed no real pattern, Mick was definitely all over the place. As another reviewer had stated, I didn't like how he really kept all focus away from the WWE product itself...and as far as him really calling out Vince, I didn't see it. If Vince was upset over anything "controversial" Mick may have said, then he is definitely an oversensitive individual. The book was about as controversial as an episode of The Golden Girls.
I do believe Mick does believe the myth that he's more important than he is, though an undoubted legend who had a wonderful career, I believe Mick feels he is on the same plane as Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Steve Austin, Bret Hart, and Hulk Hogan, when that truly is not the case. I'll never knock Mick's work, as I enjoyed it, but he falls just short of that level, at least in my eyes.
Still, it's a good read, worth the $14 purchase and I was entertained enough to feel that I got my money's worth.
Book Review: Captivating
Summary: 5 Stars
Hardcore Diaries
The book is great. It sheds light on how different life for a wrestler is outside the ring and it also shows all the politics that go into making a show/angle. It makes you feel like you really know him, and to tell you the truth he reminded me of a good friend of mine.
Book Review: Hardcore Diaries
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book for my son and he loves it! It is everything he expected. Book Review: One Night Stand
Summary: 2 Stars
Mick Foley's third autobiographical book comes to us in the form of "The Hardcore Diaries". Early in the book he questions whether he should be writing a third autobiography ala Winston Churchill... simple answer, no he shouldn't have. Foley approaches this book in a different manner than his previous ones, instead looking into what it takes to take a concept storyline through development and into completion in the ring. Sounds like a decent idea but this is really a mess. The storyline he initially sets forth with is the 'One Night Stand' event of Foley & Edge vs Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer. The lackluster interest in the pay-per-view is covered well-enough in this story by Foley.
Downfalls of the book for me are:
Foley is semi-retired, only having to make an extremely limited amount of appearances for the WWE. I don't have a problem with that, good for him for working that kind of a deal after contributing to the industry for so long. Foley looks at himself and admits he is past his in-ring prime and has slowed down much due to injuries, loss of passion, and aggravation with wrestling. He admits he doesn't or can't put 100% into his matches because he is losing the desire, the same can be said for his writing of this book, it really lacks any desire to be written.
While the initial idea of the book is sound, the ONS event just wasn't a big enough deal to use as the plot. Granted it was probably one that meant much more to Foley and co-horts than to the general wrestling fans. He jumps into the Orton feud, Flair feud, and Melina/Kiss-my-a** Club micro-push to no avail and little interest (speaking of a**kissing, Foley spends alot of it directed towards current top heel, Edge). I can concede that from Foley's viewpoint, this was a good story for him to try and develop, however, the constant jumping all around through the timeline involving different PPV and charity visits made a complete mess of the book. He constantly loses focus and throws in stories that make little sense to the primary flow of the book as if he wrote down his random thoughts over those months and then just transfered them into the book without any attempt to organize them.
Foley stretches into topics of non-wrestling basis, giving his views and experiences on politics, religion, charities, and fund raising events. I don't mind the charity/fund raising stories and visits to the troop hospitals, they were good (especially the one dealing with Marcos). Even the religious aspect because it involved his family, Little Mickey in particular. The politics was just there so he could get his opinion seen. Foley also goes for cheap plugs of his fiction books , 'Tietam Brown' and 'Scooter', and his obvious disappointment at their poor performance in the sales market. While Foley lightens up on Al Snow pot-shots in this book, he instead turns his jabs to Andrew "Test" Martin. He also seems to have to constantly mention adult star Christy Canyon far far too much throughout the book.
Overall, this book attempt is following his current star-power, failing and lacking the necessary effort to make it acceptable. It's readable but not re-readable and unless you have a large fondness for the One Night Stand match, this story has little to offer. Sorry Mick, better luck in the future.