Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent by Anthony Rapp Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent
Book Review: Extremely Honest (how refreshing)
Summary: 5 Stars
I was excited to read this memoir and get even more of the RENT "experience". I was not let down one bit, but a word of caution:
>>YOU WILL (most likely) CRY, IF NOT BALL YOUR EYES OUT!<<
Anthony was so very honest about his life and thoughts, his grieving and even his sexual history... At points making me feel like I was reading a personal diary rather than a published book. I admired his honesty because he didn't always portray himself in the most noble of lights, which made him all the more endearing by the time I finished the book.
Having lost my father to cancer 2 years ago, reading about the long journey of Anthony's mother's illness broke my heart multiple times... There were points where I was beside myself and had to put the book down (to curse the day that I bought it!)
Overall, I was very impressed by how Anthony expressed himself and wrote about his experiences honestly, painting his memories in true color... good and bad... I respect him for that.
My one real criticism is that some of his photos are placed in the middle of the book, kind of giving away what was about to happen... Yes, I know that the outcome was inevitable (purposely being vague) but it was still suspenseful until I got to the picture section. I would have rather them been placed at the end of the book.
Still a lovely look into the life of a real man who will forever be "Mark" in my heart...
Book Review: With and Without You
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever since he was a child, Anthony Rapp has been acting. When he was young, his mother was at his side, escorting him to auditions and attending his performances. Then he grew up - and she grew ill.
He portrayed Mark in the original production of the Broadway musical Rent a decade ago, then stepped back into Mark's shoes for the film version last year. Between the time that he auditioned for that fateful show and now, he lost his mother to cancer. Now he has combined his love of writing with his loss and created a memoir that is emotional and engrossing.
Without You will appeal to Rapp's fans as well as anyone who can relate to various facets of his life: performing, auditioning, trying to make it as an actor; coming out; struggling with relationships; and, of course, losing a loved one. It is written in a lively, real tone, so much so that I could "hear" him talking as I read it. From the first few paragraphs, I knew I was going to love it. He is a brilliant communicator, able to detail and relay his experiences without sugarcoating them nor neutralizing them.
This book is Rapp's memoir, yes, but it honors so many others. He mourns the passing of multiple friends, including Rent creator Jonathan Larsen, as well as the passing of his mother, but in doing so, he pays tribute to their lives. He also celebrates the successes and the journeys of his family members, his favorite friends, and his cast members.
Without You is an unforgettable story told with honesty and compassion. Now Anthony Rapp can truly say his life is an open book.
Book Review: WONDERFUL
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a librarian and I was so excited to see this book on our order list. I immediately put my name down to check it out when it came in. I am a huge "Rent" fan, and I love anything about the original cast. I loved Mark and especially Anthony Rapp's Mark so I was very excited to read this.
The book is full of emotion and he really seems to be writing from his heart. I do agree that you can't expect this to be a "behind the scenes" look at Rent- it is a memoir of a person who was in Rent and who went through an extroadinary time during the production. He wrote it well and seems to have all artistic ablilities now! I feel like I know more about him or like I grew up with him now. I almost feel like if I met him, I would feel like we were already friends.
The only problem was, the copy we got in was missing 30 pages! So now I have to either wait for a new one or go ahead and buy it. I might just buy it because its so good so far. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone who orders it off of here- it clearly was a publishing mistake. Don't get discouraged and stop reading if that happens to you- just get one at your library or order a new one!
Book Review: Not Just for RENT Fans
Summary: 5 Stars
At first I was a bit hesitant to read "Without You". I was afraid it was going to be one of the memoirs full of name-dropping and compliments toward the author, or worse yet, just plain bad writing. As I'm sure you know, Anthony is an incredible actor and musician but I was still skeptical. Needless to say, he totally won me over. His writing was sensitive and intelligent. He drew you into the story in an incredible way, making you feel as if you had met him for coffee and he was telling you the story of his life.
Instead of dwelling completely on the story of Rent, Anthony gives you a look at his life, the people he loves and his struggles. I think that anyone whether or not they are a fan of Rent should read this book. It completely changes your perspective on life, love and death.
Book Review: More than a memoir
Summary: 5 Stars
"Without You" caught me off guard. I originally picked it up because I am a fan of RENT, and I always like to read books a bit off the beaten path. I discovered a memoir that was much deeper and raw than I had anticipated. Anthony's honesty really fueled the book. His tales of growing up, and the unique family dynamics really made me think about my own familiar relationships. The rise to the Broadway stage is in stark contrast to his increasingly difficult home life. It has quickly become a personal favorite, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful read.