Review of If My Memoir Serves Me Well

[Mary Barnes+]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "If My Memoir Serves Me Well" by Gary Warren.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Determination, passion, and talent are the keys to greatness. Looking at the life of the young Garry Warren, one can clearly see the roles that passion and talent played. The book If My Memoir Serves Me Well: A Memoir From The Man Who Played The Boy in The Railway Children chronicles the early life of Garry Warren, the boy who would later become famous for his role in "The Railway Children." This review is fairly long, but bear with me; the book is good; I couldn’t help it.

The narrative begins with Warren's formative years in a semi-detached house in Neasden, North West London. His career in the entertainment industry started remarkably early, at about the age of five, with a commercial for a cheese brand. From there, he went on to portray the mute boy in the film "The Silent Playground."

However, due to child labor laws restricting television work for those under twelve, the young star was limited to commercials and modeling for a time. His breakthrough came when he landed the role of the boy in "The Railway Children," catapulting him to worldwide fame.

Garry Warren's memoir is truly unique, and I'm grateful that he chose to create an audiobook version. While I generally prefer reading physical books or eBooks to listening to audiobooks, this experience has changed my perspective. Although I wasn't initially fond of the female voice at the beginning, I grew to love the male narrator (Gary Warren) for the rest of the book.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading books as compared to listening to audiobooks is the ability to vividly imagine the world the author creates. While audiobooks often fall short in this regard, If My Memoir Serves Me Well is an exception. The flow is excellent, and the tone perfectly matches the described scenarios. I found myself laughing out loud during certain parts, particularly the one about "I will never know." The inclusion of a short song at the end of each chapter was a delightful touch.

Moreover, I admire the author's ability to portray a fulfilling childhood despite his burgeoning career. It's refreshing to read about someone who wasn't pressured to continue working when they no longer desired to. The anecdotes about his pet dog, Dusty, were hilarious, especially the part where the dog seemed to be smiling at them while causing chaos.

The book is impressively detailed, with the author accurately recalling dates and times of various events. This precision lends authenticity to the narrative, making it feel raw and genuine. I often found myself pausing the audiobook to savor certain words and discover their meanings. This book is a fantastic way to expand your vocabulary without feeling like you're studying. The author's creativity shines through in everything from the chapter titles to the effective use of similes and other literary devices.

I wholeheartedly give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The story is genuine, the integration of music and dance is superb, the narration is smooth, and the book offers valuable insights and vocabulary expansion. Also, I didn't notice any grammatical errors while listening to the audiobook.

However, the only part I didn’t like was how hard it was to follow the female narrator at the beginning of the book, but it wasn’t enough to remove a star. While suitable for mature audiences due to some profanity, lovers of music, dance, and acting will undoubtedly appreciate this memoir. Fans of "The Railway Children" will find it particularly rewarding.

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If My Memoir Serves Me Well
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[Adina Lutinger]

This seems like a very interesting and enjoyable memoire. I like that it's so unique and refreshing. Thanks for the interesting and enjoyable review!

[Enkay Favour]

Garry Warren’s memoir sounds like a fascinating glimpse into the life of a child star, particularly with its engaging storytelling and unique audiobook experience. The mix of personal anecdotes, humor, and music seems to bring his journey to life in a way that both fans of “The Railway Children” and lovers of the performing arts would enjoy.