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!!!

46 comments:

holdenj said...

Looks like a great story of re-inventing the other part of your life! And the fact that he's the reader is a big draw as well.
Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I know that this book will be fascinating an compelling since he is appealing and special. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I enjoyed listening to Michael Caine narrate his story which is incredible and wonderful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I admire Michael Caine and his talent and abilities and for his origins and his achievements. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am captivated with real life stories and this particular one sounds amazing and riveting. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Hearing him narrate his own life story in such depth is enthralling. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

His movies, and now this book would be memorable. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

PoCoKat said...

Sounds fascinating...interesting life...5 decade career.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

I've seen Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

He sounds great..it will be a wonderful audiobook to listen to.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Pamela Keener said...

I also loved him in Cider House Rules & I think it is impressive that he has been married for 37 years. I'd love to hear more about his life.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I tweeted this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/pam4290/status/15869887389900800
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I would love to see Is There Anybody There it looks like a neat premise.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

His audio clip is easygoing and entertaining. He tries not to be too serious yet very informative.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/15909483129606144

I follow on GFC.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I loved Caine in Cider House Rules and can't wait to hear him tell his story.


(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Very interesting to hear that he has been married 37 years. Definitely not the norm for Hollywood stars.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I just love listening to an English actor. Sounds like as well as being interesting it will evoke a lot of laughter too.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com

Carol N Wong said...

What interested me the most was that it took Jack Nicholson to convince Michael Caine to try out the older roles. Very glad that he took the advice and now I want to find out more about his life.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I am not sure that this posted as AOL lost connection when I was trying to post.

I tweeted:

My Twitter name is Carolee888
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/? See this link for a giveaway of a DVD of 'The Elephants of Hollywood'.

Carol N Wong said...

I looked around the list of movies that Michael Caine had been in or starred and as I thought there was quite a large number. Of those, I have seen 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Batman Begins, Battle of Britain, The Man Who Would be King, Blame it on Rio and Jaws the Revenge.

Linda Kish said...

I didn't know his background before. I think he gets better with age. I'm glad he came back after 50.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Cider House Rules was great.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I love his voice. He tells a story nicely.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I like how Michael thought his career was over only to realize it wasn't.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I just looked at Michael's web site. I have seen so many of his movies, but he has made so many! I just scrolled down the list of movies he has made also looking at his character's name. I really like the movie Flawless and he was in that movie.
Years ago, I read his autobiography, and I'm a fan.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I listened to the audio. I'm so pleased that Michael reads his own book. I like how he just reads along telling the story. It's so easy to listen too. He knows most of the Hollywood actors because he has worked there so long.
It's difficult to believe he thought there were no more roles for him. So, pleased Jack Nicholsen convinced him otherwise.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

debbie said...

I had no idea that he was going to retire. I really enjoy his acting and I am glad he didn't. I would love to have his book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I really enjoyed him in cider house rules. I thought he did a great job in it.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I really enjoyed listening to him. It is hard to believe he has been acting since the sixties.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Carol N Wong said...

I listened to the audio excerpt of Michael Cain's audio book. Eighteen years ago, Micheal Cain thought that his acting career was over. But his dear friend Jack Nicholson encouraged him to go ahead and try the older acting roles that he had been offerred. He went on to act in some of his best roles, altogether he has had a career of 50 years of acting. It was good to hear his stories about his friends like Sidney Poitier and Jack Nicholson. Now I am certain that I would enjoy this DVD.



CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Karen B said...

Thank you, Jack Nicholson, who convinced him to give acting one more shot!

kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

One of his movies that I've seen is Miss Congeniality.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

I love his voice!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Anonymous said...

listened to michael caine on a radio interview recently...very charming. think this would be very interesting read...i mean listen.
charlcr(at)aol(dot)com

rbooth43 said...

I loved Michael Caine in Cider House Rules and would love the fact that The Elephant To Hollywood is read to you by the man himself. This will be a wonderful audiobook to listen to.
rbooth43(at)yahoo.com

Janelle said...

Michael Caine is a fascinating character: in every regard!
Thanks for a chance to win this wonderful giveaway!
Best wishes,
Chanticlear1atgmaildotcom

Janelle said...

I've seen him in so many things early in his career: Alfie, Bourne Identity. Versatile, accomplished, interesting!
Thanks for a chance to win this wonderful giveaway!
Best wishes,
Chanticlear1atgmaildotcom

Janelle said...

What a treat to hear Michael narrate his story! He's talented, versatile & worldly!
Thanks for a chance to win this wonderful giveaway!
Best wishes,
Chanticlear1atgmaildotcom

MRWriter said...

I'm a big fan of Michael Caine. I'd love to hear his thoughts on aging in Hollywood.

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

MRWriter said...

I like Michael Caine in almost everything. Just saw him in a cameo role in The Day the Earth Stood Still.

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

Meredith said...

I love biographies and think Michael Caine is a great actor. I'd love to hear his story!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I've seen him Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I listened to some of the excerpt, and love his voice!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I have always loved Michael Caine and would absolutely looooove to give this a listen! He's such a cool dude!

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I love him in the Batman series!

misusedinnocence@aol.com

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