I only know of Renner from his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Universe but remember this incident that nearly killed the actor. I listened to this memoir and appreciated that the actor himself narrated his own story.
The beginning had me hooked as he describes before and during the crash that should have killed him. The emotion was clear in Renner's voice as he relayed the incident and how it affected him, his family and neighbours who raced to save the Hollywood actor. Snippets of the desperate 911 call are included and increase the emotional factor.
But Renner's hubris and unexpected philosophical rants take centre stage around the halfway mark and that's where my interest waned. It is amazing that he survived such a devastating accident BUT I hated how he played the 'manly man' card stating that he got through the horrific pain and recovery mainly by his own sheer willpower (while ignoring medical advice). He admits to being the 'world's worst patient' and he may be correct because he didn't seem to appreciate the medical staff who helped him. His treatment of them took Renner down a notch in my opinion of him. And let's be honest, in America's health care system, his social status and bank account afforded him a lot of extras to begin with.
His love and devotion for his family (especially his young daughter) is apparent and it is wonderful to see. But the book soon becomes very repetitive with too much philosophical introspection, too little humility and a tad offensive in parts and honestly, could have been whittled down substantially. This is a story about resilience, family bonds ... and a star's big ego.
My Rating: 3 stars
Author: Jeremy Renner
Genre: Memoir
Type and Source: eAudio from public library
Narrator: Jeremy Renner
Run Time: 6 hours, 35 min
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
First Published: April 29, 2025
Read: July 28-31, 2025
Book Description from GoodReads: Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner was the second-most-googled person in 2023—and not for his impressive filmography. His searing portrayals on film ranged from an Iraq-based army bomb technician in The Hurt Locker and a Boston bank robber in The Town to a crooked Camden mayor in American Hustle before he became heir to the Jason Bourne franchise (The Bourne Legacy). Amongst other iconic roles, he also captured hearts as fan-favorite comic book marksman Hawkeye in seven Marvel films.
Yet, his otherworldly success on-screen faded to the periphery when a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow crushed him on New Year’s Day 2023. Somehow able to keep breathing for more than half an hour, he was subsequently rushed to the ICU, after which he would face multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation.
In this debut memoir, Jeremy describes in blistering detail his accident and the aftermath. This retelling is not merely a gruesome account of what happened to him; it’s a call to action and a forged companionship between listener and author as Jeremy recounts his recovery journey and reflects on the impact of his suffering. Ultimately, Jeremy’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity to endure, evolve, and find purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity. His writing captures the essence of profound transformation, exploring the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, despair and hope, redemption and renewal.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments totally make my day!! I read each and every one and really try to reply to all messages posted. Thanks for stopping by my blog!