WHERE AM I NOW?: TRUE STORIES OF GIRLHOOD AND ACCIDENTAL FAME PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Mara Wilson | 272 pages | 22 Sep 2016 | Penguin Putnam Inc | 9780143128229 | English | New York, United States Where Am I Now? by Mara Wilson: | : Books

She was a celebrity, so she was involved in celebrity things, but also lived as a normal person. But she thankfully embraces it. I liked her then as Matilda, of course , and I love her now. I love her writing style and her honesty. This is a great read, and I highly recommend it! You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. It was really more of a collection of autobiographical essays than a straight memoir. We learn about her early days as a child actor although not too much about why she wanted to act exactly—her brother had done some commercials so she did some too and that lead to movie roles but I wondered how her family got into acting in the first place and it was fun reading what it was like on set for a child on things like Melrose Place. She also talks quite a bit about leaving acting during puberty after transitioning from cute kid to attractive but not a knockout adolescence and even talks briefly about some other stars she encountered that were in the business and stayed in it. She managed to stay performing in some way first in the surprisingly cut-throat world of show choir??!!? The book is well worth a look if you were a Mara Wilson fan, are interested in former child actors or just really enjoy autobiographical essays. I saw her speak a few years ago and she was very thoughtful and interesting. Thanks for the review, I may just have to bump it up my TBR list a few notches. Like Liked by 1 person. It was this ease on the internet that eventually translated into the successful career she has today. Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. THEN AND NOW: Child stars of classic holiday movies - Insider

No reviews as yet to help decide? Jenn Arrebollo I think junior high or older as far as being appropriate. However, if you're looking for someone to appreciate the things she is saying I would skew …more I think junior high or older as far as being appropriate. However, if you're looking for someone to appreciate the things she is saying I would skew 20s and older. She speaks a lot of how her childhood affects who she is today, and I found it very relatable and comforting as she and I are similar in age. Is this on Kindle?? Cora Yup. Just read it on Kindle. See all 6 questions about Where Am I Now? Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Where Am I Now? Sep 18, Wil Wheaton rated it it was amazing. Mara Wilson is a delightful storyteller. I felt like she wrote this book just for me, and I cried a lot while I was reading it. But you don't need to be an adrift adult who was a famous kid like me to fall in love with her stories and the people in them. Mara is almost 20 years younger than me, but the stories she told about growing up weird, sensitive, and filled with anxiety could have come from my own childhood -- and that doesn't even take into account the whole famous child actor thing. I Mara Wilson is a delightful storyteller. I literally just finished Where Am I Now? I suspect I'll be processing them for awhile, because that's what a good book, written by a talented author, will do to a person. View all 7 comments. Sep 20, Patrick rated it it was amazing. I probably picked this book up for different reasons that most people. I'm not particularly a fan of Mara Wilson. Or, to be more accurate, I should say I don't think I'm a typical fan of hers. I never saw Matilda, or a lot of the other movies she acted in back in the day. But I met her at Nerdcon. And I liked her. Then I followed her on Twitter, and she was funny and smart. So when her book came out, I thought, why not give it a try? And it's good. It's an interesting window into the life of a I probably picked this book up for different reasons that most people. It's an interesting window into the life of a child star. And into the mind of the person living through it. It's honest and truthful without being painfully confessional, either. That's something I'm kinda sensitive to, I cringe easy. I didn't have a lot of emotional investment in Mara Wilson walking into this as opposed to a lot of people who watched Matilda or Mrs Doubtfire when they were kids. And her life isn't really very similar to mine. So it seems like this book shouldn't be for me. That I shouldn't have an entry point into it. Or that I shouldn't enjoy it. But the truth is, we like seeing into other people's lives. It's one of the great joys of novels. Of stories in general. It's one of the truths that my Kingkiller books are built around. It's interesting reading the intimate details of another person's life. Especially if that person has lived an interesting life, and if they're willing to speak show you behind the scenes into how they were really thinking at the time. And Mara Wilson does that marvelously well. I really loved the book. And that says a lot, as I don't think I was in any way the target audience for it. Also, it's worth noting that I listened to this as an audio book, read by the author. I think that adds a lot to the experience. Good stuff. Well worth your time. View all 8 comments. Jun 09, Chelsea Humphrey rated it really liked it Shelves: from-publisher. My love of all things Mara Wilson goes back to my childhood in the 90s. From Mrs. Doubtfire to Matilda and everything in between, you could call me a moderate to severe fan. As the years passed and Mara slowly left the spotlight, I often wondered where she went. Thankfully she wrote this book and answered all my nosy questions and then some! This was a whole modge-podge of content that flowed nicely and was organized rather well. At times, there were heaps of dry humor that had me snorting out loud and at others, a quiet intensity that was serious with all the touchy feels you can imagine. I loved the little tid bits from behind the scenes that only the crew was privy to; it made me feel like an insider. I also loved how vulnerable she was with working through her self esteem issues that were beat down by ruthless individuals in Hollywood. Each story, along with the entire length of the book, was just right. Some memoirs seem to contain boring fluff just to get a higher page count; this one was concise and to the point. The fact that she has never been to jail or rehab blows my mind away! Read it for yourself and see what you think. If you hate it, let me know so that I can tell you how wrong you are but still love you anyway! View all 23 comments. Dec 31, Nat rated it really liked it Shelves: essays , diverse-reads , nonfiction , memoir. If you can affect someone when theyre young, you are in their heart forever. I had no idea what to expect. But I loved it. This memoir goes quite deep into a lot of subjects that always intrigue and leave me wanting for more. I'm mainly talking about Wilson questioning her faith, the waning of her career, feminism, sisterly love, OCD, anxiety, depression, mental health care, grief… a plethora of topics that were all given their respective page time. I ended up laughing out loud uproariously more than I was anticipating-- something I always welcome with open arms. At some point early in our relationship, it had been established that I was the flighty, funny one, and he was the sensible one, so it was his duty to curb my grandiosity. We were a living screwball comedy. It was an important, heartfelt, funny, and enlightening read that had me enraptured till the end. It took so long to film that instead of putting a start and end time on the call sheet, they just put an infinity symbol. Doubtfire trailer. My little sister is now six inches taller than I am. This is about the only positive male attention I got in middle school. We already felt like family. If you're interested in buying Where Am I Now? I'll make a small commission! Buy a Coffee for nat bookspoils with Ko-fi. Dec 08, Laura rated it it was amazing Shelves: memoir , read-in , nonfiction. A few months after I found the video of Robin and me, it was taken down, apparently due to copyright infringement. I had to laugh. Most people have embarrassing videos of themselves as children. Few have theirs copyrighted by Twentieth Century Fox. Mara Wilson : the really cute little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire , star of Matilda , and of the Miracle on 34th Street remake. This book was almost called K for Kid because of her role on the hit 90s TV show Melrose Place where she was the only kid on a A few months after I found the video of Robin and me, it was taken down, apparently due to copyright infringement. This book was almost called K for Kid because of her role on the hit 90s TV show Melrose Place where she was the only kid on a very adult set. Wherever it is you know Mara Wilson from, you probably know she hasn't been in the public eye in quite some time. What you don't know is: where is she now? Mara has had a blog for close to five years where she shares essays on a variety of topics. She follows that same essay format for her memoir writing an incredibly relatable book with those big Hollywood movies as a child being that one big difference. We explore Mara inside and out with her raw honesty on everything from anxiety, sexuality, OCD, the death of her mother as a young girl, her struggle with the "cute" word, mean girls, puberty, her breakup with Hollywood, insecurities, sibling relationships, finding ones path in life, and everything in between. At some point, that narrative becomes myth. I felt Mara on such a deep level when she spoke of her mother going through cancer and her passing. Then I felt it again when she went into the discovery of her extreme anxiety and OCD and how she learned to cope with it. She wants to help people the same way Kissing Doorknobs helped her when she knew she was different and that her mind worked differently often thinking something was wrong with her because of all the worrying, the patterns, the anxiety. She wants people to take mental health care as seriously as they take care of their physical health as they should. And she wants to help get the information out there for those who need it because you never know when it's the information someone needs to completely change their life around - the way it did for Mara. I couldn't help thinking how much I want to lend this to my little sister who I know will find it comforting with the things they have in common. Not to mention the chapter about her relationship with her younger sister. It was rarely the hellhounds who said anything mean to me; they expressed no real malice toward me other than the occasional eye-roll. They were at the top and had nothing to gain by pushing me around. The ones who scared me, who still scare me, are the girls who see all other girls as competition, who see themselves as the persecuted ones, the ones the pretty and popular girls hate. Such an enlightening view on mean girls. Mara digs into her female friendships from middle school to high school when they auditioned for show choir the really big one Powerhouse that actually inspired Ryan Murphy to create Glee and ultimately didn't all make the same choir, so it tore them apart. She managed to fit in with a group of friends for a year until they pulled the mean girl move on Mara as well. If you've ever been bullied or tried to fit in, you'll cringe at how relatable it is. And as we all wanted and I'm sure you're dying to know, there is a sweet letter to the character Matilda that goes into Mara's experience with the character from the moment she read the book, through casting and filming, and even including tidbits from the reunion for the blu-ray release. Some of my favorite things included moments with director Danny DeVito and with the real-life actors from the movie. The character meant the world to both Mara and her mother who passed away during postproduction, so a love letter is a perfect way to explore her experience with the character. She also has a chapter devoted to Robin Williams, a portrait of the man he was as she knew him, and how his death affected her. This reiterates her feelings on mental health being of utmost importance. To be this truthful and honest is to be powerful. Mara Wilson should be proud. View all 3 comments. Nov 12, Cece ProblemsOfaBookNerd rated it really liked it Shelves: nonfiction , anticipated-of , my-books , read-in Someday I will probably write a long and dramatic review of this book and how much I loved it. For now, I think Ill just cradle my copy to my chest and cry a tiny bit more. Matilda is one of my two all-time favorite movies the other one is Princess Bride , in case you were wondering , and like many others, I often wondered what happened to the talented young actress who went from being in everything to being in nothing. Then I found out she had a Twitter, where I began quietly stalking her posts, and I found to my delight that not only was she talented, she was also funny - and smart. From her Twitter, I found out that she had an upcoming book of essays and well, you know the rest from there. I came, I saw, I lurked - and then I got the book. Celebrity memoirs tend to fall into two categories - they're either a gossipy and ghost-written, relying on your guilty pleasure of watching famous people spill the tea to get you through the bad writing and it does work - very well; I, myself, am not immune or b very polite, very nice thank-you letters to everyone who made them famous, with a few agent-vetted anecdotes to make them seem a bit more approachable, but not too approachable these are boring, but it's almost impossible to be mad at them, because they're so nice and so polite. Sometimes, though, there's a third category - authentic, relatable, quotable; an existentialist bible that you want to keep on your nightstand and highlight forever. Mara Wilson manages to cover a wide array of topics, detailing her journey into fame and her journey out of it. She talks about her work on Matilda , and how much she loved her role, and lived her role; she talks about her hang-ups about sex; she talks about being a character actor for "adorable quirky child", and the anxiety she felt when she became too old and too plain to land adolescent leading roles in fact she lost three to Kristen Stewart, which bums me out a little, because Mara would have been amazing in Speak ; she talks about her experience with OCD and anxiety, and about being bullied in high school; she talks about first love; she talks about Robin Williams, and how his death affected her; and she talks about what it's like to finally find your people, and feel like you belong. I don't really have words to talk about how this book touched me, and how powerfully I related to some of the chapters. Minus the fame, and various other parts. This was such an honest, eloquent memoir, and finishing it was like saying goodbye to a friend you haven't seen in a while. It was bittersweet: it was perfect. View all 10 comments. I've always been interested in child stars who grow up and out of Hollywood, usually because they have issues finding further work when they get older. He has the same issue - he was not able to find work when he grew out of the cute phase, and ultimately moved on to other pursuits. Most of us have seen articles online titled, "Where are they now? She speaks of being offered roles too young for her when she hit preteen because that was how Hollywood showed her typecast, not feeling that she had that special older beauty to land teenager roles, and of course the dilemma of playing roles for children when you're growing breasts and starting to change over from that awkward middle school stage. This created some self esteem problems throughout life. Beyond this, she discusses general real life issues that all children and people face, but throwing in the sideline of being a childhood star in Hollywood. Dating jerky guys breaking up with you in creative ways, her mother's death, her sister's bond, and her OCD. A huge portion of this book is about her OCD because it shaped her life so fully. I know what being obsessive compulsive means, but after this memoir I take to heart how deep the struggles are when it's severe. The memoir was fascinating and touching. There's some stories of the movies of course, especially a chapter devoted to Matilda. Danny Devito and his wife come across truly sweet in this story. Her comments on Miracle on 34th St. One of the final chapters discusses Mrs. Doubtfire and Robin Williams, a chapter devoted to the joy of the man and all the hearts he touched. I realized when reading about him that I have now read three celebrity autobiographies that praise the actor: Christopher Reeve's "Still Me", where he was roommates with Robin in college and they stayed close friends; Fran Drescher's short story about him being apologetic over his excessive sweating during a lovemaking scene; and now this book, where the author said in life he was shy and had trouble meeting peoples eyes when he talked to them. Besides being informative, these stories dish out nuggets of wisdom - mean girls who try to tear others down, dealing with a mother's death, behind the scenes Hollywood drama, awkward dates, trying to find yourself in therapy, and ultimately learning how to grow through severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Mara Wilson's writing style is colorful and easy - I read this one quickly. It was hard to put down and, even when dealing with the heavy stuff, a joy to read. Probably the most honest memoir I've had the pleasure of reading. I received this from Penguin publishing in exchange for an honest review. View all 9 comments. Apr 01, JV semi-hiatus rated it liked it Shelves: memoir , , nonfiction , audiobooks. I have to thank Matilda for that. It's just one of my all-time favourite films. That being said, I always wondered what happened to the child actress who played Matilda Wormwood. Well, curiosity led me to read Mara Wilson's tell-all book. Her letter to Matilda is both touching and heartbreaking; and it hurts as much as when she lost her mother to the Big C, a chapter which she also tackles with remarkable honesty. There are a lot of child actors who'd gone bad those who've been primarily screwed by fame , but I'm truly in awe of this girl. From a vulnerable, anxious little kiddo who fought back bravely at an early age and later bloomed to an empowered woman who's independent, intelligent, and compassionate, Mara is truly inspirational. And to Mara, you do you! Oct 11, Iluzija O. Istini rated it it was ok. I didn't really like this book but it was easy to read, didn't leave me in a bad mood, so it earned that extra star. Explaining why I didn't like it will not be as easy as reading it. The thing is that there is no BAD aspect of the book. It was just all over the place. It covered a lot of sides to her life, which made it lose any impact that story could have if standing alone. Writing a book makes a writer make choices, coosing what to leave out is often more difficult than writing a long book. It WOULD be interesting reading about her point of view when filming, her anxietys and girlhood and schooling and private life and family if she picked ONE of those things to write about and gave it an edge, made it memorable. Mostly this feels like reading a normal person's life's short history I prefer to talk to people about those that we are supposed to care about just because she was famous once. Sorry, but no. Also, she is funny! The "astma medication" and "faking it" incidents proove it. I am sad to say that this book is not and I do not understand why. I hope to, one day, read some of her fiction, because underneath those two stars, there is potential there. View 1 comment. Shelves: favorites. It felt like I was catching up with an old friend I hadn't seen for awhile. Her "tribute" to Robin Williams was probably my favorite, so moving and beautiful. Hers is the type of storytelling where she just sets out to entertain you and not "in your face. That came out better in my head but hopefully you get the idea :. Despite our lives not being the same, she was easy to relate to in a way, and I found it very hard to put this book down at times and go on with my daily routines. Would recommend, I hope she writes another one soon and maybe one day I'll get to see her perform live View 2 comments. I am a huge fan of celebrity memoirs; I know this is not a particularly cool thing to admit, but I enjoy them a whole lot, especially on audiobook read by the author. This memoir by Mara Wilson was no exception: it is wonderfully honest, lovely, and was just an altogether nice reading experience. I personally did not grow up watching Matilda, as such I do not have a personal connection to Mara Wilson. But I follow her on Twitter and find her online presence really lovely, which was enough for me I am a huge fan of celebrity memoirs; I know this is not a particularly cool thing to admit, but I enjoy them a whole lot, especially on audiobook read by the author. But I follow her on Twitter and find her online presence really lovely, which was enough for me when I was looking for a new audiobook to listen to. In her memoir, Mara Wilson writes both about her career as a child star and about her struggles with OCD — the latter of which I appreciated a whole lot. Her honesty was really great and I think is important to change the way we think and talk about mental illness. One of my favourite essays in this book was her essay on Robin Williams, written shortly after his death. Here her empathy shines really bright and it brought me to tears. Altogether I really appreciated this book and if you are looking for a lovely audiobook, this one might just be for you. You can find this review and other thoughts on books on my blog. Sep 24, Shelly rated it it was ok. The book pretty much Mara telling stories about her life. Each chapter is a different story from her OCD discovery other mental health problems. Her mothers death and movie too movie. But then it went onto how hard her life is cause she didn't get the parts she wanted, who bullied her and who she slept with. Her chapter on Robin Williams was very compelling but I found the rest of the book a bit of a rant and moan about life. Also felt like she was just on a name drop all the time, trying to draw The book pretty much Mara telling stories about her life. Also felt like she was just on a name drop all the time, trying to draw you in with who she knew and who she worked with. I respected her going into this book and was annoyed with her by the time I was done. Jan 10, Book Riot Community added it. As someone growing up, I tend to put my idols on pedestals. Mara Wilson won my heart as Matilda, and as herself on the Nostalgia Critic website where she plays a version of herself that has risen from another dimension to seek revenge. Mara Wilson writes about her life, how she got into acting, why she left the business, and how she entered a new profession: writing. Great product! Verified purchase: Yes Condition: New. Skip to main content. Where Am I Now? About this product. Make an offer:. Stock photo. Brand new: Lowest price The lowest-priced brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging where packaging is applicable. See all 10 brand new listings. Buy It Now. Add to cart. About this product Product Information "Thoughtfully traces Mara Wilson's] journey from child actress to Hollywood dropout Who is she now? She's a writer. Doubtfire, Mara Wilson has always felt a little young and out of place: as the only kid on a film set full of adults, the first daughter in a house full of boys, a Valley girl in New York and a neurotic in California, and a grown-up the world still remembers as a little girl. Tackling everything from what she learned about sex on the set of Melrose Place , to discovering in adolescence that she was no longer "cute" enough for Hollywood, these essays chart her journey from accidental fame to relative but happy obscurity. They also illuminate universal struggles, like navigating love and loss, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. Candid, insightful, moving, and hilarious, Where Am I Now? Additional Product Features Dewey Edition. Wilson's perspective is humorous, relatable, and ultimately real. This title is more than just another Hollywood memoir; it is a truly refreshing coming-of-age story. A heartfelt portrait. I always loved that she portrayed strong characters, especially as a female, even as a young child. Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson ·

And Mara Wilson does that marvelously well. I really loved the book. And that says a lot, as I don't think I was in any way the target audience for it. Also, it's worth noting that I listened to this as an audio book, read by the author. I think that adds a lot to the experience. Good stuff. Well worth your time. View all 8 comments. Jun 09, Chelsea Humphrey rated it really liked it Shelves: from-publisher. My love of all things Mara Wilson goes back to my childhood in the 90s. From Mrs. Doubtfire to Matilda and everything in between, you could call me a moderate to severe fan. As the years passed and Mara slowly left the spotlight, I often wondered where she went. Thankfully she wrote this book and answered all my nosy questions and then some! This was a whole modge-podge of content that flowed nicely and was organized rather well. At times, there were heaps of dry humor that had me snorting out loud and at others, a quiet intensity that was serious with all the touchy feels you can imagine. I loved the little tid bits from behind the scenes that only the crew was privy to; it made me feel like an insider. I also loved how vulnerable she was with working through her self esteem issues that were beat down by ruthless individuals in Hollywood. Each story, along with the entire length of the book, was just right. Some memoirs seem to contain boring fluff just to get a higher page count; this one was concise and to the point. The fact that she has never been to jail or rehab blows my mind away! Read it for yourself and see what you think. If you hate it, let me know so that I can tell you how wrong you are but still love you anyway! View all 23 comments. Dec 31, Nat rated it really liked it Shelves: essays , diverse-reads , nonfiction , memoir. If you can affect someone when theyre young, you are in their heart forever. I had no idea what to expect. But I loved it. This memoir goes quite deep into a lot of subjects that always intrigue and leave me wanting for more. I'm mainly talking about Wilson questioning her faith, the waning of her career, feminism, sisterly love, OCD, anxiety, depression, mental health care, grief… a plethora of topics that were all given their respective page time. I ended up laughing out loud uproariously more than I was anticipating-- something I always welcome with open arms. At some point early in our relationship, it had been established that I was the flighty, funny one, and he was the sensible one, so it was his duty to curb my grandiosity. We were a living screwball comedy. It was an important, heartfelt, funny, and enlightening read that had me enraptured till the end. It took so long to film that instead of putting a start and end time on the call sheet, they just put an infinity symbol. Doubtfire trailer. My little sister is now six inches taller than I am. This is about the only positive male attention I got in middle school. We already felt like family. If you're interested in buying Where Am I Now? I'll make a small commission! Buy a Coffee for nat bookspoils with Ko-fi. Dec 08, Laura rated it it was amazing Shelves: memoir , read-in , nonfiction. A few months after I found the video of Robin and me, it was taken down, apparently due to copyright infringement. I had to laugh. Most people have embarrassing videos of themselves as children. Few have theirs copyrighted by Twentieth Century Fox. Mara Wilson : the really cute little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire , star of Matilda , and of the Miracle on 34th Street remake. This book was almost called K for Kid because of her role on the hit 90s TV show Melrose Place where she was the only kid on a A few months after I found the video of Robin and me, it was taken down, apparently due to copyright infringement. This book was almost called K for Kid because of her role on the hit 90s TV show Melrose Place where she was the only kid on a very adult set. Wherever it is you know Mara Wilson from, you probably know she hasn't been in the public eye in quite some time. What you don't know is: where is she now? Mara has had a blog for close to five years where she shares essays on a variety of topics. She follows that same essay format for her memoir writing an incredibly relatable book with those big Hollywood movies as a child being that one big difference. We explore Mara inside and out with her raw honesty on everything from anxiety, sexuality, OCD, the death of her mother as a young girl, her struggle with the "cute" word, mean girls, puberty, her breakup with Hollywood, insecurities, sibling relationships, finding ones path in life, and everything in between. At some point, that narrative becomes myth. I felt Mara on such a deep level when she spoke of her mother going through cancer and her passing. Then I felt it again when she went into the discovery of her extreme anxiety and OCD and how she learned to cope with it. She wants to help people the same way Kissing Doorknobs helped her when she knew she was different and that her mind worked differently often thinking something was wrong with her because of all the worrying, the patterns, the anxiety. She wants people to take mental health care as seriously as they take care of their physical health as they should. And she wants to help get the information out there for those who need it because you never know when it's the information someone needs to completely change their life around - the way it did for Mara. I couldn't help thinking how much I want to lend this to my little sister who I know will find it comforting with the things they have in common. Not to mention the chapter about her relationship with her younger sister. It was rarely the hellhounds who said anything mean to me; they expressed no real malice toward me other than the occasional eye-roll. They were at the top and had nothing to gain by pushing me around. The ones who scared me, who still scare me, are the girls who see all other girls as competition, who see themselves as the persecuted ones, the ones the pretty and popular girls hate. Such an enlightening view on mean girls. Mara digs into her female friendships from middle school to high school when they auditioned for show choir the really big one Powerhouse that actually inspired Ryan Murphy to create Glee and ultimately didn't all make the same choir, so it tore them apart. She managed to fit in with a group of friends for a year until they pulled the mean girl move on Mara as well. If you've ever been bullied or tried to fit in, you'll cringe at how relatable it is. And as we all wanted and I'm sure you're dying to know, there is a sweet letter to the character Matilda that goes into Mara's experience with the character from the moment she read the book, through casting and filming, and even including tidbits from the reunion for the blu-ray release. Some of my favorite things included moments with director Danny DeVito and with the real-life actors from the movie. The character meant the world to both Mara and her mother who passed away during postproduction, so a love letter is a perfect way to explore her experience with the character. She also has a chapter devoted to Robin Williams, a portrait of the man he was as she knew him, and how his death affected her. This reiterates her feelings on mental health being of utmost importance. To be this truthful and honest is to be powerful. Mara Wilson should be proud. View all 3 comments. Nov 12, Cece ProblemsOfaBookNerd rated it really liked it Shelves: nonfiction , anticipated-of , my-books , read-in Someday I will probably write a long and dramatic review of this book and how much I loved it. For now, I think Ill just cradle my copy to my chest and cry a tiny bit more. Matilda is one of my two all-time favorite movies the other one is Princess Bride , in case you were wondering , and like many others, I often wondered what happened to the talented young actress who went from being in everything to being in nothing. Then I found out she had a Twitter, where I began quietly stalking her posts, and I found to my delight that not only was she talented, she was also funny - and smart. From her Twitter, I found out that she had an upcoming book of essays and well, you know the rest from there. I came, I saw, I lurked - and then I got the book. Celebrity memoirs tend to fall into two categories - they're either a gossipy and ghost-written, relying on your guilty pleasure of watching famous people spill the tea to get you through the bad writing and it does work - very well; I, myself, am not immune or b very polite, very nice thank-you letters to everyone who made them famous, with a few agent-vetted anecdotes to make them seem a bit more approachable, but not too approachable these are boring, but it's almost impossible to be mad at them, because they're so nice and so polite. Sometimes, though, there's a third category - authentic, relatable, quotable; an existentialist bible that you want to keep on your nightstand and highlight forever. Mara Wilson manages to cover a wide array of topics, detailing her journey into fame and her journey out of it. She talks about her work on Matilda , and how much she loved her role, and lived her role; she talks about her hang-ups about sex; she talks about being a character actor for "adorable quirky child", and the anxiety she felt when she became too old and too plain to land adolescent leading roles in fact she lost three to Kristen Stewart, which bums me out a little, because Mara would have been amazing in Speak ; she talks about her experience with OCD and anxiety, and about being bullied in high school; she talks about first love; she talks about Robin Williams, and how his death affected her; and she talks about what it's like to finally find your people, and feel like you belong. I don't really have words to talk about how this book touched me, and how powerfully I related to some of the chapters. Minus the fame, and various other parts. This was such an honest, eloquent memoir, and finishing it was like saying goodbye to a friend you haven't seen in a while. It was bittersweet: it was perfect. View all 10 comments. I've always been interested in child stars who grow up and out of Hollywood, usually because they have issues finding further work when they get older. He has the same issue - he was not able to find work when he grew out of the cute phase, and ultimately moved on to other pursuits. Most of us have seen articles online titled, "Where are they now? She speaks of being offered roles too young for her when she hit preteen because that was how Hollywood showed her typecast, not feeling that she had that special older beauty to land teenager roles, and of course the dilemma of playing roles for children when you're growing breasts and starting to change over from that awkward middle school stage. This created some self esteem problems throughout life. Beyond this, she discusses general real life issues that all children and people face, but throwing in the sideline of being a childhood star in Hollywood. Dating jerky guys breaking up with you in creative ways, her mother's death, her sister's bond, and her OCD. A huge portion of this book is about her OCD because it shaped her life so fully. I know what being obsessive compulsive means, but after this memoir I take to heart how deep the struggles are when it's severe. The memoir was fascinating and touching. There's some stories of the movies of course, especially a chapter devoted to Matilda. Danny Devito and his wife come across truly sweet in this story. Her comments on Miracle on 34th St. One of the final chapters discusses Mrs. Doubtfire and Robin Williams, a chapter devoted to the joy of the man and all the hearts he touched. I realized when reading about him that I have now read three celebrity autobiographies that praise the actor: Christopher Reeve's "Still Me", where he was roommates with Robin in college and they stayed close friends; Fran Drescher's short story about him being apologetic over his excessive sweating during a lovemaking scene; and now this book, where the author said in life he was shy and had trouble meeting peoples eyes when he talked to them. Besides being informative, these stories dish out nuggets of wisdom - mean girls who try to tear others down, dealing with a mother's death, behind the scenes Hollywood drama, awkward dates, trying to find yourself in therapy, and ultimately learning how to grow through severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Mara Wilson's writing style is colorful and easy - I read this one quickly. It was hard to put down and, even when dealing with the heavy stuff, a joy to read. Probably the most honest memoir I've had the pleasure of reading. I received this from Penguin publishing in exchange for an honest review. View all 9 comments. Apr 01, JV semi-hiatus rated it liked it Shelves: memoir , , nonfiction , audiobooks. I have to thank Matilda for that. It's just one of my all-time favourite films. That being said, I always wondered what happened to the child actress who played Matilda Wormwood. Well, curiosity led me to read Mara Wilson's tell-all book. Her letter to Matilda is both touching and heartbreaking; and it hurts as much as when she lost her mother to the Big C, a chapter which she also tackles with remarkable honesty. There are a lot of child actors who'd gone bad those who've been primarily screwed by fame , but I'm truly in awe of this girl. From a vulnerable, anxious little kiddo who fought back bravely at an early age and later bloomed to an empowered woman who's independent, intelligent, and compassionate, Mara is truly inspirational. And to Mara, you do you! Oct 11, Iluzija O. Istini rated it it was ok. I didn't really like this book but it was easy to read, didn't leave me in a bad mood, so it earned that extra star. Explaining why I didn't like it will not be as easy as reading it. The thing is that there is no BAD aspect of the book. It was just all over the place. It covered a lot of sides to her life, which made it lose any impact that story could have if standing alone. Writing a book makes a writer make choices, coosing what to leave out is often more difficult than writing a long book. It WOULD be interesting reading about her point of view when filming, her anxietys and girlhood and schooling and private life and family if she picked ONE of those things to write about and gave it an edge, made it memorable. Mostly this feels like reading a normal person's life's short history I prefer to talk to people about those that we are supposed to care about just because she was famous once. Sorry, but no. Also, she is funny! The "astma medication" and "faking it" incidents proove it. I am sad to say that this book is not and I do not understand why. I hope to, one day, read some of her fiction, because underneath those two stars, there is potential there. View 1 comment. Shelves: favorites. It felt like I was catching up with an old friend I hadn't seen for awhile. Her "tribute" to Robin Williams was probably my favorite, so moving and beautiful. Hers is the type of storytelling where she just sets out to entertain you and not "in your face. That came out better in my head but hopefully you get the idea :. Despite our lives not being the same, she was easy to relate to in a way, and I found it very hard to put this book down at times and go on with my daily routines. Would recommend, I hope she writes another one soon and maybe one day I'll get to see her perform live View 2 comments. I am a huge fan of celebrity memoirs; I know this is not a particularly cool thing to admit, but I enjoy them a whole lot, especially on audiobook read by the author. This memoir by Mara Wilson was no exception: it is wonderfully honest, lovely, and was just an altogether nice reading experience. I personally did not grow up watching Matilda, as such I do not have a personal connection to Mara Wilson. But I follow her on Twitter and find her online presence really lovely, which was enough for me I am a huge fan of celebrity memoirs; I know this is not a particularly cool thing to admit, but I enjoy them a whole lot, especially on audiobook read by the author. But I follow her on Twitter and find her online presence really lovely, which was enough for me when I was looking for a new audiobook to listen to. In her memoir, Mara Wilson writes both about her career as a child star and about her struggles with OCD — the latter of which I appreciated a whole lot. Her honesty was really great and I think is important to change the way we think and talk about mental illness. One of my favourite essays in this book was her essay on Robin Williams, written shortly after his death. Here her empathy shines really bright and it brought me to tears. Altogether I really appreciated this book and if you are looking for a lovely audiobook, this one might just be for you. You can find this review and other thoughts on books on my blog. Sep 24, Shelly rated it it was ok. The book pretty much Mara telling stories about her life. Each chapter is a different story from her OCD discovery other mental health problems. Her mothers death and movie too movie. But then it went onto how hard her life is cause she didn't get the parts she wanted, who bullied her and who she slept with. Her chapter on Robin Williams was very compelling but I found the rest of the book a bit of a rant and moan about life. Also felt like she was just on a name drop all the time, trying to draw The book pretty much Mara telling stories about her life. Also felt like she was just on a name drop all the time, trying to draw you in with who she knew and who she worked with. I respected her going into this book and was annoyed with her by the time I was done. Jan 10, Book Riot Community added it. As someone growing up, I tend to put my idols on pedestals. Mara Wilson won my heart as Matilda, and as herself on the Nostalgia Critic website where she plays a version of herself that has risen from another dimension to seek revenge. Mara Wilson writes about her life, how she got into acting, why she left the business, and how she entered a new profession: writing. She writes with honest self-effacement and reflection, about her girlhood and teenage years. She wrote Harry Potter fanfiction, As someone growing up, I tend to put my idols on pedestals. She wrote Harry Potter fanfiction, and is now writing for Night Vale. Jun 05, Jackie rated it it was amazing Shelves: read-in I'm a huge fan of celeb memoirs, and I often listen to audiobooks. Mara Wilson, if you don't know, is not only the girl who starred in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, but she is also a phenomenally talented writer. Even if you don't remember her movies from your childhood this is still a book to pick up. There's something in it you will identify with. Mara is unflinchingly honest in sharing herself, her struggles and her life. Hilarious, heart-wrenching, I'm a huge fan of celeb memoirs, and I often listen to audiobooks. Hilarious, heart-wrenching, this is a new favourite for me in the celeb memoir category. View all 4 comments. Sep 23, Gina rated it it was ok Shelves: non-fiction , biography-memoir. I hate to be so hard on this book because I think it's great that Mara has grown up to find her voice and be confident in her writing. But I was expecting something a little more witty and nuanced like Mara's Twitter feed and instead there were chapters about first kisses and getting her first period and high school show choir that I just could not get through. The stuff about show business and how it affected her self image growing up is interesting, but there were just too many recalled AIM I hate to be so hard on this book because I think it's great that Mara has grown up to find her voice and be confident in her writing. The stuff about show business and how it affected her self image growing up is interesting, but there were just too many recalled AIM chats with middle school boys and not enough reflection or depth. Sorry Mara. Jun 22, Kales rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction , 4-star , lgbtq , mental-health. This book hit close to home in the best and worst ways. I discovered a deep connection to Mara and related to her story better than any autobiography I have ever read. While she is only four ish years older than me, and she was a film child star, a lot of our story is the same. She also experienced the loss of her mother at a young age which was devastating to read about, and I had not but how we see the world and speak to others was spookily similar. Thank you for all the stories. I hope she should appreciate it. Her letter to Matilda, her homage to Robin Williams, her friendship with Danny Devito, but even her stories of growing up and adulting and failure were pointed and meaningful. I highly enjoyed this book. Conclusion: To Buy Jul 09, Lois R. Gross rated it it was amazing. The interviewer asked Mara if she believed in Santa, at which point she started giggling, then lisped out, "No, we're Jewish. Doubtfire; Miracle on 34th St. She was adorable and feisty and the ultimate child actor. Behind the scenes, however, things weren't going as well. Her mother died during the filming of Matilda from breast cancer. Mara was lucky to have loving surrogates on set in the form of Danny DiVito and Rhea Pearlman who "adopted" her during the roughest times of her mother's illness. Still, however, when the film ended, her pseudo family broke up and she and her father and siblings were left to adjust to a world without her mother on their own. All of this happened as Mara reached an age -- too young for teen roles and too old and developed for child roles -- when Hollywood really no longer had a place for her. Mara tried to fit into the world of normal pre-teens but her long absences from school while she was making movies cast her in the role of outsiders. She did not have a solid group of peers and she was sheltered and slightly immature as she entered high school. Along the way, she discovered that a family tendency to emotional disorders had presented themselves. In addition to depression and anxiety, she had a very pronounced case of OCD, and has gone public with her diagnosis to help others with the problem. As she reached high school, she sought solace in the theater program and in competitive choir programs. Her school's choir was the prototype for the TV show, Glee. In choir, she worked her way up from low ranking choir to the top women's show choir. However, she found that the choir was infested with "mean girls" and her mental problems became worse in response to the social problems. Her understanding parents saw her distress her father had, by this time, remarried , and sent her to a boarding school that specialized in the arts. At NYU, Mara found her "people" and also decided that her calling was less as a performer than as a writer. In addition to on-line blogging and writing and presenting personal stories in the NY area, she continued to write prays and found her way into several showcases in the city. I related to this book mostly because I am the mom of a theater kid who preceded Mara at Playwright's Horizon by about a decade. We also went through the joys and horrors of competitive choirs and drama programs in high school, and everything Mara relates is very, very true. This is her story. When this became tiring, she left the business, and pursued a life of normalcy. And in reality she was so grounded in it that she came out of her fame relatively unscathed. Actors with iconic, career-defining roles do spend time trying to separate themselves from that character, but later find that very role worth embracing again. Mara has done that, and carved her own niche as a writer, comedian, and surprised me with an appearance on The Nostalgia Critic. Her story is one of honesty — she hated the profession that made her a known face, so she abandoned it as she grew up. She was a celebrity, so she was involved in celebrity things, but also lived as a normal person. But she thankfully embraces it. I liked her then as Matilda, of course , and I love her now. I love her writing style and her honesty. This is a great read, and I highly recommend it! You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account.

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Doubtfire , Mara Wilson has always felt a little young and out of place - as the only kid on a film set full of adults, the first daughter in a house full of boys, a Valley girl in New York and a neurotic in California, and a grown-up the world still remembers as a little girl. They also illuminate universal struggles, like navigating love and loss, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. Mara Wilson. Mara Wilson is a writer, playwright, actor and storyteller perhaps best known as the little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire , Miracle on 34th Street , and Matilda. She lives in New York City. Genuine and authentic, funny and heartbreaking, Where Am I Now? Mara Wilson has grown up to be a moving, funny, and thoughtful storyteller. Well, not up. As I understand it, she's still approximately the same height. Search books and authors. Where Am I Now? View all online retailers Find local retailers. About the author Mara Wilson Mara Wilson is a writer, playwright, actor and storyteller perhaps best known as the little girl from Mrs. Praise for Where Am I Now? Growing up, I wanted to be Mara Wilson. As I understand it, she's still approximately the same height Megan Amram, author of Science For Her! You don't have to be a fellow neurotic Jew who grew up in Southern California to adore this book Rachel Bloom, creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Related titles. A Life on Our Planet. Mary's Last Dance. The Dreamer. Limitless: The Autobiography. Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame was available right way to download on my Kindle so I read it this morning. It was really more of a collection of autobiographical essays than a straight memoir. We learn about her early days as a child actor although not too much about why she wanted to act exactly—her brother had done some commercials so she did some too and that lead to movie roles but I wondered how her family got into acting in the first place and it was fun reading what it was like on set for a child on things like Melrose Place. She also talks quite a bit about leaving acting during puberty after transitioning from cute kid to attractive but not a knockout adolescence and even talks briefly about some other stars she encountered that were in the business and stayed in it. She managed to stay performing in some way first in the surprisingly cut-throat world of show choir??!!? The book is well worth a look if you were a Mara Wilson fan, are interested in former child actors or just really enjoy autobiographical essays. I saw her speak a few years ago and she was very thoughtful and interesting. Thanks for the review, I may just have to bump it up my TBR list a few notches. Like Liked by 1 person. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/9385f6bd-2dee-43be-8648-4f8d5df5bf48/die-erde-hat-menschheit-542.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9588137/UploadedFiles/7834BD3C-4080-24CC-AF84-AC3DB3357BF5.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4639964/normal_601fcfdaed05d.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9589108/UploadedFiles/E7ECCB3E-4C45-1FD9-7DAF-4ED2AE2218A2.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4641789/normal_601eebdbcd438.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9590518/UploadedFiles/02291BFB-0242-220E-1148-1ECC52154E0D.pdf https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/4f57a6ad-e9bb-4614-bbc3-4fec0479f7dd/frauenbrevier-fur-haus-und-welt-eine-auswahl-der-besten- stellen-aus-namhaften-schriftstellern-uber-260.pdf https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/86f5acac-9523-4fbd-8574-688318f54227/paleo-diat-mahlzeitplaner-du-kannst-das-90-tage-paleo- mahlzeitplaner-zum-abnehmen-verfolge-und-797.pdf