Not just an actor—this Byrne guy can write!

Now I REALLY love this guy, because not only does he make my screen-watching self happy, but he tickles my book bones, too. I was basically obsessed with him in the series In Treatment (let me be a voyeur at a shrink appointment, and I’m in heaven). The guy can act! And now I see he can write his tootsies off, too!

This memoir is lyrical with a capital L. The book is so poetic, and Byrne seems to be having so much fun putting words together (magnificently), I wonder if he secretly likes writing more than acting. He does talk about being an introvert, which seems like an unusual characteristic for an actor; more a trait for a writer.

Even though I give this book 4 stars wholeheartedly, I wasn’t sure I would like this one when I started. Byrne was describing nature and I wanted his STORY, not a soliloquy about striated leaves. Honestly, I thought I was in trouble. I realized his life stories were going to be descriptive, which often dulls my senses. I guess I usually prefer a conversational tone in memoirs, and that was not what was happening here. But once I got used to the style (which happened really early on), I was pulled in hard. I highlighted a lot. The writing seemed emotional, despite the fact that the descriptive style creates a certain distance, a certain detachment. It was sort of a push-pull kind of thing.

I’m always a fan of going into a book blind, so I’m not going to give details. I will say he had some heavy stuff happen to him. Because of my crush, I gobbled up every tidbit he fed me, and I finished with a bigger crush than I started with. He is so introspective, which I love, and his story is intense and full of wisdom. I liked that he came from a big working-class family in Ireland (a nice rags-to-riches story), and I liked that he doesn’t seem to be affected by fame; for example, there is no name-dropping to speak of. The book is heavy on Catholicism, which might seem funny since Google told me he is now an atheist. Given some of his memories, there absolutely had to be church talk, but still, it was a little too much in spots. (Lapsed Catholics whom I know tend to talk about their religious childhoods a lot, so I forgive him. Big of me, huh?)

What was missing for me was any mention of a love life. (Doesn’t everyone with a crush want to hear about that?) Google told me he is very private, and man is that true when it comes to women. He did mention an early girlfriend, but that was it. I guess he wants to respect the privacy of his friends and family, and that’s cool. Google also told me he is married with a kid. That’s also okay with this crazed fan; I want to think of him as having company so he’s not all lonely, lol—because in his story he is lonely quite a bit.

This book jumps around, so if you like your stories linear, this book might not be for you. I didn’t mind the jumpy-jumps, but I do wish he jumped more often into his Hollywood days—his childhood took center stage.

I wish I didn’t insist on being an audio virgin, because everyone says that the audio version is fabulous—especially since he reads it himself! God do I love his Irish accent! (If anyone could make me lose my audio virginity, it would be Mr. Byrne.)

I don’t think you have to be a fan of Byrne’s acting to like this memoir. He’s such a good storyteller! I stayed riveted the whole time, and I loved picking the book up.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Having been a huge fan of Byrne since I first saw him in Buffalo Girls in the early 2000's, I was so ready to read this upon learning of its' publication.

Gabriel Byrne, Irish actor and writer, tells the story of his life, chronicling his adolescence and his choice to become to an actor.

I, firstly, must be honest. I did listen to this in audiobook form. I mean, when you have an opportunity to have the author themselves read their book to you, why would you not take it? Byrne did a superb job of narrating his book and I so felt it added a layer to the book and truly allowed me to immerse myself as a reader.

I loved getting to know more about his life beyond the actor, as in his young life. I knew that Byrne had come to acting a bit later. I had never gotten a chance to hear about it and that was illuminating. I really enjoyed Byrne's style of writing. It has a lyrical style that feels akin to fiction. This made the work flow in a way that on the page and to the ear was appeasing as a reader.

My star down is just a personal thing. I know this is his life and he's allowed to talk about whatever Byrne wants. I have to say... I don't understand the Irish Catholic male predilection to talk about their sexual awakening. It's not just Byrne. Frank McCourt talked about his as well. I just shake my head and think, so you noticed girls are beautiful and your penis has more than one function. Grand. Don't you have more interesting things you could relay from your life? There's so many things that didn't get talked about that could have been instead. Just a thought.

Thank you so much for this!

This book was really interesting. It had a bit of a slower start but then I was pulled in!
It has great humor and excellent writing, it draws you into life in Ireland as a boy to becoming an actor as an adult. I recommend!

This lovely, lyrical memoir has set the standard extremely high, for my reading this year. There are times when a non-linear narrative works perfectly, and it's incredible how deftly Byrne pulls that off, given that his metier isn't writing, but acting! Deviating from the form of a normal straight-line progression of a memoir ( and I have absolutely nothing against that either), this book is a collection of memories, taking in his childhood in a family of 8 in Dublin ( fun but chaotic), his experiences with a seminary ( soul-crushingly awful), starting troubles in acting, experiences with fame and stardom. The book is loosely structured in a fascinating way-each childhood reminiscence is juxtaposed with one from his adult life, but that's done very cleverly, with a common thread linking the two. THe memory of him getting his first suit, for instance, precedes a chapter on Versace making a premiere suit for him, and this is more or less the way the book goes, making it very rewarding for more than one read- as soon as I finished it, I started all over again, paying special attention this time to the order of chapters. I found that this made the emotional impact of the writing that much more powerful, and more realistic-our memories don't come to us perfectly in chronological order either! Byrne doesn't hesitate to pull his punches, whether it's writing about struggles with alcoholism, sexual abuse or the price of fame. The memoir's a lot more than an account of being star-struck by famous names popping up, or complications with difficult directors-though there's enough of that for a movie buff as well, with some great insights into the process of acting. It's a poignant account of a man looking back with the advantage of hindsight ,and discovering that time he thought was lost was never really lost at all, all of it made him who he is today. And he isn't done yet with time! Lots more curtain calls, and hopefully books, in Gabriel Byrne's future!

I enjoy Gabriel as an actor and now have also enjoyed his biography. He includes some stories from his youth but most of the book is about his experiences in learning his craft and appearing in movies. He describes some of the hard parts of being on the movie sets and his favorite roles. I would recommend this book to anyone who admires the author or anyone who is curious about actors' lives.

I began reading this book while riding my exercise bike and was amazed at how swiftly the time flew by! A memoir with humor and excellent writing, it draws you into life in rural Ireland as a boy to becoming an actor in his adulthood, The stories are just what you would like to hear over a pint of Guinness!

I highly recommend this book!

Beautifully and poetically written, I had to reread certain sentences as they were breathtakingly well written. Certain passages absolutely broke my heart and others had me in tears of laughter. Glorious and devastating in equal measure. Fantastic portrayal of people and setting made the memoir immersive and visceral

My only criticism would be the disjointed nature of the chapters. Some seemed completely unrelated and at times I was confused as to where in his timeline certain memories were from. Just personal opinion, I know other readers may have enjoyed this, but I felt it drew me away a little as I was looking for clues as to when the events were happening.

I couldn't wait to read this. I knew it would be excellent and it certainly did not disappoint. Gabriel Byrne is a proud Irishman and a man that the Irish are truly proud of. His memoir is detailed, descriptive, heartfelt and honest. His echoes the lives of so many impoverished Irish children growing up in 50s and 60s Ireland. Families were so poor, life was so hard and especially for those stemming from large families like Byrne's . He made me love him even more after reading this memoir. He told of his troubles, of his love of film and how life hasn't always gone his way. It was so honest, so moving. Somehow, everything he revealed, from his time in the seminary to his addiction and troubled thoughts, all were expected. The man has many layers and we got to see many of them here. This was a great read. It's one I will not forget in a hurry. I loved it.

I just finished reading Gabriel Byrne’s “Walking with Ghosts” and I had to pause for a minute, to collect myself. So transported was I into the author’s world, as I devoured this book, that I was left with a huge sense of loss as it ended, which I guess is ironic as this ties directly to the themes explored with grace, compassion, and heart-rending vulnerability in this treasure of a book. The author writes with an ease, a fluidity, that dips and weaves through story after story, some poetic as in the pastoral and sublimely descriptive tales of his boyhood in Ireland, to others crackling with vivid characters and often humorous adventures. The tales skillfully cross timelines back and forth in the authors life, winding through the events and relationships that have shaped him, from the uplifting and formative, to those that can only be described as (in the author’s words). “blackness”. Now in his twilight years, the author is thinking about life and big themes like death, memory, escape, fame, identity, imagination, judgement, loss and yearning, and how all have tied into his lifelong quest to belong, somewhere and with someone, in a way that would allow him to live a truly authentic life.

The resulting book, one of the most beautiful I have read in a long while, touched me in a way that illustrates an author, a man, a soul, whose deeply introspected journey, holding nothing back, has succeeded in sparking an intimate and authentic connection with this reader, and no doubt, with all of those who have the great luck to experience it.

5 very enthusiastic stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this book.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
Good writing and some nice imagery. The story was difficult to follow as it was quite disjointed at times. Not very engaging on the whole.
An ok book.

At its heart, Walking With Ghosts is a soulful, loving, occasionally sad, remembrance of a life lived hard and fully, and a loving tribute to parents who are never understood by the young.

In his memoir, Byrne’s primary focus seems to be on his childhood, his parents and family, how he grew up, the long and rather circuitous route to acting that ultimately led him to what he wanted/needed. There are flashes of the more recent times that many of us may be more aware of, particularly some of his more famous roles, but there is much more about what may have formed him and life in Ireland in the post World War 2 years.

Toward the end of this story, Byrne deals with the question of his profession.

Why did I choose this life? The life of an actor. Destiny was it?
Maybe the signs had been there all along. I had been surrounded
in real life by actors in the theater of the street. I was an observer
of the characters of my childhood. I would imagine them being
actors in my own made-up plays. Like the traveling storyteller,
who knew about timing: the pause, the whisper, the slowing down
and speeding up of words. Who knew how to sprinkle humor and
tension.... I wondered what power he had, to make people silent
with awe.. (loc 1998)

I definitely recommend Walking With Ghosts to all who enjoy memoirs, those who have enjoyed Mr. Byrne’s work over the years and anyone who would like to read a soul searching look back at life and heritage.

My rating is probably 4 to 4.5*.


A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I so tried to get into this story but it just didn't hold my attention. I'm sure it's a delightful novel but just not for me.

Gabriel Byrne tells a lyrical tale of his childhood and his early years as an actor. Growing up in the countryside surrounding Dublin, Byrne describes himself as a shy child who does not fit in easily. At a young age, he finds that alcohol takes away his shyness and he feels at home in the neighborhood pub. After failing at several attempts of various vocations, including time in an English seminary, Byrne finds his love in acting. However, alcohol almost ruins his life and career until he decides to enter a rehab.
The beauty of this memoir is in the wonderful stories of the people and countryside of Ireland. Byrne's memories encompass characters from his childhood and even his partying with Richard Burton. The descriptions are beautiful and the voices of the characters lyrical.

"Walking with Ghosts is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking as well as a lyrical homage to the people and landscapes that ultimately shape our destinies."

Thank you Netgalley and Grove Press for the advanced copy of this book!

I have read a lot of autobiographies and I love Gabriel Byrne as an actor but this was not my favorite. Written with poetry flair, he skips around time periods quite a bit Not really the autobiography I was looking for. If you love to read autobiographies by all means pick up a copy of this!

Walking With Ghosts is a fantastic book. I like memoir better than biography because we get to hear the author's own words, his/her own take on the highlighted scenes from his/her life. What a treat it was to read this account of Gabriel Byrne's life from a boy growing up in Dublin, Ireland, to a young man falling for movies and beginning to wonder if he could live that life.

Byrne's writing transports you to the past right along with him. I felt like I had spent an evening sitting and listening to him tell his story. It is funny, poetic, and heartbreaking.

I gave this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to any fan of memoir. Thank you to Net Galley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Byrne's writing is first-rate and the actor's dry sense of humor makes this memoir particularly appealing.

Years ago, I had the privilege of seeing Gabriel Byrne on Broadway in the Eugene O'Neill play, A Moon for the Misbegotten (Thank you, Dan for making this happen for my birthday). Having witnessed his phenomenal acting in that play, in several movies and in the show In Treatment in which he played a psychotherapist, I had always sensed a sadness in him and he came across as an introverted, private person to me. This exquisitely poetic memoir brought these observations to fruition. I've read other celebrity memoirs; none of them hold a candle to this one. Brutally honest, humble and vivid are all words I could use to describe it. From the earliest pages, you see how nature, Ireland (primarily Dublin), family, the Catholic Church and his sensitive nature have impacted his life. He writes poignantly about his experiences and memories growing up in Dublin. Byrne does not shy away from sharing both his personal flaws and negative experiences that affected him deeply. I have deep respect for what I consider to be brave; he truly bared his soul while reflecting on his life. Whether he is describing the hills he played on as a boy or his experiences as a son, friend or actor, there is a poetic beauty to his words. I identified with some of his traits and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this compelling memoir. 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ Thank you to @netgalley & @groveatlantic for the free e-book(ARC) of this memoir in exchange for an honest review. Pub date is 1/12/21. #gabrielbyrne #walkingwithghosts #groveatlantic #netgalley #goodreads #bookstagrammer #bookreviewer #booksandmrdarcy #withhernosestuckinabook❤️📚

If it weren't for the fact that I greatly enjoyed his performance in several films, I would say that Byrne is in the wrong profession.
His writing is beautiful, lyrical, and mesmerizing. He paints beautiful pictures even for the saddest events in his life. He brings the reader into his life and walks you through growing, learning, suffering, loving, and just plain old living.
The way he shares his life doesn't just open up his past to you, you end up walking away with a more open perspective and with lots to mull over.
Rather unexpectedly, this is one of the most thought-provoking memoirs I've ever read. It might just be that I fell in love with the language, but I think a lot of what was said would have hit just as hard if not told as beautifully.

Many extremely happy thanks to NetGalley and Grove Press for the early read!

I didn’t know much about the life and work of actor Gabriel Byrne before reading his memoir, “Walking with Ghosts.” He’s very recognizable, but what I learned is that he’s been in more than 80 films and got his start back in Dublin on a popular soap opera.

Readers will be able to tell that Gabriel enjoys writing, and he’s quite good at it. He knows how to set a scene and paint a picture with his descriptive memories of growing up. I particularly like his short, quippy sentences and paragraphs. He's funny and serious. Sometimes poetic. But, gosh. I would have appreciated a bit more punctuation. Is it the new normal to not put quotations around dialogue?

Because the book doesn’t have chapter titles, I really didn’t know what I was in for with each section. Each story is a bit different and not in chronological order. For instance, we go from experiencing his childhood in Ireland straight to acting Hollywood within the first 30 pages. Gosh, I thought, “How did he get there?”

As an altar boy at age 11, Gabriel feels the call to serve and leaves for seminary school. Fortunately, he gets asked to leave at age 15 (you'll read why).

During much of his early life, he was lonely and overwhelmed. Then acting gave him a sense of belonging. He later realizes that he had enormous self-esteem issues. Readers will appreciate his vulnerability, self-awareness and wisdom. Of course, this comes with age and having more than 20 years of sobriety under his belt.

“Alcohol had become my most trusted friend, before it betrayed me and brought me to my darkest days,” Gabriel writes. “Day by day I gained courage. The veils of denial and delusion lifted. I wanted my life back again.”

Throughout the book, Gabriel makes references to ghosts (hence the title). In an attempt to make peace with his past, he writes a few chapters to his parents. Don’t we all wish we could communicate what we were really thinking before our parents leave us?

Overall, this memoir was good, but by no means a “masterpiece” as some reviewers tout. I enjoyed the short read, but didn’t feel a strong connection to the person “walking with ghosts.”
Special thanks to Grove Atlantic for an advanced reader copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

I found myself interested and irritated in equal measure whilst reading this admittedly intimate and revealing memoir by acclaimed actor Gabriel Byrne. Interested because he has indeed led an interesting life and irritated because of the meandering and episodic way in which he has chosen to write. His non-linear narrative means that the book jumps about in time and place and ends up being a series of vignettes rather than a conventional memoir – which works up to a point but for me didn’t make for a coherent or engaging story. It’s an honest and self-revelatory account of an often troubled life and he doesn’t shirk from opening up about his failings and weaknesses. It’s certainly not a conventional celebrity memoir, thank goodness, although there is a fair sprinkling of famous names throughout, nor is it a misery memoir like Angela’s Ashes, though there is indeed a fair bit of misery here, not to mention the almost obligatory priestly sexual abuse. However, I felt that overall there was a lack of facts and content which was frustrating, and I found his reflections on life, acting, mortality and so on rather banal and superficial. “We all act all the time….Life makes us necessary deceivers. Except maybe when we are alone”. Nothing very profound or insightful in such platitudes. Overall, I wasn’t that engaged although I at least gained some insight into Byrne’s character and achievements.