As the editor and critic-in-chief of Cuurtainup.com, a magazine mainly focused on theater I've admired and written about Gabriel Byrne's performances. His memir is beautifully written; in fact, quite poetic.. No doubt, this trip down his particular memory lane was cathartic for Mr. Byrne. That said, I couldn't help wishing there had been more about his experiences in the stage and film work. What he does include is great. But it only made me wish that there had been more of that.

I received an uncorrected proof e-copy of this from the publisher Grove Atlantic through NetGalley.

The older I get, some of my "rules" become more rigid, and then there are those that melt fluid and have incongruous exceptions. I am not particularly enamored of stream of consciousness writing (truly, I dislike it). This memoir is both stream and nonlinear, either of which can be sometimes off-putting. And yet....Mr. Byrne writes in a poetic prose, or prosaic poetry that he drew me in and the styles that would normally bother me...didn't. Example:

I am thinking of the seasons of my own life, learning now in my winter days I must shed what I have held most dear.
Yet there is contentment, even joy, in a landscape of bare trees, when the light makes everything more stark and bittersweet.
Here I stand now, a man longing to see as a child again, when every smell and sound and sight was a marvel. Yet I will never know again the childhood thrill of finding a hawk feather snagged on a briar, or the taste of wild blackberries after rain.
This place birthed my love of simple things.

Byrne has eleven years on me, but I understand. Nonlinear, as I noted, Byrne meanders through recollections - some quite detailed for so long ago, perhaps a skill of an actor?, perhaps a skill of just him - some nostalgic, some sweet, and some... oh, some not. Byrne's ghosts are many. Some are fond memories and some are quite horrible. Candid in his revelations, there are disturbing passages. This may have been a catharsis, maybe a confession...he did grow up Irish Catholic with all the baggage that saddles that combination, though he gave that up along with any belief in a god long ago.

I read this for the most part as I think he intended it to be read - go with the flow - but I did interrupt my reading to mark and note mark a few lines here and there. On moving to a new, well, new old house, and he in resisting tow of his mother

She pulled back the bolt of the gate and I saw the new house for the first time. It had no smile for me.

Change is hard.

Recalling how his grandmother took him to the "pictures", and how "the wonder and magic leaked away when we came out into the ordinary street again." And visiting his home many years later

The picture house is a carpet showroom now.
I stood yesterday where the screen would have been.
- If I can be of assistance sir? Was there anything in particular you were looking for? the salesman asked.
- There used to be an usher dressed in red braided uniform to click your ticket. Right where you're standing. And the stairways had photographs of the stars.
Glamorous and godlike. Beyond imagining.

He says how he loved the world of imagination his grandmother opened for him. Later, remembering school days, with castoff clothes and the accompanying shame, exacerbated by having a lunch of his mother's homemade brown bread instead of "sliced white pan from the shop like the other boys had."

When we went on school hikes into the mountains, I pretended I didn't like bread, and threw away the rough brown slices so the other boys wouldn't see.

That brought back a memory of mine that I'm not fond of - I had to bring home and reuse over and over until they fell apart the brown paper lunch bags and plastic sandwich bags; we didn't have much money. Today, recycling and reusing is a badge of honor, but in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with cruel teasing of children...?

Filming the mini-series Wagner with Richard Burton, getting drunk after hours, Burton waxing maudlin

- Fame, Burton said, doesn't change who you are, it changes others. It is a sweet poison you drink of first in eager gulps. Then you come to loathe it.
I'm rather ashamed to be an actor sometimes. I've done the most appalling sh*t for money.
[...]
- Give it all you've got but never forget it's just a bloody movie, that's all it is. We're not curing cancer. Remember.

Byrne says "I've made over eighty films since then and I've never forgotten those words."

Byrne's relationship with his father gets a few peeps through the fence hole. "It's funny how I half-listened to you, or didn't listen at all, for so many years. It's only now that I hear you." And as with many of his ghosts, Byrne has a one-sided conversation, his memories filling in the response. On his father's most valuable possession, a vintage watch:

It had been on your wrist as long as I could remember, beneath the crooked tattoo of a crucifix.
- You have to wind this fellas with care between your finger and thumb, always in a forward direction.
As you got older, you would bring it closer to your eyes, quint as I made to go, anxious to be away.
Late, when I'd visit you, you'd say:
- You can stay a few minutes yet. I'll put the kettle on.
Now I understand that was your way of telling me you loved me. Hanging onto those last moments between us.

Ghosts. Byrne walks with his, and he raised the specter of a few of my own ghosts, long banished but never forgotten.

Not to end on a down, I got a laugh out of one line I'm sure was not meant to be funny - Byrne's father was a cooper for Guinness Brewery and in 1959, when Byrne was 9, he said "The brewery smelled of things called yeast and hops which went into making black beer called porter." Guinness may be famous for their stout, but "called a porter" is about the best anyone who knows beer could say about that product! Okay, okay, withdrawn! But I can't stand their sourish, thin trapped-in-a-UK-tradition non-stout.

Two strings were attached to me being granted this copy. Because as I am not a professional book reviewer, but "simply an avid reader", one was "... that if you have a chance to read the book you take the time to write a review." I review every book I read now, even more especially the advance/preview copies I receive. A writer took the time to write; I took the time to read; I owe it to the writer, and also the publisher, to offer my observations. (The other string was signing up for notices of new offerings from the publisher...I can do that.)

I enjoy the this book. Gabriel Byrne is an accomplished actor and this gave insight to him as an individual. Couldn’t’ help but hear his voice in my head as I read. Thank you for the opportunity

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advance read. Gabriel Byrne is one of my favorite actors. I was thrilled to see that he'd written a memoir. I read it in 3 days and was enthralled. He's a very good writer.

There's a stream of consciousness aspect to this memoir, sharing his memories about growing up in a poor family, the suffering of sexual abuse from Catholic priests, his failures while searching for a profession, and his struggle with depression and alcoholism and dealing with fame. Kudos for honesty and laying his soul bare. I've read two other Irish memoirs by Frank McCourt and Nuala O'Faolain and this was very good and worth the read.

I recognize this actor but don't know his work well. Yet I enjoyed his memoir (that I read as an ARC from NetGalley). It has some lovely writing and moving insights. At times his Irish reminiscences made me think of Frank McCourt. The organization is a bit scattered, and at times I felt the editing could have been tighter, but overall, I enjoyed it.

Favorite quote: "In the library, I devoured books. I was looking for myself, and for answers to my life."

I was very interested in Gabriel Byrne's memoir as I'm a big fan. of his work. The writing is good, but very stream of consciousness and a bit disjointed as it jumps around on the timeline. Not well organized, but interesting info about the actor/author. Some very sad stories in his life, and I don't feel a lot of joy in his memories. I find that kind of sad. I felt his sense of never belonging, being the outsider. His struggles with alcohol, although not surprising, still elicit an emotional response. I wonder how many actors feel so disconnected from others as they pretend to be so many people. The abuse stories make me angry, and I'm sorry he didn't feel like he could speak out about it. It seems like a cathartic sharing as if he's still performing in "In Treatment." His transition from a failed everything to a hugely successful actor is encouraging for those who are struggling. He doesn't come across as very introspective even though he seems pretty empathic. I wanted more, but I'm not sure what was missing. I had to give it a 4 because I'm such a big fan, but I was leaning toward a 3.

I picked up this book last night, thinking I would read a chapter or two. I ended up reading until the final page. It was one of the most original memoirs I’ve ever read. It’s written in the spirit I wish all memoirs were which was rather than an “oh how great am I” story, it is more as if you are sitting with him while he turns the photos of an album and tells you about each person or place in the photo and how they impacted him. It was quite moving as the words seem to generate from the soul not just his physical experience in the world. No ego in this tale. I’ve seen a couple of his films but that’s not why I wanted to read this. This might sound nutty but it’s a book you may not even know you want to read but should and will be better for it. So take a walk with Gabriel Byrne, listen to his stories and you might want to live with greater intention regardless of whether that was his goal.

It was a joy to read ‘Walking With Ghosts’. Byrne’s memoir is beautifully told, his visual writing evoking laughter, but also profound sorrow through powerful and deeply personal reminiscence. Whether describing aspects of his childhood, his life in Ireland or his career adventures abroad, every experience is recounted with honesty, dignity, humility, and a riveting sense of place. Highly recommended.

You know Gabriel Byrne, he was the priest in that film you watched.

I can’t actually say for certain if he was a priest in anything except Stigmata, I just have the feeling he was! Turns out he almost became a real-life priest, which is the only thing I found out about him from reading this memoir.

I saw him in the series In Treatment, which I thought was fairly under the radar – turns out he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination for that role. Did I learn that from the book? From the blurb! In Treatment gets less space in the book than it does in this review.

This is a blurry watercolour of a memoir, as seen from the window of a train. Things are rushed through, only glimpses allowed, and no real information given. When I read a memoir, I expect to learn more about a person in the book than I can from their Wikipedia page. I didn’t finish the book with any real sense of knowing who the real Gabriel Byrne is. In fact, if he is a ‘fiercely private person’ (information I gathered from said Wikipedia page) why even write a memoir? Why not write fiction?

If you are expecting a celebrity memoir, this is not it. The focus is mainly on Byrne’s Dublin childhood and adolescence, which if you’ll forgive my bluntness, is an almost stereotypical account of the time (a little later than Angela’s Ashes and not as harsh). There is relatively little about acting considering this is what Byrne is known for and what we assume is his passion in life.

This is a short book but I have to say, I found myself getting bored in places – not to mention confused by the skipping around in time. Some of the book is not even about him! He tells us an old Russian’s war story (Why? I don’t know), and other tales of childhood acquaintances. And, an unusual criticism for a celebrity memoir, I know, but there is almost no name-dropping! In fact there are only really two instances: one concerning actors he was working with and therefore valid, and the other about how Gianni Versace made suits for Byrne and DiCaprio for a fashion show two days before he was murdered – the anecdote seemed so out of place! Almost as if an editor demanded more gossip.

I stated earlier that no real information is given. I should point out that Byrne addresses alcoholism, depression, sexual abuse by priests, the illness of a family member, having a stalker… However, I do feel that these issues were glossed over and dealt with only superficially.

This one was not for me. Perhaps were it not marketed as a memoir, which raises expectations of the content, and instead reorganized into ‘personal essays’ or something similar it could get away with being as unrevealing at is it.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #GrovePress for the ARC!

Gabriel Byrne's autobiography ranks alongside Frank McCourt's novels. A fine Irish storyteller, in Walking with Ghosts, Brynne makes the reader both tear up and chuckle at the stories of his childhood and adult experiences. He writes of his life "in the raw," discussing what has framed him as a man: the church, his family, the theater, and alcohol. Byrne's life is so engrossing that the reader must surely dread coming to the last page of the book.

Gabriel Byrne is one of my favorite icons of cinema. I was curious about his reflections and not disappointed in what I found in this book. I appreciate the way this artist has shared his story.

Gabriel Byrne has exceptional talent as an actor. Reading is memoir you can see that his life was not exactly a walk in the park. He had a really difficult childhood, but he was loved by his parents as much as they could possibly give to him even though they could not financially provide for him or his siblings. At the time his parents did what they could and they strived to give them a chance in life. It was sad seminary life turned out the way it did.

Mr.Byrne had natural talent that showcased and was recognized and I personally like the fact that he tries to keep his personal life as private as possible. I don’t think it needs to be on display for everyone to exploit your children before they even have a chance to discover who they are or what they want for their own lives without being pigeonholed as that rich actors kid!

I got lost a few times in the book, but I just went back and reread a few passages and I was then able to connect the dots. His story was very haunting and poignant and had a almost dark side at times. I could even relate with him because I had a very poor family dynamics except mine was fraught with abuse. His almost at times had such gray areas that you wonder if there were more damage than what he truly revealed?

He held back at times in some situations, but the book was written with such a unique genuine desire to let us know him when he was discovering who he was before he became this big star. I don’t think he even realizes how powerful of a star he truly has become on the screen!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Gabriel Byrne is a fantastic actor whatever role he immerses himself in he becomes the character .Now he shows us he also writes wonderfully he shares with us his childhood his issues with drinking his acting career.An absolutely wonderful read .#netgalley#groveatlantic,

What a strange read. With his stream of consciousness account of his past and the « ghosts » he encountered, it is a compelling read. But it is a bit hard to jump from one thought to the next and takes a bit to get used to with its slightly disjointed structure. However, the painful memories described with such honesty by the actor, enhances the reader’s compassion and appreciation for his work.

Gabriel Byrne is an underrated, unshowy actor and this also comes through in his writing. Most memoirs by actors are libellous or contain a morbid obsession with their dark past. Byrne manages to find the light in between in this easy, poetic read. I loved the switching between his childhood and his time on set, as Byrne seems as much of a thinker and observer, as an actor and he clearly does not relish being the centre of attention.

His childhood in Ireland is so evocatively depicted, and described without judgement, that it was a pleasure to sit back and drink it in. I would be keen to read a sequel.

A must read for fans! I adore Gabriel Byrne, he is a fantastic actor and talented writer. He recounts his experiences in an almost poetic fashion; engaging and insightful. His memoir recaps his early life, beginnings of his love for cinema, and his experiences prior to gaining his sobriety.. I enjoyed reading his story from start to finish. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC

I've been a fan of Gabriel Byrne for many years and I was so anxious to read this. I really enjoyed this. You never really know where someone came from or the troubles they've had because in the spotlight, you see what they want you to see. Learning about his life in Ireland was fascinating and the troubles he's had. Shows you that no one has an easy life nor is perfect. Great book for any fan.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Memoirs are so crazy to read. Especially when you have a perception of someone’s life. Sometimes however it’s difficult to read especially for someone who has so much in life. This one in particular complained about war, alcohol, and the struggles of dealing with fame. It was just a little annoying to read. . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love Gabriel Byrne, I have loved him since i saw him in Little Women, I love his Irish accent. I love Ireland and its people and this book, shows Ireland at its best. Mr. Byrne talks about his childhood in Ireland, which was hard, but common at that time. He also talks about Hollywood and Broadway. This book made me laugh and cry, like a good book should.

A fascinating memoir which was vivid in its descriptions and characterisation. The story of being expelled from the seminary Was so well told and perhaps demonstrates the resilience and determination which the author brings to his acting. Without sentimentality, the reality - good and bad - of a childhood in Ireland was brought to life. A well written, fascinating account.