I've been a huge fan of Michael K. Williams for years - particularly his portrayal of Omar Little in The Wire. I've seen him act in various shows and movies and always connected with his characters, even when we seemingly had nothing in common. To me, it's a testament to Williams' ability to intimately understand the character and his motivations. After reading Scenes from My Life, I can see how Mike's upbringing and background have made him empathetic to the struggles and challenges he faces in his fictional roles as they mirrored his real-life struggles at times. I appreciated the look into Mike's life and will greatly miss his work.

This book was amazing but made me sad. Michael K Williams was so introspective and unafraid to detail how his life made him who he was, whether the circumstance was good or bad. It was hard to read all of the ups and downs and still find a sense of hope for the future knowing that he was no longer here, but I'm so glad that I did. I sincerely hope that he had time to lay enough breadcrumbs for others to follow out of their own despair. An enormous thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the early access to this amazing book in return for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars.

Michael K. Williams was a TV and movie legend, always playing the most raw and memorable characters. Hands down, he was absolutely one of the best actors in some of the best shows of all time (i.e. The Wire, The Night Of, Boardwalk Empire - just to name a few). But he was also so much more than an incredible actor; it's clear he was a dedicated, vulnerable, honest man who fought many hard battles throughout his lifetime. Reading about his life from start to (sadly) finish, was absolutely gripping. As the book description says perfectly, he is someone who gave his all to everything he did - and I hope that's what he is remembered for the most. Wonderfully written memoir.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Scenes from my Life. I don’t typically read memoirs but Michael K Williams was a remarkable actor, person and individual. I fell for him in the Wire. Mesmerizing, that’s the word I think of when I think of Williams. But digging deeper. His acting career was much more. He was a character actor. Making himself part of the landscape of a film. Even in a small role
His life story is interesting and he tells it in a way that you feel his pain and happiness too.
The earth is not the same without this man. Great book.

Michael K. Williams didn't always think of himself as brave. But to present himself as truthfully as he does in these pages, to come clean about his life of struggle and success, proves just how brave he was. Through every opportunity that was taken or missed, Williams maintained the same attitude of humility and courage.

I really enjoyed reading about how he found himself by participating in the arts--modeling, dancing, and acting--because of how vividly he renders his feelings of being recognized and valued for who he was, for the first time in his life. These were some of my favorite moments of the book because I could tell how joyful it made Michael feel to reflect on these formative experiences.

Many of us who have seen Williams on screen know that he has played some challenging characters. But Michael always tried to keep it real. Reading his memoir makes me feel confident that he was a good man. Although he wanted to accomplish so much more in his life, I got the sense that he was finally beginning to feel proud of who he was and what he was doing.

Prior to reading this book, I was largely in the dark about Michael K. Williams. I had watched a handful of episodes of the Wire, and knew of Williams' death when it occurred, but I had little other insight into his life. He tells the struggles in his life in a way that is honest, compelling, and clear that the struggle is never/was never over.

This was a bitter sweet read for me. I have followed Michael K. Williams career since watching him in the captivating role of Omar in The Wire. I was saddened to hear of his death. To me he was at the cusp of a flourishing and beautiful career. The roles he took on were so multi layered. I read this memoir with a sad heart that he would not be here to make the media rounds and talk about this new journey. I would have loved to see the work he was doing with social justice and the prison system elevate. He will truly be missed by many. This memoir gave us a look into his demons with his addiction. It gave us an inside to his career and the roles he took on. R.I.P Michael K. Williams

Wow, I was not expecting this. This is going to be a tough review to write because it is a powerful memoir.

I've been following Michael K. Williams career from when he popped up in Trapped in the Closet and watched him as Omar Little on The Wire. Regrettably, I had seen any of his other performances, but his performance as Omar solidified him as a dramatic actor.

Williams tells his story of growing up in Brooklyn's Vanderveer development with a single mother determined to see her crack addicted son succeed. His battle with drugs was not linear; he relapsed frequently - even at the height of his career - and mismanaged his money to the point of ending up homeless (or almost homeless) on multiple occasions.

The book also focuses on Williams' advocacy and education work with incarcerated individuals who came from the same development and background as him. Williams was committed to prison reform; working with those already incarcerated and those at high risk of incarceration.

It's an amazing story. Sadly, he lost his battle with addiction shortly before this book was published and that hangs over the writing - especially given the amount of times he fought to get clean.

This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read. Fantastic.

While I am unable to finish this book at this time, I do think I'll end up returning to it. Michael K Williams was such a beautiful actor and I am excited to pick this up in the future.

I went to a friend's house and he was watching "The Night Of." I wasn't interested and read a book on my phone instead. Gradually, my attention was drawn to the screen by Michael K. Williams' performance. I was mesmerized. I couldn't stop talking about him afterwards and my friend said that if I thought he was good in that, then I needed to watch him in "The Wire." I don't own a TV and don't care to, honestly, so I asked my pal if we could view Episode 1 right then. He said sure, he'd like to see it again as well, and we ended up binging the series. Michael as "Omar" was riveting, and that isn't hyperbole. I enjoyed him in "Lovecraft Country" too (I bummed the screen time for that at my sister's). He had such a compelling presence he brought to every role.

Then Michael died, almost exactly one year ago. I felt sick to my stomach when I heard the news. Another bright light taken by drugs. I didn't want to believe it.

I hadn't known Michael was writing a memoir, and jumped to get my hands on this. Like his acting, Michael's life story is magnetic. In this book, he tells of the challenges he faced throughout his life in a humble, down to earth way that is compulsively readable. You get a sense throughout that he was unable to ever overcome his feeling of insecurity and a lack of unconditional love and support. The belief that he wasn't good enough had been instilled into him from childhood. No matter how successful he became, he struggled with himself when he was alone behind closed doors. He was a haunted man.

Not only is it impressive to read about how hard he fought and worked to become successful, but he also used his fame to do charity work and to give back to his community in a truly meaningful way. He was walking the talk and making an effort to change lives. He helped young people who had no one else. I cried at the end of this book. What a loss. What a horrible, horrible loss his family, friends, and the world has suffered.

Jon Sternfeld has done a great job making sure that the book flows and ensuring it was completed faithful to Michael's final interviews. I applaud his work on this. Jon and Michael have written a stunning memoir that should be on everyone's To Read list.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

I received an advance copy of <i>Scenes from My Life</i> from Crown Publishing and would like to thank them immensely.

Michael K. Williams was one of a kind. He was one of the greatest actors we've seen. He had a huge heart and wanted to help people. He also struggled with drug addiction. I admire his transparency on his drug use and talking about how hard it was to shake it. I'm so sad he wasn't able to over come it and that he is no longer here because of it.

I loved reading about his early life (bullies suck!) and his relationship with his mother who at times didn't sound so nice but I know she was trying the best she could as he was growing up...a lot of things were difficult to read including when he got the cut on his face.

He took on a lot of hard roles and he would put himself into them 100%. Thankful I got to watch him in one of my favorites Boardwalk Empire and Lovecraft Country. I still haven't gotten through the first season of The Wire (don't judge) but plan on restarting it soon since this is what really put him on the map.

I hope he is at peace and knows how many lives he helped. Sending love to his family and friends. I was tore up when I heard he passed last year...I can't imagine the pain those that knew him feel to this day.

This review is also posted to my Goodreads account.

I cannot praise this book enough. I've loved Michael K. Williams since I watched him in The Wire, and that was before I knew just truly amazing he really was. He grew up poor and in a bad neighborhood. He experienced things as a young child that most of us will never experience in our entire lives. He could have let that harden him, but he didn't. He dedicated his life to helping others. Unfortunately, his addiction took him from the world far too soon.

Thanks so much for letting me read and review this.

Michael K Williams and Jon Sternfeld look hard and without rose colored glasses at the Williams' life in SCENES FROM MY LIFE. Williams lived life hard and despite a complicated family, a rough (and often deadly) neighborhood, and an inner turmoil and was never quite resolved, Williams found success and notoriety like few people do in his situation. While working through his own flaws and discovering his identity in this world, Williams found ways to give back to his home neighborhood and the world . Williams admittedly was an addict and although that created challenges in his life, that addictive personality eventually led to him being addicted to helping people. Williams found solace in helping others and doing what he could to make the world a better place.
As much as this book is a celebrity memoir with fun stories and anecdotes, it also a book that takes the reader inside the life of an addict. It just so happens that this addict had a public persona and this book was an opportunity to touch more people than a unknown addict's story would. Clearly Williams was proud of who he was and where he came from, just not proud of many of the choices he made. Williams and Sternfeld do a nice job of weaving in culture and history into Williams life and how they contributed to his maturity into adulthood. Williams is brutally real about his life, his feelings, his triumphs and his faults.
Despite all of his faults, Williams lived a life we can all hope to get close to. In SCENES FROM MY LIFE, the take away is that everyone has faults and makes mistakes, but how we grow from them is truly what makes a person successful in life.

Sigh...
Michael Kenneth Williams was a beautiful soul. I enjoyed getting to know him through this book. Reading this was bittersweet; I would have loved to see him in more projects, as he was an amazing actor.
This is a wonderful read about a man who loved his community and his people. Highly recommend this book. Rest in paradise, Michael.

I did not know much about Michael K. Williams beyond his character of Omar "coming" Little on my favorite television series, "The Wire" on HBO. Yet by the time I turned the last page on my Kindle, I felt like an old friend. Michael K. Williams shares his incredible life story in new memoir titled Scenes from My Life.

I rarely forget a face. Well the late iconic actor, Michael K. Williams, has a memorable one. You may recognize him from The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Lovecraft Country, The Night Of or Black Market. No matter the role he portrayed, his rawness and personality leapt off the screen. Unfortunately at the time of his death, Williams had almost finished this memoir with Jon Sternfeld to tell the story of how his life merged with his life's work.

Scenes from My Life is one of thee best memoirs I have ever read! No exaggeration. Drew me in from the first page with his transparency, honesty and detailed recollections. From childhood to early years of dancing to his battles with addiction and the fight that left the famous face scar, Williams does not mince memories. He achieved and conquered so much during his lifetime that otherwise I would not have known. Michael K. Williams was the perfect example of hard-won success.

The publication of Scenes from My Life is perfect timing. Pair this book with your rewatch of "The Wire" for its 20th year anniversary. Be sure to listen to the "Remembering Michael Kenneth Williams" episode of "The Wire at 20" podcast hosted by Method Man. Reading about his life will give whole new meaning to watching him on screen. Hearing the impact he had on others is very touching after knowing what he went through, survived and struggled with all while fulfilling his lifelong mission to give back.

I am honored for the opportunity to read and review the advance copy. Bookhearts, take my recommendation to heart and add this new memoir to your reading list. Scenes from My Life is so well written that you can visualize the words as you read. Even the book cover is striking! Need I say more?

Happy Pub Day to the late great, Michael K. Williams! A special thank you to Jon Sternfeld for making sure Williams' story reaches readers, maintained in his own voice, in his own impactful words. Scenes from My Life is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

~LiteraryMarie

Powerful, heartfelt and moving account of Michael K Williams' life published after his untimely death. He is unsparingly honest about his tough upbringing with his hard love mother, writes beautifully about his partying in his youth and is frank about his struggles with drugs. Reading this makes me feel even more cheated he died so young.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11070137/Michael-K-Williams-posthumous-memoir-tells-three-day-cocaine-binge-meeting-Barack-Obama.html

Thank you to Netgalley and Crown Press Books for sending me this ARC. #netgalley #crownpressbooks

This was a beautifully written book about an amazing human. It's tragic that he's not here to to talk about it and publicize it. I know he did some pretty incredible work off the camera and volunteer work to help others. May he rest in peace. Thank you to netgalley and Crown press books for providing me this wonderful book. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always struggle when it comes to reviewing a memoir. How can you put a star rating on someone's life story??

Michael K. Williams life ended way too soon, and yet what he was able to accomplish considering his background was truly amazing.

Yes, he struggled with addiction... There is no way around that. It looms in the back of your mind as you are reading this book. You know how the story ends, and yet you still find yourself hoping that he will win over that demon. The direction his life was going shows that he was committed and that he knew that dealing and coming to terms with his issues was the way to deal with life. When you see what an addict goes through, it breaks your heart and I appreciate that he chose to tell his story and I pray that he is at peace. 5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

#NetGalley #ScenesFromMyLife

My Summary
Thank you @netgalley & @crownpressbooks for sending me this amazing read!
📚Wow! This book was incredible! The depths that Michael K. Williams went to in sharing his story was amazing. What's even more amazing was how touching his story was! He spoke about his battle with drug abuse, his toxic relationship with his mother, his struggle with his sexuality and so much more. This book is a must read! A page turner!

⚜️Would I recommend?
📚Absolutely! His writing style made this book super hard to put down.

Just Read Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If this book is not on you TBR, add it now! I am so grateful Michel K. Williams made the foreshadowing decision to write his memoir. It is heartbreakingly moving, yet uniquely inspiring. I learned so much about him.
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𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 is one of the most moving accounts of addiction I’ve ever read. What makes this memoir so utterly gripping is that it reads like a recovery memoir. But sadly, it’s not! After the writing of this book, Michael met his untimely expiration as a result of his addiction.
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What I loved most about reading this book is that it felt like I was hearing Michael’s stories directly from him. Unlike the “memoir” 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬 published after the untimely passing of the late great Prince💜, this book feels complete, and written in Michael’s own words.
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The book starts in Michael’s youth and ends in 2021 at the end of COVID lockdown. He covers significant ground as he writes about his early days as a model, as well as being a background dancer for artists such as Miya, Ginuwine, and Crystal Waters. But one of the most affecting stories is how Michael got the scar across his face, and how that scar ultimately changed his life. Each chapter provides a clear understanding of Michael the creative, and how he battled his demons. I celebrate his deliberate, unselfish and openhearted delivery.
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The final chapters of this memoir is reminiscent of the 1985 book 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 by Jawanza Kunjufu. In these chapters Michael writes about the work he’s done, and the foundation he created to help youth caught in an unfair juvenile justice system. In his final years, Michael discovered his purpose. Which was standing up against the normalization of dysfunction and trauma in Black communities.
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Knowing how his life ends makes reading this memoir heart wrenching. I wish he was here to see the success of this book. He would be so proud of his impact on the literary world.
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Thank you @crownbooks for gifting me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a book everyone should read.
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