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Life Itself
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert is the best-known film critic of our time. He has been reviewing films for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and was the first film critic ever to win a Pulitzer Prize. He has appeared on television for four decades, including twenty-three years as cohost of Siskel & Ebert at the Movies. In 2006, complications from thyroid cancer treatment resulted in the loss of his ability to eat, drink, or speak. But with the loss of his voice, Ebert has only become a more prolific and influential writer. And now, for the first time, he tells the full, dramatic story of his life and career. Roger Ebert's journalism carried him on a path far from his nearly idyllic childhood in Urbana, Illinois. It is a journey that began as a reporter for his local daily, and took him to Chicago, where he was unexpectedly given the job of film critic for the Sun-Times, launching a lifetime's adventures. In this candid, personal history, Ebert chronicles it all: his loves, losses, and obsessions; his struggle and recovery from alcoholism; his marriage; his politics; and his spiritual beliefs. He writes about his years at the Sun-Times, his colorful newspaper friends, and his life-changing collaboration with Gene Siskel. He remembers his friendships with Studs Terkel, Mike Royko, Oprah Winfrey, and Russ Meyer (for whom he wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and an ill-fated Sex Pistols movie). He shares his insights into movie stars and directors like John Wayne, Werner Herzog, and Martin Scorsese. This is a story that only Roger Ebert could tell. Filled with the same deep insight, dry wit, and sharp observations that his readers have long cherished, this is more than a memoir-it is a singular, warm-hearted, inspiring look at life itself. "I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out." -from LIFE ITSELF
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LaurenAsh
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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Another super slow reading month in October, but I have some different kinds of reads lined up for November. Hopefully, I can get through more books than usual.

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LaurenAsh
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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Pickpick

"I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think death as the same state."

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CogsOfEncouragement
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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Mehso-so

Borrowed this #audiomemoir from Libby. The chapters were a mix of enjoyable and not. I skipped the most awful ones.

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Ericmanciniwriter
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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"To find a cafe and order a coffee and think to myself -- here I am, known to no one, drinking my coffee and reading my paper."

Libby1 Perfection. 7y
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AMVP
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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#aprilbookshowers day 8 - #samebookdifferentcover

Dad got me the signed edition to celebrate my acceptance into Emory for their film studies program. Still remember where I was when I learned Ebert had passed. Few celebrity deaths have really effected me like his.

BooksTeasAndBookishThings Easton Press??? 7y
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Ericmanciniwriter
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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Even though I'm fiction all the way, the only writer's death that has really made me sad was Roger Ebert's. Every few months I leaf through his autobiography and feel the feelings all over again.

mauveandrosysky I love him so much 7y
Suet624 He was a sweet man. 7y
Laalaleighh 📚 7y
Ericmanciniwriter @mauveandrosysky what do you think it is? Something about the raw amount of writing he did- I felt like I knew him better than any other writer 7y
mauveandrosysky @Eamann he had such a firm grasp on humanity 7y
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Suzze
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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I have had this autobiography on my shelf for ages. These daily prompts remind me of long forgotten books! #autobiography #readjanuary

MicheleinPhilly SAME! I've started making piles of the "photo a day" books I haven't read so they're sort of staring me in the face. 7y
Suzze @MicheleinPhilly if you're like me and have books double shelved and in different rooms, it's so easy for a book to stay hidden. 😁 7y
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brendanmleonard
Life Itself: A Memoir | Roger Ebert
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TBT to a personal hero of mine (maybe my first writing hero) and someone who's voice is so keenly missed. Not only do I wonder about his take on movies, but also what he would have made of these times. There's been a lot of talk on how to be an ally - I think Ebert has some answers. God, I miss him.

Mayread His early writing on civil rights was tremendous. 8y
Owlizabeth I listened to this one and was just blown away. Such a fantastic memoir. 8y
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