Tom Hanks Tom Hanks: The Inside Story by David Gardner
Reader’s review For such a big star it is incredible how little is really known about Tom Hanks. He has been in so many great films that you feel like you already know him. But this unauthorised biography reveals a fascinating man who has had it much harder than most people would think. He always seems to have his life so much together; charming, funny, happily married, etc., it is hard to believe how tough a life he had growing up. The author, David Gardner, has discovered so much new material about Hanks, dating right back to his family's English roots and their links to Abraham Lincoln, through to the murder of his grandfather and his tough childhood with a string of stepmothers and different homes. The book is brilliantly researched and has interviews with many of Tom's close friends and family and although it does touch on some difficult chapters in the actor's life, it does so with a good heart and a positive vibe. The detail about Tom's childhood was heart-rending as was the way he dealt with his childhood pain as an adult and handled with his own dificult divorce. For the movie buffs, there is also a lot of insider information about Tom's films and some of the stories behind them. Who would think a big star like Tom would be detained as a terrorist in Israel? Or that his brother would do a Forrest Gump imitation in a soft porn film! The message David Gardner puts over so well is that even with all his money, his famous friends, his Oscars and his success, Tom is one of Hollywood's few unspoilt heroes and a man who has dealt with his personal demons with dignity to become a great family man. I read this book on a long journey and couldn't put it down. I read it from cover to cover and I will be standing at the head of the cinema line for Tom Hanks' next film. I definitely recommend this biography to anyone interested in Hollywood - and anyone who just likes a good read.. More details |
