Dreaminaret's Review of "WITHOUT YOU" (very few [if any] spoilers)- Page 4

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:24am

We totally are. Damn, I didn't get that picture I wanted at the Nederlander. I'll have to go back to take it, it would amuse me way too much.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:25am

Not just you.

[Katt]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:26am

What picture?

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:29am

Yay, then I won't feel as silly.

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:30am

**inside joke**

more just that some awesomely cool people want pictures of the book next to the photo of anthony at the door of the nederlander. but i guess when teen girls are attacking will chase near said stage door that is impossible.

[Katt]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:32am

Poor Will Chase.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 12:33am

Yea, first of all, I just forgot. Secondly, there were way too many people standing around.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 5:16pm

So, trying to bring this back on topic. I wrote a little something about my reaction to Without You.

I’m usually not the best at taking my thoughts and making them seem sensible on paper, but I thought I would give it a try. I started Without You last night and just finished it. It’s weird. It affected me a lot more than I thought it would and put me in this mood where I’m not really sure what to do exactly. Maybe that’s why I’m writing this. Maybe I just want to get some stuff out. This isn’t going to be a review, because after the emotional ride I just got off, there’s no way I could “critique” Anthony’s writing, nor would I want to.

Anthony is so truthful. His writing is pure and honest and brave. I honestly hope people don’t see him in a different light because of some of the things he brings up in Without You. As LariTheLoud and Emcee had mentioned earlier in their “musings”, you almost feel like this is something you shouldn’t be reading. It is so personal. At times, I felt like I was secretly reading a journal and was waiting to be caught.

I clearly knew Anthony was a good writer from his posts here, but he is such a TALENTED writer. It amazes me to think that before he started posting here, I had never known that he has such a great and natural way with words – that he was simply a voice on my OBCR. He is not only talented with his actual words, which are vivid and so descriptive. The way the book is formatted, the way that flashbacks and little stories weave in and out through the bigger picture was just – I don’t know, something that was just done so well.

Anthony used his words so wisely. He uses them as tools to tell his tale. There were stories that I had heard before, such as Jonathan’s death, yet, I felt like I was hearing it for the first time. He really knows the way to pull his reader in. I felt like I was being guided along side by side.

The book is so touching, and at times, truly tragic. I don’t think I’ve ever been so affected by a book as I was with Without You. I finished my box of tissues, if that gives you any idea. Anthony just laid his flesh out on the table. He held nothing back, and it took a lot of courage for him to do that. There are things that I didn’t expect, that surprised me a little bit about his character, but if anything, seeing Anthony come through all of these situations only upped my respect for him as an actor, as a writer, and as a person.

I think this is the type of book you can pick up ten times, and still be affected and find something different that grabs you.

So, yea, I hope that made some type of sense. And Anthony, if you’re reading this, thanks for writing this so eloquently and beautifully and for having the courage to open up and tell your story.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 5:18pm

Many of the same reactions I had.

[drumtilyoudrop]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 5:28pm

Where did everyone here get copies of it already? I'm so jealous.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 5:31pm

I got mine from the Strand bookstore in NYC.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 5:42pm

I love how you start out with this disclaimer of not being great at putting things into words, but then your response is put so beautifully.

I can't wait to read the rest of it.

Updated On: 1/28/06 at 05:42 PM

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 5:43pm

Hah, thanks.

[renthead2]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 6:53pm

you guys are so lucky! It's not out in my store...I pre-ordered it last month tho....can't wait to read it.

[drumtilyoudrop]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 6:57pm

It's irritating how Barnes and Noble has it now but they won't sell it to me. A sale is a sale, right?

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 12:40am

Beautiful review. I'm going to try and get mine tomorrow. I tried to call and put one on hold, but the recording said to call back during the week. So, I'll just hope for the best.

*bounces*

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:23pm

So my friend said he saw some mention of 'Without You' in Time Out New York. Anyone know when/where it was?

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:46pm

Ooh - anyone?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:48pm

Well, you both are in the city. Run to the corner and look

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:49pm

Too much work to "run to the corner." Tommorow.

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:55pm

I've got the January 26 - February 1 issue in front of me, and I can't find anything. I'm guessing it's in the February 2-8 issue that hits newsstands tomorrow.

Anyway, I read the book over the weekend, and while I don't think any sort of review I could come up with would give it justice, I'd just like to say that it's a powerful, moving read that is interesting on many levels, as Anthony delves into various aspects of his life. What impressed me the most about Anthony's writing was his impressive eye for detail - with many of the events he writes about in the book, the reader can easily and vividly picture the scene taking place from what he has written about it.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:56pm

I don't really feel adequate to give a review right now. I'll try to put my thoughts together tomorrow.

[CJR]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 1:47pm

Alright, I'm confused. Everyone's saying the book hasnt been released yet, but on Amazon.com it's saying it's already been released and it'll ship within 24 hours.

Aside from that, I want to know how I've been so incredibly busy that I completely missed the fact that Anthony wrote a book. How sad for me.

In any event, my copy's on it's way :).... Because I started reading the excerpt on Amazon and got very upset when it ended in the middle of a sentance. Now I've been drawn in and I have nowhere else to go till the book gets here! lol

[Chloe]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:23pm

Let us know when you get it, CJR. I'm rather annoyed that I ordered it two months ago from Amazon, and they are listing it to ship to me on Feb. 20. I took the free shipping option, but that's supposed to add on a few days, not three weeks.

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 8:19pm

They did that too when my friend ordered the Spelling Bee soundtrack. But once they get it in they'll mail it so even though it says Feb 20th you may have it next week.

Any other reviews, people?