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| Plot Summary of Kiss Me Like A Stranger |
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"Gene Wilder, star of Blazing Saddles, The Producers and Young Frankenstein writes a moving memoir that covers the course of his life. Gene Wilder grew up in Milwaukee in a Jewish home that was filled with love and laughter. Gene recalls his mother's heart attack when he was eight years old and the words that forever changed his life. His mother's doctor urged him never to fight with his mother and told young Gene to make her laugh. Gene took up the challenge and began to do funny Jewish and German accents. Gene recalls this being the genesis of his comedic roots. Due to his mother's illness Gene was sent to a military school in California, Black/Foxe school where he was persecuted by fellow students due to his being Jewish. When Gene's mother accidentally sees her son's bruises he never returns to Black/Foxe school. Throughout this time Gene is taking acting lessons and honing his craft. Gene's life changes during the summer of his 16th year when he is offered a job doing summer stock. Although is father disapproves, Gene takes the job. When Gene attends college an event occurs which he refers to as a burden. The burden is that Gene is struck at times with an urge to pray. This is an urge that Gene will experience throughout his lifetime. After college Gene has a tour of duty in the army then heads to New York city where he lights up the stages of Broadway. Gene is quite successful on Broadway and makes a name for himself in the industry. Gene details his first movie role which was in Bonnie and Clyde with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. In the late sixties Gene marries a woman named Margie who is a single mother raising her daughter Katie. At this point Gene has already been divorced, making this his second marriage. Over the next decade Gene makes his mark in films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex and Young Frankenstein and Silver Streak. Sadly, Gene's marriage falls apart. Everything changes for Gene in 1981 when he meets comedienne Gilda Radner. Sparks fly and the two become romantically involved. Despite their great romance Gilda has many problems such as bulimia and low self esteem. Gilda and Gene marry and Gilda endures many procedures in her quest to become pregnant. Gilda and Gene's life takes a dramatic turn when Gilda is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. "
Sandra Calhoune, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Kiss Me Like A Stranger |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession:
- actor/actress
Job/profession/poverty story
Yes
Story of entertainer?
- Movie Comedy Actor
Period of greatest activity?
- 1950+
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- actor/actress/producer
Age:
- 60's-90's
Eccentric/Mental
Yes
Eccentric:
- eccentric
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Biography of famous person?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
How sensitive is this person?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other people
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 7 (a good amount)
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
- California
Century:
- 1980's-Present
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Book makes you feel?
- thoughtful
Is book humorous?
Yes
If humorous, kind of humor
- sarcastic/sardonic
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- descript. of female anat. (the big B's)
- actual description of hetero sex
Commentary on society?
Yes
Unusual Style:
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Writer's slant towards subject:
- favorable
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of nearly entire life
Autobiography?
Yes
Pictures/Illustrations?
- A lot 11-15 B&W
How much dialogue in bio?
- significantly more descript than dialog
A LOT of info about personal vices?
Yes
Lot of titilating info about love life?
Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 26-50% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
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Click here for more information about this book
Gene Wilder Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Sandra Calhoune
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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