For Your Consideration: Keanu Reeves

by Larissa Zageris, Kitty Curran

This illustrated collection of humorous essays and fun extras makes the case for one of our most iconic celebrities, from Bill and Ted to John Wick.

Critics have long debated Keanu Reeves’s career, but one thing is for certain: over the course of thirty years, the seemingly immortal actor has constantly subverted Hollywood stereotypes and expectations of A-listers, without (always) sacrificing commercial success. He’s the type to start his own publishing company, quote Hamlet, give away his salary to film crews, and generate memes through the simple act of eating lunch. Along the way, he has transcended the ironic gaze of the internet to become the true object of its affection, prompting a cultural phenomenon known as the Keanussance.

Composed of five critical essays and fun extras, For Your Consideration: Keanu Reeves looks at the distinct phases of the legendary actor’s career, from Bill and Ted to the John Wick franchise, and examines the ways in which Keanu strives to be excellent and kind in work and life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Pop Culture, Ebooks, Polish Literature, Audiobook

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2019

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this short, fun little book about Keanu even though I didn't consider myself a real fan of his. I've always liked him well enough and I've been rather annoyed at how much people always loved to mock him, but I had no idea what an interesting, fabulous, dedicated actor he is. This book is written in a very fun way and I can see how it would probably annoy real fans of Keanu who already knew this stuff. In a way, it's more about the authors and their comedic writing abilities than Keanu, even though he provides them with material in spades.

It turns out I'm a huge fan of Keanu (as an actor and as a human) and never knew it. For those who already were fans and knew a lot about him, this may not be as good of a fit. Expect things like quizzes, fantasy movie plots and lists of Keanu memes, not never-before-known biographical content.

I read a digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[applesaucevictim · Rating 1 out of 5]

oof, not what i was expecting. hoping to have a more academic exploration into the career of keanu reeves but got what felt like a series of tumblr posts and tweets complete with internet jargon and bad puns, at it’s best was a piece on reeves work ethic which i actually found enjoyable but so much of it just reads like a fan’s apologetic of why you should like reeves which doesn’t really help someone who’s already a fan

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would benefit in this Keanu-fest? Fans of course, who wouldn’t mind reading all about how lovely and kind this Keanu person is and hopefully would-be Keanu fans who scratch their heads and think, why the fuss? So the style of writing is consistent with Quirk - funny, conversational, and sassy. There are some nice illustrations peppered throughout, although the cover is not nearly as cool as the one for The Rock (I dunno, maybe every fan has their favorite Keanu look and the cover does not do it for me).

Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading access. Like, really, thank you and hopefully he graces a book signing (at least in L.A. Come on!).

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun read with some great insights into Keanu's career and how he has affected and been affected by racism and toxic masculinity.

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah...no. The book is all stuff one can find on the internet. For that matter, most interviews can be found there, too. I've been a fan since the 80's. I have yet to find a very informative book on the man. He's pretty ordinary, like most of us, and just wants to live his life. I can't imagine any book about him being very revealing or concise unless the guy writes his memoirs. That could be interesting, maybe, kind of in the way ours would be if we could continue living our everyday lives with a bit more money to live a few dreams. I'll pass on this book.

I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Penni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Navel gazing at its worst. It had stupid quizzes and a fanfic story and all kinds of nonsense. It did not discuss anything personal and it barely touched on his large library of works. Nothing new reading this book.

[Heenee]

Found this at target and glad I snatched it. Haven't seen it in stores since. It's got a full list of every onscreen appearance of his up until Toy Story 4! Some of the fan fiction stuff was weird, but overall I enjoyed it.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, by all of the metrics that matter, this book should have been a slam dunk for me.

1) I LOVE Keanu Reeves (who doesn't, really?)
2) I LOVE the book the authors to this one did previously, "My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel".
3) I LOVE the first book in this series on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

So why didn't I LOVE this book? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, but only parts of it. I think the reason it didn't resonate with me is it was too choppy, it didn't have a sustained flow. The book was divided into sections, such as fan-fictions, quizzes and other random things interspersed with almost articles about Keanu. It had interesting facts about him, but it wasn't a smooth narrative.

Also, while the drawn pictures of Keanu were done very well, real pictures here and there would have been nice. I had to go online for my Keanu picture fix that this book caused in me. Not horrible, but it would have been nice to have a few pictures in the book so I didn't have to go online for them.

This isn't a bad book, it is entertaining and it is focused on Keanu Reeves, who is the subject of the book. It is written in such a way that it can be picked up and put down when you don't have a lot of time to read, but do want to read something. So the way it is written in short segments is helpful in that way.

I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants to read more about Keanu Reeves. It's a cute, quick read, though it may lead to hours lost gazing on Keanu's amazingness online. Though one could argue, is that time really lost?

3, not a bad book but it didn't quite work for me, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Keith Chawgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zageris and Curran share their love of Keanu with their book of essays unravelling the mythos behind the star and his pick of films. Written with tongue firmly in the cheek, it does make you look at Keanu beyond the smouldering good looks.

The book is basically a study about Keanu’s film career and the curious choices he makes with each film. It does dip into his charity work and shows what a caring and extraordinary person he is. It runs the gambit from his early days to where he is now in his career and how he always seems to bob back up from some questionable decisions with film making.

It also dips into his theatre career which is little known and although I have enjoyed Keanu films most of the time, it was interesting to hear a new take on his career and it did make me binge watch a few of his films after reading.

Fun book with some fact based information whilst at the same time, it doesn’t really take itself too seriously. Zageris and Curran have written a series of books with other celebrities and although this is the only one I have read, if they are anything like this, they are sure to do well. Very enjoyable.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5⭐📚 Before reading this I knew a little about Keanu, I liked him. After reading this I swear he is a Vampire god who is immortal! Brilliant book, lots of good information, a timeline of his career, a little quiz. A fun and informative book. I really enjoyed The Dwayne The Rock Johnson book from this series also. Thank you to Quirk books for sending me these brilliant books in exchange for an honest review. I'm just sad I didn't get round to reading them sooner!! Can't wait for more from this For Your Consideration series, especially the four Chris's!

[John Hannam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with some great insight and humor about Keanu Reeves and his career through the years.

[Will Rhino]

I did it for the Lolz. It's exactly what you'd expect.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, this Ode to Keanu, this happy wonderland of Reeves’. A Christmas gift which I zoned out with almost immediately and didn’t want to put down, it’s an interesting little guide to the nicest movie star and king of internet memes.

Listing his achievements, interests, history, and opinions about him and trying to explain the wonder that is Keanu, this is well researched. I’ve been a Keanu fan since the *ahem* late 80s early 90s and I learned new stuff from this book. Google “Kabuki Keanu” - I’d not seen that photo before!

Yes it goes over “his name means...” and other common stuff but also delves deep into 90s articles and interviews for titbits that show a different side of him. It doesn’t do the “woe is Keanu look at all the sad things he went through (River, Jennifer Syme, Ava Archer etc)

Often as a series of mini essays talking about why he’s so popular; he’s “John” Everyman, he doesn’t hog the screen/stage and is an emotionally generous actor. There’s bits of his bad-guy roles and why he was good at them, and what the press seem to hate about him, as he has detractors (“he’s so wooden” blah blah).

It’s funny and cute, intelligent but doesn’t take itself seriously.. a bit like the man himself.

If you know a Keanu fan and want to be in their good books (ha) get them this. Trust me.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud at times. There are a lot of running themes and in-jokes, so it's worth it to read all the way through. Keanu is a private person, so there isn't a lot of new or personal info; rather, the focus is on Keanu's interesting career choices. Not just a pretty face and not a dumb surfer dude at all, the authors affirm, Keanu is a hardworking, well-read actor and a genuinely nice person who doesn't take himself too seriously. My least favorite part was the fanfiction, but I can see how it fits into the overall examination of the internet-driven culture that shapes our perceptions of figures like Keanu. I would love to read other works by these authors!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Larissa and Kitty’s humor, and this did not disappoint. I went from being a “yeah I like what I’ve seen him in” Keanu Fan to a “I need to watch his whole catalogue from the beginning” Keanu Fan. I never thought I’d fall down the Keanu Reeves rabbit hole, so I appreciate Larissa and Kitty doing it for me and presenting such great information in such a funny way. I came away from this thinking “wow he’s way fucking cooler than I knew”.

Am I supposed to say I got this for free from NetGalley? I was planning on buying the physical book and still will, so this was just a nice bonus to read it a little earlier. 😊

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It doesn’t delve particularly deep in Keanu’s career, but there are lots of very interesting analyses—his incredible work ethic, his frequent collaborations and the deep respect and generosity he shows his peers, how that makes him such a unique star. There’s also fun tidbits, most of which is already known to fans, but it’s nice to be reminded of how genuinely cool and kind he is & to have all these fun facts in one place. It’s a very funny, sweet, and entertaining short book (I was particularly a fan of the which Keanu-John are you quiz—I got Johnny Utah). But I could’ve done without the fanfiction bit, it felt misplaced and weird in an otherwise informative and fun book.

[Liz Kalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this holiday gift and learned more about a favourite actor. Definitely recommend! Haha

[Collin Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty entertaining book that conveniently wraps up a lot of info about Keanu "You're All Breathtaking!" Reeves in one package. Maybe not essential for fans of his but a nice breezy read.

[Christina Huvelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix, and had to pick it up for a co-worker who shares my love for Keanu. I've loved him longer, but I'm sure her passion for him is much stronger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this creative journey through his exciting career and his own creative adventures. His generosity and thoughtfulness are enchanting. I appreciated that the authors left his precious private life alone - alluding to emotional pain he's endured, but never going there. Well done, ladies.

[Astoria (Jax)]

I can't in good conscience rate this book.
If you're a casual Keanu Reeves fan or want to know things you can find on the internet - this book will be perfect for you. It's definitely full of praise and adoration for the man.

If you're a super fan, you probably know everything talked about in this book and it might be fun to add to your collection but it doesn't add anything new to one's life.

I read every single word for the first half of the book and then grew bored and ended up skim reading the rest of it. I did see that there are books like this for other actors but I'm pretty sure I'm staying away from them as the read just wasn't worth the waste of time. I mean, I could have been reading any number of the books I own.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light and quick read that would be situated to people that rather liked the actor but wouldn't necessarily call themselves unabashed fans. For followers of Keanu's career over the last few decades, there's no new information or insights here at all, but it is still very readable and entertaining enough in many places throughout.

There were plenty of times when reading For Your Consideration, it felt like an E! Keanu Reeves Special in a book format., not necessarily a bad thing at all, but not unmissable by any means.

With thanks to Netgalley and Quirk for the arc.

[caro | sanjariti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as a fan of Keanu Reeves, this book opened my eyes to see that there is so much more to the man known as the Baba Yaga. He is kind, compassionate, generous; torn apart by critics but loved by audiences the world over.

The day the world must mourn the loss of Mr. Reeves will truly be the end of the world.

[Kirsten Lost 2022 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly entertaining thorough look at the internet's favourite boy. I hadn't realised how often he plays characters with the name John. I wasn't aware of the media response to him pre-internet. I really enjoyed this look into this breathtaking man's life.

[Haley Ramirez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The facts of were good to know and interesting, however the whole section of his memes was stupid and some of the book seemed like they were just going on and on about stuff that had nothing to do with him. The start was promising,
But the end left much to be desired.

[Douglas Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun. I enjoyed it.

[Kelsey Hlavaty (readingwithkelsey) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars- I would've given this 5 stars simply because I love Keanu Reeves so much, but I put my book reviewer hat on and decided to rate the book as it is. There were many essays in this that I really loved - particularly the one that dives into how Keanu Reeves succeeded in Hollywood due to the fact that he was white passing (and hot). I think that was super interesting take on his career. It was the first essay in the book, so I was then really expecting some in depth short essays on other similar topics. However, there were also a lot of silly little articles in the book (a quiz, some watpad type of stories, etc.) that made me smile, but weren't something I particularly care for. I do think this book was successful in doing what it was set out today - provide a fun little book that just showcases love for Keanu Reeves and was perfect to really lift up my spirits while reading it.

[Asix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lekka, przyjemna książka mówiąca o różnych odsłonach aktorskich Keanu. Zbiór różnych opinii na jego temat oraz wytłumaczenie jego drogi wśród krytyki i hejtu. Po prostu opis życia z perspektywy osoby postronnej, która widziała filmy i czytała wiele artykułów na jego temat, ale nigdy go nie widziała.

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book that I thought would mention interesting things about Keanu but no. Didn’t enjoy this at all.

[CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Your Consideration: Keanu Reeves is a short work of pop culture nonfiction. Imagine if a teen magazine celebrity profile issue grew up and went to college. That would be this book. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There's lots of endearing content and humorous passages. As someone who likes Keanu Reeves a lot, but never enough to follow his story closely, I did learn a few things about him and about the movies he's been in. I was especially interested to learn about how toxic masculinity and racism played roles in his career trajectory, and how he treats those around him in real life. He sounds like a terrific guy, who has overcome a lot in his life, and let it make him a better person.

Most sections are relatively short. The illustrations are nice, and the quizzes are silly fun. Perhaps my favorite humorous section was the romantic fanfic about John Wick in Paris. I laughed a lot at that. Some sections, especially the last two, felt a little longer than necessary. But overall it was a light, simple read that helped me learn more about Keanu Reeves and like him even more than I did already. I should have expected nothing less from one of the authors of My Ladies' Choosing: an Interactive Romance Novel, which was silly genius. I see that there's a book in this same series being released this year about the Chrises, and I already eagerly awaiting it (although it will not be by the same authors, I think. which is a little sad.). Overall a pleasant, mostly humorous read if you want to while away some time and have a fondness for Keanu Reeves.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Quirk Books for sharing an advanced copy of #ForYourConsideration Keanu Reeves with me. This is my honest opinion.

[Flybyreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

He is the one, he is the only, he is the legend.
The angel without wings, the dedicated actor, the embodiment of the "good".
The internet phenomenon, who is loved by everyone: Mr. Keanu Reeves!

"He wears blood like a fine suit. He wears a fine suit beneath blood. His brutal form is wrung and well-written: the lines of his face cut light and kiss shadow; the bow of his broad shoulders braces for the inevitable; his eyes flicker with pain. He's had the shit kicked out of him. He looks like he's kicked the shit out of them, too -whoever they are."

As a fan of both his works and internet memes that pop out every once in awhile showing him in the subway or eating a sandwich alone on a park bench, I was quite tempted to read the book about one of my favorite actors of all time. I have to admit, I expected a biography but it turned out to be a mixture of filmography, analyses of the roles he plays and fan-oriented literature. It was an entertaining read but I had expected much more and got a little disappointed.

I always knew that he was one special human being bestowed with plenty of good qualities but it has surprised me to learn that he is a voracious reader too. I especially loved the way the author hilariously describes his reading skills:

"He reads voraciously despite being dyslexic. This includes all 1,267,069 words of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time because apparently Keanu doesn't feel he is sad enough."

Well, if you are curious about the famous actor, it will not disappoint you.

(I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review)