Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion

We are starting Queen Meryl: The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep as a buddy read. Feel free to join in at any time. If you would rather read a different book about Meryl Streep that is fine. It would be fun to compare books.

I'm on page 30. What are your thoughts so far, Selina?

Koren wrote: "I'm on page 30. What are your thoughts so far, Selina?"

I'm in Chapter 4. Well thoughts so far..because of the title, I was expecting a sort of hagiography and so far it's been kind of like the author doesn't disguise they are a huge fan of her, and hoping it will rub off on readers.

Because I haven't seen many of her early movies, it's all a bit new to me. I suppose when I get up to the ones I've already seen, then I could probably appreciate it whether the author picked up the same things about Meryl as an actress that I pick up from watching her. I think the thing about Meryl is that she is quite versatile and has the ability to play any character and convince you that THAT person truly lived, rather than, a character that is just like a caricature of someone else.

The other thing is she is not a beauty queen type. A lot of actresses get by on their looks, maybe they have big eyes, or lips or some IT factor. Meryl can play female characters that don't rely totally on their charms and looks, they have stuff to SAY I suppose.

I like the little sidebars of fun film trivia. I think Meryl is a lot more cerebral than other actresses, kind of like a modern day Katherine Hepburn in some ways though Katherine Hepburn was actually a lot more abrasive and egotistical!!

I like that Meryl really throws herself into the character, she becomes that person even off set, unlike a lot of actors that sort of just play themselves and add parts on to their personality. Or maybe it's just seems that way, that Meryl is really Meryl just with different accents and wigs. That she just got given witch parts (and refused them) as she got older was funny.

I like that she seems like anyone you would meet on the street or live in your neighborhood. I like that she is not 'movie-star beautiful but she is still beautiful. That reminds me of that Twilight Zone show where the girl was going to have plastic surgery so she looked like everyone else. I haven't seen some of her earlier movies either but I would love to find the one with Alan Alda "The Seduction Of Joe Tynan. I saw Silkwood way back when and had forgotten Meryl was in that one. I think I will go check out Netflix and what they have.

Movies showing on Netflix that have Meryl in them:

It's Complicated
The Prom
The Laundromat
August: Osage County
The Bridges of Madison Country
Suffragette
A Cry in the Dark
Fantastic Mr Fox (voice)

Got some movie watching to do! I've seen Suffragete and It's Complicated. I also remember A Cry in the Dark but had another title when it showed on tv here.

I can share with you a list of all the Meryl Streep movies I have seen....

Selina wrote: "Movies showing on Netflix that have Meryl in them:

It's Complicated
The Prom
The Laundromat
August: Osage County
The Bridges of Madison Country
Suffragette
A Cry in the Dark
Fantastic Mr Fox (voic..."

My list would be fairly short. I'm not much of a movie watcher. I'd rather read the book. I did see Florence Jenkins Foster and hated it although I did like Meryl in it, if that makes sense.

List of Meryl's movies I've seen;

A cry in the dark
Postcards from the Edge
Death Becomes Her
The Hours
The Devil Wears Prada
Mamma Mia!
Doubt
Julie & Julia
It's Complicated
The Iron Lady
Into the Woods (she did play a witch in this one)
Suffragette
Florence Foster Jenkins
Mamma Mia here we go again
Mary Poppins returns

Well I finished reading.
I would say it's a quick read and more of an extended magazine article/filmography about Meryl than really going deep into her own life. The author is obviously a big fan.

I think as Meryl was a trained actress rather than a movie star that got lucky or was groomed she was able to pick and choose her roles. Also I didn't know she had a dedicated make-up artist who did all the prosthetics and wigs for her that got her into character.

The other thing was she did come from a kind of posher background and had connections that opened up doors so she had lots of things already going for her as well as great talent. She was able to seperate her acting life from her private life and could go around as Mary Louise Gummer instead of famous Meryl Streep the actress who always gets nominated for Oscars.

This book mostly focuses on her films and career and what she's shared in magazine profiles, so it might be that it's nothing really new for people who already know her from her movies anyway. It is interesting that Meryl will use her platform to speak up for causes though and who wouldn't, she is an artist with something to say through her characters, even if they do things that are unlikeable, or come across as unlikeable, you can see why they would make those choices and not pander to how a man thinks a woman ought to act. Maybe it's a confidence thing..?

All in all this book made me want to see those early Meryl movies to see what all the fuss was about, even though to me they sound a little bit dreary.

Excellent review. Hoping to finish today. What do you think of the illustrations. Most of them didn't look anything like her, I thought.

Finished. I didn't realize there were so many Meryl movies I hadn't seen. I'll have to check some out this winter. Here is my review. It's kind of short because I was just kind of so-so on this book. It wasn't terrible but it didn't get me excited either:

This is mostly an in-depth look at the movies of Meryl Streep written by a fan. I didn't think there was a lot of depth or personal information. Maybe because Meryl's private life is not that exciting. She seems like everyone's next door neighbor. No wild affairs. She's been married to the same guy for over 30 years. This book was ok but if you are a big Meryl fan and you are looking for something you didn't already know, I would look for something else.

Koren wrote: "Excellent review. Hoping to finish today. What do you think of the illustrations. Most of them didn't look anything like her, I thought."

Well they are of the characters she played in her movies, so I suppose they don't look like her as in the ordinary Meryl or the one you see photographed at the Oscars all glammed up. I think the graphics give this book a millenial feel. It's very 'in' now to do brushstroke illustrations for graphics. The author really liked the Devil Wears Prada, but it wasn't really my favourite of hers.

I think I enjoyed her playing Julia Child the most, and then Mamma Mia (which some Meryl fans hated, cos it was not a serious drama) The first Meryl movie I saw was A cry in the Dark (or Evil Angels) and I think she did get the Aussie/kiwi accent spot on. She'll always be remembered for that line 'A dingo ate my baby!'.

I am going to see the second season of Big Little Lies, where Meryl's playing the mother of the guy who got bumped off in the first season, and her character is actually called Mary Louise. It's not even mentioned in the bio we just read as it was produced 2019. The author, Liane Moriarity, was super excited that Meryl was going to play a character that wasn't even the original novel as they extended the story for tv. I think the screenwriters wrote the part especially for Meryl.

The other bio at my library is Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schumman

I'm watching Meryl Streep in Big Little Lies season two. She's playing the mother-in-law of Nicole Kidman's character...and her character's name is Mary Louise which is Meryl's actual name.

I can't say whether she's truly acting or just being herself, but apparently she's wearing false teeth to get her into the character. She's doing ok as the grandmother from what I can tell, and probably pivotal to the series plot, being the mother of the guy who died who suspects a bit of foul play by the five female characters, who are all guilty of hiding what really happened.

I saw August - Osage County

As well as Meryl Streep, it has Julia Roberts in it. Meryl plays a mean drug addicted mum. It's a family drama. I liked it. Kind of a tragi-comedy.

I can recommend watching The Laundromat (it's on Netflix) especially when Meryl Streep does her big reveal at the end.