Gregor Collins
Autore di The Accidental Caregiver: How I Met, Loved, and Lost Legendary Holocaust Refugee Maria Altmann
Opere di Gregor Collins
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The Accidental Caregiver: How I Met, Loved, and Lost… di Gregor Collins
Gregor Collins tells of his experience with Maria Altmann, the legendary Holocaust refugee. He writes from his heart. Maria changed his world view and priorities in life in just the short time they spent together. I’m guessing the role he played as caregiver was the most rewarding of any role he’s had or will have. Not only did Maria impact his life, but he made her last years special. Good story. Heart warming.
This book is written with such enthusiasm and humor that it's inspiring. The story embarked on a truly special journey between a care giver, Gregor Collins, and the love of his life, an elderly lady with a phenomenal past and an incredible spirit: Maria Altmann. Maria is a legendary Holocaust refugee, mother of four, and a spirited, passionate, and kind elderly woman who Gregor cares for for 3 years.
The story is beautifully written, funny, clever and heartfelt. The author transitions and grows as a man during his time with Maria. Her glow and energy help change his views on life and love, while his care and dedication help her to feel young again.
It's a fun read full of clever anecdotes, celebrity appearances, funny stories, and images which capture a peak into a truly incredible life.
It's a beautiful and touching story!
Disclosure: While I won this book on goodreads, the review is completely honest and my own.… (altro)
The story is beautifully written, funny, clever and heartfelt. The author transitions and grows as a man during his time with Maria. Her glow and energy help change his views on life and love, while his care and dedication help her to feel young again.
It's a fun read full of clever anecdotes, celebrity appearances, funny stories, and images which capture a peak into a truly incredible life.
It's a beautiful and touching story!
Disclosure: While I won this book on goodreads, the review is completely honest and my own.… (altro)
Heart On His Sleeve Masterpiece
Article first published as Book Review: The Accidental Caregiver by Gregor Collins on Blogcritics.
Astonishing and assured, this memoir recounts both the years the author was caregiver to a remarkable woman and his life as an actor. “Acting found me, which is why I knew I couldn’t ignore it.” Admittedly self-absorbed, Collins writes honestly about the loneliness and exasperation inherent in an acting career. At age 32, he becomes a caregiver for Maria Altmann and learns the feeling of truly loving a job. Rather than just feeding pills to a ninety-year old woman, caregiving for him turns out to be a two way street.
Collins has a stout, sensitive heart. He breathes life into the story by inserting his deepest thoughts and feelings. His recounting of Maria Altmann’s story is done with reverence. “Maria is a bundle of charm snuggled under a blanket of love nestled inside a basket of sweetness.” The author’s lust for living life to the fullest spills off the pages. In his relationship with Maria, two effervescent personalities comingle to make sparks fly.
He describes Holocaust refugee, Maria Altmann, as a spitfire woman with amazing intellect and quick wit. A member of one of the wealthiest, cultured families in Western Europe, she was well connected in the musical world. She shared her husband’s passion for opera and had a huge crush on tenor, Placido Domingo. She and her husband, Fritz (a survivor of Dachau) narrowly escaped from Austria in 1938 and ultimately made their way to Los Angeles. In 2004 she won a Supreme Court case to restore to her family Gustav Klimt artwork stolen by the Nazis. When she met Collins in 2008, she was a woman grappling with the challenges of aging, but still dancing her way through life.
The reader is engaged from the get go. The writing is refreshing. Playful banter between Collins and Maria sparkles throughout. Moments of hilarity alternate with deeply tender scenes. The narrative jumps around a bit and would have benefited from an editor’s pen, but this is a minor issue considering the story’s impact. Chapter headings are indicated by dates, photographs and provocative (sometimes quite racy) quotes.
Lest we think Mr. Collins gave up on his acting career, he reiterates that he cannot separate his life from his art. He recently produced and starred in Goodbye Promise and currently working on A Good Day to Die with Cloris Leachman.
The Accidental Caregiver is a truly unique love story. Gregor Collins gives us a beautiful, intense memoir not to be missed. Highly recommended. Keep your handkerchief handy.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont… (altro)
Article first published as Book Review: The Accidental Caregiver by Gregor Collins on Blogcritics.
Astonishing and assured, this memoir recounts both the years the author was caregiver to a remarkable woman and his life as an actor. “Acting found me, which is why I knew I couldn’t ignore it.” Admittedly self-absorbed, Collins writes honestly about the loneliness and exasperation inherent in an acting career. At age 32, he becomes a caregiver for Maria Altmann and learns the feeling of truly loving a job. Rather than just feeding pills to a ninety-year old woman, caregiving for him turns out to be a two way street.
Collins has a stout, sensitive heart. He breathes life into the story by inserting his deepest thoughts and feelings. His recounting of Maria Altmann’s story is done with reverence. “Maria is a bundle of charm snuggled under a blanket of love nestled inside a basket of sweetness.” The author’s lust for living life to the fullest spills off the pages. In his relationship with Maria, two effervescent personalities comingle to make sparks fly.
He describes Holocaust refugee, Maria Altmann, as a spitfire woman with amazing intellect and quick wit. A member of one of the wealthiest, cultured families in Western Europe, she was well connected in the musical world. She shared her husband’s passion for opera and had a huge crush on tenor, Placido Domingo. She and her husband, Fritz (a survivor of Dachau) narrowly escaped from Austria in 1938 and ultimately made their way to Los Angeles. In 2004 she won a Supreme Court case to restore to her family Gustav Klimt artwork stolen by the Nazis. When she met Collins in 2008, she was a woman grappling with the challenges of aging, but still dancing her way through life.
The reader is engaged from the get go. The writing is refreshing. Playful banter between Collins and Maria sparkles throughout. Moments of hilarity alternate with deeply tender scenes. The narrative jumps around a bit and would have benefited from an editor’s pen, but this is a minor issue considering the story’s impact. Chapter headings are indicated by dates, photographs and provocative (sometimes quite racy) quotes.
Lest we think Mr. Collins gave up on his acting career, he reiterates that he cannot separate his life from his art. He recently produced and starred in Goodbye Promise and currently working on A Good Day to Die with Cloris Leachman.
The Accidental Caregiver is a truly unique love story. Gregor Collins gives us a beautiful, intense memoir not to be missed. Highly recommended. Keep your handkerchief handy.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont… (altro)
Statistiche
- Opere
- 1
- Utenti
- 37
- Popolarità
- #390,572
- Voto
- 4.2
- Recensioni
- 3
- ISBN
- 2