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Sonny Boy
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Al Pacino
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
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Sonny Boy
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
From one of the most iconic actors in the history of film, an astonishingly revelatory account of a creative life in full
To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies—The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon—that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. Not since Marlon Brando and James Dean in the late 1950s had an actor landed in the culture with such force.
But Pacino was in his midthirties by then, and had already lived several lives. A fixture of avant-garde theater in New York, he had led a bohemian existence, working odd jobs to support his craft. He was raised by a fiercely loving but mentally unwell mother and her parents after his father left them when he was young, but in a real sense he was raised by the streets of the South Bronx, and by the troop of buccaneering young friends he ran with, whose spirits never left him. After a teacher recognized his acting promise and pushed him toward New York’s fabled High School of Performing Arts, the die was cast. In good times and bad, in poverty and in wealth and in poverty again, through pain and joy, acting was his lifeline, its community his tribe.
Sonny Boy is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide. All the great roles, the essential collaborations, and the important relationships are given their full due, as is the vexed marriage between creativity and commerce at the highest levels. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions—the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference.
‘A 5 ft 7in Hollywood giant … Al Pacino’s eccentric memoir really preserves his Bronx-reared turn of phrase’ The Times
'Surprising, introspective … His youth was grim, his money troubles serious, his fame unlikely. Al Pacino’s friends all died in poverty. How did he survive?’ Telegraph
‘This book is a beautiful trip … (from) one of the world’s greatest, most influential actors for more than 50 years. He’s audacious. He’s outrageous. He’s Al Pacino’ The New York Times
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What listeners say about Sonny Boy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TT
- 30-10-24
Honest and interesting.
Honest and interesting. Wonderfully expressive and a journey through the live of a true acting legend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MarkyMark
- 20-10-24
Simply brilliant!!
Fantastic insight into the life and career of a much loved and brilliant actor.
I really enjoyed the story of Diane Keaton confronting Al’s lawyer!
A touching tale. I’d absolutely love to hear more from Al.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-11-24
Beautiful
Beautiful book, I really enjoyed it, very honest sad in places, great that it was narrated by the author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 24-10-24
Like being in a bar with Al Pacino
The way Al speaks, makes you feel like you’ve just met him in a quiet bar. It’s like both of you are out of town and meet unexpectedly and just start swapping stories whilst buying each other drinks until closing time.
I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter and learned so much about him and his early years growing up in the South Bronx.
A must for any fan.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-10-24
Great insight into Al life
Thank you for sharing your life stories and experiences. It was great to hear from your point of views in life with Work and family.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-10-24
The authenticity and voice of the narrator.
Authentic and engaging narrative. Love that Al Pacino himself is the narrator. He describes his childhood and youth so vividly that it feels as if you are a spectator standing on the corner.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr Emmett Smyth
- 18-10-24
Fabulous.
Brilliantly read and so interesting with lots of insight to great films and a great life with so many interesting people.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G8
- 23-10-24
His personal touch and emotional delivery elevate the storytelling.
Sonny Boy: A Masterful Performance
Al Pacino’s Sonny Boy is a captivating memoir that not only delves into the iconic actor’s life but also offers a unique and immersive experience. The true highlight of this book is Pacino himself, narrating with a raw honesty and passion that mirrors his legendary performances. His voice, filled with emotion and nuance, brings every story to life, making the reader feel like they’re sitting across from him, sharing a personal anecdote.
Pacino’s ability to transform words into vivid imagery is unparalleled. Whether he’s recounting childhood memories or discussing his iconic roles, his storytelling is both engaging and thought-provoking. It’s as if he’s performing a one-man show, each sentence carefully crafted to evoke a specific emotion or reaction.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms S
- 24-10-24
weird vocals
I adore Al Pacino. I have for decades so i was thrilled to get this. But the interchange of narrator is weird and off putting. It's definitely not Al doing the narration at some points. Why?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-10-24
How relatable and inspiring
I've found this audiobook quite special. It shows Al Pacino as something I didn't expect. He is so relatable and thoughtful. He has such a deep respect and love for acting, particularly with Theatre and Shakespeare. So many stories and thoughts which show him as a human instead of the revered actor in a top Ten list. Lots of struggles I never knew about but not at all self pitying in their narrative.
There's also a strangely comforting feel to these memoirs.
I couldn't recommend enough, even if you're not a Pachino fan.
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