The Jokes He Liked Best Were So Often Bad-And He Told Them Poorly He Was Boyish and Always
Romana Mrzljak
August 17, 2011
Honors English III
What A Life
“‘What I would really like to put on my tombstone…is that I was part of my time’” (Levy11). And he was; Paul Newman was part of his time, and part of ours. Paul Newman was an American film icon, politician, racecar driver, philanthropist and much more. To write of such alarger-than-lifelegendwho never lived a dull moment is very ambitious. However, in Paul Newman: A Life, Shawn Levy lets readers relive those moments through lustrous detail. Levy reveals Newman as a down-to-earth, relatable character, uses anincisive writing style, and makes an intimidating genre like nonfiction, a breezy novel everyone must read!
He had eleven films under his belt as of 1960,an Oscar nomination for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, three notable Broadway roles, and his baby blues headlined every magazine. Paul Newman however, was not a glamorous, Hollywood-made superstar. He was introverted and very self-aware. “People enjoyed watching him perform. But he seems to have…the idea that doing it…even well, was inappropriate” (Levy 30). He had a strained relationship with his reserved father.Neither did he feel self-confident, stating “Sometimes I wonder what I have accomplished” (Levy 291).Each page of A Life brings a feeling of nostalgia; like finding a lost diary and reliving old feelings. There is also a sense of comfort because you realize that even Newman felt insecure and ostracized; something most people can relate to.
Many Americans are intimidated by non-fiction because they regard it as lifeless, tedious, and unreadable. However, Levy’s writing makes nonfiction accessible to everyone and in a creative and charming style. Chapter one starts with a scene from the play Our Town;
The Stage Manager is a hawkish fellow…George Gibbs, the youthful hero, is another matter…an all American boy…the old man…is world famous…the kid…he’s making a big name for himself…the old man you know: Paul Newman playing the Stage Manager…in early 2003…the younger man…you know too: Paul Newman playing George Gibbs in the same play…in 1955. (Levy 3-5)
Levy invites you into the life of Paul Newman not just by telling you but by showing you in a crisp, attention-grabbing style. He lets the reader visualizeevery parts of Newman’s life; whether it be a night of drinking at KenyonCollege or Paul speeding down the racetrack!Levy also uses rich yet understandable words, and includes small footnotes to help explain sixties slang and pop culture.
Paul Newman wore many diverse hats in his lifetime; icon, actor, producer, racer, philanthropist, and my hero. To sum up the life of such a remarkable man can be very daunting. However, Shawn Levy’s book Paul Newman: A Life goes beyond expectation, recreating the life of a legend.A Life, makes reading about an American icon a relatable and comforting journey,using an enchanting writing style, and makes nonfiction a breezy read, everyone should enjoy!
Work Cited
Levy, Shawn. Paul Newman: A Life. New York: Harmony Books, 2009. Print