As I read the other reviews I looked back to see if we were
rating the same book. Unlike one of the other reviewers, I DO
like biographies and as an avid reader ,have read many...
20 last month. This book is 2-1/2 stars at most..Certainly not a "five".
Stephen Bogart allowed himself to become cynical, tortured and lost, with a chip on his shoulder the size of Idaho.
I'm sorry he had such a short relationship with his father, but it isn't too late for him to have a true relationship with his
Father. Without Him , Stephen will have everlasting, unending problems !
As long as his heart is beating, it's not too late, but when it stops, it's irreversible and set forever!

I read this book only in search of some of the memorable sentences of Bogart. I'm no fan of biographies of stars. However I must say that I was happily surprised by this book which is quite well written, even with some originality. It is too rare a fact not to be noticed. As to what's inside, I effectively found what I looked for, but I can't tell if bogartmaniacs will learn something new. My only point is that Stephen's position and remarks stroke me by their earnestness and lucidity. I would feel stupid saying that it is one of the best book I ever read, but it is a very pleasing reading. And I would add : happy for you Stephen, even more than for your father.
Refers to french translation

Stephen did a wonderful job of trying to sort out his feelings for the father he never really knew. He has a very nice writing style, must of got it from his mom. He took me inside his heart and I was able to feel the pain of the eight year old in the tree screaming at god. I recommend this book to everyone.

I picked up this novel because of the famous name, and I wanted to see if Stephen could actually write, or if he was just flying along on his famous parent's coattails. I was pleased to find an amusing story and a good mystery and a fairly strong main character. However, the secondary characters left something to be desired, especially the character of Casey. I had no idea why RJ would be remotely interested in this woman. I was disappointed that Bogart didn't flesh out the character of Wendy a bit more, since she had promise, but she disappeared without a word, along with the evidence she was going to find for RJ. I also felt that there were a few too many loose ends left in the story. This can be a plus in some stories, but in this case all I saw were dangling threads. I hope that Bogart continues to write about RJ Brooks, because that character is very strong and enjoyable. And hopefully in his next install! ment we'll learn more about the characters that had to sit in the sidelines.

Private Investigator R.J. Brooks is irate to learn that Andromeda Studios is planning to make a sequel to the classic movie, As Time Goes By, the film that co-starred his parents. Though in New York to escape Tinseltown, R.J. tells a reporter that he will do anything to stop the film from ever being produced since it would be an affront to the memory of his parents. This interview becomes national news when people from the studio start being killed. The police are positive that R.J. is the culprit since he basically confessed his plans. ......R.J. begins to investigate the series of murder destroying the project. He hopes to not only clear his name, but to locate the missing studio head at the bequest of the man's daughter. As more deaths occur, R. J. realizes that he must identify the culprit soon before he becomes the next victim of someone with a terrific grudge towards the production of the sequel. ......The author is the son of his namesake and Lauren Bacall, and he sprinkles references from their movies throughout his novel. However, readers need to realize that THE REMAKE OF AS TIME GOES BY is an excellent who-done -it regardless of the author's gene pool. R.J. is a fabulous private investigator whose escapades readers will enjoy. This novel and the first R.J. tale (PLAY IT AGAIN) are fun to read who-done-its because the mystery is quite good and the Hollywood footnotes add a unique touch. Readers will think that this is the beginning of a long friendship. ......Harriet Klausner

Bogart's first novel about fame, fortune and the misery of being the child of celebrity parents is witty and colorful. The most interesting character is the female reporter that he warns himself not to fall in love with, she's a radical feminist and well, he's never had one of those before. R.J. Brooks and his secretary have a snappy yet somehow flat repartee that shows his true character: lazy, spoiled, self-indulgent and not concerned with the feelings of the people around him. Although the character is drawn from Stephen Bogart's own life and his parents' movies, the book moves slowly unless you know the artist and can hear him talking. I doubt Mr. Bogart has ever been to the opera, owned a red tabby cat or dated a feminist. I doubt that these were original ideas. I doubt that R.J. Brooks, as portrayed, would have figured-out the crime without more adventures. Sometimes it seems that Bogart was being paid by the word. The momentum builds in the final scene when the writer seems to slip away from some pre-programmed tape recording. He should stick with what he knows. I don't think he's a natural to write fiction, however, if he would like to share his own life glossed over as fiction, he'd do better intriguing us with that. He can be, in person, a natural wit and this is not evident in the character of R.J. Brooks. The you're gonna take it and you're gonna like it works well for him in person, yet needs stronger descriptions in the book to come alive.