My Life As A 10-year-old Boy

Rating:
Summary: A very happy and productive 10 year old!!
Review: A very informative, highly personal and fun read! I liked the way Nancy includes the reader in the important periods of her career.I always wanted to know how much work went into making animated shows,now I have more appreciation of the work involved.I also liked the inside scoop she gives us on the higher profile celebs that she has met thru the show.I felt like I now knew them as she did.
Nancy's joy for life and her adventure in it comes through. She shows a great love and appreciation of her fellow artists and colleagues.Being a legend in the voice over field,it's great to see Nancy passing on great tips and great admiration for her peers and the legends to come. A very very lekker(cool) read. It is easy to see the fun had in writing the book. It comes across from page one and pervades thru to the end.

Rating:
Summary: Ode to The Simpsons
Review: Having read Nancy Cartwright's book, My Life As A Ten Year Old Boy (5 cds, 6 hours, unabridged) which was not a great book or a great tell all. On the printed page, the book was slow and boring. So, I was very leary of an audio version. Well, I was wrong...The audio version sparkles.

Cartwright seems to do a one woman show in narrating her book. Okay, she doesn't fully get her co-stars voice patterns (like Julie Kavner's Marge or the late great Phil Hartman) perfect, but you will know who she is talking about. She is a masterful talent behind a mic, which makes this insiders version of the Simpson family rock.

So, DONT HAVE A COW, MAN over some of her crazy vocal detours Nancy tries. Cartwright's tell all is NOT an audio copy of Nimoy's I am NOT Spock. She is happy in the skin of Bart and it shows. What impresses me more is her humble beginning and her excitement in this reading. It overwhelms the listener. For most Overwhelming is bad, for this it is VERY good. Cartwright is a fan along with all of us ! She still had the awe with the rest of us!

So If you a Simpson fan, Animation fan, Love Saturday Morning Cartoons (or Cartton Network) or a fan of a life in Hollywood stories... this no nonsense, humorous recanting on the history of a cartoon series is great fun...and if you don't like this audio...well to quote Bart Simpson, in his immortal words, "EAT MY SHORTS!"--Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

Rating:
Summary: interesting look behind the scenes
Review: I was lucky enough to obtain a signed copy of this book when Nancy Cartwright came through Nashville on her book tour. It was great being able to meet the "voice behind Bart Simpson." I was greatly looking forward to reading the book, also. I am a huge Simpsons fan and have always been interested in the "behind the scenes" aspect of creating the show.

Although not as detailed as I would have liked, Nancy still offers a unique insider's perspective on the creation of each Simpsons episode. From the writers and storyboard artists' conceptions to the final product, the book takes the reader through the entire process of what it's like to produce an animated television show.

Nancy also gives a brief account of her journey through the business of voice-over artist. She starts with her humble beginnings in school plays and speech competitions through working with her mentor, Daws Butler (Huckleberry Hound, Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, ect.).

In short, this was a very interesting and informative book even if it was, at times, a little "self-serving." But then again, what else do you expect from an autobiography?

On a side-not, it appears that Nancy Cartwright is a very intelligent and creative person that would be a blast to get to know personally. All of that being said, it's really sad that someone like her could be brainwashed into "buying in" to such a delusional cult such as scientology. I'll never understand how anyone could believe such obvious nonsense.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting look into how a small-town girl made it big
Review: Impossible to read. I don't know how I did it, but I got to page 190 out 285, and I just couldn't take any more of Carwright's gushing about how wonderful it feels to be so lucky to have gotten the voice over part for Bart Simpson. She's obviously a talented voice over actor, but she really doesn't have anything to say. Any real content that might be found in this book would be found a lot easier on online Simpson fan sites.

I used to be a big fan of the show, and when I learned that this book was out I jumped at the chance to buy it and read it. But having read this book, it has considerably dampened my ardour for the show.

In order to enjoy this book, you really need to have the sort of narcissistic, egotistical personality that the author does, in my opinion. But then again, most narcissists are incapable of identifying with others, so I guess this book is mostly for the benefit of the author's friends and relatives and a few die-hard fans of the author herself, as opposed to fans of the show as a whole.

Reading this book was like being trapped in an elevator with a daffy maiden aunt that can't control herself and just keeps gushing and gushing and gushing. To each his own, I suppose. Then again, the author does mention that the show's producers discouraged her from writing the book in the early years of the show. Reading this book, I can see why. Its enough to drive a dog out of a tanning yard, as my dad used to say. Awful, totally, utterly, sickeningly, nauseatingly awful.

What seems to have escaped the author is that Bart Simpson is symptomatic of a lot of the things that are rotten about American culture. She seems to think he's mostly charming. I don't deny that Bart is charming, but if everyone in America behaved like Bart, and unfortunately many people do, this country'd be in very bad shape.

Another thing that's impossible to stomach about this book is the author going on and on about how she could have been a regular live action movie or TV star, but that things didn't quite work out that way. She seems totally unable to accept that she doesn't have the looks to be a live action star. It just seems so greedy, pigheaded, self-centered and childish. There's nothing at all charming about those qualities as they are on display here by Ms. Cartwright. None of this book should ever have seen the light of day.

Rating:
Summary: A real pleasure to read.
Review: The sayings "Eat my shorts!" "Don't have a cow, man!" are but a few of Bart Simpson. Ever wonder what it's like to be the voice of a famous cartoon? Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to make the cartoon come to life?

Nancy Cartwright is the voice of one of the most famous ten-year old boys in America culture and her book is an excellent look into the behind the scenes activities of the Simpson's.

Unlike like a lot of books in this genre, this is the first that not only tells a story of the person but also gives a glimpse of what goes into the show, production notes and working with the cast.

Easy to read and follow the storyline, you'll meet Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and the whole cast from a whole new perspective. It's funny, brilliant and entertaining and now when I watch the show I have deeper appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting cross between "fanzine" bio and show biz bio
Review: This book is a fascinating cross between a standard "fanzine" bio -- giving enthusiastic fans all (and even MORE than all) they want to know about a star and/or show -- and a solid show biz bio. So it'll please and disappoint some. This isn't a hedge, but a fact.

Nancy Cartwright is a supremely young talented actress/voice-over artist who, unless you live on Jupiter, know is the REAL voice of 10-year-old Bart Simpson (and some other characters on the show). The questions: Could she write a book that satisfied detail-hungry Simpson's fans with tidbits about how the show is created, animated, written, voiced. Could she provide bio info on the other cast members? Could she give behind-the-scenes stories about the various highpowered guest stars? And could she also do a SOLID show biz bio that shows how she got from point A to Point B, from a child in awe of show biz figures, especially voice-over stars, to a behind-the-scenes star? The answers: YES...and no.

This book could be gifted to EVERY youth who seeks any career for one reason alone: it shows in the beginning how, at an early age, she was smart enough to pick a prominent mentor with whom she could consult, who could help open doors a tiny crack for her. It was Daws Butler, voice of a zillion cartoon characters such as Yogi Bear. She had the TALENT but was smart enough to seek out advice, meet her mentor, take his advice and let him guide her through the show biz obstacle course early in her career.

For Simpson's fans, the book is rich in enormous detail (also in italics and a conversational style that becomes slightly grating at times but is sincere). What comes across is Cartwright's underlying modesty (but she is confident) and her continued (endearing) ghee-whiz awe at being in a business where she can meet all these famous people. There's also a nice collection of photos and a little cartoon in the lower right hand corner that animates when you flip the pages. Some non die-hard Simpsons fans MAY flip this book's pages since it most successful as a book for fans of the show.

On the other level, as a show biz bio of interest to more than die-hard fans, it doesn't work as well, but has definite merits. There's a superb blow-by-blow explanation of how the program is created, animated and voiced. Excellent descriptions are given about voice-over specifics -- so this would indeed be an IMPORTANT book for someone who wants to do cartoon or commercial voices. They can learn about what goes into voice-overs, the importance of goal-setting, the importance of trying to implement a goal and the importance of seeking mentors (for at least advice before leaping into things).

Yet, because it is a mixture it somehow doesn't seem to TOTALLY fulfill either mission, as a fanzine book or show biz bio. But that is NOT -- rpt NOT -- Cartwright's fault: she is an enormously talented young woman who has already shot to the top of the voice-over business NOT because of her mentor, but because of incredible talent. We might forgive her if her book is not as solid or fascinating as the immortal Mel Blanc's solid 1988 autobiography That's Not All Folks. He was about a lot older than her.

Cartwright has a long career ahead of her -- and will most certainly continue to skyrocket once the Simpson's is off the air. We're sure to see her write another autobiography some years down the pike -- and that one will surely be a classic. For now, My Life As A 10-Year-Old Boy will do quite nicely.

Rating:
Summary: * * 1/2 Eventually, I wanted to stuff a towel in her mouth
Review: To start with, a disclosure: I am a Simpsons nut. I think it's the greatest TV show ever. (Yes, I'm including All In The Family, M*A*S*H and all those other classics.)

Unfortunately, I won't say the same for Ms. Cartwright's book. At first it was fairly pleasant, if a tad breezy and even vapid at times. But after a while she started to come across as so egotistical. She seems to alternate between self-centered and insecure, between thinking she is the greatest person in the world for being The Voice of Bart and being eager to be taken seriously as a Legitimate Thespian. There are some interesting chapters about how the show is made and how her cohorts interact, but not enough. Instead, the second half of the book is mostly crammed with "Nancy You're WONDERFUL!!!" anecdotes (complete with the triple-exclamation point, which seems to be her favorite form of punctuation) and her fawning over--and being fawned over by--Hollywood stars. If one more chapter ended with her "saving the day" I was going to throw the book into the fireplace. While it starts off pleasantly enough, by the end she has overhyped herself and her colleagues so much I seriously wanted to get away from her.

As much as I love the show and admire the talents of all the actors and writers, the fact is they are not curing cancer. A little humility, Nance. AND A LITTLE LESS WRITING LIKE THIS!!!!!! IT GETS REALLY OLD REALLY FAST!!!!!!! In one chapter you talked about what a modest, down-to-earth "regular person" Meryl Streep is. Try to emulate her.

Rating:
Summary: * * 1/2 Eventually, I wanted to stuff a towel in her mouth
Review: To start with, a disclosure: I am a Simpsons nut. I think it's the greatest TV show ever. (Yes, I'm including All In The Family, M*A*S*H and all those other classics.)

Unfortunately, I won't say the same for Ms. Cartwright's book. At first it was fairly pleasant, if a tad breezy and even vapid at times. But after a while she started to come across as so egotistical. She seems to alternate between self-centered and insecure, between thinking she is the greatest person in the world for being The Voice of Bart and being eager to be taken seriously as a Legitimate Thespian. There are some interesting chapters about how the show is made and how her cohorts interact, but not enough. Instead, the second half of the book is mostly crammed with "Nancy You're WONDERFUL!!!" anecdotes (complete with the triple-exclamation point, which seems to be her favorite form of punctuation) and her fawning over--and being fawned over by--Hollywood stars. If one more chapter ended with her "saving the day" I was going to throw the book into the fireplace. While it starts off pleasantly enough, by the end she has overhyped herself and her colleagues so much I seriously wanted to get away from her.

As much as I love the show and admire the talents of all the actors and writers, the fact is they are not curing cancer. A little humility, Nance. AND A LITTLE LESS WRITING LIKE THIS!!!!!! IT GETS REALLY OLD REALLY FAST!!!!!!! In one chapter you talked about what a modest, down-to-earth "regular person" Meryl Streep is. Try to emulate her.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible!!
Review: Ugh, I haven't "struggled" through a book like this since high school. I'm a huge Simpsons fan and although I don't care much about Nancy Cartwright, I saw the "Behind the scenes at the Simpsons" sticker on the front cover...so I had to have it.

I know this sounds kinda silly but while reading the book I kept thinking to myself, "Who the heck cares about Nancy Cartwright"?!? She's just a voice, she's in no way interesting. She's also not funny, not even accidently funny. The only laughs I got from the book was about how bad it was.

In addition, she's a poor writer. She should have hired one of these ghost-writers to write her memoirs. I also got the impression from the book that she's an egotistical maniac. Without even reading the book you could probably figure this out, she makes something like $300,000 per episode, so she made off of one episode than off her entire book.

Please please please, stay away from this!!

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Isn't Funny
Review: You are probably considering this book for the same reason I did--you like the Simpsons, and want some behind-the-scenes info.

Well, Nancy has VOICED plenty of funny jokes, but this book makes it painfully apparent that she didn't write any of them.

Her humor is corny and told in the silly, nudge-nudge, "knock-knock" style. Not at subtle; not at all Simpsonian.

The writing is bubbly and forcibly emphatic--it's told with a "AND THEN GUESS WHAT HAPPENED IN MY WONDERFUL LIFE!" tone. FAR too many exclamation points. It gave me a headache to make my way through the pages. The only behind-the-scenes bits were in diary form and made her seem like an eight-year-old with a crush on all the actors she worked with.

In short, this book is punctuated with annoying exclamation points and bad jokes. Although Nancy Cartwright tells it in a "I-can't-believe-this-happened" way, the book is irritatingly self-congratulatory, as evidenced by stories of her flaunting her Bart voice to get attention and special treatment.