I hate that it took me fourteen months to finish this book! The fact is my headaches can make it difficult to read actual books, and it was no fault of the book that it took so long.

I really enjoyed this one. Astin could be brutally honest, perhaps to a fault, but insightful. I appreciated how he laid it all out on the page, even if he didn't come across in a good light. He grew up in Hollywood, and it was refreshing to see how wise he could be with people and past events. We all mess up. We can all be selfish, but he made a point to be respectful and kind when he apologized.

Of course, the central focus of the book was on Lord of the Rings, but learning about what lead him to the trilogy was just as important. This book has rekindled my interest in LOTR, with all of the tidbits and stories Astin shared.

I'm a little surprised to see so many negative reviews, but hey, maybe I am biased because he autographed my copy! Regardless of how you feel about him, this book gives you a window into him.