Jason Priestley: A Memoir (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
It was my friend Dee who turned me on to the television show Beverly Hills 90210 years ago, and I became hooked. I mean pretty rich people falling in love and sleeping around., it doesn't get better.Jason Priestley played Brandon Walsh on that show, and he just released a memoir. I figured, it would be interesting to get a glimpse of his experience while he was working on that show. Well, we do get a glimpse of that, but he writes in such a hurried way that we really do not get to learn much. And even though he is forthcoming with a lot of juicy details (he writes how about and why Shannen Doherty was fired from the series) they are still sparse. And the most shocking thing in the book? That there really no meat to it after his days from the show. The book is strictly for his die hard fans. It was my friend Dee who turned me on to the television show Beverly Hills 90210 years ago, and I became hooked. I mean pretty rich people falling in love and sleeping around., it doesn't get better.Jason Priestley played Brandon Walsh on that show, and he just released a memoir. I figured, it would be interesting to get a glimpse of his experience while he was working on that show. Well, we do get a glimpse of that, but he writes in such a hurried way that we really do not get to learn much. And even though he is forthcoming with a lot of juicy details (he writes how about and why Shannen Doherty was fired from the series) they are still sparse. And the most shocking thing in the book? That there really no meat to it after his days from the show. The book is strictly for his die hard fans. I judge the books on a lot of things, so my ratings have little rhyme or reason. Sometimes, I'm just looking for a fun read. That's what I wanted from Jason Priestley's autobiography, and it delivered.The book covers his life from childhood to now, including 90210, and the racing accident in which he nearly died. He doesn't dwell on any time period for too long, so this is without a lot of detail. There's a little bit of dirt, like his first meeting with Tori Spelling's husband, but it is definitely lacking in mean spirited gossip. For that, we may have to wait for Shannen Doherty's memoir. (She doesn't have one, does she? Because I'd definitely read it!) He does include a few juicy bits -- I especially loved the 90210 years and his story of sharing a car with Mischa Barton, who comes across as Shannen Jr. I also liked the parts about his family and his pets. (Random, I know, but I did.)I had fun reading and Jason comes across as very likable, which means this didn't ruin one of my favorite shows from my younger days. I still think he should have named this I Choose Me. Jennie Garth definitely should've used that title!
What do You think about Jason Priestley: A Memoir (2014)?
I was really hoping for more dirt during the 90210 years. Not a great book but a quick fun read.
—luce
Well-written and enjoyable. Heartfelt and personal reflections on Priestly's life and career.
—Ian
A lot of name dropping and not enough 90210 dirt.
—testify
