Madly, deeply The diaries of Alan Rickman

The late actor Rickman left 27 volumes of diaries, which have now been edited and condensed by journalist and Scottish Review of Books editor Alan Taylor. Rickman began the diaries in 1993 and continued them until a few weeks before his death from pancreatic cancer in 2016. Most of the entries are snippets about his workday, the people he met, and the endless rounds of parties, dinners, and social events he attended; he also did an incredible amount of international travel. Although many entries seem to be merely an itinerary, there are delicious gems of insightful observation sprinkled throughout. Rickman's musings are sharp, witty, and sardonic, and the name-dropping is intoxicating but not gossipy. Many of the entries are cryptic, and listeners may need to keep IMDb at their fingertips to know what projects they're referring to (footnotes are supplied but more would have been welcome). VERDICT Narrator Steven Crossley elevates the book with his excellent reading, providing personality and a sharp, biting sarcasm appropriate to the material. A foreword by Emma Thompson is voiced by Bonnie Wright, and editor Taylor's prologue is read by Alfred Enoch. Rickman's wife, Rima Horton, provides a touching afterword.--Phillip Oliver

The beloved actor invites us into his daily life. This "distillation of more than a million words," writes editor Taylor, "tells the story of what it meant to be one of the most fêted and admired actors in the decades immediately before and after the dawn of the third millennium." In 1978, Rickman (1946-2016) wrote about his "ruthless determination to be an ACTOR, not anybody's puppet." Among other topics, the author addresses collapsed projects, "so many No's," friendships, deaths, dining, and politics, not to mention plenty of strong opinions about movies: "Jurassic Park--what the hell is the plot?"; Forrest Gump: "horrific"; Remains of the Day: "a gloriously crafted film with [Anthony] Hopkins quite wonderful." Throughout, the entries are forthright, perceptive, and witty. He writes about the "jumbled and intense "Awfully Big Adventure and The Winter Guest, which he directed. In 1995, Rickman admits, "I am a bully. But it's only a noise I make to get rid of the silence." In 2001, "Harry Potter is offered, and he recounts his first conversation with Joanne Rowling: "There are things that only Snape & you know--I need to know." Attending the premiere, he writes, "the film should only be seen on a big screen. It acquires a scale and depth that matches the hideous score by John Williams." Arriving at the Radio City premiere of Harry Potter 3, a "very grown up movie," he felt "like a Beatle." After an interview in October 2005: "Still they want to talk about stuff from 20 years ago or HP, HP, HP." Bottle Shock, he writes, has a "growing and undeniably great heart." On July 3, 2015, he writes, "Appointment made w. haematologist." On July 14, he received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: "A different kind of diary now." The final entry came on Dec. 12, 2015, and Rickman died a month later. The book contains a foreword by Emma Thompson and a moving afterword by Rickman's wife, Rima Horton. It's a joy to spend time in Rickman's company. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.