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Managing Expectations
Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays | Minnie Driver
20 posts | 21 read | 20 to read
A charming, poignant, and mesmerizing memoir in essays from beloved actor and natural-born storyteller Minnie Driver, chronicling the way life works out even when it doesn't. In this intimate, beautifully crafted collection, Driver writes with disarming charm and candor about her bohemian upbringing between England and Barbados; her post-university travails and triumphs--from being the only student in her acting school not taken on by an agent to being discovered at a rave in a muddy field in the English countryside; shooting to fame in one of the most influential films of the 1990s and being nominated for an Academy Award; and finding the true light of her life, her son. She chronicles her unconventional career path, including the time she gave up on acting to sell jeans in Uruguay, her journey as a single parent, and the heartbreaking loss of her mother. Like Lena Dunham in Not That Kind of Girl, Gabrielle Union in We're Going to Need More Wine and Patti Smith in Just Kids, Driver writes with razor-sharp humor and grace as she explores navigating the depths of failure, fighting for success, discovering the unmatched wonder and challenge of motherhood, and wading through immeasurable grief. Effortlessly charming, deeply funny, personal, and honest, Managing Expectations reminds us of the way life works out--even when it doesn't.
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SayersLover
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Pickpick

Finished this one while driving home last night. I enjoyed this immensely! Minnie Driver certainly has a way with words and expressing inner thoughts. Her depth and passion for life is humorous while at the same time truly moving. Ultimate bonus of course is that she narrates the audio version herself. Beautifully done!

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Bookwormjillk
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On the eighth day of Christmas…

I originally read this to fill a prompt for #ReadingTheAmericas23 but ended up listening to the whole thing in one day. It was my birthday and just kept puttering in my yard so I could listen to more. I love the memory almost as much as the book. #12booksof2023

Happy New Year 🎆

Ruthiella Happy New Year to you! 🥳 3mo
UwannaPublishme Happy New Year! 🤗🎉🥂 3mo
Andrew65 Excellent choice. Happy New Year. 3mo
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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

This was a total #BlameitonLitsy pick. Driver is a fantastic storyteller, and her audio narration is charming and engaging. Her stories of her childhood were hilarious, and her adventures in Hollywood and beyond were interesting, thoughtful, and heartfelt. You do not need to be familiar with Driver's body of work to appreciate this one!

The interview with friend and fellow author Emma Forrest at the end of the audiobook was such a great bonus.

sherrisilvera I tried this a while back and gave up. Maybe I will try again.
5mo
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Deblovestoread
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Pickpick

This continues to be the year of celebrity memoirs. I enjoyed her essays and admire her take charge attitude. 4🌟

#SummerEndReadathon

TheSpineView Excellent! 7mo
49 likes1 comment
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Ncostell
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Pickpick

I listened to this book which was read by Minnie Driver and I have to say that it‘s one of the best celebrity memoirs that I‘ve read. Each chapter was a different vignette from her life, and her warmth and sense of humor shone through. The audio ended with a conversation between Minnie and her friend who is also an author about the experience of writing this book and the importance of reading in their lives. This book exceeded my expectations!

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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

Full disclosure: I only read this book so I could cross #Barbados off my #ReadingTheAmericas2023 list.

Talk about managing expectations though- this book blew mine out of the water. Even if you‘re like me and haven‘t seen Minnie Driver since Good Will Hunting you really should read this book, and go audio if you can. It was really, really good.

mcctrish I loved this book on audio!!! 7mo
Librarybelle Great review! 7mo
BarbaraBB That is a wonderful surprise! 7mo
Centique I loved it too 😍 7mo
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Centique
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Pickpick

I am so impressed by this memoir in essays that reads almost like connected short stories. I appreciated that Minnie wanted to focus on a few pivotal moments in her life - it seems more the path a writer would take than a conventional “star” and I‘m intrigued to see if she writes something else. There were some little nuggets of wisdom she and her mother came to in later years that really hit home for me - right book, right time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Centique And a photo of a recent day out on our boat - as Minnie so loves the sea. (A sunny day in summer - how rare for us in Auckland this year 😬) 13mo
LeahBergen Boat day! 😍😍 13mo
LaraReads Great review! And beautiful photo! 13mo
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Centique @LaraReads thank you! 13mo
Reggie What a beautiful photo! I loved Minnie in Circle of Friends, Will and Grace, Good Will Hunting, and she did one like 5 years ago where she plays a momager of a pop star who is driven to try to kill herself. It was a great movie. I can‘t think of it. 13mo
Cathythoughts How lovely where you are ♥️💙 13mo
Centique @Reggie I looked it up on IMDB and looks like it‘s called “Beyond the Lights”? (IMDB is my second favourite app after Litsy. I have a Wishlist of like 2K of movies 😂😂) 13mo
Rissreads Gorgeous photo! ♥️ 13mo
ClairesReads Motuihe? 12mo
Centique @ClairesReads good spotting!! Do you know the Hauraki Gulf quite well? 12mo
ClairesReads @Centique relatively- I think we were there on the same weekend 12mo
Centique @ClairesReads ha, what synchronicity! I probably had my nose in a book the whole time 😂 12mo
55 likes13 comments
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mamareading
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Pickpick

I listened to this while on a trip this weekend and really enjoyed it. I loved hearing how she sorted through the things that had happened in her life. She writes thoughtfully and with conviction.

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TieDyeDude
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Pickpick

Minnie Driver has released two music albums. I met her after a rare US concert in Philly. She was adorable on stage and very pleasant to talk to. I really enjoyed this audio version of her memoir. I love how her spirit shines through each story. This is not a Hollywood exposé, but she did choose a couple good Hollywood stories to tell. She speaks openly of her success without sounding boastful. Some very touching personal stories too.

TheNeverendingTBR I like her, she's awesome. My favourite movie she was in was Hard Rain. 1y
batsy Cool photo! 1y
DivineDiana Look at you! ❤️ 1y
Bookzombie So cool! Great photo! 1y
51 likes4 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

So behind on reviews! 😬
This was a #blameitonlitsy impulse borrow. I‘m a sucker for a memoir in essays and this one delivered. Minnie Driver is down to earth, yet a beautiful actress who has had an interesting life. The essay at the end about her mother was so sad yet life affirming. Seems like this is a merger of audiobook and podcast which may be more a thing in the future!

Lauram This was one of my 2022 favorites 1y
TheKidUpstairs I'm just listening to this one now. Totally unexpected, but so good! She is such an engaging, thoughtful storyteller. 5mo
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

Slaying it @MallenNC @monalyisha my second book from Melyssa‘s #ALspine list and another definite PICK!! Minnie Driver was just a lovely person to spend time with today. I enjoyed hearing her journey in essays and found her refreshing and authentic. Her unconditional upbringing led to some very colorful & heartfelt stories. While it‘s s bit of a stretch to use for #Barbados & #Uruguay I am😄 #ReadingAmericas23

MallenNC This one was an impulse buy for me and I ended up loving it. I liked the essay format and the stories she chose to tell. She definitely had an interesting upbringing! 1y
squirrelbrain I loved this one too! ❤️ 1y
Librarybelle You‘re rocking this!! (edited) 1y
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Cinfhen I might go back to #Uruguay and #Barbados at another time but for now I‘m happy to cross it off @Librarybelle 1y
Cinfhen She‘s SO LIKEABLE @squirrelbrain @MallenNC 1y
BarbaraBB Wow! Well done! 1y
Megabooks This was a really good memoir! 1y
TieDyeDude I hadn't heard of this. I met her once after a concert of hers. She was so sweet. 1y
Cinfhen Yeah. I found her to be a great storyteller @Megabooks you have a similar look to Minnie @BarbaraBB it‘s that gorgeous curly hair xxxx 1y
Cinfhen Yeah. I found her to be a great storyteller @Megabooks you have a similar look to Minnie @BarbaraBB it‘s that gorgeous curly hair xxxx 1y
Cinfhen Im so glad to hear that she was lovely in “person” @TieDyeDude because she comes across as TOTALLY approachable. The audio was great! I hope you‘ll give it a listen 🎧 1y
BarbaraBB I had to look her up and yes we‘ve got the same curls. That‘s about the only similarity 😀😘 1y
dariazeoli I was pleasantly surprised by this one when I listened to it last year! 1y
Cinfhen Yeah @dariazeoli I wasn‘t sure what I was expecting but Minnie‘s personality and humor won me over!!! 1y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB your curly hair is so pretty, B!! 💜 (edited) 1y
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Cinfhen
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#UpNext Another book from @MallenNC #ALspine list 🤩I‘m looking forward and it‘s not very long😁

MallenNC Enjoy! I am starting one from your list today. Normal Family was available on Libby. 1y
Cinfhen Hurray @MallenNC I thought this was riveting! Especially Christa‘s mom!!! She was MORE FASCINATING than the dad. 1y
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I loved Minnie‘s memoir. It was funny, honest and sometimes sad 😭.

It‘s a series of essays, rather than a ‘conventional‘ chronological autobiography, so for a short time I thought my digital copy was missing chapters as it jumps several years at a time. That would be my only gripe; sometimes we didn‘t find out either the lead-up or follow-up to a story-there were a few sudden endings and then a leap to the next tale.

Still a fab read though!

Megabooks Agree with your fantastic review!! 1y
BarbaraBB Happy holidays Helen 🤍 1y
squirrelbrain Happy Christmas to you too! @BarbaraBB 1y
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I‘ve been down on celebrity memoirs lately because, tbh, most of them are pretty mediocre. But I‘m v glad that @Cinfhen via @MallenNC ‘s #ALSpine list put this on my radar. She kept it to essays about just the most pivotal events, and the detail and dialogue were right on point. From getting kicked out of her dad‘s home in #Barbados to selling jeans with her sister in #Uruguay to her unexpected pregnancy, she kept me wanting more. Go #audiobook!

MallenNC The essay style is what I loved about this one too. She shared moments that really showed parts of her life/personality. Though I did want to know what her dad‘s reaction after what happened in Miami! 1y
Chelsea.Poole I haven‘t but maybe I should!! 1y
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Cinfhen Fun! And glad you mentioned #Barbados & #Uruguay 1y
squirrelbrain Ooh, I‘ve been in two minds about this but will go for it now! 1y
Megabooks @squirrelbrain you should! 👍🏻 1y
Megabooks @Cinfhen yes, could count for both/either country. I think you‘ll like this! (edited) 1y
Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole I‘d give it a go! 1y
Megabooks @MallenNC that would‘ve been really interesting to know! I had passed on this at the library, and I‘m so glad you got me to go back for it. Thanks! 😁 1y
Librarybelle So much love for this one from Littens! 1y
Megabooks @Librarybelle and it‘s deserved! 1y
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Cinfhen
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#DealAlert 🔔🚨‼️Available today on #USAudible $2.99
I believe this works for #ReadingAmericas23 #Barbados and I saw a reference to #Uruguy too
This also happens to be in my #AuldLangSpine list from @MallenNC so I‘m excited for that bonus 😄

Librarybelle Thanks for posting this! 1y
Cinfhen When an audio im interested in costs less than a coffee im all in @TheBookHippie @Librarybelle 💗 1y
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Megabooks My library had it, and I started it just now when I took molly out for her long walk. It‘s good so far and her voice is awesome! 1y
Cinfhen Oh cool @Megabooks so u can let me know which countries this covers for #ReadingAmericas23!!!! 1y
Megabooks Yes, I just finished the essay where her dad kicks her out of his home in Barbados. Not much local flavor since she was a kid, but one of the essays does fit! 1y
Cinfhen I‘ll take it @Megabooks and apparently Uruguay is another essay 🤷🏼‍♀️🙏🏻 1y
60 likes7 comments
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emmaturi
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Pickpick

I loved this book about some parts of Minnie's life. It was funny, moving and poignant. I have heard her talk on a podcast and it made me get this book.

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MallenNC
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Pickpick

I enjoyed these autobiographical essays. She jumps years ahead between chapters, providing glimpses of different moments in her life. (I wanted to know what happened after she was sent to Florida by herself as a little kid, but in the next chapter she was finishing drama school). It worked for me bc celeb memoirs that cover ever single detail can be tedious. I‘m not sure if she wrote this alone but the essays seem authentic. ⬇️

MallenNC She does talk about Good Will Hunting and her relationship with Matt Damon, but it‘s only in one section of the book. It was just enough. @OriginalCyn620 1y
OriginalCyn620 Was it juicy? You know I love some Matt Damon! 1y
MallenNC @OriginalCyn620 She didn‘t go into a huge amount of detail but she did talk about how he told her he needed space to finish his movie and so she went to LA, and the next thing she saw was paparazzi photos of him with another woman (Winona, I assume). 1y
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

I have seriously loved Minnie Driver since I saw her in Circle of Friends 100 years ago. I will watch her in anything, all things, forever. This book is a DELIGHT and on audio read by her, ITS THE BEST!!! Although listening to the final essay driving to school this morning was a bit of a mistake because I was crying as I drove in the lot. So be forewarned.

Suet624 Gross Point Blank - I can‘t tell you how often I‘ve watched that one. 1y
mcctrish @Suet624 I have lost count of that one too ❤️❤️❤️ 1y
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mcctrish
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Started this yesterday and I don‘t want to do anything but listen to MD tell me about all the things

Lauram I really liked listening to this book. Enjoy! 1y
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Bekkers
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Pickpick

Book 51 done for 2022. This was a interesting quick read. I learned a lot that I didn't know about her.

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