I want to welcome Wilmer Valderrama to Books R US. Wilmer has recently published a memoir called An American Story: Everyone's invited. Thanks to the publisher, Harper Select, I received a copy to review.
Author: W. Valderrama
Publisher: Harper Select
Publication Date: Sept 17 2024
Genre: Biography, Memoir
The remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.
An American Story is the stirring memoir by actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama, delving into his upbringing in Venezuela where he was raised by two hard working parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Hugo Chavez. With the economy crashing around them and their livelihood disappearing, the family decides to flee the country. Suddenly, the young boy who had loved riding his horse and dreaming of being Zorro from his favorite black and white tv show had to grow up quickly, journeying as a teenager from a tiny little pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles.
My Thoughts:
Wilmer's story was inspiring, authentic, compelling, and captivating. The book drew me in from the first page. It was easy to read, and Wilmer wrote from his heart. Despite being born in the USA, he faced numerous hardships that he had to overcome. English is a difficult language, and he had to adapt to a new culture and way of life because he lived in Venezuela until age 13. I never knew how difficult it was for an actor to gain popularity in the industry, but after reading the book, I now know how challenging it may be. Wilmer auditioned for numerous commercials and parts, but one major problem was, "This kid has an accent." Well, that accent helped him get the part as Fez. As I was reading, whenever that statement came up, I had to laugh because that did not hold him back, and he succeeded. I loved the book, and the section with the pictures tied the book together. Great Job, Wilmer!
Thanks for stopping by:
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the book by the publisher for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review
