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The Garner Files  By  cover art

The Garner Files

By: James Garner, Jon Winokur
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
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Publisher's summary

After suffering physical abuse at the hands of his stepmother, James Garner left home at fourteen. He became Oklahoma's first draftee of the Korean War and was awarded with two Purple Hearts before returning to the United States and settling in Los Angeles to become an actor. Working alongside some of the most renowned celebrities, including Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood, Garner became a star in his own right, despite struggles with stage fright and depression.

In The Garner Files, this revered actor and quintessential self-made man recalls "trying to decipher" William Wyler with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine, breaking Doris Day's ribs, having a "heart-to-heart and eyeball-to-eyeball" with Steve McQueen, being "a card-carrying liberal---and proud of it," and much more. This audiobook features an introduction by Julie Andrews read by Wanda McCaddon.

©2011 MGB Productions, Inc. (P)2011 Tantor

What listeners say about The Garner Files

Average customer ratings
Overall
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    134
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I learned a lot about the actor and his rise to fame. Never knew he has so fun in real life

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My Favorite Re-Actor

I wished I would have read this when he wrote it in 2011. I grew up watching this man from Maverick to The Rockford Files, and from Move Over Darling, to Victor/Victoria to Space Cowboys. I always felt a kinship to him based on his Rockford Files character because I always thought much of himself was in there. Now, after listening to his memoirs, I know I would have loved him in person. He'd a liked me too.

Great book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful memoir

This is one of the better memoirs. Honest and straightforward without beating you over the head. I’m sure it isn’t everything but it’s plenty. I now know why I liked the actor so much. This memoir lets me know I would have loved the man.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Tedious

Made it to the end, but it was a chore. Just not that interesting, and written in a plodding manner.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Ugh Biographies of stars!

This is the 3rd biography of a star I highly admired. After the first one I read I told myself never again…I wished I had listened to myself! I had adored him my whole life. He just was not the man I thought he was after listening to this biography.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed in Narrator

Would you try another book from James Garner and Jon Winokur and/or Michael Kramer?

Not likely.

What could James Garner and Jon Winokur have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

different Narrator.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Kramer?

will check before I get another book with this narrator

Any additional comments?

Probably will not be able to finish listening.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

very poor bio

Would you try another book from James Garner and Jon Winokur and/or Michael Kramer?

not if my life was on the line this book was a bore from the time i picked it up till i turned it off

What was most disappointing about James Garner and Jon Winokur ’s story?

2 chapters of golfing

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

What a disappointment.

James Garner has always been a favorite of mine. I was looking forward to hearing more about him. Mid-way through the first download I gave up. I almost didn't buy the book because Michael Kramer was the narrator. I should have gone with my first thought. His delivery came across as snide and gossipy, picture the person at the edge of the room full of people leaning into the person next to him and whispering behind his hand. The sonorous voice and flat affect were just too much to continue listening to. What a disappointment.

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11 people found this helpful