I think this would have been a better book versus the audiobook. I wasn’t sucked into this book like I wanted to be. And I love this genre. I don’t I wanted to love this.

"Mr. Wilder and Me" by Jonathan Coe is a decent read, offering insights into filmmaking and the character of Billy Wilder. While it has its moments, the pacing is slow, and the protagonist's connection with Wilder may not resonate with all readers. It's a book for cinephiles and Coe fans but may not suit everyone's taste.

I am so thankful that I was able to read this book and do continually thank Jonathan Coe, Highbridge Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced access. Everyone loves a cozy mystery, especially when there's some historical fiction thrown in the pot.

i think i would have preferred to read this as opposed to listening! i found myself tuning out a bit. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review,

This was just okay for me. It was fun to visit Hollywood during the 70's and hear about Wilder while filming the movie Fedora. I found that part charming and interesting but I got a little bored with the last half of this book.

Could not get interested in this book. I tried, but the whole premise was not remotely condusive to making me want to read further. THis migh appeal to someone who is entranced by Hollywood- but not me.

I wanted to like this one, but I just didn’t. I found my self really confused through most of it. I thought it had a good premises but just feel flat for me unfortunately. The narrator also wasn’t my favourite

An interesting subject and written with Coe's superb writing and attention to detail. Parts were cringeworthy (no truly honest story of a young woman's development is without cringe) and more difficult to listen to, I think, than to read so I think I would prefer to read this book if I were to start again.

When I was growing up, lots of old black and white Billy Wilder movies were on T.V. I loved them all and would watch them over and over. Mr. Wilder and Me was not quite what I expected it to be. This fictional story is fine, however, it just made me want to read some non-fiction about this legendary movie director. Nonetheless, Mr. Wilder and Me was an enjoyable summer read for me, I also enjoyed the narration.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of Mr. Wilder and Me by Jonathon Coe. This novel was OK. Want my favorite but wasn't my least favorite. For some reason it was giving me Hemingway vibes.

"My theory about these guys... once you have experienced something like that, it's inside you. Do you see what I mean. It's there - you don't have to shout about it, to splash the horror of it all on the screen all the time... it's not the whole story."

I really enjoy historical fiction and coming of age stories - seeing the world through the lens of another time is ever fascinating to me. I heard once that you can't know the world without having seen it through everyone else's eyes, and in a way the more I read the more I find that to be true. But some books are better than others. While this story and these characters didn't quite move me to any strong emotion - often the best way into my reviewing heart is to make me snort with laughter or cry with sadness - I find it a pleasant listen. It was a fairly quick read, not confusing to follow, though the majority of scenes are played out "in the past" and one scene laid out like a screenplay, it was fairly straightforward. Unfortunately, as descriptive and light as the scenes from the past might have been, they did not really connect me strongly to what is happening presently in the narrator's current life to make it feel applicable to her and her family's situation. The thin connection is that she's watching her own daughters grow up and become adults, making her think of her own coming of age story, perhaps.

I think the narrator, Kristin Atherton did a fantastic job with the narration - I've enjoyed a few of her other books as well as Howl's Moving Castle and Pride and Prejudice. Excellent selection for the different country accents.

Overall, it was a decent breezy summer read, which I might recommend to a couple of people, but I don't think it's something I'd share widely with my core readers or bookclubs, unfortunately.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio via NetGalley for the ARC audio file.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Pub day: 9-27-2022 - Today!

This story follows a young woman from Athens, Calista, who randomly meets Billy Wilder and Iz Diamond while backpacking through America. The story mostly revolves around Mr. Wilder’s film, Fedora, and Calista’s insights as an interpreter on the set of the movie while it’s being filmed on the Greek island of Corfu.

It only took one chapter for me to be completely captivated by this story. I knew very little about Billy Wilder going into this, but by the end felt like l knew and appreciated him as a person and as a writer/director. It was also really enjoyable traveling along with the film crew, from the Greek isles to Munich and then to Paris.

As with most historical fiction, I felt like I learned so much from this book, which is why I love the genre so much. Did you know that Hollywood films were banned in Greece until the mid 1980s? I had no clue!

I highly recommend this one on audio. The narration, by Kristen Atherton, was spectacular! In one scene she flawlessly transitions from male German accent, to female English, and then to both female and male American accents. It was so impressive!

Thank you Netgalley and HighBridge Audio for the alc in exchange for an honest review.

This story had some really cute and interesting components, but I'm still not quite sure what the plot was. We follow the protagonist Calista as she takes her frost trip to America in her 20s. She randomly meets a famous film director and spends some time working on a film set which eventually leads her to a career in film composing music. The story briefly touched on so many topics but then left me wanting more from those storylines. I really enjoyed hearing about old Hollywood and how the film industry used to be, it was such a different world than the entertainment business today. Calista's relationship with Mr.Wilder reminded me of the storyline in The Holiday with Kate Winslet's character. Overall this was an interesting book, even if I am left wondering what the point of it was?

Calista, a woman of 57, finds herself at a crossroads in that her twin daughters are about to embark on their own lives, and on the professional front, the film scores she composes are no longer in fashion. Her ruminations on her earlier life in 1977 take her back to meeting Billy Wilder, who in his 70's, has found his films no longer resonate with audiences ever since the "young men with beards" (i.e., Spielberg, Coppola) are attracting all the audiences. He muses that everyone still remarks on films he'd made years ago such as The Apartment and Some Like it Hot, and he's hoping that his newest project, Fedora, based on a book by Thomas Tryon, will turn his fortunes around. Jonathan Coe has fashioned a novel of such nuance and layered brilliance with this unlikely material. His work has always been interesting, but here, he combines a memory piece, a coming of age piece, and a look at a true icon of the golden age of Hollywood.

Full disclosure -- I am probably the only reader of this book who actually saw the movie Fedora when it came out, but am hiding my reactions since to reveal them would constitute a spoiler.

I received early access to the audiobook thanks to @netgalley and #HighBridgeAudio.
I am very torn about this book. On one hand the narration by Kristan Atherton was wonderful. Her ability to make each character be so distinct and have their own personality is what kept me listening. On the other hand the story itself just seemed to go on and on with little direction other than to share life lessons from an esteemed movie producer. That being said, if one loves the history of movies, they might enjoy the story. Also, there were moments of humour that I appreciated. In the end I am split on whether I would recommend this book but also realize there are likely some readers who would love it.

A great summer read, especially if you love old Hollywood. I liked the story, the characters, and the deep character dive into Mr. Wilder. Slow moving, but a great read!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I am thankful that the author chose to omit gratuitous sex scenes (I have grown so tired of finding them) and instead focuses on the development of the characters. It was a bit slow paced, and I wish it had been more action driven, but it had a sweet message. It was not what I was expecting to read, but I am glad of it. It shaped the way I view the media that I allow into my life and the people who made that media.

Without giving everything away, I felt that the historical information in the book was added tastefully and thoughtfully by the author. Rather than feeling forced and tacky, it felt genuine and heartfelt.

First, I have to say this narrator did a good job with British and German accents, but they did a god awful job with Greek. This was disappointing, as I was particularly excited about the Greek elements. I would say this is indicative of how little the book seems to care about its main character.
Second, I have to say I made it through 70% of the book before I wanted to throw my phone across the room. This book has multiple timelines and frames: Calista is middle aged, Calista is a teen, Calista is a young adult on a movie set, Billy is telling his story about world war ii. This last part killed me. I know this book is called Mr. Wilder and Me and Billy Wilder sits at the center, but I wanted more of Calista. I wanted more about Greece and her experiences. I lost a lot of steam when Billy's story of his journey out of Europe and then back around world war ii. Just write a biography of Billy Wilder if that's what you want. I really liked the parts that were centered in Calista's experience, but I just didn't care about Billy Wilder's reminisces.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jonathan Coe for providing me with a complimentary digital Audiobook ARC for Mr. Wilder and Me coming out September 27, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It’s the summer of 1977. An innocent young woman named Calista travels from Athens to visit the world. She finds herself working for famous Hollywood director Billy Wilder on a Greek island that has been turned into a set. The more time she spends in this new life, it will change her.

Calista loves her new life, but Wilder thinks he might be in a slump in Hollywood. He has financed his movie with German money. As they travel to Munich, it brings back dark memories about his family. He realizes times are changing with new directors and movies coming out and he might not have a place. Does he keep going or let go and retire?

Overall, I liked the story. I think I had different expectations. I didn’t think it’d be heavy on plot, but I thought there would be more conflict and things going on. I thought it would be funnier and more glamorous because it was about Billy Wilder who was a famous Hollywood director. I found it a bit dry. I love old Hollywood actors and directors. From what I’ve read, Billy Wilder had a really interesting life. He directed a lot of movies I love. I thought this would be more about his life and the movies as told through Calista’s eyes. I thought Billy always did well as a director. I didn’t really think it would be about him when he was supposedly in a slump. It was just more sad than I thought it would be.

I definitely would like to check out other books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.