Reviews

Biographer Morton doesn't shy away from controversial subjects and in the past has written books on Princess Diana, Monica Lewinsky, and Madonna. His latest subject is no exception; hot on the heels of Cruise's media flurry of a marriage to Katie -Holmes and his polarizing statements toward Scientology, the religious group founded by sf writer L. Ron Hubbard, this biography appears on the shelves at an optimal time. Thomas Cruise Mapother was born in Syracuse, NY, and grew up in several states before his mother left his father and settled the family in Glen Ridge, NJ. His initial Hollywood fame is depicted as part luck that later morphed into superstardom owing to Cruise's sheer determination, smart choices, and acute business sense. Narrated by John Hinch, the work focuses mainly on Cruise's involvement with Scientology and on the group's controversial recruitment methods. Considerable detail is given to David Miscavige, the leader of the organization, and Morton contends that Cruise is second-in-command, although Morton's proof of this is scant at best. Publicity will be high, and demand for this book should warrant it as a popular addition to public library collections. [Also available as downloadable audio.--Ed.]--Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Morton's massively hyped, overly contentious and sometimes far-fetched account of Cruise's Scientology-driven life owes a lot to John Hinch's unwavering reading the material. Hinch offers a sincere, unbiased take on the material, but also manages to create a believable listening experience through his innate performance ability when assuming the roles of various characters, most notably, Cruise himself. Though there is little in the way of dialect changes and impersonation, listeners will be astounded at how close Hinch comes to capturing the Cruise persona. While the material is debatable and lacks anything profound or fresh, Hinch presents it in a way that keeps the audience thoroughly engaged throughout. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's hardcover (reviewed online). (Jan.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.