The Garner Files

A Memoir

By: James Garner, Jon Winokur

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

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

Fascinating life! A good read!

Where does The Garner Files rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I found this book refreshing, brutally honest -ie, his love/hate relationship with Steve McQueen and unique. It is in unique in the sense and unlike other bios, that at the end of the book, his significant friends, family and loved ones share a heartfelt anecdote about Garner in their own words. It was so touching to hear how his wife Lois recounts the day they first met, (which made me smile as her recollection was slightly different and more detailed than Garner's one). He truly loved his wife. He also lists and recounts his experiences on every feature, TV show, mini series and made for Tv movie at the end of the bio.

What did you like best about this story?

I've always been interested in James Garner and had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, but as he was such a private man, I really didn't know much about him. I learned of his impoverished childhood and how he faced great adversity as a child and into his adolescence. This built his strong, macho, grounded and loyal character. I especially loved his honesty in this book. He raves about working with Julie Andrews and my personal favourite Doris Day. Although he doesn't go into too much detail about the two movies he made with Doris. The only chapter I skipped was his chapter on Golf.

A bit disappointing.

Learned more about his love for golf and auto racing than I cared to know.

Almost didn’t finish it

James Garner was always one of our favorites and I’d been wanting to read his biography for a long time. The narrative style really a turn off - the blasé monotone was almost more than we could bear. But we were intrigued by the story and we sped up the narration about 10%. We’re glad we stuck with it.

Now I Know Why I Liked Him So Much!

If you could sum up The Garner Files in three words, what would they be?

Great Life Story

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Garner Files?

I thought the info on his military experience was honest and gave some insight into what makes Garner Garner.

What about Michael Kramer’s performance did you like?

At times I thought Jim Garner was telling the tale - not a narrator.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My strongest reaction was probably shared anger at some of the jerks that Garner met with and had to deal with along the way.

Any additional comments?

I loved this - I have been a huge fan of his work, and while I often felt he was playing himself - not really acting - I always thought he gave his audience way more than their money's worth!!!

A lot of insight

This is an eye opener for those who wonder what it's like to be a movie star of Garner's caliber. To the reviewer who thought there was too much emphasis on golf, it was mixed well with interesting incidences and insights. I don't like golf either but as with all human interaction he wrote more about the interactions during and around the game than the golf.

Garner was one of my favorite actors and I like the fact that he proved to be a man's man, an actor with principals and not just an actor that knew nothing else. Good life experiences, told it like it is and didn't spare the things he stood for and believed in to be shaped by the process.

Michael Kramer is the perfect choice

What did you love best about The Garner Files?

James Garner's voice and personality come through completely, and unvarnished. What you see, is what you get.

What did you like best about this story?

I was surprised to hear about some of the company he's kept over the years, and what he had to say about them.

Which character – as performed by Michael Kramer – was your favorite?

Doesn't really apply, since it's a bio.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, but I was eager to get back to it.

Any additional comments?

Some of the best material comes in the outtakes, where friends, family, and associates are telling stories about James Garner.

Sweet man

Great narration. Some of his hobbies in the story dragged a bit like with the race cars. I got the feel of the real James Garner. Intimate and revealing.

Book moves smoothly

If your a fan, you'll like it. If not, you won't. I'm fan and liked it. He tells a good story and keeps the book moving at a smooth pace and does reveal things about who he really is.

The narrator was so good at capturing what my imagination thinks of as the essence of who James Garner is I would often have to remind myself that it wasn't James Garner narrating the book himself. I know darn well months from now my memory will make me forget that it wasn't James Garner who narrated this book because the narrator does such a good job.

In addition to Garner fans, golfers and race car enthusiast will appreciate this book since they are both a large part of what made Garner's life complete.

An Honest Life Story

An authentic and honest review of his life and career. No principles of life or likeability are given - just a here's what happened and what my thoughts were.

OK but fast listened some sections

The beginning is great. Garner’s childhood was grim and it’s amazing he survived at all. The Rockford Files and Maverick parts were good. The rest, esp the car racing and golf bits as well as the long filmography at the end deserve a speed listen at best.