My biggest concern didn't come true. The book is NOT a tell-all and NOT gossiping. At all. It's written with admiration and respect.
Facts. Written down and/or told.
And many times the author says he doesn't know, no one knows, could be or not, maybe/maybe not - always clearly stating when guessing something / when something isn't confirmed.
To me, much in the book is not new/s. But some stuff and several pages are. And I'm happy about this and them.
Like the author, I did research when I discovered Roddy McDowall - but there's still so much out there. And I'm more than grateful for every little thing that appears somewhere somehow. Always hoping for the next.
Always curious, always learning.
However, I felt the chapter/s of his childhood too long at one point, afraid that the author would rush through later decades. And yes, he does. A bit. And yes, I'm disappointed. A bit.
But it's his choice what to focus on and what to mention briefly only. [I would have chosen differently.]
And seriously/honestly, if one would write down a detailed essay of everything Roddy had done or was in, it wouldn't be one book, but how many ???
Dates. Locations. Names. - So many. Too much.
Admiration. Respect. From the author.
At the end of the book I was crying. Like I have done so many times before, reading/thinking about Roddy.
I didn't know him. At all. And yet, I love Roddy. So very much β‘