Never Grow Up

October 22, 2018
This autobiography from action movie superstar Chan is not unlike a blockbuster film from Chan’s native Hong Kong: occasionally cheesy, sometimes questionable in quality, but undeniably fun. Born in 1954, Chan began appearing in martial arts films before
the age of 10. Though his career proceeded by fits and starts, he found major stardom by the late 1970s and has appeared in more than 200 films. This book is marked by functional prose, a shambolic structure, and several sections (such as on Chan’s love of red wine, or his restoration of old Chinese homes) that go nowhere. Fortunately, Chan’s tone is winningly upbeat, and the pleasure he takes in his own success story is infectious. The author doesn’t hide his personal flaws, admitting to acting arrogantly when he first found fame, and in subsequent years to having been an insensitive and unfaithful husband. Despite the title, the book shows him eventually maturing into a person newly respectful and considerate toward his family and friends, even as he continues to make action films well into his 60s. This book isn’t going to win any awards, but like Jackie Chan himself, it provides a heck of a lot of entertainment.

Daxing Zhang beautifully narrates this candid in-depth biography, translated from Chinese, of martial arts master and actor Jackie Chan. Zhang's Chinese inflections sound natural and bring pathos to the story, which is moving and personal. The work explores Chan's strengths and weaknesses, as well as his foibles such as spending lavishly and gambling to excess. Career breaks and setbacks are recounted with identical passion, though detail is at times excessive, for example, accounts of specific obsessive fans. Brief behind-the-scenes stories are narrated by the energetic Jennifer Lim, whose sudden appearances peppered throughout the audiobook can be jarring as they differ so much in tone from Zhang's presence. This is a fascinating life story that may be a bit too lengthy. But it's likely that fans will immensely enjoy it. W.A.G. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine