Starred review from August 15, 2024
A Northern Irish actor delves into the complex life story that helped him transform an aphasic character on HBO'sGame of Thrones into a beloved hero. When a Belfast talent booker urged the 6-foot-10 author to go to a television casting call for a "strong, tall character" who spoke just one word, Nairn reluctantly agreed. The ultimately successful audition--and the character of Hodor--changed his life. In this thoughtful, moving memoir, Nairn explores a painful past growing up during the Irish Troubles. Abandoned by his father and ridiculed for his height, Nairn grew up an outcast, a situation rendered even more excruciating by being a closeted gay man in still-homophobic Ireland. His journey to self-acceptance began with explorations of homosexual identity through his drag queen alter ego, Revvlon Miguel. His forays into the gay club scene inspired him to pursue jobs as a drag queen, then as a DJ. Yet it was only after he landed a role onGame of Thrones that Nairn felt called to take his career as an entertainer seriously. Perceived at first as little more than a "lumbering half-wit," Hodor became the vehicle through which Nairn learned the subtleties of the acting craft. The character also offered him unexpected opportunities to develop deep friendships with people like 10-year-old co-star Isaac Hempstead Wright (whom Nairn was at first determined not to like) and to overcome the emotional demons that kept him from speaking his mind and fully connecting with others. Fans will no doubt enjoy the behind-the-scenes details Nairn offers about the meticulously crafted world ofGame of Thrones. But the real delight of this book lies in its honest, sensitive portrayal of a man who comes into his own through the unexpected convergence of art and life. Compelling and richly satisfying.
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August 23, 2024
Nairn's memoir is more than a behind-the-scenes look at his work on the HBO blockbuster series Game of Thrones. It's also a poignant look at the life of an outsider seeking peace and acceptance. Best known as GOT's heroic giant Hodor, Nairn grew up amid the violent conflict in Northern Ireland. After his father abandoned the family, he found solace in music and books. His towering height (he would grow to 6' 10") led to ridicule. He came out as gay at the age of 14 and, later, moved away to explore this part of his identity. He would find acceptance among the gay community, first as a drag performer named "Revvlon Miguel" and through a successful Belfast disc jockey career. On GOT, he discovers new ways of communicating through performance and grows friendships with some of his castmates. Nairn's memoir is chock-full of episodes in which violence and peace intermingle, but that won't deter readers' enjoyment of this extraordinary book. VERDICT Nairn's book will appeal to Game of Thrones fans and those who enjoy good memoirs.--Leah K. Huey
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