~~~OPEN LIFE~~~. Review on Open An Autobiography - Andre Agassi

"I was late in discovering the magic of books. Of all many mistakes that I want my children to avoid, I put that one near the top of the list."

'OPEN, an autobiography' by Andre Agassi ends with the above lines. As the lines indicate, the book is an account of a journey which the author didn't like but the world thought otherwise. Now, with this autobiography, Agassi donate the world a book which will be the joy of a good reader as it is one of the finest autobiographies I have read. Then, don't assume it is more than the sports by an OPEN account of Andre Agassi the individual who was compelled to play and much different from what we expects from an autobiography of a number one player!

Tennis was a punishment for the young kid Andre Agassi. His father who has migrated from Iran to USA for green pastures made it as a point to train his little son. The game is highly rewarding as it have quick money but it doesn't come without a cost. The father knows what the highly demanding game takes, hard work and training, and invests it on his little son. The difference between work and play is the attitude. The difference between a punishing work and enjoying work is also attitude. For the young Andre, the never ending training was tiring and the dislike for the game born from the early childhood. The sweat of hardwork shown its results and Andre was later send to a special school. Like all suffered children, Andre didn't want change and the school to which he sent was not a heaven as well.

The other day I was reading David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and like my earlier outing with Charles, this time too I had to stop reading in the middle (where David was admitted to the boarding school) and the autobiography of Andre Agassi came to my hand. I can see the reason where the life of a suffering child is there in Agassi's life, which Charles Dickens was trying to portray. The difference however is, knowing the successful streak Andre had after the suffering in the early childhood we gets some kind of consolation and we could read it with little more easiness. Then, some wounds are deep; will it get cured with time? OPEN shows the memory of it still hurts. When the father tells his son, I want to see you to end your suffering we wonder to whom we should blame or we should blame at all.

Since I am a movie buff I can easily say the autobiography has the potential for 3 movies or more. The childhood of Andre and his Bollettieri Academy experience is much better than a 'Taare Zameen Par' & '3 Idiots' combined. Love angle between Andre & Wendi, which started before both reach the age of 10 and a girl who wish to find who she is before committing herself, their love, her encounter with Andre's father - their love story and its untold end will make a definite teen romantic movie. Agassi's love and marriage to Brook Shield, the fax romance, decorative relations and its inevitable separation makes a family drama. The much awaited Andre Agassi - Steffi Grafflove, marriage and children makes another wonderful romance drama. The romance between sports personalities, this was my first reading experience and how I enjoyed it! The Crush Agassi had on Steffi - Steffi's cold shoulder to his earlier proportions - Agassi's attempt to please her and his desperation where he lost the number Steffi gave him and his attempt to find it - their first date and the fun thereafter - parent meeting and the near wrestling between the fathers - the marriage and children - their reasons for not pushing their children to Tennis it is all interesting and more. (Btw the book gives a glimpse at Steffi's life as well as a bonus. Steffi had a similar childhood. The author says, 'he (Steffi graph's father) started Stefanie playing before she was out of diapers.')

While reading through the book, we will come across many people whose lively characters stamp their identity in our mind. Andre's father is the first such heart touching personality who determined Andre's fate by his decision. Another excellent character is Andre's mother and her life principles. Wendy, Brooks, Stefanie all have separate character sets which are unique and touching. Perry & Phil are other two characters which live in our heart for their shared childhood with Andre. However, the personality of Gil, the trainer is the best of it all and how Andre finds his caring father image in Gil, is all heartening. There are many and many real life situations where these characters interacts each other and what one expects?

There are few missed links in the autobiography, like reasons for Wendy's separation, reason for Andre's father not moving with him when he turns professional, Brook's side of story for the separation, but for a person who writes an Autobiography at an early stage of life is much difficult and understandable. The language at places is 'real' and it is not recommended for children of this part of the earth as they may add some vocabulary but for adults it doesn't hinder as they are all extra expressions of emotions and at times we cannot even stop laughing when we see the extent the emotion takes one's life and fate.

Writing style is super excellent and imaginative descriptions gave an interesting reading experience. Pacing of the book is very good. Some events move like supersonic planes, with excellent one lines they doesn't miss the destinations. Many events get detailed description and it is a joy. The author with JR Moehringer (Applauds to him for making this book as wonderful as it is!) covered many an incidents, individuals, games and life keeping the soul and the read is more like a person to person talk.

OPEN is the life journey of an Athlete who finds more meaning in the world outside it. OPEN is an expression of suffering and a commitment to remove the human sufferings and the joy in it. Do read it, it is an experience!! Beware: There is LIFE in it!!!

The book begins with these words: 'I OPEN MY EYES and don't know where I am or who I am. Not all that unusual - I've spent half my life not knowing. Still, this feels different. This confusion is more frightening. More total.'