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Lucky Jim
Lucky Jim is Jim Hart's memoir, the story of how he survived a violent childhood home, found incredible words inside him, created a love that was both so right and so wrong, and finally found the strength to be his true self.
Jim is a master at building relationships. Charming, funny, and a great listener with a guru's insight, his success in life and business was based on his ability to connect with others, from people recovering in 12-step groups in Upstate New York to those living in the rarified air of Martha's Vineyard. But after 20+ years sober, one slip-up triggered an active addiction that threatened his relationships with his then-wife, singer-songwriter Carly Simon, his recovery friends, his severely disabled son, and even with himself as he began to confront his sexuality.
Jim is a master at building relationships. Charming, funny, and a great listener with a guru's insight, his success in life and business was based on his ability to connect with others, from people recovering in 12-step groups in Upstate New York to those living in the rarified air of Martha's Vineyard. But after 20+ years sober, one slip-up triggered an active addiction that threatened his relationships with his then-wife, singer-songwriter Carly Simon, his recovery friends, his severely disabled son, and even with himself as he began to confront his sexuality.
246 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 6, 2018
I very much enjoyed this book about broken people. Unfortunately, it was a reminder that some things in life can't be fixed and that love often has little to do with the reality of just how happy one can be, or just how good a relationship can be. Ultimately, it is the individual self and its flaws that controls (and limits) contentment and happiness, despite other circumstances and people.
That said, I often do get a bit upset reading about people who have the opportunity to indulge their individual needs, or even their own idiosyncracies and unhappiness. Many people have to put that aside in life, especially when they are responsible, or more importantly, responsible for someone else. I think there were a lot of selfish people in this book, and they were selfish in the varying ways in which many are selfish. Not that they were bad or ungenerous or not hurting themselves, but there were a lot of instances where the central characters were just able to abdicate any responsibility at all in order to deal with their mental issues, and, of course, that meant that someone else had to pick up the pieces. Sometimes they had to pick up the pieces for each other, but more often, it was the same people who were left holding the bag (like Alanna) and who never had the opportunity to bow out for a while because they couldn't handle things. I don't think the author would disagree with this assessment. There are just those who will always be the ones to have to "suck it up" and make up for the people who can't. And those people aren't usually the ones who have the time to write a book.
That said, I often do get a bit upset reading about people who have the opportunity to indulge their individual needs, or even their own idiosyncracies and unhappiness. Many people have to put that aside in life, especially when they are responsible, or more importantly, responsible for someone else. I think there were a lot of selfish people in this book, and they were selfish in the varying ways in which many are selfish. Not that they were bad or ungenerous or not hurting themselves, but there were a lot of instances where the central characters were just able to abdicate any responsibility at all in order to deal with their mental issues, and, of course, that meant that someone else had to pick up the pieces. Sometimes they had to pick up the pieces for each other, but more often, it was the same people who were left holding the bag (like Alanna) and who never had the opportunity to bow out for a while because they couldn't handle things. I don't think the author would disagree with this assessment. There are just those who will always be the ones to have to "suck it up" and make up for the people who can't. And those people aren't usually the ones who have the time to write a book.
October 6, 2017
2-1/2 stars. He's led a very interesting life but is not a great storyteller and I got a bit tired of hearing him tell us how often he heard that he was handsome.
June 18, 2017
I read this book because I'm a huge Carly Simon fan, and Mr Hart used to be married to her. The book was a pleasant surprise, because he is a very good writer with a lot to say. In many ways it's a typical Hollywood memoir - boy is an alcoholic from an abusive home, boy stops drinking, boy meets girl, boy decides crack cocaine is better than alcohol, boy gets clean and discovers he's gay. There were fun parts of the book where he talks about celebrities he met, but very serious and touching parts where he talks about his son Eamon, a young man with serious disabilities. A surprisingly good read.
November 30, 2020
Difficult childhood - check, good looks - check, things fell in his lap - check, he shat on them and self indulged - check. Lucky Jim for sure, grateful Jim likely not. Not trying to take away from the difficulty of anyone's struggle, however, this story just didn't do it for me. Another example of what lack of connection to self manifests in lack of ability to truly connect with the world around you. A better read to illustrate the correlation between addiction and lack of connection is Johann Hari's Lost Connections.
February 11, 2020
OK, call me shallow but after reading Carly Simon's latest book, Touching the Sun, I wanted to know more about her marriage to Jim Hart and to also find out his side of the story.
May 2, 2017
I took great comfort in this book and your stories. I found the last 25% the most interesting and curious as this is where the deeper dive took place. Reading the pages as it all unraveled was truly enlightening. Anyone that finds relevancy in their own lives to you, your pain, any of your stories or the people closest to you, will find this book helpful and meaningful. You explained things and feelings that many other men (and women) in similar situations struggle with, but won't or don't verbalize or share. I found the clarity extremely helpful, almost as if pieces of a puzzle were handed to me. I realize every person and situation is completely different, but hearing and learning your perspective was beneficial. Your authenticity is admirable and I believe this book can and will help others work through their own personal demons.
On the lighter side, it's a also a great multi faceted celebrity story chock full of interesting anecdotes and details for the reader. Good luck and congratulations on your continued success and happiness! Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
On the lighter side, it's a also a great multi faceted celebrity story chock full of interesting anecdotes and details for the reader. Good luck and congratulations on your continued success and happiness! Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
April 20, 2017
This was an intriguing book to read immediately following a reading of Carly Simon's book "Boys in Trees." As a person who is probably too introspective, I struggle to understand how people as intelligent and both Carly Simon and Jim Hart seem to be can be so clueless about themselves. For example, all of Hart's sexual experience prior to his marriages had been with men, but he did not realize until his 50s that he was bisexual? How does that happen? I was reading this entire book wondering how he missed all the clues. Nevertheless, there were just enough interesting parts to keep me reading, and I will admit, his writing is not bad.
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June 11, 2017Overall it was a good read. A little slow in places, hard to believe in others. Reading between the lines
I felt sorry for his ex wife as he was of no help to her. Hard to believe he and Carly spent so much time apart as a married couple for no good reasons that I could decipher. How did she not know of his drug abuse? Also it seems like he was treated kind of like the poor relative. She married him knowing he didn't have a pot to pee in. Why then was he supposed to try and make a pittance of a salary? If roles were reversed and he was the female nobody would say a word about it. Crazy lifestyles.
I felt sorry for his ex wife as he was of no help to her. Hard to believe he and Carly spent so much time apart as a married couple for no good reasons that I could decipher. How did she not know of his drug abuse? Also it seems like he was treated kind of like the poor relative. She married him knowing he didn't have a pot to pee in. Why then was he supposed to try and make a pittance of a salary? If roles were reversed and he was the female nobody would say a word about it. Crazy lifestyles.
November 18, 2017
Jim Hart is an insurance salesman who looks like James Taylor. When he meets Carly Simon, he doesn't know who she is. But they soon start dating and his ordinary life, as a divorced father of a mentally challenged son, becomes a fairy tale life filled with writers, actors, politicians, and money. It's a world he loves from the outside, but he never quite fits in. As a sober alcoholic, his demons catch up with him when his marriage begins to fail. Interesting read paired with Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon.
May 3, 2017
I was curious about this book as I worked with his wonderful ex-wife Alannah and knew her love for her severely disabled son, Eammon, whose father was James Hart. I found this to be a tribute to the strength of Alannah and the love of a mother who never gave up on her son and had to deal with the lack of support from Eammon's dad. Alannah, herself, is an accomplished musician and professional woman and Mom of three other children who she is just as devoted to.
July 31, 2018
I found this book to be a great read with compelling stories and a great chronicle of his life and perspectives. An amazing ride, entertaining, honest, and definitely witty! I recommend and cannot understand the harsh criticism to his respectful and loving attitudes to those special relationships he had with so many people.
June 13, 2017
As one reviewer said, this was like reading an extended People Magazine article, and I mean that in the most enjoyable way. Great star-f*cker moments in here, as well as some meaningful prose; this guy can write!
May 23, 2018
Self serving. Sad and not worth reading.
January 11, 2022
This is a hard one to rate, because I adore Carly Simon, and she's the reason I read this book. It kept my interest, for sure. But in the first half he drops more names than most celebs do in their entire memoirs, and in the second half he does more drugs than John Phillips wrote about in his. I just wanted to slap him and tell him to knock it off.
Would love to hear Carly's version of their story.
Would love to hear Carly's version of their story.
July 8, 2017
The book was beautifully written and I loved reading it. The pain of the author's relationship with his father, the drama and sexual awakening at the seminary, struggles with drugs and alcohol, the loving yet tragic relationship with his severely handicapped son…all kept my rapt attention. Throw in dinner parties and kitchen table talks with the biggest entertainment and political celebrities on the planet, and you have the makings of great book. Five stars.
April 21, 2017
Near the end of James Hart’s memoir “Lucky Jim,” Hart expresses frustration with publishers who won’t accept his first novel submission without another rewrite. Well, he can’t complain about not having any source material to draw on—a rough childhood with an abusive alcoholic father, raising a special needs child from a first marriage, a chance train meeting with a women whose music and face he didn’t recognize (Carly Simon), a “fish out of water” marriage with Simon where he was welcomed into the close-knit artistic community of Martha’s Vineyard, a late marriage relapse in his sobriety and realization that he was gay. Any one of those stories could have (and have been) the source of whole books by other writers. Hart wisely chose to direct his writing talent to non-fiction. That Hart manages to be both empathetic and brutally honest is a testament to his writing skill as well as his character. Readers may be drawn to this book for the warm anecdotes about the famous people with whom Hart met (Jackie Onassis, Mike Nichols, Bill Clinton), but they’ll stay for his very human struggle of being overwhelmed by the hold that addiction has on the brain. Though he’s now her ex, Carly Simon has endorsed this book; indeed, it does a great job of complementing her recent memoir, “Boys in the Trees.” Recommended.
August 18, 2017
This was an interesting story by a good writer. His prose moves easily, cleanly and he can evoke images well. He glossed over anything about his life in recovery, especially during the times when it would have been the most interesting to know how, if at all, he was practicing a program of recovery from addiction. Maybe the omission was evidence of his omission.
One of the most prolific Goodreads reviewers panned the book as a whiny expose of self pity. It seemed more honest and self searching than the self pity label. Each of us have a journey and his included a great deal of fame. I succumbed to the fame and read the book. So much for my ability to judge others! His life with Carly Simon was so much more than Carly. He was exposed to so much talent and "luck" the book does reveal how the famous are not so special. The book is worth the read if for no other point that this.
Selfishness is a terrible evil within each human, supplying sharp incisors and canines to the "self will" problem of the human condition. The book reveals plenty of selfishness, how a faith can help build tools to deal with it and how a loss of faith can feed it.
One of the most prolific Goodreads reviewers panned the book as a whiny expose of self pity. It seemed more honest and self searching than the self pity label. Each of us have a journey and his included a great deal of fame. I succumbed to the fame and read the book. So much for my ability to judge others! His life with Carly Simon was so much more than Carly. He was exposed to so much talent and "luck" the book does reveal how the famous are not so special. The book is worth the read if for no other point that this.
Selfishness is a terrible evil within each human, supplying sharp incisors and canines to the "self will" problem of the human condition. The book reveals plenty of selfishness, how a faith can help build tools to deal with it and how a loss of faith can feed it.
July 4, 2017
If I could have dinner with only one person in the world, it would be Carly Simon. Her lyrics have been the story of my life and I've connected to her songs all my adult life, as many of us have. Therefore, I didn't know if I was going to like this book, especially if there was anything negative said about her. Although she has been part of the events in this book, the book is not centrally about her. I found Jim Hart's writing brought out many different emotions; at times I though he was impudent, egotistical but also very in tune with what people needed and a good storyteller. His life has been fascinating and at the end, it made me feel great compassion, not only to the people in this book but to the world in general. We all struggle to walk the journey we've been given but not many of us could be so direct and forthcoming. I'm looking forward to future writing by Jim Hart.
February 6, 2020
I recently finished listening to "Boys in the Trees", a memoir by Carly Simon and read by the author. It was focused on her childhood up to and through her marriage/divorce to James Taylor (1981). As it was written in 2016, and I wondered about her life over the past 40 years.
Enter James Hart's memoir, "Lucky Jim". Truth is stranger than fiction! What an amazing life story. A large part of the book addresses his nearly 20-year tumultuous marriage to Carly. The tumult was caused in part by his own dysfunction, personal demons and the denial of his inner self to himself as well as her own emotional fragility, celebrity, extreme wealth vis a vis his poverty.
Excellent writing, poignant, humorous, tragic and loving.
Enter James Hart's memoir, "Lucky Jim". Truth is stranger than fiction! What an amazing life story. A large part of the book addresses his nearly 20-year tumultuous marriage to Carly. The tumult was caused in part by his own dysfunction, personal demons and the denial of his inner self to himself as well as her own emotional fragility, celebrity, extreme wealth vis a vis his poverty.
Excellent writing, poignant, humorous, tragic and loving.
November 21, 2019
A hard book to read and even harder to finish reading
This is a story that is hard to read but it's sad to finish reading it. I missed Him Hart's voice as soon as I unwittingly read the last page. I just wasn't prepared for it to end .
The warmth and humanity of his writing is so inviting and welcoming.
There was such heartache and yet it felt like the book exuded light and compassion.
This book helped me to understand how he became such a wonderful counselor for people struggling with addiction.
This is a story that is hard to read but it's sad to finish reading it. I missed Him Hart's voice as soon as I unwittingly read the last page. I just wasn't prepared for it to end .
The warmth and humanity of his writing is so inviting and welcoming.
There was such heartache and yet it felt like the book exuded light and compassion.
This book helped me to understand how he became such a wonderful counselor for people struggling with addiction.
June 14, 2017
Extremely well-written a la James Joyce, yet this is not a book to be loved. I appreciates the insight into marriage to, and life with, my favorite singer. The mere fact of Carly's presence in the cover photo with Hart tells you that she supports him; they are still friends even though they divorced after 20 years when Hart came out as gay. Though he spares us none of Carly's foibles, he is hardest of all on himself. One gets that they remain in each other's lives as a benediction.
June 11, 2017
Excellent and well-written memoir about marrying into fame and wealth as Carly Simon's husband. I most enjoyed reading about his coming to terms with his homosexuality and journey from recovery into addiction and back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2019
A breathtakingly brave book. It is so intimate and unflinching look at one’s own life. What courage Mr Hart possesses to put it out there in a book. I feel lucky for having ready it and somehow braver to face my weaknesses and short comings and be more accepting of others’.
March 28, 2017
Please see my review on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
May 19, 2017
The best parts were the ones related to the Martha's Vineyard social scene.
June 5, 2017
Haunting and literate. Jim Hart is a sculptor not a watercolorist. He has crafted a work from sweat and blood and fire.
July 22, 2018
Surprisingly well-written. It lost a bit of its shine in the later chapters, but then, so did Hart's life.
August 21, 2018
A very interesting story of this man's complicated life. I loved the book and felt sadness at its ending, but hopeful that the author has found peace and joy in his life.
January 1, 2022
I read this because I love Carly Simon and her two books. I hope to get another glimpse into her world. I had no idea I’d get such an unfiltered, raw and truthful story let alone really learn something. Yes, this book has elite and celebs in it but they are second fiddle to the love, and loss and rising from the ashes James describes so vulnerably and authentically. This is a hidden gem of a book.
September 29, 2021
It's just life
We all experience pain, but Jim Hart's pain feels like being robbed, over and over, each time after winning a big lottery.
We all experience pain, but Jim Hart's pain feels like being robbed, over and over, each time after winning a big lottery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews