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The late James Earl Jones was known for many things, most notably his acting prowess and This sound is amazing. But according to a new book, the actor didn't always have the bold, confident voice he was known for.
That’s the premise behind “Ode to Grapefruit,” a new children’s book that chronicles the actor’s journey to the big screen, including overcoming a stutter that left him speechless for nearly eight years as a child. His livelihood: poetry, and in particular, a poem he wrote himself that bears the book’s title.
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The Grapefruit Poem: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice
The comic book was first released in July, and returned to the bestseller lists after news of Jones' death on Monday.
The 48-page picture book, now available on Amazon and Target, is not just an “ode to grapefruit” (the title of Jones’ poem), but also an ode to perseverance and reaching for your dreams. As the book says, “After eight years of silence, James found his voice, low and powerful, beyond the dark side of fear. With patience and practice,” the book says, “the legendary voice of James Earl Jones will soon be known around the world.”
Written by Carey Lavelle, with full-color illustrations by Brian Collier (winner of six Kurta Scott King Awards), Ode to Grapefruit is a beautiful tribute to an actor who became the voice of an entire franchise—and an entire generation.
As publisher Knopf Books wrote, “Lyrical text, stunning art, and a compelling background about stuttering come together to create a wonderful picture book about how a boy who refused to speak for eight years learned to manage his stutter through poetry—and grew into an EGOT-winning performer with a voice no one will ever forget.”
Buy James Earl Jones' book on sale now on Amazon. You can see more books by the actor here. The actor also lends his voice to an audiobook of the King James Version of the New Testament. James Earl Jones Reads the Bible was an immediate bestseller upon its release, returning to number one on the charts. The audiobook contains over 19 hours of audio on 16 digitally remastered CDs with an original soundtrack. You can also stream or download it on Audible.
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James Earl Jones Reads the Bible: King James Version
Jones died Monday at his home in Dutchess County, New York, at the age of 93.
