Sonny Boy: A Memoir

The author’s upbringing in the South Bronx was a major influence on him. As an adult, how does he reflect on the poverty he and his family lived through and the effect it had on them?

Pacino credits much of his success to luck. How does Pacino explore the tensions between luck and self-directed action in Sonny Boy?

Throughout his work, Pacino develops a theme on Performance as an Art and a Career. How does he compare and contrast his theater and film work? How did he experience these different ways of performing?

The author credits several family members and friends with helping him survive his youth and reach professional success. Choose one major influence on Pacino and describe his relationship with them. How is this person characterized? What is his/her wider significance in the text?

How does Sonny Boy depict Hollywood and the film industry? How does Pacino examine the dark side of fame?

The author offers a glimpse into his behind-the-scenes experiences on film sets. Choose a character of Pacino’s and summarize his creative process for that role. How does Pacino explore the art of acting and the various approaches one can take to it?

While Pacino’s memoir is usually presented in a linear fashion, certain problems confront Pacino at various stages in his life. How does Pacino’s relationship with money, his dynamic with romantic partners, and/or his feelings about fame present at different stages in his life? In what ways are his later experiences different or similar to his earlier ones?

Select an anecdote from the book and explain why it is thematically or narratively significant. Include quotations and details in your response.