Stephanie S. reviewed on + 168 more book reviews
I could not put down this book which surprised me. I did not expect it to be as fascinating as it was...especially before it even got to the part about her relationship with Woody Allen and the subsequent scandals. I am also very impressed by her prose and writing style. She is a gifted, beautiful writer.
Born to privledge, Ms Farrow strove to forge for herself what she wanted most--a life of value and purpose. To matter. She also tried over and over to turn grief, hurt, betrayal and all the bad things life threw at her into hope, new attitides and an openess for new paths to be revealed. Along the way, she has a family 12 children that she is devoted to!
Her version of the Woody Allen scandal unfurled slowly, beginning with his many idiosyncrasies and phobias (he refused to eat any food in her houses except takeout, and wouldn't bathe there either, not even with his own bathmat and shower shoes, not even in a bathroom she had custom installed for his private use), but the stories grew more perplexing and harrowing as the pages turned. I believe what she wrote. It all read very true to me, such as:
Following one of the very few times they socialized with Woody Allen's parents, she wrote: "...it was an awkward, awful affair, as was every encounter with his parents. I grew up in Beverly Hills. I went to convent schools. I have moved in circles where people are polite to one another. I never saw anyone treat another person the way he behaved with his parents."
Another day, she asked an innocent question as to whether he would be attending her young son Fletcher's school graduation. "'I'll have to think about whether you have any right to ask me that question," he said, cold as ice. Better he should have smashed a fist into my face,' Farrow wrote.
And on and on, each anecdote more maddening and infuriating than the last. I came away from the book a fan of hers, although like many I cannot believe she stayed in such a relationship as long as she did. But the heart traps us sometimes I guess.
It probably won't surprise anyone to learn I personally will never watch another Woody Allen movie for as long as I live. Yes, my reaction is that visceral.
****1/2 Four and a half stars!
Born to privledge, Ms Farrow strove to forge for herself what she wanted most--a life of value and purpose. To matter. She also tried over and over to turn grief, hurt, betrayal and all the bad things life threw at her into hope, new attitides and an openess for new paths to be revealed. Along the way, she has a family 12 children that she is devoted to!
Her version of the Woody Allen scandal unfurled slowly, beginning with his many idiosyncrasies and phobias (he refused to eat any food in her houses except takeout, and wouldn't bathe there either, not even with his own bathmat and shower shoes, not even in a bathroom she had custom installed for his private use), but the stories grew more perplexing and harrowing as the pages turned. I believe what she wrote. It all read very true to me, such as:
Following one of the very few times they socialized with Woody Allen's parents, she wrote: "...it was an awkward, awful affair, as was every encounter with his parents. I grew up in Beverly Hills. I went to convent schools. I have moved in circles where people are polite to one another. I never saw anyone treat another person the way he behaved with his parents."
Another day, she asked an innocent question as to whether he would be attending her young son Fletcher's school graduation. "'I'll have to think about whether you have any right to ask me that question," he said, cold as ice. Better he should have smashed a fist into my face,' Farrow wrote.
And on and on, each anecdote more maddening and infuriating than the last. I came away from the book a fan of hers, although like many I cannot believe she stayed in such a relationship as long as she did. But the heart traps us sometimes I guess.
It probably won't surprise anyone to learn I personally will never watch another Woody Allen movie for as long as I live. Yes, my reaction is that visceral.
****1/2 Four and a half stars!
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