jewelkr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Autobiographies are difficult to review - this is someone's life story and it doesn't need to be critiqued. This was a very difficult book to read, as full as it is with family abuse and addiction. It's been a lot of years since it came out and Tatum O'Neal was 41 years old when it came out, which may seem old to some people but given the complete lack of parental guidance in her life the telling of her story still sounds like it is being done by a child. There is, despite the horrific things done to her as a child and into her early 20's, a naivety that is distressing. In the Prologue she mentions meeting a man who sexually assaulted her in her early teens, greeting him politely, as well as referring to the director who tied her up as a child actor to force her to learn her lines, as an old friend. I can only wish for her that the years since have given her more perspective to hold fully accountable all the people in her young life who should have protected her and abused her instead.
I can only blame editors for the tone of the book which presents many of the horrible things she went through kind of ... in passing. eg. and then when I was at a party the adults gave me drugs. These things that happened were truly traumatic. They don't have to be described in detail, but they need more pause, more thought, more reflection, otherwise the reader is left reeling and having to process someone else's trauma in their own muddled mind.
The other thing that makes it difficult to read is that her recovery at the end does not get enough press. After going through this awful life with a celebrity who we probably envied, we want to know how she made it through. We want to know what that struggle was like, and why it worked for her. And we don't get much, so again we are left to process by ourselves. If a publisher is going to put a book out that deals with addiction and abuse, there is a responsibility to provide the reader with some resolution.
So the only thing that I felt I benefitted from in reading this book was the realization that being the child of a celebrity may put you on track for early success but that is meaningless when no one is there for you. It makes me grateful for my ordinary life.
I can only blame editors for the tone of the book which presents many of the horrible things she went through kind of ... in passing. eg. and then when I was at a party the adults gave me drugs. These things that happened were truly traumatic. They don't have to be described in detail, but they need more pause, more thought, more reflection, otherwise the reader is left reeling and having to process someone else's trauma in their own muddled mind.
The other thing that makes it difficult to read is that her recovery at the end does not get enough press. After going through this awful life with a celebrity who we probably envied, we want to know how she made it through. We want to know what that struggle was like, and why it worked for her. And we don't get much, so again we are left to process by ourselves. If a publisher is going to put a book out that deals with addiction and abuse, there is a responsibility to provide the reader with some resolution.
So the only thing that I felt I benefitted from in reading this book was the realization that being the child of a celebrity may put you on track for early success but that is meaningless when no one is there for you. It makes me grateful for my ordinary life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Body shaming, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Misogyny
tomaind's review against another edition
4.0
A very sad and disturbing book on the life of Tatum O'Neal. The O'Neal Family has to be one of the most screwed up families in Hollywood history. Her parents should have never been allowed to have children. Then Tatum ends up marrying John McEnroe, who treats her pretty much the same way her father did. Hopefully, her three children will be able to break the history of drug & physical abuse that her family has dealt with. I hope that Tatum can stay clean. She was always one of my favorites growing up since "The Bad News Bears" & "Little Darlings" were two of my favorite movies.
daydreamangel18's review against another edition
4.0
Tatum's memoir is a fascinating read recounting the tumultuous life of the youngest Oscar winner in history. She let us glimpses into the dark and shady side of a few famous people's personality and behavior, particularly accounts of the physical and verbal abuses from her father and ex-husband (Now I understand a part of why Ryan O'Neal's career took a nosedive, whereas his contemporaries in Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson both attained legendary statuses). She also talked about her drug addiction - something that had plagued most of her family members, coupled with her self-loathing ultimately led to the loss of her custody of her three children. Her story at the time of the writing ended on a positive note - reuniting with her kids after overcoming the worst of her addiction and I hope today, she still counts herself as a survivor and a woman of strength.
soulkissed2003's review against another edition
3.0
I remember actress Tatum O'Neal best from her roles in "The Bad News Bears" and "International Velvet". I picked up a copy of this memoir from either a freebie shelf or a ten cent paperback sale at a local library book sale. The book itself isn't bad, but Tatum's story is rather sad.
She speaks about her abusive childhood, with parents who were too self-absorbed to actually be there for their kids, let alone provide a safe environment for them. She was exposed to neglect, sex and drugs at a very young age, and herself has fought a long history of addiction as a result. I got the vibe that she wasn't always being candid in her recounting; she isn't someone I would trust if I met her.
Supposedly she's been clean for some years now; I certainly hope that's true, for her sake. And for her kids' sake. I hope she has found herself and found some peace.
She speaks about her abusive childhood, with parents who were too self-absorbed to actually be there for their kids, let alone provide a safe environment for them. She was exposed to neglect, sex and drugs at a very young age, and herself has fought a long history of addiction as a result. I got the vibe that she wasn't always being candid in her recounting; she isn't someone I would trust if I met her.
Supposedly she's been clean for some years now; I certainly hope that's true, for her sake. And for her kids' sake. I hope she has found herself and found some peace.
msmandrake's review against another edition
3.0
I read this the first time when it came out in 2004 but on a re-read I was surprised by much I had remembered. I mean, it's memorable. If Hayley Mill's autobiography was a little too tame, this is the cure, it will have your hair standing on end. (She did write a follow up, which I have not read.)
Too bad Ryan O'Neal ended up tanking his own career by being such a jerk; These-Kids-Today probably have no idea what a big star he was for a time. (My sister had a Ryan O'Neal poster on her closet door, little did we know....)
Too bad Ryan O'Neal ended up tanking his own career by being such a jerk; These-Kids-Today probably have no idea what a big star he was for a time. (My sister had a Ryan O'Neal poster on her closet door, little did we know....)
serena704's review against another edition
3.0
My heart went out to Tatum O'Neal while reading this. She came from a broken home and pretty much grew up without someone who had her back. Her father was verbally abusive (I hated him while reading this) and she went on to marry John McEnroe who was verbally abusive. One thing I learned while reading this is that Ryan O'neal and Diana Ross dated, never knew that. Tatum also spills some juicy celebrity tea one being about Melanie Griffith. Tatum went into detail about her drug use and her road to recovery. A real solid read that kept me rooting for her and shaking my head at some of the people in her life.
taraddonai's review
3.0
Woe is me... I need a pity party... Basically what the book book boiled down to for me..
nickikendall's review
4.0
A look behind her hollywood image into the real Tatum's life her ups her downs her relationship with her father Ryan and Ex husband John McEnroe
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