If they weigh you down, you will fight them off. It is then that you are called a bitch. I do not regret the dust I kicked up. Frankly and with bitter regret, Bette reports that her first husband convinced her to have an abortion, fearing that a baby would damage her career. Years later, with husband number three, Bette did at last have a child.
The Lonely Life, Bette says, refers to her resolution to live without a man in her life. After Bette had a number of career ups and downs and come-backs; she never really retired, never rested on her considerable laurels. Several other memoirs followed The Lonely Life. Bette Davis died in from breast cancer, at the age of I wondered how much of The Lonely Life was actually written by Bette herself; it did have an authentic-sounding ring to it.
Without him this book could never have been! His understanding of my reluctance to face the past was his most valuable contribution. We were collaborators in every sense of the world. His own story seems worthy of a follow-up, and my attention was caught by his obituary in the Washington Post. The Lonely Life was a fast-paced and engaging, once I found my way into the choppy rhythm of the writing style.
I particularly enjoyed the well-depicted childhood and young adulthood reminiscences. Much of the time it made sense — the names were mostly very recognizable - but occasionally I felt out of the loop. While Bette is gracious about most of the people in her life — loyalty to her chosen friends is one of her positive traits - it is obvious that there was also a substantial baggage of animosity and bitterness in some of her working and personal relationships.
The perfectionist little girl with the lofty goals did achieve her ambitious destiny. She stood up for her ideals of artistic integrity her entire career. She was literate, thoughtful and highly intelligent and articulate, and she was a darned hard worker.
Of Human Bondage film. Satan Met a Lady. So Big film. The Old Maid film. The Rich Are Always with Us. Home Groups Talk Explore Zeitgeist. If you are a fan of Bette Davis, you will love this. Mar 03, Ketti rated it really liked it Shelves: audio-read. This is the kind of book I finish and I am so delighted that I read it.
A bit too much detail at the beginning, but then I was hooked. I appreciate and admire Bette Davis more then ever. But it doesn't do much for women, though we do have an advantage: make-up. Always loved Bette Davis and this did not disappoint. Jun 29, Mr. Choppy, full of attempts at being intellectual and witty at most- this is Bette Davis spouting off opinions, the art of acting, and the first half of her professional life, the height of her career at Warner Brothers during the s and s.
The book is peppered with anecdotes and bits about Ms. Davis' struggles being a woman in a male dominated film industry, but its oddly tightly wound and conservative for a woman with so much zest and "fire and music" as she would be quoted from the immort Choppy, full of attempts at being intellectual and witty at most- this is Bette Davis spouting off opinions, the art of acting, and the first half of her professional life, the height of her career at Warner Brothers during the s and s.
Davis' struggles being a woman in a male dominated film industry, but its oddly tightly wound and conservative for a woman with so much zest and "fire and music" as she would be quoted from the immortal "All About Eve". A must read for Bette Davis fans. This first memoir is harder to find than her second one, the disjointed "This n'That"; but this one actually was written with her mind intact, thirty years before suffering the tragic series of strokes that would eventually lead her to the end.
Sep 28, Camile Doubtfire rated it it was ok. I am a huge fan of Bette Davis as an actress so I was very excited to read her Autobiography. I listened to the audio version which was around 13 hours long and did manage to finish it but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else as it was bizarrely quite dull.
It read a little more like a time line of accomplishments and list of co-stars with the odd bad review of a film, person or self thrown in every now and then without much story. There weren't many details about her life from a story telling I am a huge fan of Bette Davis as an actress so I was very excited to read her Autobiography. There weren't many details about her life from a story telling aspect which gave the impression that her life was quite empty which I couldn't imagine being true before I read the book.
I would have loved to hear about her relationships with her husbands, children, co-workers and family to get a greater understanding of Bette as a person than Bette the star, but sadly there wasn't much of that.
Well written and completely honest I thought this was a very interesting book written to share the facts concerning the illustrious career of Bette Davis. It is honest, giving her opinions and observations of a great actress who had to fight for every script and many of her characters.
She was even forced to go to court to win the right to accept work in Europe since Warner Bros. She lost the case but won the war. I liked her honesty regarding Well written and completely honest I thought this was a very interesting book written to share the facts concerning the illustrious career of Bette Davis. I liked her honesty regarding both her personal and public life. She was willing to open up regarding marriages, reasons for divorces, children and friends.
I would highly recommend this book to all of her fans and followers, or anyone contemplating becoming an actor. Feb 14, Jennifer Hunt rated it it was amazing. Reading this in the year is quite an eye opener. There were so many incredible circumstances that she had to endure that would not happen hopefully in this day and age. It's remarkable that women in the entertainment industry are just now making some headway this many years after Bette Davis's generation.
Bette was a trailblazer. She didn't take guff from anyone and for that I have an extreme amount of respect for her. Yes, she had a horrible temper and oftentimes did not express herself i Reading this in the year is quite an eye opener. Yes, she had a horrible temper and oftentimes did not express herself in a mature manner.
However, her feisty personality ensured no one walked over her. I love that she shared her stories of her relationships with her mother, her sister, her husbands, and her children. She was very candid about what she wanted out of life, both personally and professionally. I am so happy that Bette Davis took the time to tell the story of her life and fabulous acting career. I thought I knew what she was like until she shared the pain of her father's rejection. How she her mother and sister were virtually homeless until she became a successful Hollywood actress.
She suffered at times, but the greatest happiness she had was from acting and her children. I enjoyed The Lonely Life very much. Surprising that this "memoir" was written in Davis wrote much like she spoke. Blunt, self critical yet unapologetic, the force of her innate energy drives this book headlong through her early home and school life, earliest theater roles, and her early days as a contract player in studio system.
A hard book to put down Dec 08, Andy Davis rated it liked it. One of the more interesting stars of 30s and 40s cinema. The tone is honest Outside of her boundary pushing artistically with plenty of very iconic performances, her challenges to the moral and artistic wrongs of the studio system at the time and her war work are both very admirable.
Yet it is possible to read between the lines that the same brittle stubbornness was a contributing factor to her failed relationships. The figure at the end of the novel looking for continued professional acclaim and One of the more interesting stars of 30s and 40s cinema. The figure at the end of the novel looking for continued professional acclaim and estranged from a daughter following the daughter's critical memoir is a bit sad.
Acting: A lonely life Bette Davis wrote this book with audacity, bravery, and no qualms. I liked that she showed her humanity by the many mistakes she talked about as well as her victorys'. I rated it 4 stars because of the above reasons and that she was a very gutsy gal. Bette, along with a few others in her time, fought with the studio heads and directors to receive better scripts. I wish this book was twice the length because there's so much about Davis's career that I want to hear about in her own words.
She breezes past talking about her most iconic performances, which I wanted to know more about. But as an artifact of her trailblazing career, complete with her candid thoughts about marriage, relationships, raising children, and women finding fulfillment outside of the home, it's absolutely a must-read. Was not much of a Bette Davis fan until I read this book. The story of her childhood and experiences in the studio system are interesting and informative.
A definitive "independent soul" she stood up to the powers in control and did things her way. Love her or hate her, she had courage in a time when few women were willing to risk their careers to be treated with respect.
Never to be seen again Every lifetime, does one see a very special person that stirs heart and mind. For the wonderful films Ms. Davis will always be remembered. She personified all that was beautiful and precious for the Golden Age of films.
She can always be enjoyed,just by view any one of her films. Nov 05, Janine rated it really liked it. So interesting, I really enjoyed this this. Bette took on the industry to make change so she and other women where taken seriously and crappy roles would no longer be forced on them.
She seemed like a power house. Jun 23, Abbey rated it it was amazing. I've never read a biography that was this good. Bette Davis is fascinating from start to finish, and if you love learning about people, this is a highly recommended read.
No other Bette Davis book out rivals this one. Nov 27, Susan rated it liked it. Ed Sikov's bio of Bette, Dark Victory, is a great read and respectfully details her life and work. Bette's own version of her life is a bit jumpy, certainly NOT a kiss and tell, but offers many interesting observations on acting, and filmmaking in Hollywood. Her voice comes through, loud and clear! View 1 comment. There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one ». Readers also enjoyed. Biography Memoir. Media Tie In. About Bette Davis. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres; from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, though her greatest successes were romantic dramas.
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