Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.99 You Save: $25.96 (96%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Home: A Memoir of My Early Years
Book Review: "Somewhere in her youth, she must have done something good"
Summary: 5 Stars
By now, most everyone who wishes to read this book knows many of the details. But to me, there are two extraordinary things that have become obvious about Dame Julie. First, she writes this book much like she speaks. It's as if she were reading it to me in her own special style. Refined, and with a well developed grasp of the English language. And yet, she has had virtually little, if any, formal education. Her mother put a halt to her tutoring by the age of 14, and she may have received an education that is barely the equivalent of junior high school! How did she manage that? Secondly, after reading about the performances for The Boy Friend, My Fair Lady, Cinderella, and Camelot, it is clear she had a work ethic that approached Herculean stature. Wow!! She has openly admitted that she wondered how she managed to get through it all. Sony Pictures has recently committed to do a film remake of My Fair Lady. The only rightful choice for the role of Henry Higgins' mother is Dame Julie. There are only two scenes for this role, and the last line for her is: "Bravo, Eliza!" Now, fellow Dame Julie admirers, wouldn't that just be ...."Loverly"? And do read this book.Book Review: June Nolen author of In Reverse Time
Summary: 5 Stars
I share my love and admiration of Julie Andrews with millions. We all loved Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and Victor Victoria. The music from those movies stays with me and I find myself humming My Favorite Things when I'm scared. Her early years were difficult to say the least but was a great contribution to honing her craft. I listened to her beautiful voice on the radio in 1962, still in high school, while I did the supper dishes. I remember hearing her name but at that time didn't really know who she was. Only that she was from England.
She is so versatile and her precise lovely manners always come across. Watching her in a skit with Carol Burnett brings out a different part of her. One that we all can relate to. Her stories of growing up give us just that. I throughly enjoyed this book, getting to know Ms. Andrews a little better; and even though I may never see her in person, she's a real person to me and not just a character in a film. And that's meant to be a compliment. I wish her the best in anything and everything she wishes.
Book Review: Why We Love Julie
Summary: 5 Stars
After spending two hours in line to get her to autograph my copy of this book, I was hoping it was worth reading. And it was. It only reinforced the reasons I have always admired Julie Andrews. She was honest about her not-so-auspicious childhood and never resorted to "artistic temperment" to defend herself for her failings. She was gracious to all the people she mentioned, including her step-father. She defended him for his contribution to her career without denying the reasons she had for sometimes disliking him.
Her humility, warmth and sensitivity should be a lesson to all those who are in her profession. But sadly, many celebrities revel in their own mediocrity and ego and learn NOTHING about honesty within themselves. Julie Andrews proved that celebrity and talent are gifts to be shared with the public with generosity and humility, NOT an entitlement used to fool and abuse an unsuspecting public. I have admired her for 40 years, and will continue to do so for another 40.
Book Review: Delightful!
Summary: 5 Stars
I very much enjoyed this memoir! I was fascinated by Julie's childhood, especially by her memories during WWII, her amazing relationship with her *true* father, and her intricate vocal training/subsequent concert and theater performances. I loved reading about the progression of her friendship and marriage to Tony and about her experiences throughout her auditions/performances in The Boy Friend, My Fair Lady, the Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella television special, Camelot, and her concert specials with Carol Burnett. The two sections of beautiful black and white photos that accompanied the reading were wonderful! Finally, I was so excited by the ending pages, in which she, Tony, and their new baby Emma were off to begin a new journey together with Walt Disney in a film called Mary Poppins. I truly hope that she'll write another book to follow this one, beginning exactly where she left off. This was delightful!Book Review: Surprising memoir
Summary: 5 Stars
The perfect upper crust image that many have of Julie Andrews is blown out of the water by this well-written, detailed memoir of her far-from-classy beginnings. Many will be surprised that she was raised in something very close to poverty in a family that was often torn apart by drink and infidelity. Along the way, however, she was loved enough to become a tender, grounded person capable of using her amazing voice and dramatic talent to thrill the world. The stories of her childhood are fascinating and every theater fan will relish her memories of her extraordinary Broadway years. The book ends just as she's about to begin filming "Mary Poppins."
Please hurry with the rest of the story, Miss Andrews! Even though I've followed your movie career from Day One, I'm still waiting with happy anticipations to read all about it in your own well-chosen words.