Patricia Neal (1926–2010)

Another book from my late mom's stash, Patricia Neal's autobiography, AS I AM (1988), was quite a compelling read. I knew the actress only from a couple of her films, THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, and HUD (for which she won an academy award). I had not known that early in her career, when she was only about 21, she had a lengthy, passionate affair with Gary Cooper. Also learned that her husband of nearly thirty years (with whom she had five children), the writer Ronald Dahl, was something of a cold-hearted bastard who cheated on her with one of their best friends. Of course there's a lot more in here, about her showbiz career on stage, screen and television; the loss of her eldest daughter at seven, from measles; as well as the crippling strokes she suffered that nearly ended her career, and how she clawed her way back from them with grit and determination. And, also interesting to me, her co-writer, Richard DeNeut, also co-wrote the autobiography of actress-turned-nun, Dolores Hart. This was a good read, often very moving. I quite enjoyed it. (Thanks, Mom.)

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER… (meer)