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Book Review By Sandra Calhoune
A Paper Life by Tatum O'Neal

Tatum O'Neal's autobiography paints a stark and brutal picture of the actress' early years growing up as the daughter of Hollywood actor Ryan O'Neal. The daughter of film star Ryan O'Neal and actress Joanna Moore, Tatum struggled from an early age due to the divorce of her parents and the addiction of her mother. After the divorce Tatum and her younger brother Griffin were sent to live with their mother, who was a hopeless addict. Subjected to neglect, Tatum and Griffin were barely cared for as their mother spiraled out of control and their father was busy making films all over the globe. When their mother can no longer care for the children both children are sent to boarding school, although Ryan O'Neal gives Tatum a reprieve and takes her home to live with him in Hollywood. Although Tatum at times shares a magical relationship with her father, his chaotic and temperamental moods turn ugly. When Tatum is given the role of Addie in Paper Moon (co-starring dear old dad) Ryan can barely contain his jealousy when Tatum wins accolades and an Oscar nomination. According to Tatum her father punched her in the face when he heard of her nomination. On Oscar night when Tatum was the youngest winner in history neither of her parents attended the ceremony.

Through the years living with her father Tatum recounts incidents in which she is molested, her father sleeps with her best friend, her father sleeps with numerous women and serious drug use/abuse occurs. Tatum recounts her low self esteem as a adolescent and her growing alienation from her father. She details her father's relationship with Farrah Fawcett and the major rift that began to develop with her father during that period. Tatum writes about meeting John McEnroe and about their tempestuous relationship which yielded three children. The author paints a chilling portrayal of her own addication, the destruction of her marriage, the loss of her children and the way in which she rebuilt her life.





Plot & Themes
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Kids: - drugs - molestation--unpleasant gift from Daddy - Fighting with Dad
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
United States Yes
The US: - California
Century: - 1980's-Present

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - like laughing
Graphic sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - rape/molest - - - licking - actual description of hetero sex
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Pictures/Illustrations? - A lot in color 11-15
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book
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