| Tatum O'Neal was only 10 when she won an Oscar for her performance in A Paper Moon, which co-starred her father Ryan O'Neal. A beautiful child, she seemed to have it all, living in Hollywood and being a movie star. But as this book reveals her life was from from lovely. Tatum O'Neal's mother, the actress Joanna Moore, was an insecure woman who seems to have spent most of her time on her appearance (don't miss the photos of her in a wig with false eyelashes). Both she and Ryan O'Neal were neglectful parents. After they divorced, Ryan O'Neal would have a series of famous girlfriends. According to Tatum, he would become outright abusive to her.
In one of the most heartbreaking moments in this really rather matter-of-fact book, Ms. O'Neal reveals that she attended the 1973 Oscars alone. Neither of her parents could be bothered to come see her win her award. In the years that followed, she would keep acting. But her life was falling apart. She began to use drugs heavily. This book really deals with just two parts of Ms. O'Neal's life - her childhood and her romance and marriage to John McEnroe. Her descriptions of life with the stressed and controlling McEnroe are as grim as the descriptions of her childhood. The details of their divorce made me shudder. | ||
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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? - 2 () United States Yes The US: - California City? Yes City: - New York Century: - 1980's-Present Writing Style Book makes you feel? - concerned Pictures/Illustrations? - A lot 11-15 B&W How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book |
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