[06U]≡ Download Gratis My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business A Memoir Dick Van Dyke 9780307592231 Books

My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business A Memoir Dick Van Dyke 9780307592231 Books

Download As PDF : My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business A Memoir Dick Van Dyke 9780307592231 Books

My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business A Memoir Dick Van Dyke 9780307592231 Books

The author says in the introduction not to expect any "dirt." Didn't think much about it at the time, but having finished the book I'm wondering if he and I have different definitions of the word.

I've never seen any of his movies and never watched any of his subsequent TV shows, but I loved "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and I agree with him that it was a rare combination of writing talent and brilliant casting. It's part of American social history and deservedly so.

I was interested in his stories of his life in the entertainment industry. Although he avoids overt criticism, he's a shrewd observer of what goes into the making of television and movies. He tends to focus on those whom he can praise, but he says a lot with what he doesn't say. Entertainment is a tough business and it's impossible to say why some people "make it" and others don't. I suspect it's less talent than persistence, but that's true of everything, isn't it?

If he's guarded in talking about his professional life, he's a clam when he talks about his personal life. Of course, even a celebrity has a right to privacy, but a memoir is supposed to be about the person who writes it. He starts out with a frank discussion of the fact that he was conceived out of wedlock, but that's one of the few times I felt he was leveling with his reader. And, let's face it, premarital sex isn't likely to raise many eyebrows now.

His sole comment about his wife's miscarriage of her first pregnancy is an off-hand remark that everything happens for a reason. On the other hand, his story of the show-biz chimp who was abused by his trainer and then abandoned in a zoo when he was no longer a meal ticket is one of the most poignant, heart-felt things I've ever read. I found it fascinating that he was willing to show his emotional side when discussing an animal, but not when talking about his loved ones.

I don't think his caginess is a conscious effort to protect himself. He's blunt about his struggle with alcoholism and it makes for absorbing reading. Every alcoholic's story is unique, but the same. He's open about the tragedy of his 14-year-old granddaughter's death and it's inevitable effects on him and his family. His deep conviction that he has a responsibility to "go public" with matters that might help others is note-worthy and commendable.

Although he maintained a squeaky-clean public image, his long-term marriage to his childhood sweetheart ended in a Hollywood cliche - the successful husband leaving his ageing wife for a younger, more glamorous woman. He stresses that he provided for his first wife financially and that he remained close to his children and grandchildren from that marriage. I think he's right to be proud of those things.

I was interested in his relationship with Michelle Triola of the famous "palimony" law suit. He paints a much more nuanced picture of a woman whom the press portrayed as a greedy, vindictive bitch. Even there, the story has some strange gaps and inconsistencies. Michelle lost her $3.6 million community property suit against Lee Marvin, but was awarded a $104,000 judgement which was later reversed. He claims she was devastated because she saw herself as representing women who've been used and tossed aside. He says that the money itself was never an issue, but he gave her $104,000 of his money (a move to which his wife understandably objected.) Seems an odd way to show support if the money wasn't really an object for her.

I got this book as a Daily Deal and was thrilled to be able to buy it for $2. It's a fun read and chock fill of entertaining stories. Van Dyke himself comes across as an intelligent, thoughtful, likable man, although not perfect. However, as a memoir it falls short because of his unwillingness to dig deep and reveal himself. That's not dirt, Dick. It's an autobiography.


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My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business A Memoir Dick Van Dyke 9780307592231 Books Reviews

This book is obviously for fans. There’s not much dirt. Dick Van Dyke is optimistic, kind, and modest throughout. He humbly credits his long successful career to luck though he’s clearly extremely talented. He talks openly of his alcohol issues and the difficult decision to leave his long marriage for another woman. Yet, he always comes across as honest, kind, generous, and happy. He decided early on to keep his career kid friendly. He started out in comedy; then learned to sing and dance and do dramatic roles. I loved his first show and had a major crush on him. I thought he was the perfect man amiable, funny, honest, and sincere. He says he was playing himself. He worked with some wonderful and talented people and so did they.
Don't get me wrong...I grew up when "The Dick Van Dyke" was the funniest show on television. I really, really wanted to like this book but found myself skimming major chunks of the simply because it read more like diary entries than the story of his "life." I think were I not such a huge fan of his I would have given it two stars. Very few people can write believable criticism of themselves and Van Dyke is no exception. His rationalization of his affair with Lee Marvin's "ex" was a bit much and anyone who remembers her lawsuit remembers her coming across as money-grubbing rather than the victim she attempted to portray herself as. She came across as a little too perfect and he came across as a bit too much of an Everyman humanitarian, interested only in the betterment of mankind. Even his concerns about the civil rights movement made him sound pompous rather than caring. All-in-all, a huge disappointment.
I wasn't a big fan of Dick Van Dyke and yet, I found his story to be interesting and told with a smile. This man is probably a better man than actor and I would say he has given meaning to his life in a way others could never do. I would be very happy to make his acquaintance after reading his story. I think he would be most entertaining and leave me smiling. Just as his book did!
As memoirs go, Dick covers it all from birth.

Based on the conversational tone, I'm assuming he dictated much, if not all, of the book. There are places where, as an editor, I would have trimmed and snipped a bit...and other places I would have had him go further in-depth. For instance, while I came away feeling he was proud of the work he did with Mary Tyler Moore on 39 episodes a year for five or six years, and in spite of the fact they shared an on-screen chemistry unlike any TV show before or since, he seemed more passionate about his relationships with Carl Reiner, Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie. Even Jerry Paris got more props than Mary.

I'm not a Hollywood gossip hound. Perhaps there is/was some animosity between them unknown to me...perhaps he was being diplomatic. I came away feeling he had tossed her from his Christmas card list many years ago. And unfortunately, this book reveals little.

Dick comes off as a really nice guy who is pretty darn honest about his human faults and weaknesses. He is fairly honest about his alcoholism, but like most addicts, I felt he probably took some liberties with the truth. (This is a memoir, not a confessional.) And when I say he is a nice guy, he seems deeply devoted to family and friends...and appears to go out of his way not to say a bad thing about anybody in a town famous for eating its young. You'd think after almost 70 years in show biz, he'd want to get in one last shot at somebody!

Now into his 90s, sounding hale and hearty, I began to wonder if Dick Van Dyke will live forever. After watching a few episodes of his classic show on Hulu last weekend, I'm convinced he will.

Dick...if you're reading this...thank you for helping the world put on a happy face. You are a treasure!
The author says in the introduction not to expect any "dirt." Didn't think much about it at the time, but having finished the book I'm wondering if he and I have different definitions of the word.

I've never seen any of his movies and never watched any of his subsequent TV shows, but I loved "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and I agree with him that it was a rare combination of writing talent and brilliant casting. It's part of American social history and deservedly so.

I was interested in his stories of his life in the entertainment industry. Although he avoids overt criticism, he's a shrewd observer of what goes into the making of television and movies. He tends to focus on those whom he can praise, but he says a lot with what he doesn't say. Entertainment is a tough business and it's impossible to say why some people "make it" and others don't. I suspect it's less talent than persistence, but that's true of everything, isn't it?

If he's guarded in talking about his professional life, he's a clam when he talks about his personal life. Of course, even a celebrity has a right to privacy, but a memoir is supposed to be about the person who writes it. He starts out with a frank discussion of the fact that he was conceived out of wedlock, but that's one of the few times I felt he was leveling with his reader. And, let's face it, premarital sex isn't likely to raise many eyebrows now.

His sole comment about his wife's miscarriage of her first pregnancy is an off-hand remark that everything happens for a reason. On the other hand, his story of the show-biz chimp who was abused by his trainer and then abandoned in a zoo when he was no longer a meal ticket is one of the most poignant, heart-felt things I've ever read. I found it fascinating that he was willing to show his emotional side when discussing an animal, but not when talking about his loved ones.

I don't think his caginess is a conscious effort to protect himself. He's blunt about his struggle with alcoholism and it makes for absorbing reading. Every alcoholic's story is unique, but the same. He's open about the tragedy of his 14-year-old granddaughter's death and it's inevitable effects on him and his family. His deep conviction that he has a responsibility to "go public" with matters that might help others is note-worthy and commendable.

Although he maintained a squeaky-clean public image, his long-term marriage to his childhood sweetheart ended in a Hollywood cliche - the successful husband leaving his ageing wife for a younger, more glamorous woman. He stresses that he provided for his first wife financially and that he remained close to his children and grandchildren from that marriage. I think he's right to be proud of those things.

I was interested in his relationship with Michelle Triola of the famous "palimony" law suit. He paints a much more nuanced picture of a woman whom the press portrayed as a greedy, vindictive bitch. Even there, the story has some strange gaps and inconsistencies. Michelle lost her $3.6 million community property suit against Lee Marvin, but was awarded a $104,000 judgement which was later reversed. He claims she was devastated because she saw herself as representing women who've been used and tossed aside. He says that the money itself was never an issue, but he gave her $104,000 of his money (a move to which his wife understandably objected.) Seems an odd way to show support if the money wasn't really an object for her.

I got this book as a Daily Deal and was thrilled to be able to buy it for $2. It's a fun read and chock fill of entertaining stories. Van Dyke himself comes across as an intelligent, thoughtful, likable man, although not perfect. However, as a memoir it falls short because of his unwillingness to dig deep and reveal himself. That's not dirt, Dick. It's an autobiography.