Too Much, Too Soon

by Diana Barrymore, Gerold Frank

An awe inspiring and thought provoking book!

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction

287 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barrymore was a really interesting member of the Barrymore family. She was reared to be a society princess by a cold and demanding mother and hardly knew her famous father, John. She was rude and haughty to people and mostly a drunk. She had all sorts of opportunities as an actor because of her name and squandered them with drinking and pill taking. Diana seemed to have no moral compass and no regard for the consequences of her actions. At the end of the book she goes into a rehab and comes out sober and yet "drinking a little". One wonders how long that lasted. She did, however, conclude that she had now come to understand herself a bit. She was the aunt of Drew Barrymore and one can only be glad the Drew did not take the same route as her aunt, her father, and many of the other Barrymores. Go Drew!!!!!

[Danny Kroha · Rating 5 out of 5]

No happy ending here, but a well told story.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that has sat on my shelf for years--honest. Published in 1957, Diana Barrymore (daughter of actor John Barrymore and poet Michael Strange) tells her life story. With an errant father and eccentric mother, it is no wonder that she grew up to become a very troubled woman. As a youngster, she rarely saw her father or her famous Aunt Ethel and Uncle Lionel. The name 'Barrymore' opened many doors for her, however, and it seems she did have talent, but she also had a taste for alcohol and surrounded herself with abusive men who wanted nothing more than to share her bed and a drink-not necessarily in that order. Often staggering on stage and slurring her lines, she ultimately hit rock bottom when she couldn't find a job. When work finally did come her way, she swore she wouldn't drink, but she always managed to do it anyway, jeopardizing what might have been a successful career . Although, she ended her story on a positive note, looking forward to the future, she died three years later at the age of 38. A very sad ending to a very sad story. A movie was made in 1958 based on the book and starred Errol Flynn as John Barrymore.

[IreneS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the fence about reading this book, but its well written. I felt as if I was teleported back to the days of old Hollywood. (That said... it was coauthored. I don't think Barrymore wrote the book, and certainly didn't write it herself).

Barrymore isn't the most likeable character, she's actually more like a drunken catty snob, a child of privilege but becomes introspective regarding her actions and grows in the book. Sadly she came to a sad end shortly after the book was written.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life of Diana Barrymoore. Great Book and pretty good movie too.

[Mary Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I start reading biographies, I try to read as many in the same family as I can. The original Barrymores, starting with Ethel, Lionel and John, the profile, were amazing. But as so many artistic and talented families, they too fell into sex , drugs and mental illness. Poor Diana longed for a family of her own. Not one she had to share. Some people come away from this book either hating her for throwing everything she was given away, or pitying her for having to share.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written very well. I really felt for Diana and her trying to find her way in the world. It's so sad that she passed only 2 years after this book was published.

Alcoholism doesn't discriminate. The book showed the slow progression of Diana's drinking, from socially (and perhaps consuming more than what is considered "normal"), to it completely taking over her life.

[Rick Mceachern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading the book. The story is unfortunate and I am aware of what became of the author. It was an interesting view into a type of privilege at a particular time.

[MaryAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too Much, Too Soon by Dianna Barrymore was published in 1957. I do not know when or why I read it, but it was most definitely not in 1957. I remember being enthralled when I read it, no longer recall why, except that at the time, I was young and naive. Did I even know who the Barrymores were?

The answer is lost in time. I am making up a read date, today, September 10, 2022.