Pat Loud: A Woman's Story

by Pat Loud, Nora Johnson

Self Portrait by Pat Loud.

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction

213 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Hank Stuever · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on ebay after becoming fascinated by the Louds. (In my day job as Washington Post TV critic, I was reviewing the HBO movie about the Louds's experiences as the "first reality TV family" and I acquired a set of all the episodes of the original "An American Family," which was so much more fascinating than the movie.)

This book is like a time capsule that is buried _next_ to the time capsule everyone knows about. As such, it's a window into the quickie memoir circa 1975 and a woman struggling to make her story fit into the prevailing story of women's liberation and divorced families, etc. When really what she's writing about -- exploring -- is ideas of instant fame. Quite the artifact. Here's to Pat, still alive at 85, and interesting enough, reunited with Bill, who is 90.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself googling the real life characters of "Cinema Verite", wanting to know more and more about how America's first reality show functioned. During my loose research, I came across this book. Fascinating. I enjoyed reading Pat Loud's account of the filming of cinéma vérité or "An American Family" for PBS. Pat Loud, our title subject and admittedly flawed matriarch, told the story of the filming process, the aftermath from critics and the American public, her divorce, and eventual emotional rebirth. She is witty and self defeating, yet hopeful. I found myself rooting for her and frankly, wanting to give her a hug. She's not perfect, but she loved her 5 children unconditionally. During a time when having a gay son was controversial, she accepted him. Great read and would recommend to all.

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

God bless Pat Loud, Greatest Generation on the cusp of the Silent Generation, declaring herself “too old for feminism,” for charging ahead and living the live she lived after she wrote this book. A must read for anyone who combs the internet and watches An American Family, for her vomiting her feelings on the page about Bill Loud and Craig Gilbert, and the series that changed her life.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 3 out of 5]

An as-told-to ghostwritten by the woman who wrote "The World of Henry Orient". An interesting look at the cohort before my parent's cohort, i.e. those who became adults around WW II). I never saw "An American Family", but I thought this was worth reading.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat's family was involved in the first reality tv show in the early 70s, set in Santa Barbara. This is a memoir of her life before, during, and after the show.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat Loud went through a significant trauma with the filming and subsequent release of 'An American Family.' Her mairrage and divorce were the main topic and her experience there, although not at all like mine, was somehow similar to mine too. Her writing is totally stream of thought throughout the book and was difficult to get into in the beginning but is what ultimately drove me through it to the end. I read this because I saw "Cinema Verite" and was totally surprised about the fact this was a reality show actually done in the 70s. It is a good read and one that, as I stated above, drags you into it and pulls you through to the end. You are left wondering what she ultimately ends up doing, so now I have more research to do...

[Dottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watched the TV series An American Family. Marveled at that and the outcome of it. Read this and marveled at the strength of the woman who went through that series and the outcome and where she'd gone since. Watched the news items on the various family members thereafter and mourned with her when Lance died of AIDS. What a concept for a program. And no, it wasn't reality TV as it is now known.

[Heather Demetrios · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting insight into what we know as the first reality TV family. Her voice is engaging and she's very frank and perceptive about her experiences. It helped me a lot with my book because it gave me a lot of insight into the mother's perspective - what could convince someone to put their family on TV? The HBO film (Cinema Verite) that chronicles the Loud's experiences is excellent. I'm glad I saw it first and then read this.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, sometimes her voice gets a bit cloying. But for the most part the style is very engaging and imaginative. And her line about "I always thought that being honest would be enough" was quite poignant. I've read this book 3 times now, and loved it more and more each time.

[patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect supplement to "An American Family" experience. I wish she would write a sequel.