Choices - Uncorrected Proof

by Liv Ullmann

With the publication of CHANGING in 1977, Liv Ullmann the actress became - through her subtly powerful and beautifully written book - Liv Ullmann the woman, whose private self has touched and inspired thousand of readers. Now, in CHOICES, she continues her story and reveals her most personal thoughts and feelings about her stage and film work, about being in love, about her daughter, about entering middle age - and about a turning point in her life.

Describing her travels as UNICEF's Ambassador of Good Will (the first woman ever to hold the title) from Cambodia to Ethiopia, from Manila to Ecuador, she vividly and movingly recalls the stories and lives of the people she encounters. She examines, too, the profound changes within her as she begins to understand how important the element of choice is in life - the deprived children of the world have none - and how she has denied herself the 'essence of what it is to be human' be always living up to someone else's image of her as an actress, a wife or lover, a mother, or a public figure.
At last her true self can emerge.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Scandinavian Literature, Biography Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Liv Johanne Ullmann (born 16 December 1938) is a Norwegian actress and film director, as well as one of the muses of the Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. A winner of a Golden Globe and a recipient of an honorary Academy Award, Ullmann has also been nominated for both the Palme d'Or and twice for other Academy Awards and a BAFTA Award.

Reviews

[Quân Nguyễn]

reading Liv Ullmann feels like entering a dream

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as great a Hollywood memoir as Ullmann's earlier tome, "CHANGING," and it's true what Jenelle says: I just can't get past the cover with the '80s Jane Fonda hair. I felt so embarrassed reading this on my plane to Portland, but I got over it. Liv is lovely -- a great writer, a very sentimental woman, super respectful of love and lost and her emotions. What a girl!

[Marwa Eletriby · Rating 3 out of 5]

«أنا لا أسعى إلى تغيير العالم. بل إني لا أفهم ما الذي سيغير العالم. كل ما أعرف هو أننا جميعًا نخلف وراءنا بعض الآثار، على الرغم من أن مراحل رحلاتنا مختلفة.»

ولطيف ويمس القلب

[Marwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ولكن ضمن هذا الإطار لديّ خيارات، وأنا أوصف بالطريقة التي أصنّف بها تلك الخيارات أو أهمل صنعها.
غالباً ما تمنيت لو أبدأ من جديد، وأعود طفلة، وأحيي من كنت عليه حينئذٍ وما أردت أن أكون. غالباً ما تمنيت أن أكتشف من جديد في داخلي الفتاة البريئة والممتلئة بالمعرفة قبل أن يُعلّمني حقائق الحياة.
في أثناء بحثي عن مرآتي الضائعة، خرجتُ من الباب. وفي ذلك الوقت اعتقدت أنني أبحث عن هدف، لكنني عثرت بدل ذلك على معنى الاختبار. لم أكن أعلم هذا عندما خرجتُ من الباب، وكان جزءٌ من رحلتي قد أصبح خلفي."

-ليف اولمن

[Majdahalmazroei · Rating 4 out of 5]

خيارات، للممثلة النرويجية (ليف أولمن) هو امتدادًا لكتابها أتغير، تصف فيه حياتها كإنسانة أولًا وكأم وكممثلة، (ليف أولمن) شخصية مرهفة الحس، كما يبدو من سيرتها، تشعر أنها تفعل خلاف ما تريد، تعيش صراعًا بين ما تريده وما تعيشه وتود أن تعيش الحياة كما تحب..
الحياة عبارة عن خيارات، والمرء يحتاج للقوة لكي يختار ما يريد..
كان لها تجربة واسعة مع منظمات الإغاثة كتبت عنها هنا، حيث ذهبت للهند وأثيوبيا، وكمبوديا وغيرها، وشاهدت هناك الفقر والعوز والحرمان من أبسط مقومات الحياة، والكثير من المشاعر الإنسانية الفياضة..
ليف أولمن كما في كتابها السابق (أتغير) تكتب بعفوية وهي ما مميزت كتابيها..
١٧٩ صفحة

[عائشة · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب الأخير الذي قرأته لهذا العام كان كتاب خيارات للممثلة والمخرجة النرويجية ليڤ أولمن. فكتبت مراجعة مزدوجة لكتابيها (اتغيّر وخيارات) لأنهما من أجمل ما قرأت في كتب السير الذاتية.

ليڤ وأسئلتها التي لا تنتهي حول الحياة والإنسان والغاية من الوجود. تقدّم في الكتابين تجربة حقيقية وصادقة وعميقة عن رغبة الإنسان في البحث ومعرفة نفسه.

تكشف للقارئ عن إحساسها المرهف والإنسانة داخلها التي جعلتها تسأل ماذا سأقول حين اقترب من الموت.. لقد مثّلت؟ مما يجعل القارئ يتساءل: هل نعيش حقاً أم نُعاش؟

المراجعة بالطبع بدون حرق للكتب، وشاركت فيها بعض الاقتباسات التي أعجبتني من الكتابين.

https://wp.me/paB9hW-Er

[Maha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"لا أستطيع أنْ أكشف عمّا في داخلي – كل التناقضات، وكل الخوف والأحلام والآمال المُحبَطة التي تغلف جوهري، كل الخيارات التي فشلت في صنعها، وكل الأوجه، والألوان، والآلام، والسعادة المتصارعة – التي تشكّل كياني."
كتاب قريب إلى قلبي🤍

[BLRBrazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very different to the usual biographical fare, taking us on a journey exploring her emotional life and thereby obliquely portraying out her evolution as a person.
It has been a long time since I was inspired to insert highlighting and annotations in a book.
There are a lot of fascinating insights into 'the meaning of life' as Liv throws herself into the task of trying to find solutions for the refugee problems that were already rampaging across the world (but before it turned into a developing to developed country migratory flood), while also trying to balance that with raising a teenage daughter and seeking love in her private life.
I think as a result of this intermingling she was able to delve deeper into the true meaning of love and was learning to embrace it fully. She certainly has a generous gift for giving - mainly of herself - and is clearly intelligent, although she admits herself she is more focused on feelings than on facts or ideas (indeed blinkered ideology has become one of the biggest threats to human society nowadays, so that's probably a healthy thing on her part).
The only reason I haven't given this 4 stars is because it seemed to fade a bit towards the end, but by that time she had planted plenty of precious seeds for further study and learning and I had the feeling there was more to come from her also.
I am interested in reading her previous book "Changing" (oddly, it's actually called "Changes" in my copy of "Choices", which fits the title format) and even more so anything that may have followed this one. I shall check that out.

[Eniko Rozsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read it in 1985 when it was published and now re-read it on our trip home. It is a very powerful description on choices woman make in order to follow their calling be it in their professional life or in the charity humanitarian work they are able to do. Even if their surroundings my not agree with the choices or expect different path.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flawless execution of the search for meaning in one's life. Liv is so intriguing to me. I recommend this book to everyone.
"I want what I do to matter. I want to deserve survival." ~Liv

[Davide · Rating 3 out of 5]

«Non credo nell'impegno. Credo solo nell'amore.»

[Morthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rehellisentuntuinen, pohdiskeluja, elämänmuistoja ja itsetutkisteluakin sisältävä kirja, josta pidin paljon. Kirjan tekstit ja katkelmat eivät seuraa kronologista aikajärjestystä ja sen hento punainen lanka on juuri ja juuri seurattavissa kirjan eri kappaleiden, ajatusfragmenttien, muisteluiden ja pohdintojen keskeltä. Kirja ei varmastikaan ole kaikkien mieleen, mutta jos sen lukee rauhassa ja keskittyen, kirjan pohdinnoista ja kertomuksista saattaa joku löytää paljonkin ajatuksen siemeniä omille pohdinnoilleen, niinkuin itse koin saavani.

Ps. (Kirja saattaa aueta paremmin, jos on sitä ennen lukenut tai muuten tutustunut Liv Ullmannin elämään näyttelijänä tai Ingman Bergmanin ex-puolisona, esim. lukemalla ensin Ullmannin kirjan Muutos tai Ingmar Bergmanin teoksen Laterna Magica. Välttämättömiä näiden tunteminen ei ole ja Vuorovesi-kirjan voi lukea itsenäisenäkin teoksena, mutta jotkut kirjan kohdat saattavat aueta paremmin, jos on jotakin kautta oppinut tuntemaan Liv Ullmannin elämästä jotakin jo ennen tätä kirjaa.)

[Shahira alturkmani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second autobiography i read by Liv Ullmann . Her first was "Changing." This one is "Choices," .CHOICES tugs a lot more at the heartstrings, with tales of her roles as mother and lover, and her work for the poor.
Ullmann describes in quiet detail her work for UNICEF, travelling to places like Haiti and Manila. She also describes her relationship with her teenage daughter Linn, who blossoms from a sullen kid to a young woman; and an affair with a man she calls Abel, who moves to be with her, but whose love for her isn't enough. She describes working in the theatre. And finally, the then-forty-year-old Ullmann reflects on life, on time gone by, and the people she cares about.
A lovely writer, very sentimental woman .. super respectful of emotions and love
Super sensitive and inspirational with and without the flaws
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ιωάννα · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένα βιβλίο που θα μπορούσε να χαρακτηριστεί βαρετό, καθώς απουσιάζει μια σφιχτοδεμένη πλοκή.
Τα κεφάλαια μικρά, αποσπασματικά, σαν μπερδεμένα κομμάτια κάποιου μισοφτιαγμένου παζλ.
Μια αποσπασματική αυτοβιογραφία χωρίς γραμμική χρονική συνέχεια, αλλά συνειρμική αναφορά σε μικρά γεγονότα και στιγμές της ζωής.
Το ύφος εντυπωσιακά απλό και ταπεινό.
Ένα βιβλίο που υμνεί τις μικρές στιγμές της ζωής, τις περιορισμένες στιγμές που έχουμε με ανθρώπους αγαπημένους, τις στιγμές που πρέπει να υποστούμε τον χειρότερο εχθρό μας, τον βραδινό μας εγκέφαλο, και φυσικά ένα τρυφερό τραγούδι προς το παιδί που όλοι κρύβουμε μέσα μας.
Αγαπημένο, θα το ξαναδιάβαζα αμέσως μετά την ανάγνωση της τελευταίας σελίδας!

[chamomile · Rating 5 out of 5]

«أفكّر في كل الخيارات التي لم أعرفها قط، وفي تلك التي اتّخذت بالنيابة عني - إرضاءً للحب، بدافع الخوف. أين تلاشت تلك الخيارات التي لم أُقم بها؟ كلها تتشكل جزءاً من كياني. هي الإرث الذي تركته خلفي، واللوحة المكتملة لنفسي التي لا أستطيع أنْ أغيرها.»

في هذه السيرة الذاتية الثانية "خيارات" تتحدث ليف عن مشاعرها بشأن التمثيل والحب، أبنتها، ومنصبها كأول امرأة تصبح سفيرة للنوايا الحسنة لليونسيف وكيف كل هذه التجارب صقلتها كمخرجة.

تختلف عن كتابها الأول 'أتغير' التي كانت في الثلاثينات من عمرها تحدثت عن طفولتها وكونها اصبحت أم ومشاعرها اثناء التمثيل وعلاقتها العاطفية، لكن هُنا في 'خيارات' ليف في الاربعينات من عمرها التي لديها طفلة تبلغ الثالثة عشر نجد ليف المرأة المستقلة التي تختار لنفسها طرق جديدة وتجارب مختلفة تحكي يومياتها بطريقة عذبة وأسلوب شاعري جميل تنقل لنا تجاربها في التنقل بين الدول الفقيرة وكيف أثرت بها كل هذه التجارب وصنعت ماهي عليه.

[Patty_pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mi ha talmente deluso che mi sto domandando perché lo ha scritto!
Non ha né capo, né coda (almeno per me). Ricordi sparsi delle sue esperienze senza alcun filo logico, soprattutto della povertà vista in giro per il mondo in qualità di ambasciatrice UNICEF.
Qualche accenno sopra le righe al suo immenso amore per la figlia e per un amore che non mi è sembrato così amore… Per il resto… il vuoto!

[E. B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot more about her humanitarian work and even less about herself, which, okay, fine, but please tell us more about yourself soon.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liv Ullmann is obviously one of the world’s all-time greatest actors and a highly accomplished director to boot. It was no surprise to me that her writing reflects the sensitivity she’s brought to the table throughout the decades, and if this book doesn’t have quite the depth or cohesion of her first memoir, CHANGING, it’s still awfully good. Her two main focuses this time around are her lasting-way-too-long relationship with a dilettante she calls Abel, and her awakening to international rescue causes. You would think, given her film celebrity, the former topic would incite much interest and the latter much eye-rolling, but it was kind of just the opposite. Any time Abel came up, I was immediately exhausted and dying for her to send the bastard packing, and any time her heart bled for someone less fortunate than herself, her empathy seemed truly sincere, and tied into a greater theme of what kind of people are even allowed to have choices in this world. Any suspicion of her shallowness where these causes are concerned she addressed with dark, self-deprecating humor early on, but given the depth and length of her advocacy, shallowness is exactly the opposite of her problem: this is a woman who feels deeply, and is honest and passionate enough to relate all that haunts and soothes her mind in full.

[Arja Salafranca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read in this 1985 as a teenager and read it again in the late 80s. I loved the book. I had also read her first autobiography, Changing, around 1985.

The memoir explores Ullmann's work as a Unicef ambassador, her acting in plays and films, and importantly, her doomed relationship with a man she calls Abel. A relationship that runs through the book, the seam of sadness and tragedy - but we all take something from loving, even if in the end, that loving cannot save a bond between two people. There's a lyrical, dream-like structure to the prose that's pleasing to read.

When I packed up my books a year ago I wanted to reread it then, and time rushed away and I thought I'd unpack soon and revisit the book. I wasn't to know that I'd move, and then move again, and not unpack my books till now. But I think it was necessary to read the book again now, at this time in my life, rather than before. This is echoed by the quotes which resonated with me, now, at this point in my life.

p 51:
Outside there is a winter landscape illuminated by a fading light. Snow is fluttering down. It could be a magical moment. But in this landscape the lovers are strangers. For a long time they lived only for the discovery of beauty in each other, everything else in their lives was left in a state of rest. Now they are slowly waking up, and the time of rejecting and destroying what they discovered is upon them.

p 68
Abel and I. This is our second winter together.
Outside a whistling wind, throwing hard sleet against the windows, small devils tapping on our walls wanting to come in. The night surrounds us with chilling darkness.
We are still lovers, but observing us is like watching two people mostly unable to reach each other.

p 120
Memory... [My grandmother] tells me of a dog she loved that died, and how its death no longer awakens the pang of grief she used to feel. She tells me with regret that time will heal, will erase the hurt and sorrow.
I wonder why this makes her sad.

p 176
I want it to be over. But I never know how to leave. And when someone leaves me, I panic and mourn the parting as if death has come between us.
But we are living together like strangers, and we seem to destroy every action and word of the other.
Sometimes I believe the reason I cling to this destructive relationship so stubbornly is because I know that, once he has gone, I will be forced to deal with pain. Alone.

[AlessandraPr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi ero fatta altre aspettative che non sono state ripagate.