Ruth Gordon: An Open Book

by Ruth Gordon

Ruth An Open Book

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

395 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

As well as writing plays, film scripts, and books, Ruth Gordon was an actress of stage and screen. She is perhaps best known for her return to acting later in her career with memorable roles in films such as Rosemary's Baby (1968) and Harold and Maude (1971).

She was married to Garson Kanin, with whom she wrote several screenplays.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tremendously entertaining read. You know you're in for a different autobiography experience from the get-go and the almost stream-of- conciousness approach allows her to go anywhere and the reader to get into her mind. I like the sense that she'll talk about anything at any time. She succeeds in being informative, whimsical, witty, opinionated and open-minded at the same time, inspirational, nostalgic without being mauldin, dishy without being bitchy, and over-all honest from her point of view. My only criticism would be that due to the all over the map approach to this, it's easy to set aside at times--since you're not following a time line you know you're not going to forget anything if you take a break-- but the writing is entertaining to captivate you all over again once you do resume reading. And you will want to. I never knew she was such a gifter writer with a special gift for detail, humor and character.

[BC Batcheshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

She wrote in the manner that my mind operates, very much the way I think, so her memories were a nice treasury and buffet of jewels and savories and sweets -
And I should have been reading other books, much faster, just tearing through and absorbing facts and fiction, useful information or quick entertainment -
This book reminded me that reading is for enjoyment, not annual goals or racing through to reach a certain number of books, or getting through this book and that book, and read, read, read.
Not reading something popular, or staying "woke."
Those things are all nice and important, and it's good to try.
But in the end, reading is for what I LIKE.
I really, really liked what I came away with, every time I read this book.
I felt like myself again.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruth Gordon was quite a character, and this stream-of-consciousness autobiography proves it. You can hear her quirky voice delivering advice like"Don't Face Facts" and "Don't Be Helpless." Her long and stellar career as an actress and writer is encapsulated here, along with anecdotes about her favorite friends, and plays, and clothes! Her closing lines are the best: "I wanted to be an actress in 1912, I want to be an actress today. That walk from the darkness backstage through the door or opening in the scenery where I make an entrance into the bright lights with that big dim mass out beyond, which bursts into applause, then the first terrifying sound that comes out of my throat, which they describe as a voice, but that first instant it is the siren of terror and intention and faith and hope and trust and vanity and security and insecurity and blood-curdling courage which is acting."

[Mikealbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this for a profile of this amazing and iconic actress. This memoir along with Myself Among Others and My Side are a hoot, but also they are tricky and in the end dont really reveal much. Its your typical celebrity slieght of hand. If you are wanting to get some dirt about Rosemarys Baby then look elsewhere. Its all Old Hollywood namedrops and fabulous locales... and in the end says little about hollywood - pre #MeToo, there are no admissions of how or what Ms Gordon must have gone through. Still, if you want to know where to go in 1960s/70s London, Chicago, Boston and Palm Beach, then this is your guide.

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon's third and final memoir, written in her now familiar style. If you're looking for more recent anecdotes about Harold and Maude or Every Which Way But Loose (a movie I can't seem to turn away from whenever I see it on tv), don't hold your breath. Once again, she hops around in the very, very olden days of the beginning of her career--yes, you do get to hear that she was "ever so gay as Nibs" several more times--but I'm not complaining. What a rich, full, glorious life she led.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

With MYSELF AMONG OTHERS and MY SIDE, terrific insight into the workings and mind of a fascinating woman/actor who knew everyone who mattered in the theatre of the 20s, 30s and 40s.