Happy Days

by Shana Alexander

The writer and former commentator on 60 Minutes chronicles the long, eccentric marriage of her talented parents, whose disparate tastes and interests made them lead separate lives, and traces her own troubled marriage and successful career. 35,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

386 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Marilyn Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Knew

I picked up this book out of boredom. All I knew of Shana Alexander was some old SNL satire and her segments of Point/Counterpoint on CBS long ago. Her personal and family history illuminate parts of the last century, particularly the popular music and entertainment arenas, and the aching, unsatisfying family life resolves into acceptance near the end. Well-written and it kept the boredom at bay.

[Janet Wolkoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another extraordinary life written by an extraordinary writer. For the few days I spent gobbling up this book, I was part of Shana Alexander’s life which was lived at the vortex of American culture from the time she was born in 1928 until the time she died in 2005 at age 79.
My generation probably remembers Shana best as the liberal voice debating Kirkpatrick at the end of 60 minutes, and as that “ignorant slut” as parodied so hilariously by Saturday Night Live. As a writer and journalist, I also remembered her as a Life magazine writer and the author of best/ selling books about Patti Hearst and Jean Harris, the scorned lover who murdered the Scarsdale Diet Doctor.
It was interesting in the book to learn how Shana came to pick her topics or how they came to find her. The enormous engine of her drive to work and succeed is chronicled by the productivity of her output. She was absorbed in and fascinated by her work as well as needing the income to support her second, underemployed husband ( later divorced) and their adopted daughter. Writing longer works was honestly portrayed as agony
Most interesting and the heart of the work, is her family life with her famous parents and then her struggles as an adult to have a satisfying relationship with them, her husbands, daughter, lovers and friends.
The scope of the book— as her life—was wide and deep. Her father, Milton Ager was the composer of Happy Days are Here Again and Ain’t She Sweet, along with

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shana Alexander spent much of her life trying to dissect her parent's relationship and figure out how she and her sister, Laurel, fit into the family. Milton and Cecelia married in 1922 and each had very successful careers. He was a famous songwriter--"Ain't She Sweet", "Happy Days are Here Again" etc.--and she was a respected movie critic and columnist in New York City. But they were complete emotional opposites. They lived in different areas of their apartment, had different schedules and timetables, took separate vacations, and had separate friends. The only time that the entire family was together on a regular basis was when they went out to dinner every Friday night in Manhatten. Shana's life was shaped by this emotional minefield and she examines her life within its context. Slow in parts, but worth reading.

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : Happy Days: My Mother, My Father, My Sister & Me - Nevisande : Shana Alexander - ISBN : - ISBN13 : - Dar 300 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1995

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a good 50 pages to become interested in the story.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too happy in the way I read it, but interesting stories about creative people.

[Margaux Laskey · Rating 2 out of 5]

i found it so boring, i didn't finish it. rare for me.

[Virginia Klinkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable memoir

I am familiar with Shana Alexander's books and remember her on Point/Counterpoint. I didn't know anything about her. Her memoir of her parents and her own ups and downs was very interesting. I enjoyed it very much.

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring!