Sandy Dennis: A Personal Memoir

by Sandy Dennis, Louise Ladd, Doug Taylor

This remarkable memoir by Sandy Dennis reflects a true poet's soul in the face of life and death. Touching lightly on the theater and glamour, she instead spins highly personal tales from her childhood and adult life, with moments that move from laughter to tears. The actress won an Academy Award for Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf and two Tony awards for her work on stage. 23 photos.

Genres: Memoir

96 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I checked this book out from my library, I expected to find a bunch of quirky, eccentric phrases and anecdotes. But what I discovered was a very rational, calm voice. Written during her fight with ovarian cancer, this memoir gave me a few chuckles (the lady had 40 cats in her home) and also moved me, as she admitted her fear of dying, her peace through the illness, and the loves of her life. This quirky lady wrote very well.

[Kalen]

I picked this up because she is a wonderful actress with such strange rhythms -- I was hoping for an odd memoir. But instead, this was actually a beautifully written little book about the end of life.

[Amy Doan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Sandy Dennis (esp in The Four Seasons - that boa constrictor line is iconic) and was so happy to find this on a used book shelf in Powell’s. As unique and memorable as her performances. Sorry we lost her too soon.

[John Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely little book, very touching and beautifully written, made all the more poignant by the knowledge that while writing this, Ms. Dennis was dealing with the cancer that would eventually take her life. It's a very warm, intimate look at her life and of the cats who were her companions. I found myself feeling such peace as I read each page, almost as though I was sitting with Ms. Dennis as she talked some of her childhood and then of her adult life. It's very poetic as she talked about nature, light and shadows, and of the beauty that surrounded her. A very satisfying reading experience for me. I'm just sad that she passed when she was only in her early 50s. But what she left behind, her acting and her unique outlook on life, should always be remembered and cherished.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend of mine had recommended this book to me, and although not my usual type of book, it was pleasant and had a few cute moments. Just the thought of having so many cats, although I love my two cats, would make me crazy! I think at one point she had some twenty cats or more? Wow! But the story was well written, and obviously written with great emotions and details. Nice read.

[Otto Morris]

The book provides detailed analyses of her film and television roles, offering insights into her unique acting style and contributions to the performing arts. It's an essential read for fall guys online fans and scholars interested in Dennis's impactful yet often underappreciated legacy