Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Audition: A Memoir
Book Review: A really neglectful and selfish mom
Summary: 1 Stars
Barbara Walters tries for years to have a baby, and is finally able to adopt one. She flies out to get the baby, who is 4 days old. When she tries to return home, the airlines will not let such a young baby fly, presumably for health reasons. Only 8 day old babies can fly.
So what does Ms. Walters do? Well, she has to have it her way. Who cares what's best for the baby? This new baby--whom she has wanted for years--cannot be allowed to get in the way of Walters' convenience. She goes to another airline and lies about the baby's age. Then tells this story in her book like it's funny.
Ms. Walters does not take maternity leave. She leaves the baby in the hands of a nanny (she calls her a "governess"), and proceeds to fly around the world CONSTANTLY, for her job. She is always somewhere beside New York, where her daughter is cared for by the nanny. Barbara is in the Middle East, in South America, interviewing people everywhere, a week here, a few days there. When she is not doing that, she is dating men around the country (she even had a bicoastal relationship with her 3rd husband). When did her daughter get to see her? A day or two a week?
She is overjoyed when she is given a job that requires her to travel even more--anywhere at any time, as she puts it. She is happy about this because she did not like her job as an anchor for the evening news--even though this job gave her a bit more time for her daughter. She calls her boss a "savoir" for giving her this job. AND she takes on other responsibilities--another TV show--which means still more hours away from her kid. Her kid seems to be a toy that she picks up at times, but mostly forgets.
She takes on more work and travel even though she is making PLENTY of money, and could easily cut back for the sake of her daughter. But she says very little she does for the sake of her daughter.
She makes no sacrifices for her child (at least none she reveals in her book). Walters feels that, because her daughter has the same nanny throughout her childhood, this makes her a good mother.
When a celebrity is willing to talk to her, she flies out to meet them on their terms. There is no way that she could have attended her daughter's school functions or important events, with a schedule that requires her to leave for the airport at a moment's notice.
Ms. Walters has the audacity to compare herself to other "working mothers", and says she shares their guilt. Most working mothers I know spend any available free time with their kids. They would love to cut back on their work, but they need the money. they don't take on other jobs, or volunteer to travel, when their children are young. Ms. Walters did, even though she was making hundreds of thousands (and later millions) of dollars a year--back in the 70s!
How different from Meredith Viera, who came onto The View because it did not require travel, and the hours allowed her to be home after school.
Barbara Walters is probably the only one who is surprised when her daughter has trouble during adolescence. And she has very little insight. She blames the girl's troubles on teenage rebellion, or the adoption. She never once says (though I'm sure her daughter says it to her) that her selfishness and ambition caused her to neglect her daughter, and her daughter was hurt by that. How could she not be?
Personally, I think some of Walters' success came about because many other journalists did not want to live her life--they preferred a more balanced work/family schedule and so they made some sacrifices for their family. Ms. Walters did not reveal any sacrifices that she made for her daughter. I would bet her daughter got more attention during her rebellious teenage years than she had gotten at any other time.
And Barbara Walters remains terribly insecure about her status as "mother." She told Dateline in 2002 that the reason her daughter did not wish to search for her birthparents was because she and her daughter had such a close bond. That shows a real lack of understanding about adoption. Searching for birthparents is not a sign that the adoptive parent/child bond is weak! It is quite natural for a child to want to know her birthparents.
Barbara Walters strikes me as one lonely lady now. No husband, no siblings, no grandchildren, and a daughter who lives hundreds of miles away (and whom she doesn't really seem to know.).
Book Review: A unique and interesting life
Summary: 4 Stars
This was a very enjoyable read. The best part of the book involves her interviews with famous people. She is able to intersperse tidbits about world leaders, celebrities, politicians and newsmen with her own personal life. Also, she explores her early foray as a journalist and tv host during a time when television was just starting to make an impact. It was interesting to note that Barbara's father was famous in his own right as well and she honestly acknowledges that she got into her career through her father's connections. Of course, she had to keep auditioning to prove herself and eventually became a celebrity herself. Fascinating story!!Book Review: AUDITION
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a long way to go before finishing the book. Barbara makes sure she gets lots of exposure concerning her book. Whoopie, Joy, Elizabeth, and Sherry never fail to mention the book and gush all over her. All of the appearances Barbara has made (Larry King, etc.) she revealed the same tales over and over again per Senator Brooke, her father and his successes turned to failure, her sister and adopted daughter Jackie, and the men in her life. Talk about ego!!Book Review: AUDITION
Summary: 5 Stars
AUDITION gave me another view of Barbara Walters. One I did not have before reading her book. She is witty, intelligent and very kind. Her life has been full on all counts and she has handled it all with grace and elaganceBook Review: AUDITION
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading Barbara Walter's "Audition." It felt like Barbara was sitting in my living room just talking about her life. And what a wonderously exciting life it has been.
Thank you, Barbara, for sharing!