Home: A Memoir of My Early Years
by Julie Andrews Edwards
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Read in June, 2008
I really knew nothing about Julie Andrews before reading this book. I'd seen her musicals and a few of her movies and that was about it.
In this memoir Andrews tells the story of her early life going from a young vaudeville star in England to a Broadway celebrity.
For the most part, I thought it was an interesting book. While the book was written with the grace and dignity that Andrews has come to be known for I found it interesting to learn that she might not be as squeaky clean as the image ...more
In this memoir Andrews tells the story of her early life going from a young vaudeville star in England to a Broadway celebrity.
For the most part, I thought it was an interesting book. While the book was written with the grace and dignity that Andrews has come to be known for I found it interesting to learn that she might not be as squeaky clean as the image ...more
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Read in July, 2008
An avid admirer of the best voice on Broadway (and in movie musicals), I couldn't wait to crack open this book after being on the wait list for weeks. However, after reading this pleasant memoir, I closed the book with many more questions about what makes Julie Andrews tick than I had before I finished the first chapter. The strength in this easy read are the few times that Andrews delivers wonderful "Broadway in the making" tales of working opposite such greats as Rex Harrison and Ric...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Adela by:
No onerecommends it for: people who like Julie Andrews, or autobiographies in general.
Julie Andrews' Home is a remembrance of her childhood and the early years of her career, up to the time she arrives in California to shoot Mary Poppins.
Most people tend to have a preconceived idea as to what Julie Andrews' life must have been like...she always seems so polite and proper, and of course she is so talented, that you assume her life was practically perfect in every way. Reading the first chapters of Home, you realize that this simply is not the case.
She tells of her unorthod...more
Most people tend to have a preconceived idea as to what Julie Andrews' life must have been like...she always seems so polite and proper, and of course she is so talented, that you assume her life was practically perfect in every way. Reading the first chapters of Home, you realize that this simply is not the case.
She tells of her unorthod...more
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Read in June, 2008
I got this book from the library because I thought it would be fun to learn more about Julie Andrews. I wondered how she got started, etc. And her persona is so graceful, calm and assured - I wanted to see behind it a bit.
The problem is...you don't really. There was just no emotion in it and I just don't feel like a got a lot of insight into her. She did share quite a bit about her difficult childhood. But she shared it with exactly the same tone and pacing and matter-of-factness that she us...more
The problem is...you don't really. There was just no emotion in it and I just don't feel like a got a lot of insight into her. She did share quite a bit about her difficult childhood. But she shared it with exactly the same tone and pacing and matter-of-factness that she us...more
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As a lifelong devotee of Julie Andrews and having read many of her children's books, I knew fairly well what to expect in this, her first volume of autobiography.
She's charming and polite and as forthcoming as she can be, which is to say, not very forthcoming. There's crisp British distance between the events of her childhood and young adulthood, none of which was terribly storybook. The product of a one-night stand (which she didn't know until much later), Andrews dearly loved the man she tho...more
She's charming and polite and as forthcoming as she can be, which is to say, not very forthcoming. There's crisp British distance between the events of her childhood and young adulthood, none of which was terribly storybook. The product of a one-night stand (which she didn't know until much later), Andrews dearly loved the man she tho...more
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Read in July, 2008
This is the woman who made my childhood happier. "Mary Poppins" was the first movie I saw in the theaters and at age three I was spellbound. Her performances always brought joy. It is therefore surprising that her her younger years were filled with the challenges of living with an alcoholic mother and step-father.
One of the elements that always seemed to amaze me was her relationship with her father. He seemed to be filled with a natural magic and when she was with him during h...more
One of the elements that always seemed to amaze me was her relationship with her father. He seemed to be filled with a natural magic and when she was with him during h...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Ann by:
Heard Julie on "Fresh Air" and ran out an bought the book that nrecommends it for: Broadway fans, ACOAs, lovers of Britain
What a great book!! It was surprisingly well-written. Julie gives a very candid look at herself and her early career. She doesn't flinch from talking about her struggles in her second role on Broadway, Eliza Doolittle.
For those who grew up in dysfunctional/alcoholic/codependent homes, you'll be able to identify with her early years, when she was already supporting her mother, stepfather and two younger brothers at the age of 17.
Her description of British vaudeville is captivating. She ...more
For those who grew up in dysfunctional/alcoholic/codependent homes, you'll be able to identify with her early years, when she was already supporting her mother, stepfather and two younger brothers at the age of 17.
Her description of British vaudeville is captivating. She ...more
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recommended to Kelly by:
NPR: Fresh Air (I heard Julie Andrews talking about her book and
recommends it for: Julie Andrews fans & people who like biographies
recommends it for: Julie Andrews fans & people who like biographies
Anything Julie Andrews automatically gets five stars. Because she is amazing.
Oh yeah. And her book was good too.
The fun thing about any autobiography is that you learn LOADS about that person. And I don't know what it is about memoirs, but the people who write them do just let it all out. And it's fun to learn about people's lives and secrets (also a bizillion times better than a tabloid magazine...but I guess that isn't a very good comparison since everything is better than a ta...more
Oh yeah. And her book was good too.
The fun thing about any autobiography is that you learn LOADS about that person. And I don't know what it is about memoirs, but the people who write them do just let it all out. And it's fun to learn about people's lives and secrets (also a bizillion times better than a tabloid magazine...but I guess that isn't a very good comparison since everything is better than a ta...more
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Read in April, 2008
OK, I'm biased. I've loved Julie Andrews my whole life so I knew before opening this book that I'd absolutely adore it. That being said, whether or not you're a fan, she's a gifted writer who tells a very compelling story.
Her life wasn't all rosy, far from it, and yet, she still shares her difficult childhood beautifully and honestly. Even the more difficult parts of her life are never steeped in self-pity...more so she tells her story straight up with a hint of what she learned from those ...more
Her life wasn't all rosy, far from it, and yet, she still shares her difficult childhood beautifully and honestly. Even the more difficult parts of her life are never steeped in self-pity...more so she tells her story straight up with a hint of what she learned from those ...more
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Read in April, 2008
A very interesting book, its nice to know some backround of someone so well known by her roles as an actress and a singer, it was cool to see how her growing up years led to the star she would become.
Julie Andrews had sort of a sad childhood, you got the sense that had she followed the path that she wanted she would have stayed with her father and lived in the country.
Instead she went to live with her mother and step-father, both vaudvillians, and being in that stage atmosphere, once her voi...more
Julie Andrews had sort of a sad childhood, you got the sense that had she followed the path that she wanted she would have stayed with her father and lived in the country.
Instead she went to live with her mother and step-father, both vaudvillians, and being in that stage atmosphere, once her voi...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
Andrews fans, autobio fans
Reading this reminded me of talking to a family member about stories of the past. She shares lots of fascinating stories from the early years, but fans of Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, and any other later work will be disappointed, because there is very little mention of those years. However, she warns you in the title that it is a memoir of the early years. The only thing missing is a bit more of her internal emotion, and though there were a few times where I felt like I was getting to know her...more
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Read in June, 2008
I liked this memoir. I love her work and was really excited to read about her life and how she came to be a big star. Unlike some other memoirs I've read that are so overly edited, you could tell that this was written by her. I feel like I could hear her voice speaking as I read the words.
One complaint though, as stated in the title- this book is only about the beginning of her life. The book ends just as she's boarding an airplane bound for Burbank, CA to star in Mary Poppins. So it so...more
One complaint though, as stated in the title- this book is only about the beginning of her life. The book ends just as she's boarding an airplane bound for Burbank, CA to star in Mary Poppins. So it so...more
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Read in July, 2008
I could listen to Julie Andrews read the phone book, her voice is so melodious. The story of her turbulent childhood was surprising and facinating. Her launch into the entertainment business was interesting in that she never seemed to express a desire to sing and perform. It was found that she could sing very well at a very young age and her parents put her in their act. I found my mind wandering when she would go through lists of the people she worked with on various productions who I never hea...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Lauren by:
the libraryrecommends it for: Musical theater nerds, lovers of Julie Andrews
I didn't realize that I've been waiting for this book my entire life! I unabashedly love Julie Andrews and everything that's she's done in her theater/film career, and her memoir made me fall in love all over again.
For many years, I've heard circulating rumors about her training & lifestyle, and was happy to have many of them debunked! For example: Ms. Andrews was classically trained since she was a young girl! She grew up on the vaudeville stages! She got her role in "My Fair Lady&...more
For many years, I've heard circulating rumors about her training & lifestyle, and was happy to have many of them debunked! For example: Ms. Andrews was classically trained since she was a young girl! She grew up on the vaudeville stages! She got her role in "My Fair Lady&...more
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Read in June, 2008
I would recommend this book to Julie Andrews' fans or anyone interested in theater and performing. Some sections about the work involved in starting up and keeping up a musical were rather long. Other sections seemed like they had been included just to name drop and show that she personally knows lots of famous people. Overall, I just couldn't get into her life story. I don't know if it is her writing style or something else. I didn't enjoy the book as much as others seemed to have done. P...more
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Read in June, 2008
I love Julie Andrews so I was excited when I happened on this book shortly after it was published. If you are a fan, it does not disappoint. It helped me see her in an all new light and to see what she was like before she became Mary Poppins. Her life was not easy as I would have imagined. My only complaint is that the book ends with her flying to Cali to begin filming Mary Poppins-I need more! This was no surprise considering it is a memoir of her early years, but I do hope that she has more co...more
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Read in July, 2008
I am the first to admit that I have a sentimental attachment to "The Sound of Music" and all things related. I recognize the dorkiness of this and embrace it. That said, I thought this was good. Funny, charming, and very honest (without appearing to go for shock value). The only thing I take issue with is the way it ends...I know it is "A Memoir of My Early Years", but I feel like it ends very abruptly and I want to know what happens next...we leave off with the birth of her ...more
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I heard Julie Andrew's interview on NPR soon after this book was published and immediately reserved Home at the library! Her childhood and early years are definitely not what I had imagined - her image made me assume a Mary Poppins type of existence for her. Andrews is candid and forthright about her fractured family, yet does not portray herself as a victim as all which was refreshing. I wish there had been a bit more introspection about how her unusual life affected her development and persona...more
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I just finished reading this book last night and just loved it. I have always been a big fan of Julie Andrews and enjoyed learning about how her extraordinary career began. Her descriptions of the people that she got to work with and the many theaters in England and the US were just amazing.
The only disappointment I experienced was when the book was over. I was satisfied with where she stopped her story (for now), but am anxious for her to continue her story.
I hope Julie Andrews will be...more
The only disappointment I experienced was when the book was over. I was satisfied with where she stopped her story (for now), but am anxious for her to continue her story.
I hope Julie Andrews will be...more
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Read in August, 2008
An amazing story about an amazingly talented woman. I knew her childhood was far from perfect but I had no idea how much. This is a great read for anyone who is a fan of Julie. This covers her childhood and her young adulthood. It ends with her arriving in LA to film Mary Poppins. While it delves into the less than pretty aspects of her childhood, it is far from a "tell all" memior. Ms. Andrews tells the stories of her childhood in a very matter of fact tone. It's very obvious that des...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.71 (319 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 0.00 (0 ratings) number of reviews: 156popular shelves
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quote
"Once in a while I experience an emotion onstage that is so gut-wrenching, so heart-stopping, that I could weep with gratitude and joy. The feeling catches and magnifies so rapidly that it threatens to engulf me."
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