Diane KeatonLet's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty

I read several of the low-star reviews complaining that this was disappointing and nowhere near as good as her previous book. I feel completely the opposite. I didn't care for her first book, which seemed to be all about her mother. God bless Diane for loving her mother so much and detailing her life in such detail in that book, but I didn't buy the title to hear about her relatives. This book, on the other hand, was near perfect for me. It was like hanging out with Diane and listening to her thoughts about various subjects.I always thought she was so beautiful when I first saw her in Annie Hall. It's wild to me to learn she was so critical of her physical self and didn't see her beauty. Also, I never put two and two together as to her outfits. Part of it was a love of fashion, but part was evidently covering up her body. Again, that's surprising to me because she always had a good figure. Not that she should walk around like Hefner's girlfriends. These are my perceptions. She doesn't say I dislike a lot of aspects of my body or face, but by the book's end, those were some of the conclusions I came to.She has a light, breezy, conversational tone. You get a sense of spontaneity and nothing held back. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to fans of Diane Keaton who might enjoy sitting down with her and listening to her shoot the breeze.

This is a very good book for women over 60 who can laugh at themselves and not take themselves too seriously. Love Diane Keaton

I did not read her first book, and expected an interesting, fairly chronological story. Instead I found a rambling tale by a crazy mixed-up kid in her middle sixties! To start with, the first one-fifth of the book agonises about the question of beauty. She discusses faces and facial features and goes on and on about it all, about what beauty is, about how she thinks she is not pretty. Yet she admires Diana Vreeland (late editor of Vogue), who was certainly an ugly lady but with such style. I would have been able to empathise with Diane decades ago -- when I was a teenager, and desperate to turn into a beauty!I have no other, better word for this disjointed "autobiography" -- it is rambling. It jumps around. Do not expect an autobiography. I kept waiting for nice juicy bits, and although Woody Allen crops up a lot, still Diane does not really TELL us much! She talks about celebrities, but I waited in vain for delicious gossipy bits. She yacks a lot.Strangely -- and maybe this is because I am not American and American English plus its idiom is not my home language -- but often I did not understand what she was on about. Now I find that I've forgotten a lot of what she rambled about, because I kept putting down my Kindle ... The tale was certainly put-down-able. Was Diane always cold stone sober when she wrote this strange personal history? As in: could she have been depressed and on meds? That's how peculiar I found her jumps in time and place and her disjointed prose.No Diane ... surely you could have done better.

Diane Keaton, among her other talents, proves with this, her second book, her knack for writing. She is more than capable as a writer. Immensely readable and engaging, this book is more a series of musings, questions, comments and revelations than "biographical". She is embracing the later stages of a life well-lived and surprises the reader with anecdotes and shares small bits of her "memory card"...She recalls her past with remarkable clarity and wit and makes us smile at her just plain earthy "niceness". She is her own worst critic as well and is supremely well aware of her weaknesses and respectful and grateful for her own unique brand of talent. She is a -one- of- a kind in the crazy world of movie-making, refreshingly candid and humorous. She tells stories about her involvements with certain people (Woody Allen? Hello?) but never once stoops to taking cheap shots nor "tattles" on anyone in the "business". If you read her first book and enjoyed it, you would be smart to read this one.

If you thought that the best parts Diane Keaton has played ...i.e. neurotic, nervous, goofy, unsure of herself...etc...were acting roles, then maybe all needs to be re-evaluated because I came away thinking that her life, her whining, her constant comparison and admiration of all those beautiful rings insecurity loud and long. I sure felt that she IS that person she portrays so well.and come on, Diane, for someone who complains about aging, sagging muscles and other body parts and how you don't want to have surgery, it seems like you want points or a BADGE for not having it. You certainly dwell on all who have, and none of that info is new or relevant to me.The only ONLY part of the book that I really liked was the mother role she plays, honestly, with Dexter and Duke. You don't get a break in that role just because you are famous and have money. It is always hard and I'll bet it is a better part for her than any movie role.I just didn't see the point of the book at all. And because I loved the title and have generally liked her in movies, I thought I would enjoy this but I didn't. Sorry

Lot's of mixed/ negative reviews of Ms. Keaton's latest memoir, and I can understand why. I found myself on the verge of impatience in the early chapters -- too much inane self-reflection, too much musing on appearance and insecurity. Like some of her other work, this memoir is a collage, various scenes of life stitched together by a common theme - the challenges of getting older, the sadness of loss, the inevitability of death. However, there are some beautiful passages and scenes in this book, and, when listening to the audiobook, you get to hear Diane Keaton perform her work - which I found to be treat. All in, if you have patience for lilting, self-critical, uneven, kinda kooky observations about life, and if you like Diane Keaton's performances, then I'd recommend the Audible audiobook.

Je n'aime pas cette écriture. C'est brouillon. Beaucoup de phrases creuses pour moi. Bof

Pretty cool. Its what one would expect of Diane Keaton - refreshingly un-boastful yet poignant. Such wild ride has been put across so easily and simply, acknowledging all the blessing that came her way, packaged as either Woody or Al....

Im not sure I was a big fan of this book although I love Diane Keaton. While it had some deeper meanings and observations about inner beauty, I still thought that it was a little too much about outer beauty - of people, houses, ... Alright, but not what I expected.

Very interesting and insightful look at Dianne Keaton somewhat quirky personality. A good read. I think it is a book that mostly woman would enjoy.

A bit boring. I expected more from this book.