Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #121859 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-07
• Released on: 2008-03-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Paul Vale, The Stage
"her prose is confident and somewhat romantic, filled with reminiscences of an England that no longer exists."

Review
"the book is magic... Andrews is far too polite to exploit her catalogue of hurts, but some moments really sting" (Antonia Quirke SUNDAY TIMES )

This book is several dozen cuts above the usual showbiz memoir. I eagerly await the next instalment" (Roger Lewis SUNDAY EXPRESS )

"it is precisely the frankness which gives the book such an admirbly unsentimental tone." (Michael Arditti DAILY TELEGRAPH )

"Andrews's book is not devoid of fascination. How could it be?" (DAILY MAIL )

"will astond her friends and those who have followed her career." (DAILY EXPRESS )

"lays bare several family secrets, including that she was born of an illicit affair" (DAILY MAIL )

"most of the book is painfully shrewd and written with delicacy and pathos" (Emma Brockes INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE )

"The quality of her prose is such that you are remindeded she is already an established children's author.." (SCOTSMAN )

"Julie tells the really quite harrowing part of her childhood with the same breeziness as she does her subsequent stardom." (Nicky Haslam SPECTATOR )

"Dame Julie's precise voice drips from every sentence" (Gay Times )

"Home is an honest self-portrait by a much-loved star who has a thumpingly good story to tell and tells it well." (3SIXTY )

"Candid and perceptive, providing a vivid portrait of her formative years" (Good Book Guide )

"Very well written as one would expecr from such an accomplished writer.. but with not a trace of self-pity from the author." (ReFRESH )

There are revelations and anecdotes by the score in prose that is as immaculate as its author" (Christie Hickman S Magazine, Sunday Express )

"her prose is confident and somewhat romantic, filled with reminiscences of an England that no longer exists." (Paul Vale The Stage )

Michael Arditti, The Daily Telegraph
"it is precisely the frankness which gives the book such an admirbly unsentimental tone."

Customer Reviews

'HOME is were the heart is'
This book was written with real heart!Reading about Julie Andrews home/work life was really interesting.Loved every minute detail of it.There wasn't any wasted moments,only wished there was more of it(plus photos).Really can't wait for the next instalment(hope it's not too long!!!)

A revealing insight
At first,I found this book to be a bit slow and felt that it had been written with an eye towards the American market.Gradually though,I was won over by Julie Andrews very interesting early life and the shocks she tells of.There may well be an element of disappointment when you realise that she doesn't discuss her film career at all,but her life growing up during World War 2 is compelling and interesting.

This auto-biography is an honest account of her life and is filled with various accounts she may well have kept hidden.The fact that her beloved father wasn't her biological Dad,possible incestuous intentions from her step father,the fact that she never really trusted her mother,the stigma of alcohlism around her step father and her mother.Julie pulls no punches here and deserves credit for her approach to this book.There are many points of interest about her life on stage and the many people she worked with such as Rex Harrison,Richard Burton and Roddy McDowell.She also shows she has a fine sense of humour at times.

I have no problem at all in recommending this fine book and it certainly makes you relish the prospect of a follow up that delves into her life in the movies.I feel that the inevitable sequel will be even more interesting.

Very good honest book!!
If your a fan of Julie Andrews, however big or small, read this. She's had such an interesting life, so far. I feel this is a very honest book and for that reason alone deserves to be read.
I think the book was maybe aimed at the American market, as she explains some very British things, that you just know. As with an earlier review I hope there's a part two.