You can look for the name of the ghost writer all you like, but failing to find it, finally had to hand it to Candice Bergen for this often gritty portrayal of what it was like to grow up among the "brat" pack years; those second generation stars instantly a name by virtue of a parent. In this case the only (for some time) real life child of Edgar Bergen, who'd previously "given birth" to Charlie McCarthy, the wooden brain child of Bergen during the vaudeville era and one of the few to successfully transition to radio--reinvented the wooden dummy into major stardom. This was a sister who played by herself, entertained herself, and found joy in the home, the land, and the animals her parents happily supplied with love, if not saying so in so many words. Bergen describes the transition from her childhood to young adulthood, dropping names of the rich and famous who wove in and out of her life like so many discarded name brand labels, leaving you with wonder at who DIDN'T touch her life at some point, even to her close brush with Charlie Manson. Making a successful transition of her own from New York model to film, she oft describes with deprecating honesty her ability or lack thereof to relate to her fellow actors, the scripts, the directors and the motion pictures themselves. Enjoying the freedom of her own money, she jet-setted for years, enjoying a huge array of experiences and meeting unforgettable people who must have in their own way shaped the persona we've come to believe we know. While I get very tired of poor little rich girl stories, I'd say this one paid some heavy dues along the way and returned to give fine tribute to her father and family. This book arrived as a Goodreads Giveaway--I was thrilled to get it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Twenty-five year old paperback from a used bookstore, it's Candice Bergen's memoir--pre-Murphy Brown. I wanted to read it because she and I are about the same age, and growing up I was a big fan of her dad, ventriliquist Edgar Bergen and his alterego Charlie McCarthy.Bergen led a surprising life--Hollywood childhood, flunking out of University of Pennsylvania in one year (inattention mostly), photojournalist traveling the world though really liking to hunker down at home, self-confessed lousy actess for about 10 years until she decided to learn how to do it, and a romantic late bloomer, not marrying until well past 30. On finally finding someone who felt right, she wrote, "I used to believe that marriage would diminish me, reduce my options. That you had to be someone less to live with someone else when of course, you have to be someone more."
What do You think about Knock Wood (1984)?
Witty, nostalgic look at life growing up in Hollywood from one of my favorite actors.
—teresad
Funny, well written and beautifully honest. I really enjoyed this book.
—Rie
