[.ca] 'Tis Herself: An Autobiography (ISBN 0743269160)

very good book:
Maureen O'hara has written a very wonderful auto-biography on her life. It's very interesting, and witty. Also honest and down to earth. It isn't trashy at al, but sincire and doesn't bash any other celebrities. It's very open and has some great photogrpahs of her. A big selection of them through the years. Many color photos as well. She talks a lot about John Wayne in it to wish is nice, and clears up that they were not lovers, but good true friends a friendship that never ended. It's well worth reading, and one of the best biogrpahies I have read. In it she shows her love for acting and the sweet person that she is.

delightfully surprised ...:
I hate biographies, self-penned or done by another author, so I wandered into this book with a jaded belief that it was going to be yet another vehicle of self-aggrandizement by a star. However, I was delightfully surprised at how well O'Hara and her co-author spun the story of the Irish lass who became one of Hollywood's leading ladies. The book is written in a simple, straight-forward manner that's easy to read, thus becoming an addictive tale to follow ... She describes her relationships with people like John Ford and John Wayne in a manner that lets the reader experience for him- or herself why O'Hara felt so strongly about these folks, always (I thought) trying to show the very human side of these larger-than-life Hollywood movers and shakers. I've always admired the strength of character Ms. O'Hara showed in her movie roles; now I can add my admiration for her wonderful sense of crafting a very personal story in a captivating manner. This book is definitely one to add to my personal collection.

What to make of Her(self)?:
Having just finished this book, as stated above, I'm not quite sure what to make of Maureen O'Hara. While the book is entertaining, I do have to agree with some of the other reviewers who have posted about the strong streak of paranoia in Ms. O'Hara's character. It causes her to take a lot of cheap shots at various people (famous and non) who are no longer around to defend themselves. Of course no one gets her Irish dander up like John Ford and Husband #2. But this of course begs the question--left unanswered in the book--why did she stay involved (professionally or personally) with these two men if they were such monsters? She blames John Ford for a host of double-crosses and sabotage, but with very little proof to back them up. (Frankly, she blames him for so much that near the end, I half expected her to blame him for the fall of the Roman Empire, the Bay of Pigs and 9/11.) But, in the end, I also can't see why she would make all this up. That said, I think the quality of this book is someplace between the five-reviews posted here and the scathing ones also posted. Say what you want about her but she's still here, in one piece and without excess baggage. O'Hara never ended up in AA, at Betty Ford or as the centerpiece of a scandal or public meltdown. So, in that regard, yes, she is one tough Irish broad.

'Tis herself" rings true!:
I just finished reading Maureen O'Hara's autobiography and enjoyed it. It had a ring of truth throughout and without flinching. The "gossip" it contained regarding old Hollywood and other stars, I found to be truthful and not acerbic. I think that anyone who has ever watched an old performance of Maureen's would get a good idea of what was going on behind the scenes by reading this book. Her descriptions of the movie business and day to day trials she endured in a time when women were, well, little more than figureheads gives us insight in how far we have come as women and yet how far we have to go. I found Maureen's story of her 2 unhappy marriages, one latin lover and finally a happy but brief marriage to be very honest. It also is a parallel of the times she lived in and the system she was part of. Her story also gives us insight on some of the silver screen greatest performers and helps us understand them as real people; not just larger than life characters on the screen. I would recommend this book to others who are interested in this period of movie history and in learning more about a very interesting woman.

"I believed I would set the world on fire.":
I always enjoyed Maureen O'Hara in movies such as "McLintock!" and "The Parent Trap." Not only was she stunningly beautiful, she had a very likeable, intelligent, and spirited image. Her autobiography gives detailed accounts of her family, movies, and the ups and downs of her love life, and is definitely a fun ride. Born to a prominent Irish family, Maureen knew from the age of five that she would be someday be a great actress. Charles Laughton discovered her on the stage and brought her to Hollywood to co-star in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" when she was still in her teens, and she continued to make films for sixty years. She speaks reverently of the film, "The Quiet Man" and of her friendship with John Wayne, but severely criticizes many others such as John Ford, Walt Disney, James Stewart, and Errol Flynn. If you're looking for juicy gossip, it's all here, as well as heartbreaking personal revelations. O'Hara does come off a bit egostistical at times, but her loyal fans will enjoy this book, which contains many personal and professional photos.