What Falls Away, Mia Farrow
What Falls Away, Mia Farrow
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What Falls Away

Author: Mia Farrow

Narrator: Mia Farrow

Unabridged: 9 hr 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/05/2000


Synopsis

In an exquisitely written memoir, Mia Farrow introduces us to the landscapes of her extraordinary life.  Moving from her earliest memories of the walled gardens and rocky shores of western Ireland and her Hollywood childhood to her career as an actress, she writes of these experiences and her struggle to protect her children in a painful custody battle with Woody Allen.  It was this crisis that led her to reflect upon the incidents that had brought her to a place so incomprehensible.  Now, in What Falls Away, a memoir resonant not only in its honesty but also in its beautifully crafted prose, Mia Farrow speaks for the first time.

She was born the third of seven children to the beautiful actress Maureen O'Sullivan and successful writer/director John Farrow, but the isolation of a polio ward brought her childhood to an abrupt end at the age of nine.  Several years later, two deaths shattered the security of the family forever, and Mia Farrow embarked upon a journey that would lead her away from the convent education that was to sustain her spiritual courage, to starring roles in Peyton Place and Rosemary's Baby, a marriage to Frank Sinatra, divorce, a defining trip to India, work on the London stage and in film, and marriage to André Previn.  Their life together in England brought them three sons and three daughters before that marriage, too, dissolved and she returned to the United States.

The year 1979 saw the beginning of a new career with brilliant performances in thirteen of Woody Allen's most distinguished films.

Told with grace and deep understanding, as well as humor, What Falls Away goes beneath the surface of this amazing life, with all its drama, success, and pain, and exposes the inner workings of a mind and spirit for whom truth, compassion, and faith are essential.

Mia Farrow's story is ultimately one of hope and courage in the face of difficulty; of commitment to others--most important of whom are her children; and of spiritual strength.  Readers will not easily forget this remarkable book, even long after the last page has been turned.

About The Author

Mia Farrow is an American actress who became an icon for her award-nominated performance as Rosemary Woodhouse in the horror classic Rosemary's Baby. She was born in Los Angeles in 1945 and is the eldest daughter of Australian director John Farrow. Before she became an actress, Farrow was a model for many years. Mia Farrow is also an activist and has done extensive work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Time magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world in 2008. Farrow has starred in dozens of movies, including John and Mary, The Great Gatsby (1974), Widows' Peak, and Luc Besson's Arthur series.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Deirdre on February 23, 2016

If you still pay money to watch Woody Allen films after reading this book, then shame on you. This 1960s icon dishes the dirt on American's most famous neurotic, leaving the reader with a bad taste in the mouth about Allen, an obvious creep. The celebrated director's paedophile tendencies, as exhibi......more

Goodreads review by Jamie on December 30, 2010

Ms. Mia Farrow is an eternal optimist. Her book was profoundly complimentary to those in her life with the exception of one Mr. Woody Allen. She never saw a flaw in anyone despite heartbreak. She searched for inner beauty, embraced the differences of the people she knew and spent her life searching......more

Goodreads review by Jim on August 25, 2020

WHAT FALLS AWAY has been tucked away on my bookshelf unread since its release in 1997. I’m sure that I bought it initially because of the child molestation accusation that had been leveled against Woody Allen who had greatly impressed me as a filmmaker. As the years passed, I was even less inclined......more

Goodreads review by Flora on March 01, 2008

I read this because I never turn up my nose at a good trash-talkin' celeb-biog, but this is actually a good book. Yes, it dishes the dirt on Frank Sinatra and Woody and Soon-Yi, but I didn't find myself skimming just to get to the good parts. She's an odd woman, but smart, and she writes about her l......more

Goodreads review by Spencer on November 12, 2013

Most of it is pretty good, but the Woody Allen stuff...so much dirty laundry. My first thought was "What a scum this guy must be," but then, I thought, "Well--there's two sides to every story." Not to say that I think Ms. Farrow is lying. I'm sure that Woody Allen is as much of a psychological mess......more


Quotes

“A simply elegant memoir.”Newsweek

“Compelling and convincing . . . a story of survival.”Chicago Tribune
 
“A beautifully written memoir . . . about complex people and issues.”The Atlanta Journal
 
“A juicy book and a good one.”Time

“Farrow’s book possesses an elegance of prose and sensibility that elevates it way beyond the typical gorefest of sex, gossip, and betrayal.”USA Today

“A stellar new memoir . . . it’s all there, every wondrous, scandalous, inhumanely difficult thing.”Mirabella

“Mia Farrow tells the story of her fascinating life with uncommon grace and insight.”—William Styron

“Word by word, page by page, we’re convinced. We believe her.”Newsday

“One of the best writers to ever come out of Hollywood. She writes with extraordinary wit and polish. This is good news for Frank Sinatra, André Previn, and the hundreds of other celebrities who make cameo appearances in her fabulous life, but it is very bad news for Woody Allen.”—Pat Conroy