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Summary: What a refreshing read!
Review: A dear friend mailed this book to me ~~ and I have to say, it is a light and refreshing as well as honest look at motherhood and Hollywood. I have always liked Patricia Heaton in "Everyone Loves Raymond" ~~ and definitely like her better after reading her book. With a light touch, she talks about her life before and after becoming famous and being a mom. She tells her story with humor and grace ~~ and being a mom of two boys, I can relate to her experiences with motherhood and wifehood. What a fun book!This is one of the better autobiographies I have read in awhile. Patricia is a down-to-earth woman who happens to live in la-la land called Hollywood. And after reading this book, I wish her well in future endeavors ~~ perhaps more on her family life would be wonderful! If you're looking for a lighter and fun read to while away some free time, I highly recommend this book. It is a sure bet that you'll finish this book and beg for more. She's that good. 12-05-02
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Summary: Review from mom of 3 boys, wife, 60s child, author
Review: Add me to the "would love to have lunch with her" list. Motherhood & Hollywood is an ideal book to take on an L.A. to Hawaii flight. (It's a perfect 5-hour read.) If you're a 40-something mom, a wife and a mother, then there is so much in this book that you will relate too and laugh at. Several times during my flight I burst out laughing. But even if you're none of the above, you will still enjoy this book. Patricia Heaton has a wonderful writing style. Not just because she's funny and witty. It has more to do with the way her words flow. Only one thing about the book bothered me...she doesn't tell us the name of her cosmetic surgeon. I want that name!
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Summary: Review from mom of 3 boys, wife, 60s child, author
Review: Add me to the "would love to have lunch with her" list. Motherhood & Hollywood is an ideal book to take on an L.A. to Hawaii flight. (It's a perfect 5-hour read.) If you're a 40-something mom, a wife and a mother, then there is so much in this book that you will relate too and laugh at. Several times during my flight I burst out laughing. But even if you're none of the above, you will still enjoy this book. Patricia Heaton has a wonderful writing style. Not just because she's funny and witty. It has more to do with the way her words flow. Only one thing about the book bothered me...she doesn't tell us the name of her cosmetic surgeon. I want that name!
Rating: 
Summary: Get a life
Review: All this former cheerleader does is complain, complain, complain. She complains about how much money she makes. I'm sorry, but I am sure she makes more money than 99% of the people in the world. The reality of the situation is that most people watch the show to see Ray Ramano, not Patricia Heaton. The producers could replace her and the ratings would not change. She shows no gratitude to Ray Romano, without whom she would still be playing roles like "2nd Dotti". Perhaps during her extensive plastic surgery the doctors also removed her personality.
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Summary: Nobody loves a stuck up whiner.
Review: and caused a major loss of respect for this actress, for me. She is no writer. Where was her editor? She is crude. There are too many references to sex and drug use. She seems to consider financial success the difference between winners and losers in life, and lacks the grace to realize without her current job she would still be a financial loser. She's a loser to me anyway. This book is not worth reading. Skip it.
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Summary: Funniest Book I've Ever Read!
Review: As a follower of "Everybody Loves Raymond" for years now, it's so wonderful to finally be able to get to know the real Patricia Heaton, away from the Debra Barone millions of viewers laugh at each week. From the cover, you'll be able to tell that this isn't going to be your ordinary autobiography--and it isn't. You won't find any sad stories here. Sure, she's had her heartbreaks and setbacks like all of us, but with her witty antidotes about life and experiences into becoming "Debra Barone," you won't want to put the book down. It's the best book I've read in ages. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Funniest Book I've Ever Read!
Review: As a follower of "Everybody Loves Raymond" for years now, it's so wonderful to finally be able to get to know the real Patricia Heaton, away from the Debra Barone millions of viewers laugh at each week. From the cover, you'll be able to tell that this isn't going to be your ordinary autobiography--and it isn't. You won't find any sad stories here. Sure, she's had her heartbreaks and setbacks like all of us, but with her witty antidotes about life and experiences into becoming "Debra Barone," you won't want to put the book down. It's the best book I've read in ages. I highly recommend it!
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Summary: Funny and honest
Review: As a mother of two boys, I can say I LOVED this book. I thought it was refreshingly honest; touching at times, and at other times, laugh-out-loud funny (I had tears running down my face when she was describing the effects of four pregnancies and c-sections on her abdomen, because mine had a similar effect.). I could definitely relate to this book. As someone who loves "Everybody Loves Raymond," I can say that, frankly, I watch it mostly for Patricia Heaton; as wonderful as the entire cast is, I think she is the funniest. So, I was glad to see that Patricia Heaton is as funny and honest in real life as her character. Unlike some other readers, I didn't detect any whining in her book. I thought she showed immensed gratitude to everyone: her family growing up, her friends, her co-workers (just read the acknowledgments), and her husband and sons. I love the fact that she doesn't take herself too seriously just because she has money and fame, and she is well aware that it could all go away tomorrow. She points our repeatedly that the most important thing in life is your family--everything else is fleeting. She also points out repeatedly that she is luckier than most because she now has money--she can afford help with her kids and private schools. But she always makes sure to acknowledge the people who have helped her. Yes, she talks often of the strains of raising four kids, the inevitable conflicts with your spouse, and wishing for some time alone, but I don't know a mother who doesn't feel that way. Just because family is the most important thing, doesn't mean it's not sometimes funny and sometimes a burden. She describes her conflicts with her husband--each thinks the other does nothing and they do it all, they disagree on how to raise the kids, they each have habits that drive the other to distraction--I feel like I could have written it. And yet, she also points out that they are in it for the long haul and are madly in love with each other. I loved the fact that when she finally got time alone, she missed her sons and her husband tremendously. It's a quick read, so I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: What a hoot!
Review: As a person who is familiar with Cleveland, Ohio, it was a riot to read Patricia Heaton's memoir. She's quick and witty. I couldn't put it down and found myself laughing a lot. So much so, that other people in the room had to ask me what was so funny. If you are a mother, too, this book is a perfect read for her honesty and "helpful" advice!
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Summary: I really WANTED to like this book, but . . .
Review: As much as I enjoy her television work, I did not enjoy this memior. There was way too much whining in this book. Aside from the occasional food item, it seems like nothing stands up to Ms. Heaton's standards. Her jobs were terrible, the bosses were jerks, the places she lived in were hideous, etc. Even now that she "has it all" she complains about the Hollywood lifestyle. And her husband!! She calls him about every name in the book, in the book. I know she was trying to be funny in doing this, but when it appears that you're trying, then you're not being funny. A glaring omission in the book is the lack of a passage to tell the reader "how to get a job like mine". We hear about all of her [bad] jobs, but there is very little said about how she obtained the Everybody Loves Raymond job, or for that fact little mention of her Raymond "family" (except to degrade them for not being as faithful as her actual family). I cannot recommend this book.
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