Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After you get past the first few chapters discussing Julia's dysfunctional family and troubled early childhood, there is nothing in this book that a serious Julia fan hasn't probably already read in a Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, or People magazine article about her. When discussing Danny Moder's extramarital affair with Julia and subsequent divorce, the author's main source seems to be the National Enquirer. While I learned some more details about the films she has done, I feel like I did not gain any further insight into who Julia Roberts is by reading this book than I would have sitting in the dentist's office reading a three-year-old issue of Redbook.
Rating: 
Summary: Balanced biography of a superstar
Review: As a typical movie fan, I had to idea what was behind the appealing, beguiling screen presence of Julia Roberts. I only saw the incandescant smile and the undeniable charm of this young actress. James Spada has done his homework and he uses multiple sources to put together the story of this complex, often insecure woman. In the early part of the book, the reader learns that Julia's parents created and directed a children's theater in Atlanta, Georgia. They were some of the first people to cross the color line, and their clients included the four children of Martin Luther King. Julia's father was charismatic, but troubled, and ran the gamut from charming to abusive. Her mother had her own problems and was unfaithful to her husband. Julia and her estranged brother seem to hold divergent opinions about their parents, but clearly this was a dysfunctional family. Spada chronicles Julia's school days, during which she considered herself an ugly duckling. He follows her during the lean early years of her acting career and traces her meteoric rise from a walk-on part in "Firehouse" in the mid-80's to her first big break in "Mystic Pizza" in 1988 and "Steel Magnolias" in 1989. During this time Julia began the pattern of pursuing men, falling in love with them, and then leaving them which repeated itself countless times in her life. The book continues through the 2003 release of the "Mona Lisa Smile" and the projected 2004 sequel to "Ocean's Eleven". Although there is no evidence that Spada spoke directly to Roberts, he manages to assemble a lot of information which he shares with the reader. This book shows all sides of Roberts, some which support her charming on-screen persona and some which are a lot less charming. Kudos to him for a job well done.
Rating:
Summary: Balanced biography of a superstar
Review: As a typical movie fan, I had to idea what was behind the appealing, beguiling screen presence of Julia Roberts. I only saw the incandescant smile and the undeniable charm of this young actress. James Spada has done his homework and he uses multiple sources to put together the story of this complex, often insecure woman. In the early part of the book, the reader learns that Julia's parents created and directed a children's theater in Atlanta, Georgia. They were some of the first people to cross the color line, and their clients included the four children of Martin Luther King. Julia's father was charismatic, but troubled, and ran the gamut from charming to abusive. Her mother had her own problems and was unfaithful to her husband. Julia and her estranged brother seem to hold divergent opinions about their parents, but clearly this was a dysfunctional family. Spada chronicles Julia's school days, during which she considered herself an ugly duckling. He follows her during the lean early years of her acting career and traces her meteoric rise from a walk-on part in "Firehouse" in the mid-80's to her first big break in "Mystic Pizza" in 1988 and "Steel Magnolias" in 1989. During this time Julia began the pattern of pursuing men, falling in love with them, and then leaving them which repeated itself countless times in her life. The book continues through the 2003 release of the "Mona Lisa Smile" and the projected 2004 sequel to "Ocean's Eleven". Although there is no evidence that Spada spoke directly to Roberts, he manages to assemble a lot of information which he shares with the reader. This book shows all sides of Roberts, some which support her charming on-screen persona and some which are a lot less charming. Kudos to him for a job well done.
Rating: 
Summary: In response
Review: As the author of this book, I would like to
respond to the "review" below. It seems to me that when someone purports to review a book, they should do so based on more than one caption. Yes, the caption incorrectly says that Julia's character suffered an epileptic fit, but the text of the book goes into great detail about the character's diabetes. I viewed every one of Julia's movies several times. I welcome serious, thoughtful criticism of my work. but I don't feel that someone who can't bother to read more than the captions has a right to lambast my work.
Rating:
Summary: In response
Review: As the author of this book, I would like to
respond to the "review" below. It seems to me that when someone purports to review a book, they should do so based on more than one caption. Yes, the caption incorrectly says that Julia's character suffered an epileptic fit, but the text of the book goes into great detail about the character's diabetes. I viewed every one of Julia's movies several times. I welcome serious, thoughtful criticism of my work. but I don't feel that someone who can't bother to read more than the captions has a right to lambast my work.
Rating: 
Summary: Very detailled!
Review: Beginning with the birth of her father James Spada is writing about the life and career of Julia and her family. This is indeed very interesting to read - and it is written in a very gripping way, but it is irritating, that this all happens without an official agreement of Julia herself. The main emphasis of this book is on Julia's private life and the sources the author names for this are persons who surround Julia or would like to do so - Julia herself didn't seem to be ready to contribute to this book with statements from her behalf. This is the biggest drawback of this book and one should blame that on the author. Because, what gives him the right to write detailed things even about Julia's love life, when he never has spoken to herself? Only the fact that the book became very extended (almost 500 pages) leaves space enough for Julia's work in movies - the things we actually love her for. Less private stuff (and so something which is none of ones business!!!) would have been better! Merely the stories that tell something about Julia as a human being are interesting. For instance when she saved a car driver, who met with an accident, or the story when she danced with a fan in sort of a pub... These stories are wonderful to read, because they show, what a great and normal woman Julia has kept to be over all times - in spite of all the trouble with paparazzi and with authors who feel they have the right to write even books about her, without having talked to her a single once. Summary: just still recommendable, but you're left with a very bad taste after reading...
Rating: 
Summary: Did Mr. Spada do ANY research?
Review: I admit I only picked up this book and glanced at the photos and descriptions.Mr. Spada wrote by the picture of Julia in character during the film "Steel Magnolias" that her character was having an epiliptic seizure. Huh? Her character in the film has DIABETES, as is mentioned some dozen times in the film. In the scene pictured she's having an episode of low blood sugar. Also clearly defined in the movie. Epilepsy? Not even minorly related to diabetes. I would think Mr. Spada would have seen some of Ms. Robert's movies, (particularly this one as it is her first nomination for an Academy Award) or at the very least he would have used half way decent research. If I found this one glaring error how many others are there?
Rating:
Summary: What a read!
Review: I had no idea that Julia Roberts had such an interesting life. Her parents ran a children's acting workshop in Atlanta in the 1960s; among its students were the four children of Dr. Martin Luther King. Coretta Scott King was one of the workshop's sponsors, and rumors were that the Robertes were so poor the Kings paid the expenses of Julia's birth. Her parents are fascinating; her father was a Renaissance man who, people who knew him told Spada, had a dark side to go along with his talents as a teacher, writer, director, and actor. Spada paints a fascinating picture of what was an extremely dysfunctional family (helped by information he got from Julia's estranged brother, the actor Eric Roberts), and he does a credible job in making the connection between Julia's lack of good role models for male-female relationships and her string of failed romances, engagements, and marriage. While it's clear that Spada didn't get cooperation from Julia or those closest to her, he did speak to enough relatives, high school classmates, friends and co-workers to write a substantial and credible book about Julia Roberts. This is by far the best of the Roberts books--the only one, really, with any claim to serious biography--and I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Top-flight biography
Review: James Spada has written biographies of some of the real heavyweights in Hollywood, and at first glance Julia Roberts might seem out of that league. But as Spada points out in this fascinating and well-written book, Roberts is probably the only female around today who has the potential to leave a legacy approaching some of the greats that have preceded her. The book is relatively short and moves at a good clip--just the right approach to Roberts, I think. Spada offers up the requisite revelations, especially about Roberts's wildly dysfunctional family, but one never gets the impression he's simply dishing dirt, and he has solid sources for the more incendiary material, including a number of Julia's aunts and cousins, and--most intriguingly--her estranged brother Eric, who corresponded with Spada in e-mails. Spada has a witty and knowledgeable take on Roberts's films as well; he describes her first film. "Firehouse," as a "Grade Z sexploitation comedy" and her thriller with Mel Gibson, "Conspiracy Theory," he says, was "akin to a Monty Python spoof of 'The X Files.'" Anyone vaguely interested in Ms. Roberts will find this book entertaining and enlightening, and her fans will love the nearly seventy photos, most in color.
Rating:
Summary: Julia : Her Life
Review: Julia Roberts is both one of the most famous women in the world and one of the most private. Other than tabloid accounts, little has been written on her life. Spada, writer of over 15 other celebrity biographies, has scoured past literature on Roberts and interviewed childhood friends, family, and colleagues to produce an excellent overview of Roberts's life and career. She grew up in Georgia, the youngest of three children (fellow actor Eric is her brother). Her parents ran a local children's theater troupe and were well respected in the community. However, they also had a dark side; today Eric writes bitterly about his past, and Julia won't speak of it. Spada has unearthed little-known details of their upbringing and early life, which he contends have led to Julia's deep insecurity. However, he ultimately paints the picture of a bold, often controversial woman, now living life on her own terms. He also shares fresh details about her films and career. An engrossing read, highly recommended for all public libraries.
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