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Call Me Anna The Autobiography of Patty Duke Author:Patty Duke The Star--The public saw her as a gifted child star: the youngest actor to win an Oscar for her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker and the youngest actor to have a prime-time television series bearing her own name. — The Nightmare--What the public did not see was Anna Marie Duke, a young girl whose life changed forever at age seven ... more »when tyrannical mangers stripped her of nearly all that was familiar, beginning with her name. She was deprived of family and friends. Her every word was programmed, her every action monitored and criticized. She was fed liquor and prescription drugs, taught to lie to get work, and relentlessly drilled to win roles.
The Legend--Out of this nightmare emerged Patty Duke, a show business legend still searching for the child, Anna. She won three Emmy Awards and divorced three husbands. A starring role in Valley of the Dolls nearly ruined her career. She was notorious for wild spending sprees, turbulent liaisons, and an uncontrollable temper. Until a long hidden illness was diagnosed, and her amazing recovery recovery began.
The Triumph-- Call Me Anna is an American success story that grew out of a bizarre and desperate struggle for survival. A harrowing, ultimately triumphant story told by Patty Duke herself--wife, mother, political activist, President of the Screen Actors Guild, and at last, a happy, fulfilled woman whose miracle is her own life.« less
There is value in reading this book even if you care nothing about bipolar conditions, Patty Duke puts all her cards out on the table, and the result is more than just a medical textbook. It is, among other things, the inside story of the most remarkable child actress of her day, and of a strange career that included Broadway stardom and the Academy Award for "The Miracle Worker", as well as the punishing, grueling TV treadmill called THE Patty Duke Show, in which she played two lookalike cousins with such consummate verve that many children who watched the show thought there were actually two different actresses playing the parts.
Indeed it's a book that has everything, including the details of her feud with Lucille Ball and her days counting her fingers to figure out if John Astin or Desi Jr was the father of her baby.
Her star has sunk in later years but she remains one of the highly regarded acting personalities of our time.
I have read this book years ago. And now the manic stages Patty Duke went through, they are finding out are Bi-Polar Disorders. There are many spectrums of this disorder. I highly recommend this book, if you suspect you or someone you know may have this. But also, I recommend the book for itself. This lady has gone through alot of trauma. Gives you a whole new perspective on her. You won't be disappointed.
Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
Pat M. (PatC-M) reviewed Call Me Anna : The Autobiography of Patty Duke on
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Well written, insightful. If you're a fan, you'll enjoy getting to know this woman.