As I Am

Patricia explains in detail the ups and downs that have occurred in her fruitful life. The strength she showed after her near fatal stroke is a true inspiration to not only other strike victims but to all of us. She totally exposes her feelings regarding her relationship with Gary Cooper, the subsequent abortion and the animosity she received from his daughter. What a beautiful and sad love they shared. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Patricia Neal the actress but also anyone who is inspired by a very brave woman. Also anyone who like myself are fans of Gary Cooper will be very interested in the personal side of this man and the huge part he played in Patricia's life.

roald dahl said it best, "pat is the most honest person ever!" she certainly is, i read the book in one day and as the other reviewer stated, i was sad to see it end, her book was so inspirational that i find myself turning to it in my times of darkness, i think every young woman should read this book, it's like having that mother daughter talk with your mom- great read!!! 1million stars!!!!

To my great surprise, I enjoyed this autobiography very much and was sorry when it ended. I had seen a few of Patricia Neal's movies, but was not a fan, and expected to skim through the book; instead I found myself savoring every word. What a life she's had, full of dramatic highs and lows. She found early success on Broadway and won an Oscar during her long Hollywood career, and is known for her love affair with Gary Cooper (she details many other affairs, as well) and her strokes, when she was 39 and pregnant, which left her unable to speak and walk. Her turbulent marriage to eccentric writer Roald Dahl, the death of a child, the accident that left another child brain-damaged, and her relationships with a who's-who list of show biz greats combine to make this a book that is very hard to put down. It is written with so much energy and determination that I became fascinated with Patricia Neal. She is known publicly for her great personal strength, but honestly reveals her weaknesses and fears as well. Highly recommended as an outstanding Hollywood autobiography. Kona

When a busy wife and mother stays up until 4:00 a.m. with a book she literally can't put down, you know it's good! Ms. Neal's fearless and powerful autobiography reads like an intimate review of her own diary. As you read you are simply amazed at her life and the fact she is willing to talk about it in such detail. Such a triumphant career, yet such pain in her personal life! She may have been married to one of my favorite authors but she gives any writer I've read a run for his/her money in sheer narrative power. I actually met Ms. Neal after a speech she gave in 1988 and was impressed with her then, but she is truly a remarkable woman. A must-read book.

I could not put this book down. Patricia Neal is a fine writer and her story is fascinating. From her beginnings in the south to making it big in hollywood and international marriage to roald dahl, her life had it's share of ups and downs. Neal's book is an honest look at how to overcome adversity, (of which she had plenty)taking responsibility for your choices and then ordering meaning from those choices. Most interesting is her affair with Gary Cooper, marriage to the difficult Roald Dahl and recovery from her stroke. I particularly liked her reasons for writing this book. It grew out of the anguish which ensued from her husband's affair and subsequent divorce. She felt that the act of remembering would be an act of salvation. Well worth the read.