Rating: 
Summary: Bought it by mistake--loved it!
Review: I actually bought this book by mistake while going on a buying spree through Amazon (I buy over fifteen books a month), so my first thought was to throw it back. But wait! While I knew who O'Hara was, I never really gave her much thought. I decided to skim the first few pages, and several hours later realized I'd read a good portion of the book. All the other books I had intended to buy were put to the side, and this one took over. What a fascinating life this woman had. The courage and determination of Joan Crawford (without all the baggage) and the beauty of myriad other Hollywood starlets, she stood up to just about everybody and everything. A great read, well-written, with insight into one of Hollywood's most memorable leading ladies. Also would like to recommend several other great reads I've come cross (this month). They are: Life of Pi, Bark of the Dogwood, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Check them all out, but by all means, buy 'Tis Herself first! It's great fun!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Was she tough or not?
Review: I did enjoy this book though it left me ambivalent. Was John Ford really that terrible person? Why she repeatedly says "I am a tough Irishwoman", but often behaves just opposite ways? I agree that sometimes she does show a lot of courgage, but why didn't she punch John Ford on the nose?
Perhaps it is impossible to understand the power of the studios. It was difficult to give up reading this book; so it must be good.
Rating:
Summary: Charming Read!
Review: I found this to be a charming, engaging light read. The book covers the basics and topics of interest to a Maureen O'Hara fan. She doesn't get bogged down in the mundane details of daily life. Insights into old Hollywood and various "stars" are fun. As others have mentioned, it is a little surprising to find how often she does not stand up for herself. Yet as she indicates - when she felt strongly about something she dug in her heels & was the stubborn feisty woman we all love. She clearly has kept portions of her life and relationships with others to herself - at first I was disappointed -- but by the end, I realized it's a rare & classy thing in this day & age. The last chapter - beautiful!
Rating:
Summary: delightfully surprised ...
Review: I hate biographies, self-penned or done by another author, so I wandered into this book with a jaded belief that it was going to be yet another vehicle of self-aggrandizement by a star. However, I was delightfully surprised at how well O'Hara and her co-author spun the story of the Irish lass who became one of Hollywood's leading ladies. The book is written in a simple, straight-forward manner that's easy to read, thus becoming an addictive tale to follow ... She describes her relationships with people like John Ford and John Wayne in a manner that lets the reader experience for him- or herself why O'Hara felt so strongly about these folks, always (I thought) trying to show the very human side of these larger-than-life Hollywood movers and shakers. I've always admired the strength of character Ms. O'Hara showed in her movie roles; now I can add my admiration for her wonderful sense of crafting a very personal story in a captivating manner. This book is definitely one to add to my personal collection.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful!
Review: I have loved Maureen O'Hara since I was 5 years old, when I saw her in "The Parent Trap" and desparately wished she were my own mother. I am now almost 24, and as I grew, my love for her grew-and I have waited for this book for a long, long, time. Needless to say, it has exceeded all my expectations!!
This book is beautifully written, and it really feels as if Miss O'Hara is sitting across from you and telling you her amazing life story. It is full of incredible stories about the most magnificent time in Hollywood history, and brings it to life splendidly. More importantly, it tells the story of this truly incredible, beautiful (inside and out) person, candidly and honestly, never holding anything back.
Fans everywhere will be delighted with this; And those who weren't aware (were there any?) will definitely take notice.
What a classy lady. A true original, that's for sure.
Rating:
Summary: 'Tis herself" rings true!
Review: I just finished reading Maureen O'Hara's autobiography and enjoyed it. It had a ring of truth throughout and without flinching. The "gossip" it contained regarding old Hollywood and other stars, I found to be truthful and not acerbic.
I think that anyone who has ever watched an old performance of Maureen's would get a good idea of what was going on behind the scenes by reading this book. Her descriptions of the movie business and day to day trials she endured in a time when women were, well, little more than figureheads gives us insight in how far we have come as women and yet how far we have to go.
I found Maureen's story of her 2 unhappy marriages, one latin lover and finally a happy but brief marriage to be very honest. It also is a parallel of the times she lived in and the system she was part of.
Her story also gives us insight on some of the silver screen greatest performers and helps us understand them as real people; not just larger than life characters on the screen.
I would recommend this book to others who are interested in this period of movie history and in learning more about a very interesting woman.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and Revealing
Review: I've had to good fortune to meet with Maureen O'Hara on several occasions and knew a great deal about her before this book was published. That being said, the book sheds a whole new light on her, what she has gone through and what she has accomplished. It is fascinating, revealing and provides a whole new perspective, sometimes shocking, on O'Hara, the film industry, and many of the icons of the movie world, as well as the political rat race of that "glamorous" industry.
Maureen O'Hara is one of the most talented, beautiful, and genuinely nicest, friendly people whom I've ever met. I'm delighted that she finally decided to write this book and set the record straight about a number of actors, actresses, events and her marriages.
I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent memoir
Review: Marueen O'Hara has always been one of my favorite actresses, not the least of which because her characters always had a trademark redheaded temper about them. It is no surprise to read her accounts of going toe-to-toe with some of the most powerful men in Hollywood. Born Maureen FitzSimons (she changed her name to shorten it for a marquee), she performed on stage and on local radio. By 14, she was already winning awards in drama contests. After appearing in "Jamaica Inn" in 1939, she packed her bags for L.A. O'Hara sheds light on her experiences- from being married to an abusive alcoholic who depleted her funds to a reunion with the man she calls "the great love of my life", aviator Charles Blair, who died in a plane crash in 1978. O'Hara discusses picking up the pieces of her life and marching on after this tragedy. But mostly, Maureen dishes out on her experience of being an immigrant woman coming to this country to star with the likes of Tyrone Power, Rex Harrison, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Sir Alec Guiness, and of course, 'the Duke' himself John Wayne in "The Quiet Man" (which garnered director John Ford an Oscar nomination). This is a bio that doesn't bore or disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing biography,amazing spirit.
Review: Maureen o'hara ha lways been a favourite actress of mine... Reading her biography I discovered her soul Her story is fascinating, at times sounding like a fairy tale,at times tragic.
Humour is always near even when you do not expect it.
It reads wonderfully well...I started friday ...I was" done" saturday ....You just can not stop reading "Tis herself"! A great lady,an immense acress,a wonderful spirit have given us a great book. Thank you Miss O'Hara.Hats off to you. After having read your book ,it seems I understand better why I already liked you since i was a child...I am 44 years old now. God bless you always. Philippe
Rating:
Summary: 'Tis a brilliant read altogether!
Review: Maureen O'Hara is right up there with Kate Hepburn in my esteem. These two ladies took on a Hollywood totally owned and operated by men in a time that the studies controlled almost every aspect of an actor's life (if one wanted to work on a regular basis). They opened up alot of doors for today's actresses. I found this book to be honest, interesting, clever, funny, tearful and very true to Herself. I can't help but wonder about the stories that Ms. O'Hara chose not to tell - I bet they are barn-burners.
A fine book indeed!
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