Then Again

By: Diane Keaton

Narrated by: Diane Keaton

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
Janet Maslin, The New York Times • People • Vogue

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
—Financial Times • Chicago Sun-Times
The Independent • Bookreporter
The Sunday Business Post

Mom loved adages, quotes, slogans. There were always little reminders pasted on the kitchen wall. For example, the word THINK. I found THINK thumbtacked on a bulletin board in her darkroom. I saw it Scotch-taped on a pencil box she’d collaged. I even found a pamphlet titled THINK on her bedside table. Mom liked to THINK.

So begins Diane Keaton’s unforgettable memoir about her mother and herself. In it you will meet the woman known to tens of millions as Annie Hall, but you will also meet, and fall in love with, her mother, the loving, complicated, always-thinking Dorothy Hall. To write about herself, Diane realized she had to write about her mother, too, and how their bond came to define both their lives. In a remarkable act of creation, Diane not only reveals herself to us, she also lets us meet in intimate detail her mother. Over the course of her life, Dorothy kept eighty-five journals—literally thousands of pages—in which she wrote about her marriage, her children, and, most probingly, herself. Dorothy also recorded memorable stories about Diane’s grandparents. Diane has sorted through these pages to paint an unflinching portrait of her mother—a woman restless with intellectual and creative energy, struggling to find an outlet for her talents—as well as her entire family, recounting a story that spans four generations and nearly a hundred years.

More than the autobiography of a legendary actress, Then Again is a book about a very American family with very American dreams. Diane will remind you of yourself, and her bonds with her family will remind you of your own relationships with those you love the most.

Critic reviews

“For anyone looking to join one woman’s—albeit a famous woman’s—touching and funny journey into the vortex that is the parent-child relationship, Then Again features an especially honest tour guide.”—USA Today

“[A] rich and ruminative autobiographical journey.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editor’s Choice)

“Although peek-behind-the-curtain moments are delicious—Woody Allen! Warren Beatty! Jack Nicholson! . . . this is a [memoir] about a mother and a daughter, with insights and confessions and lessons to which all readers can relate.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Both heartbreaking and joyful, [Then Again] covers the gamut of life experiences facing all women.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“A poem about women living in one another’s not uncomplicated memories. . . . Part of what makes Diane Keaton’s memoir, Then Again, truly amazing is that she does away with the star’s ‘me’ and replaces it with a daughter’s ‘I.’ ”—Hilton Als, The New Yorker

“This book feels like Diane Keaton. Which means it’s lovable.”—Entertainment Weekly

“As warm, funny, and self-deprecating as Keaton’s onscreen persona—[Then Again] traces a profound dramatic arc: that of a young woman coming into her own as an artist, and of a daughter becoming a mother.”—Vogue

“Then Again reads like the diary of an ordinary woman who suddenly became a movie star, who doesn’t quite believe any of it happened, but it did.”—Los Angeles Times

Unexpected reflection on the frailty of human life

What a delightful surprise. I like Diane Keaton and was open to reading this after seeing her interview on John Stewart. I expected a bio and sure, there's a bit of that. Her stories of her early years and subsequent breakthrough was interesting and engaging. What really surprised me (and really touched me) was the juxtapositioning of her mom's journals with her own. I think it's difficult for some of us (maybe just me....) to think of our own parents as human and just as prone to failure as we are, not to mention that they do get old and weak. This book really brought that home to me but in a kind way. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Love Diane? Listen Up!

What did you love best about Then Again?

A quirky lady and trained actress telling you her story with frankness and humor.

Any additional comments?

Nothing beats a writer who reads his/her own words skillfully

not the best audio production

Where does Then Again rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

hard to say. I'm wondering whether the skipping back and forth between the mother's diary entries, letters and notes as well as letters and notes from former lovers and friends - not to mention from Keaton herself - and Keaton's present account, was made harder to follow without any layout hints. maybe different background sounds or something could have been added to help the listener?... or maybe it was just that some bits just weren't all that captivating?

What about Diane Keaton’s performance did you like?

very honest and touching

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

a surprising family story

Would you listen to Then Again again? Why?

I rarely listen to autobiographies more than once, so it's no knock on this title that I wouldnt listen to it again

What was one of the most memorable moments of Then Again?

The portrayal of Keaton's mother and her struggle with dementia was surprising and moving. It's really a story of family relationships.

Which character – as performed by Diane Keaton – was your favorite?

Her mother

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Keaton's openness about her bulimia

Any additional comments?

I could have done without the Keaton giggles but otherwise an outstanding performance

Interesting Details of Diane's Life and Career

I've always been a big fan of Keaton's, well before I found out that she was from my hometown of Santa Ana, CA. I now recognize her humor as part of a goofy, endearing sensibility that was prevalent among girls in southern California in my childhood. The characters she played always felt very familiar. I had heard some of the details of her upbringing in various interviews over the years, but the hometown connection made it all the more fascinating since I totally recognized the world she described.. She was a bit older than me, about the age of my older cousins who were teenagers when I was a little kid, so we all went through many of the same experiences, just with a slightly different perspective.

I think this memoir will be of particular interest to those who admire Keaton's work... her comic talent, her versatility as an actress, and her compassion as a human being which always informed her approach to characterizations. She describes how she parlayed her high school and Community College acting experience and vocal lessons into a role in the musical "Hair" on Broadway, and soon after, was cast in the original NY stage version of Woody Allen's "Play It Again, Sam." From there, a little luck and a lot of talent led to the brilliant acting career we're so familiar with.

She talks with great insight about her family, particularly her mom and her emotionally fragile brother, The reader can reflect on the fact that you never really leave your upbringing behind, even as a rich, famous movie star. She talks candidly about her insecurities with her appearance and her complicated relationship with weight and beauty, never completely settling on the best way to deal with unforgiving Hollywood beauty standards, but moving forward with humor and dignity as an older actress. Though she talks in detail about all her acting roles, there isn't much in the way of industry gossip. She's candid about her important relationships with men like Allen, Pacino, and Beatty, and shares a lot of insight into their characters. The part of the book about her decision in her 50s to adopt two kids and her experience as a parent as they grew to adulthood was an interesting capper to a life well-lived. It's clear she gave people much love and joy throughout her life.

I'd sum up this memoir as candid and insightful, particularly about herself, the ups and downs of her career, and her mixed feelings about family. She was very much a product of the time and place in which she grew up. The tone of the book is like a frank discussion with a trusted friend. It answers all the questions you have about her, but you won't find any salacious details about lovers or mean celebrity gossip. She treats everybody she talks about with respect. I got a lot out of this book!