A Fine Romance

By: Candice Bergen

Narrated by: Candice Bergen

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the follow-up to Knock Wood - her best-selling "engaging, intelligent, and wittily self-deprecating autobiography" (The New York Times) - Candice Bergen shares the big events: her marriage to a famous French director, the birth of her daughter, Murphy Brown, widowhood, falling in love again, and watching her daughter blossom.

A Fine Romance begins with Bergen's charming first husband, French director Louis Malle, whose huge appetite for life broadened her horizons and whose occasional darkness never diminished their love for each other. But her real romance begins when she discovers overpowering love for her daughter after years of ambivalence about motherhood. As Chloe grows up, Bergen finds her comic genius in the biggest TV role of the '80s, Murphy Brown, and makes unwanted headlines when Dan Quayle pulls her into the 1992 presidential campaign.

Fifteen years into their marriage, Malle is diagnosed with cancer, and Candice is unflinching in describing her and Chloe's despair over his death. But after years of widowhood, she feels the sweet shock of finding a different kind of soul mate. Candice takes us through the first years of her new marriage and shares the bittersweetness of watching Chloe leave home and flourish - and the comedy of a losing battle against those damn wrinkles and extra pounds.

A natural writer, Candice is hilarious, brutally honest, down to earth, and wise. She may be a beautiful Hollywood actress with a charmed life, but Candice is someone who can talk frankly about extraordinary events. Listeners will feel like they've just made a best friend.

©2015 Candice Bergen (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Interesting story; the reading not as expected

Would you listen to A Fine Romance again? Why?

I found the stories themselves mostly interesting. But Ms. Bergen's reading leaves something to be desired. I just saw her on Today and she was so animated. But her read mostly sounded like she was in some sort of fog. Disappointing. I just wish her reading was as compelling as the stories themselves.

What three words best describe Candice Bergen’s voice?

Monotone.

Will Make You Laugh and Cry

I really liked that Candace Bergen read this as you got more of an impact of how she was really feeling. I felt her writings were relatable on so many levels. I am recommending this to all of my friends. I hope it is to be continued.

If You're a Serious Candice Bergen Fan

What did you like best about A Fine Romance? What did you like least?

I'm about Candy's age and have been a fan since The Group. I love hearing memoirs read by the author. I like how honest and self-deprecating she is and I loved hearing about the people who are in her daily life. The book needs some serious editing; it tended to be repetitious and there were times the descriptions smacked of name dropping.

Would you be willing to try another book from Candice Bergen? Why or why not?

Sure...I'm a fan and she's lived her life parallel to but entirely different from mine.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Hard to say since the narrator is the author is the subject.

Was A Fine Romance worth the listening time?

It was a little long. Had I been reading, I would have skipped over long passages. But, I love Candice Bergen and I love hearing her voice.

Any additional comments?

Candy comes off as a real person. She has advantages most of us can't even imagine, but she's brave and feisty and faces all the same things we do...plus all that goes with being an actress and public figure. I truly admire her.

Honest, funny...and did I say honest?

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Loved KNOCK WOOD and it's been too long a gap between books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Candice Bergen is honest above all. I appreciate that in my friends and REALLY appreciate it in a celebrity biography.

Which scene was your favorite?

The birth of her daughter...funny, poignant and very real.

Entertaining, poignant: a fine story

From start to finish this is an entertaining, poignant, often-revealing and hilarious telling of Bergen's life, from her marriage to Louis Malle, the birth of their daughter, and her success with Murphy Brown, to Malle's passing and her life since then.

Loved it!

This story was enthralling. I have been mistaken many times over the years when I was younger for Candice and so I was very interested in her life. This did not disappoint and would recommend for any adult.

Great wonderful story

I loved this audio. It's the first one I have made it to the end. Candace did a beautiful job telling her story. I loved it and I have become to love her in her pure and honest format. Simply beautiful.

Funny, honest memoir

Would you listen to A Fine Romance again? Why?

Candice Bergen was surprisingly open and revealing about her life, including dealing with the aftermath of her husband's death. The book was interesting, sad, and funny. Having the author read the book added a great deal

A Fine Listen

Where does A Fine Romance rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among my favorites. Very pleasant - a change from my usual suspense and crime books.

What did you like best about this story?

She was born into a privileged Old Hollywood lifestyle and makes no secret about her "1% - hood," but manages to seem down to earth and insightful. She certainly drops names, but it doesn't sound like name-dropping. This is just her life. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I enjoyed the details of what she eats and wears and her various homes/apts. She seems to appreciate that it's a rarified life and doesn't take herself too seriously.

Did Candice Bergen do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Not really that kind of book. Others have complained that her narration was dull. I was a little surprised at first of how measured her delivery was - she sounded a little tired and hoarse. But, hey, that's called aging. And she admits to being raised in the Swedish culture of reserved emotions,

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

Yes, DIdn't want it to end.

Any additional comments?

Personally, I thought there was a little too much time devoted to "Murphy Brown," but I also know that that's how most people know her, what they want to hear about and how important that chapter of her life was to her.

excellent!

I loved hearing her tell her stories. Well done Candice! I have so much admiration for you. What a delightful, strong woman.