Then Again

By: Diane Keaton

Narrated by: Diane Keaton

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2011 Diane Keaton (P)2011 Random House Audio

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 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)

“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)

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

Wonderful. Sad. Hopeful.

Such a heartfelt biography I have never previously had the pleasure to listen to. Diane Keaton comes across as a beautiful caring soul, as does her mother, who suffered from depression (as well as many of life's frustration as a woman of her era. ) Diane's story is interwoven with her mother's story from both of their many journals. This is not a name dropping type of book, but a book of much introspection, both on Diane's part, and her mother's own struggles to find her "voice" Diane Keaton doesn't hold herself back, and one realizes, that however famous one is, or not, life's struggles, heartaches, and passions remain the same for all.

Candid, truthful, down to earth

I was honored to be able to hear so candidly the ups and downs of this beautiful, graceful actor. I have always admired her and now having read her story along with her mother's story, I am more in awe of her. She speaks with such truth.

Great Actress, Interesting Person, OK Book

What did you like best about Then Again? What did you like least?

Diane Keaton's voice is clear and honest. She shares her life with us, and some of her mother's life too. The search for self in a mother's life is a common experience for many women, and Keaton shares this search with us. However, at least in this audiobook, it was difficult to follow and in some ways, more of a personal exploration than it was of interest to the listener. The connection of her mother's diary entries to the story line seemed blurry at times. It seems like a great potential that wasn't well utilized.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course, in an autobiography, Diane Keaton is the best character, and she is very interesting. The real Annie Hall, an icon for that time and season, is found in Keaton's writing about herself, her life, her family. The character is much more like the actress than we might have guessed.

Any additional comments?

Keaton's story is definitely interesting. The convention of her mother's life through her diaries could have been better utilized. Keaton allows us into her life with generosity. All in all, it is a worthy read about an interesting actress.

Love Diane Keaton and her book.

I have always really liked Diane Keaton, and even more so after listening to her book about her real life. Enjoyed every minute of hearing her sweet voice telling her own story. Two thumbs up!!

Mother Daughter Story told Creatively

If you could sum up Then Again in three words, what would they be?

Apt Title for Engaging Relationship Story

What did you like best about this story?

How she told the story - it was interwoven with her and her mother's thoughts and told in a conversational manner-- rambling yet organized coherent thoughts - not chronological - a unique biography of her mother and herself and how these two lives intertwined - quite meaningful and sensitve - a substantive work.

What does Diane Keaton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The book is personal so adding Keaton's voice underlines that uniqueness - The story is however universal in that it shows how a mother and daughter relationship contributes to both persons' identities. The reader or listener can relate to the feelings that the story evokes about mothers and daughters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Then Again

Any additional comments?

The title is perfect.

Magnificent

The term "Heartfelt" was created for Keaton-Hall's ode to her mother. Not only is she smashing as an actor, she far surpasses that with her memoir. For herself, for her mother for all mothers. I'll buy the book because I will now hear her voice as I read it. But I highly recommend getting the Audible version first so you can do this, because Keaton's performance is pitch perfect and draws you into her life like no other author. When she recalls getting one of her first big parts, you can feel the joy she felt at that time and you feel it deeply. Do yourself a favor and buy both book and audible for something you will cherish forever.