What Falls Away

By: Mia Farrow

Narrated by: Mia Farrow

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

In an exquisitely written memoir, Mia Farrow introduces us to the landscapes of her extraordinary life. Moving from her earliest memories of the walled gardens and rocky shores of western Ireland and her Hollywood childhood to her career as an actress, she writes of these experiences and her struggle to protect her children in a painful custody battle with Woody Allen. It was this crisis that led her to reflect upon the incidents that had brought her to a place so incomprehensible. Now, in What Falls Away, a memoir resonant not only in its honesty but also in its beautifully crafted prose, Mia Farrow speaks for the first time.

She was born the third of seven children to the beautiful actress Maureen O'Sullivan and successful writer/director John Farrow, but the isolation of a polio ward brought her childhood to an abrupt end at the age of 9. Several years later, two deaths shattered the security of the family forever, and Mia Farrow embarked upon a journey that would lead her away from the convent education that was to sustain her spiritual courage, to starring roles in Peyton Place and Rosemary's Baby, a marriage to Frank Sinatra, divorce, a defining trip to India, work on the London stage and in film, and marriage to André Previn. Their life together in England brought them three sons and three daughters before that marriage, too, dissolved and she returned to the United States.

The year 1979 saw the beginning of a new career with brilliant performances in 13 of Woody Allen's most distinguished films.

Told with grace and deep understanding, as well as humor, What Falls Away goes beneath the surface of this amazing life, with all its drama, success, and pain, and exposes the inner workings of a mind and spirit for whom truth, compassion, and faith are essential.

Mia Farrow's story is ultimately one of hope and courage in the face of difficulty; of commitment to others - most important of whom are her children; and of spiritual strength. Listeners will not easily forget this remarkable book, even long after the last word has been spoken.

©1997 Mia Farrow (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

awesome book great read I highly recommend

very entertaining and interesting, I highly recommend this book, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it

Beautifully written

Mia’s love for helping children is so inspiring. What an amazing, beautiful soul she has.

Makes me wonder if she is really all there...

First, the narration was less than splendid. My description would be wooden. Then in the middle of the book, a different person started narrating..hmmmm........!

As far as Ms. Farrow goes, she is FLAKY! She proclaims to love her children but fails to do what she should have done to keep them out of harms way (namely Woody Allen). Why she would ever spend any time with the likes of Woody Allen is beyond my comprehension, if in fact, what she says about him has any truth to it. I always suspected that she was a bit flaky but this book confirms that to be true.

The book itself was not bad but the story it told was absurd.

Well-written Public Airing of Private Lives

Mia Farrow is such an appealing person as an actor and as a reader. Her story is interesting enough, but the preponderance of the book deals with the custody battle with and abuse allegations against Woody Allen, much of which is well-known now. (Writen in 1997, this would have been breaking and heart-breaking news at the time.) The switch in narration part-way through is very, very jarring--no explanation is given and we wonder if Mia Farrow just broke off in the middle of the project or if she will come back on. (She does.) But the narrative shift is a strike against the cohesiveness of the story.

Humanitarian effort?

I had hoped this Mia Farrow would touch on her famous mother, Sinatra and her humanitarian efforts. I found the book the writings of a still bitter woman. I am sorry I wasted my time and money. If I wanted to read about Woody Allen I would have purchased a biography of Woody Allen. Skip this one. Not enough good to outweigh the bad.

Candid & Honest

Ms. Farrow's memoir is interesting and honest. Although she narrates as if she is "standing at the head of the classroom and simply reading a book to her peers), the contents of the book keep you listening.

She is very forthcoming about her marriages, how love effected her life and decisions and her devotion to her children. I especially appreciated her candor at writing and acknowledging the judge's observation that she showed dubious parenting ability when she did not leave Woody Allen and distance herself and her children from him, as soon as she realized what a danger he was to her children and his sexual overtures to her daughter. I began to feel she did not have a strong character, however she did finally do what needed to be done and it is apparent she does love her children very much. She is not a woman who would put a man before her kids! Commendable and honest!

The final chapters are far more captivating and flow with excitement as she discribes all she went through to get where she is today.

I recommend the book highly if readers enjoy a true account that does not withhold the bad and only highlight the good. She tells it all to the best of her ability!

Interesting life but...

It was written like fiction; I prefer memoirs to be written as if the narrator is just sitting and talking with me. Also, I think someone else would have done a better job narrating the book. Interesting life though. Definitely worth the listen despite my complaints.