Unsinkable

A Memoir

By: Debbie Reynolds, Dorian Hannaway

Narrated by: Debbie Reynolds

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

The definitive memoir by legendary actress and performer Debbie Reynolds - an entertaining and moving story of enduring friendships and unbreakable family bonds, of hitting bottom and rising to the top again - that offers a unique and deeply personal perspective on Hollywood and its elite, from the glory days of MGM to the present.

In the closing pages of her 1988 autobiography Debbie: My Life, Debbie Reynolds wrote about finding her "brave, loyal, and loving" new husband. After two broken marriages, this third, she believed, was her lucky charm. But within a few years, Debbie discovered that he had betrayed her emotionally and financially, nearly destroying her life.

Today, she writes, "When I read the optimistic ending of my last memoir now, I can't believe how naive I was when I wrote it. In Unsinkable, I look back at the many years since then, and share my memories of a film career that took me from the Miss Burbank Contest of 1948 to the work I did in 2012.... To paraphrase Bette Davis: Fasten your seatbelts, I've had a bumpy ride."

Unsinkable shines a spotlight on the resilient woman whose talent and passion for her work have endured for more than six decades. In her engaging, down-to-earth voice, Debbie shares private details about her man and money troubles, including building and losing her Las Vegas dream hotel and her treasured Hollywood memorabilia collection. Yet no matter how difficult the problems, the show always goes on.

Debbie also invites us into the close circle of her family, speaking with deep affection and honesty about her relationships with her children, Carrie and Todd Fisher. She looks back at her life as an actress during Hollywood's Golden Age - "the most magical time you could imagine" - including her lifelong friendship with (and years-long estrangement from) the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. Here, too, are stories that never reached the tabloids about numerous celebrities, such as Ava Gardner, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Mick Jagger, Gene Kelly, and many more. She takes us on a guided tour through her movies with delightful, often hilarious behind-the-scenes anecdotes about every film in which she was involved, from 1948 to the present.

Frank and forthright, and featuring dozens of previously unseen photos from Debbie's personal collection, Unsinkable is a poignant reminder that there is light in the darkest times. It is a revealing portrait of a woman whose determination is an inspiration.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2013 Maxray Productions, Inc. (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

A complete insight to Debbie's world

I thought it was a strange way to start the book with the financial struggles Debbie endured with Richard and the hotel (which was a big chunk of the book) but it all weaved perfectly to her other challenges with the museum & old Hollywood collection. Chapters proceeding she shared her life in movies & musicals, working with all the greats of the golden screen while touching on her personal life with loves & family. It's a long and still highly enjoyable listen.

Loved this!

I started listening to this just one week before the deaths of Carrie and Debbie. It was very surreal to continue listening after I heard of their sad passings. But I kept at it and I truly loved it. The fact that Debbie read the story herself added to the greatness. If you love old Hollywood, juicy stories, and Ms Reynolds herself then you will love this. I was shocked about her honesty ranging from Elizabeth Taylor to her own financial issues. My mouth fell open a few times at the things she divulged in this book. I have always admired her from her movies but now having gotten to know her in her own words I hold an even greater respect for her. She was and is a true Hollywood legend and icon.

Debbie Reynolds' book well worth experiencing

This is a wonderfully detailed, interesting trip down memory lane. Lots of inside information told in an honest way. There is no poison angery gossip, just her opened opinions. Recommend listening to this book and the one she did before this one. It's sad to note she died only 4 years after this reading. She seemed like an incredible Lady.

What a sweet lady.

We need more examples like Debbie! Loving mother and caring soul. We will miss her.

Great book

Long book but a great read for a Debbie Reynolds FAN. !!! It truly shows she is unsinkable with all that she has gone through

Very entertaining and enlightening!

Narration: You can tell Debbie was older when she recorded this, but so what. She has a lovely lilt to her voice that she never lost and it adds to the value of the book for me.

The organization of the chapters is a little different from what I expected. The book isn't chronological, it's more by topic. For example, she has all of her movies grouped together, not as they happened. I have the hardcover, though, so I could skip around with that if I felt the need to see the chronology behind her subject.

"Unsinkable" is a perfect title for her life. I knew she'd had money/husband issues and knew about the famous Fisher/Taylor betrayal, but didn't know the extent of her problems. Very inspirational for anyone who needs to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start over again.

Debbie Reynolds Feels Like a Friend

I was only vaguely familiar with Debbie Reynolds’ body of work, having only seen her in a few sitcoms and more recent movies, but after listening, I feel like I know her. Like she is an new friend telling me stories of what her life has been like. I laughed and cried. Then, at the end I cried more, knowing she is no longer with us. Also, knowing she had outlived her only daughter, by just a few days, and how she must have felt for those few days! This book was recommended via a YouTube video of a podcast I watch, I was curious and soooo not disappointed! I highly recommend this audio book!

Worth every penny

A beautiful story and she really did drop names whether good or bad stories. I also loved her voice while storytelling

Unsinkable and Unforgettable

Loved it!!!! Debbie Reynolds' life has been full of high highs and some very low lows and she pulls no punches in describing these .... but always with humour. Her delicious Texan accent, not heard in many of her movies, is slight but it's there and it adds to the charm of this book. I totally loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Hollywood and wonderful woman who truly is "unsinkable"!!

Couldn’t put it down!!

Great book! Very entertaining. What a wonderful woman. I can’t believe her third husband had the audacity to write a book about her after all he put her through. God bless this woman for all she was put through. Great story about a strong, loving, caring mother until the end.