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.

Fascinating

Even if you don't really know who Mis Farrow is, you're sure to know some of her friends! This was a gripping look at the life of someone who never knew any life but Hollywood from childhood, but is a sincerely is a nice person.

Excellent. Fascinating with heavy themes.

interesting telling of Ms. Farrow's journey. Recommended. She is a commendable and likable soul whose story is very worth telling.

Beautiful

Thank you. Thank you, Mia. This is a beautiful book. Thank you for writing it.

Such a fascinating life.

Mia's life story is remarkable. Her writing is superb.
She embodies loving kindness & wisdom.

An Eye Opener

Fascinating!! I listened to the story over 2 days and was thoroughly riveted. She is honest to a degree of 'brutality'. In many ways Mia Farrow is at once both naive and worldly. Both stupid and wise. I felt sympathy for her situation and anger at her failures to recognise what was going on and put a stop to it. I have come away with an impression of a person who is a thorough example of a 'human being' with all our many facets of being. None of us are perfect and we will all approach situations differently. I have formed the opinion that she is a 'kind' person who was dealing with a situation way outside her experience, and with hindsight may have done better (as we all could). A thoroughly good autobiography well worth listening to. Highly recommended.

Narrator change in the middle of the book

Any additional comments?

It was quite jarring to hear a new narrator in the middle of the book. Why did Mia Farrow stop reading and allow another narrator to take over? I can't find any explanation for it.

What a life

This woman’s life from her birth, childhood, youth was 🤐. From meeting the Beatles at a meditation camp to being Frank Sinatra’s partner and doing a million movies with Woody Allen. Her biological kids and adopted kids. I also downloaded Woody’s memoir to compare stories but I believe her. People call her crazy and a bunch of other things. This was an interesting one sure. She reads very fast at times and monotone but the content is very engaging.

Beautiful Writing

Mia is a talented writer in addition to her other considerable gifts. What a hard life. I found the descriptions about her adoptions a bit flat- she just gives each a few sentences but doesn’t really say the underlying motivations for each adoption, and she has adopted 10 kids ( has 4 biological sons.) The part about Woody Allen leaving her and running off with her daughter Soon- Yi was narrated by someone else with no explanation.

Extraordinary !

What an example of what one person can do to make the world a better place, and Mia Farrow does it while facing overwhelming obstacles.

Poinent story of a loving mother dealing w/trauma

Despite all she and her family endured, she maintained her moral compass with undying l
ove for her children and a motivation to move forward with a positive outlook on life.