Her Again

Becoming Meryl Streep

By: Michael Schulman

Narrated by: Eliza Foss

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

A portrait of a woman, an era, and a profession: the first thoroughly researched biography of Meryl Streep - the "Iron Lady" of acting, nominated for 19 Oscars and winner of three - that explores her beginnings as a young woman of the 1970s grappling with love, feminism, and her astonishing talent.

In 1975, Meryl Streep, a promising young graduate of the Yale School of Drama, was finding her place in the New York theater scene. Burning with talent and ambition, she was like dozens of aspiring actors of the time - a 20-something beauty who rode her bike everywhere, kept a diary, napped before performances, and stayed out late "talking about acting with actors in actors' bars". Yet Meryl stood apart from her peers. In her first season in New York, she won attention-getting parts in back-to-back Broadway plays, a Tony Award nomination, and two roles in Shakespeare in the Park productions. Even then, people said, "Her. Again."

Her Again is an intimate look at the artistic coming of age of the greatest actress of her generation, from the homecoming float at her suburban New Jersey high school through her early days on the stage at Vassar College and the Yale School of Drama during its golden years to her star-making roles in The Deer Hunter, Manhattan, and Kramer vs. Kramer. New Yorker contributor Michael Schulman brings into focus Meryl's heady rise to stardom on the New York stage; her passionate, tragically short-lived love affair with fellow actor John Cazale; her marriage to sculptor Don Gummer; and her evolution as a young woman of the 1970s wrestling with changing ideas of feminism, marriage, love, and sacrifice.

This captivating story of the making of one of the most revered artistic careers of our time reveals a gifted young woman coming into her extraordinary talents at a time of immense transformation, offering a rare glimpse into the life of the actress long before she became an icon.

©2016 Michael Schulman (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Great narrator. Will buy more books read by her.

What made the experience of listening to Her Again the most enjoyable?

I loved the story and tone of narrator voice. She brought the book to life.

Marvelous Meryl

Loved the story! The narrator was perfect! I've admired Streep for years, but missed all of her early movies. I am going back to watch them now. Have already recommended to many friends and will continue to do so. 5 stars all the way!

Too detailed

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I admire Meryl Streep and enjoyed learning more about her, but this book had too many details and too much information about other people's lives. It could have been shortened and been more enjoyable.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Baldacci. Or another good biography. Possible a historical novel.

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

For some reason, I didn't care for her voice. No particular reason.

Could you see Her Again being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no

Any additional comments?

no

Becoming Meryl Streep Took More Than Acting Chops

Until I read this delightful biography of Meryl Streep, I had no idea that her talent made some acting teachers at Yale so jealous, they put her on probation. Or that Dustin Hoffman had slapped her and upstaged her and sexually demeaned her during the shooting of Kramer versus Kramer. Or how good Joe Papp had been to her even when she was an hour late to her first audition. This book has so many stories about Meryl and her famous colleagues, it is never less than fun. And so much insight into the art of acting, it is useful too. I enjoyed it and only wished it were longer. #MerylStreep #ActingLesson #CelebrityAnecdotes #Delightful #GreatStarBio #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

Good and Bad

Is there anything you would change about this book?

My sense was that either the author or the narrator (or both) was disdainful and of Meryl Streep. Her story is compelling; too often comments about her or her era were snide and unappreciative.

Meryl Streep the Early Years

Would you listen to Her Again again? Why?

No, once was enough.

Which character – as performed by Eliza Foss – was your favorite?

Meryl Streep

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me think how intelligent and strong women Meryl was during her early years. This helped her move through a world that preyed on weakness. I understand now why she wasn't taken advantage of by this world.

Any additional comments?

It went into great depth in the early but just skimmed the rest.

Covers life until winning first Oscar

As a fan of Meryl Streep, it's difficult to rate this book. This is partly because it only covers her early years. I wasn't as interested and her college experiences which are covered in great detail. But others might be. However her early professional roles and the gossipy bits surrounding them were at times captivating. I really enjoyed hearing about her first on-screen role in the movie Julia, with Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave . And I didn't know about her tragic (in the end) love affair with John Cazale (Fredo in the Godfather) or that she married her current husband, a sculptor, Don Gummer, 6 months after John's death.

I didn't care for the narration--and at times it seemed as if someone was reading from a gossip magazine.

Learned alot about the iconic Meryl!

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

From childhood she was destined to be an actress, not a star.

Who was your favorite character and why?

she had a special relationship with John Casell.

Have you listened to any of Eliza Foss’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

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

No

Any additional comments?

No

Boring

This has to be one of the most boring books I have ever listened to. I couldn’t finish it.

I love Merrill

Book was basically a resume high school through Kramer and Kramer.
1/ 3 of book was about Kramer and Kramer
Didn't touch on all of her success since then.
Very little of her personnel experience more like a resume read from a show business newspaper