As a huge fan of Bette Davis, it was a toss up whether I wanted to read this harrowing account of her life, told from the viewpoint of her daughter Barbara 'B.D.'
As it stands, I found the book interesting in itself, but I can't say I believe every single aspect of it. There are times I found myself gasping in horror at how horrendous Davis is portrayed by her daughter, especially when it seems she is either drunk out of her head, suicidal, verbally abusive to her husband or psychotically manipulative and vile to B.D's children without rhyme or reason. If it's true, I think Barbara had the patience of a saint to put up with her, and how she didn't disown her a long time before that is a miracle. I suppose one aspect that makes it more realistic is that it was published when Davis was still alive and had a chance to respond, whereas Christina Crawford's similar memoir of her mother Joan Crawford was not released until her death. Definitely worth a read whether you believe it or not, and I'm glad to say that it hasn't really affected how much of a Davis fan I am.
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