NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From Academy Award winner and bestselling author Diane Keaton comes a candid, hilarious, and deeply affecting look at beauty, aging, and the importance of staying true to yourself—no matter what anyone else thinks.
Diane Keaton has spent a lifetime coloring outside the lines of the conventional notion of beauty. In Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty, she shares the wisdom she’s accumulated through the years as a mother, daughter, actress, artist, and international style icon. This is a book only Diane Keaton could write—a smart and funny chronicle of the ups and downs of living and working in a world obsessed with beauty.
In her one-of-a-kind voice, Keaton offers up a message of empowerment for anyone who’s ever dreamed of kicking back against the “should”s and “supposed to”s that undermine our pursuit of beauty in all its forms. From a mortifying encounter with a makeup artist who tells her she needs to get her eyes fixed to an awkward excursion to Victoria’s Secret with her teenage daughter, Keaton shares funny and not-so-funny moments from her life in and out of the public eye.
For Diane Keaton, being beautiful starts with being true to who you are, and in this book she also offers self-knowing commentary on the bold personal choices she’s made through the years: the wide-brimmed hats, outrageous shoes, and all-weather turtlenecks that have made her an inspiration to anyone who cherishes truly individual style—and catnip to paparazzi worldwide. She recounts her experiences with the many men in her life—including Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, and Sam Shepard—shows how our ideals of beauty change as we age, and explains why a life well lived may be the most beautiful thing of all.
Wryly observant and as fiercely original as Diane Keaton herself, Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty is a head-turner of a book that holds up a mirror to our beauty obsessions—and encourages us to like what we see.
Praise for Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty
“Behind the sterling movie credits and tomboyish wardrobe, we see a soulful and deep woman contemplating the narrative arc of her own life.”—Newsweek
“Delicious writing . . . This book is like a dishy lunch with the movie star you thought you’d never be lucky enough to meet. . . . Diane Keaton is in a class by herself and this book is good for the soul.”—Liz Smith, Chicago Tribune
“She’s talented, iconic, quirky . . . and wonderfully blunt. This is just a small sampling of the reasons we love Diane Keaton, and they all permeate the pages of her new memoir.”—Elle
“As disarming and personable as the actress herself.”—The Huffington Post
“Wise, witty, thoughtful, uplifting, the truth, unvarnished—and very funny.”—Toronto Star
From the Hardcover edition.
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"As always Diane Keaton is a remarkable storyteller with a great story to tell. Just love this book"
— Cheryl (5 out of 5 stars)
“She’s talented, iconic, quirky…and wonderfully blunt. This is just a small sampling of the reasons we love Diane Keaton, and they all permeate the pages of her new memoir…Keaton sticks to her guns and keeps it totally honest. And it is beyond refreshing.”
— ElleWise, witty, thoughtful, uplifting, the truth, unvarnished—and very funny.
— Toronto StarBehind the sterling movie credits and tomboyish wardrobe, we see a soulful and deep woman contemplating the narrative arc of her own life.
— NewsweekDelicious writing . . . This book is like a dishy lunch with the movie star you thought you’d never be lucky enough to meet. . . . Diane Keaton is in a class by herself and this book is good for the soul.
— Liz Smith, Chicago TribuneShe’s talented, iconic, quirky . . . and wonderfully blunt. This is just a small sampling of the reasons we love Diane Keaton, and they all permeate the pages of her new memoir.
— ElleAs disarming and personable as the actress herself.
— The Huffington Post“Wise, witty, thoughtful, uplifting, the truth, unvarnished—and very funny.”
— Toronto Star“Relaxing and charming…like a dishy lunch with the movie star you thought you’d never be lucky enough to meet…This is delicious writing and is full of a positive point of view, exclamations of the beauty of ordinary things and helped turn me from sour to sweet in the few hours that I was reading her book…Diane Keaton is in a class by herself and this book is good for the soul.”
— Chicago Tribune“While other actresses lean forward in the first row of every passing fashion show, Academy Award winner Diane Keaton remains true decade after decade to her quirky bowler hat and signature style. In a Hollywood world of facial nips and tucks and breast implants, she moves forward, impervious to trendy reconstructions. Her new memoir stands as her buoyant response to our culture’s weird pursuit of a feminine beauty that somehow defies aging. Filled with stories about her close brushes with style professionals, style pundits, and thong merchants, Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty may not be pretty, but it certainly is entertaining.”
— Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review“Keaton’s new book is less a traditional memoir than a collection of musings loosely grouped around the idea of beauty. The audiobook is read by Keaton, and…hearing her words delivered in her own quirky, exuberant voice increases the intimacy and charm of the book…Keaton is candid regarding her feelings for the men in her life without being gossipy and that is to be admired, as is her ability to be honest about the challenges of oversharing personal information about her children. Verdict: The most appealing parts of this book are often the peeks into the more quotidian moments of Keaton’s life, and the interesting parts of her memoir may not be her thoughts on beauty but the picture that develops of an unconventional life lived by a truly unique woman.”
— Library Journal (starred audio review)“The veteran actress covers the many aspects of female beauty with a still-youthful voice that is as familiar, lyrical, and charmingly awkward as that of her on-screen persona…Keaton sounds confident as she imparts the accumulated wisdom of sixty-seven years…Advice for women and intimate celebrity gossip from an iconic woman admired for her independence and individuality.”
— Publishers Weekly (audio review)“A breezy little volume by an actress facing old age with aplomb…[Keaton] sprinkles memories of her long career, including her friendships and more with certain leading men…[and] thoughts about childhood, beauty, and parenting…Woven into the domestic scenes are recollections of film roles and fellow actors…Light entertainment from a witty woman.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Actress Diane Keaton narrates her eccentric series of reflections on beauty trends in today’s and yesterday’s worlds. In a wispy voice reminiscent of her character in Annie Hall, she also speaks about family, career, and clothes (including her penchant for men’s clothing). Her intonation accurately and appropriately reflects both her quirky personality and her varied commentary on beauty—its presence, absence, and changing definitions. While many sentences trail off both in volume and articulate precision at their conclusions, for the most part, the work is thoughtfully entertaining. Keaton’s steadfastness in resisting the temptation of plastic surgery while aging gracefully makes for fascinating listening. On the other hand, this audiobook will appeal most to those with a distinct interest in fashion and beauty trends.”
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Diane Keaton is the New York Times bestselling author of Then Again, which was named one of the ten best books of the year by the New York Times, People, and Vogue. She has starred in some of the most memorable movies of the past forty years, including the Godfather trilogy, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Reds, Baby Boom, The First Wives Club, and Something’s Gotta Give. Her many awards include the Golden Globe and the Academy Award. She lives with her daughter and son in Los Angeles.