OONA Living in the Shadows

Oona Chaplin, née O'Neal, had the distinction (and misfortune) of being the daughter of one difficult genius and the wife of another. One is left feeling that, in other circumstances, she might have attained some distinction on her own, and had a lot more fun. Her biography is a cautionary tale against the perils of alcohol and celebrity. This book has the non-aural quality of technical writing: directed at the mind and eye rather than the ear, not inviting interpretative treatment. The talented Donada Peters is pretty much confined to reporting what is on the page, which she does with easy competence, showing the good taste not to try to inject more drama than is in the writing. This is one of the many nonfiction books for which the audio format is only a convenience. Oral interpretation cannot add a layer of depth or richness. J.N. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 00]