An Actor's Life for Me! [Hardcover]

Selma G. Lanes (Author), Lillian Gish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1987

Covers Lillian Gish's childhood years, spent in the theater in the early 1900s before the movie era.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this followup to Lucky Charms and Birthday Wishes, Lydia returns to spend the summer with her three aunts. Day camp is troublesome because she is afraid to admit she can't swim. But her aunts, sensitive to childhood worries, release Lydia and her two friends to enjoy the summer on their own. There are swimming lessons for Lydia and picnics at the lake, games with the dollhouse and getting projects off the ground. But there's a serious undertone to Lydia's holiday that McDonnell handles perfectly, with just the right amount of sympathy and realism. Lydia's father is seriously ill, and her letters to himher anchor to her real life and the real worldare funny, questioning and sad. This is a gem of a story, a well-written and fully-faceted reflection of one young girl's life. Lydia's fans will also note that another story is promised at the end. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1ST edition (November 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670804169
• ISBN-13: 978-0670804160
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #830,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peerless Actress Lillian Gish's Personal Story For Children, January 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: An Actor's Life for Me! (Hardcover)

Here is a charming autobiography written for children although fans of all ages will treasure this book. Lovely artwork of young Lillian and Dorothy highlight this charming little memoir that any silent movie fan will adore.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, January 20, 2005

By 

Prism Light "Prism" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Actor's Life for Me! (Hardcover)

We found this book in a bag by the side of the road on our way home from somewhere one day. We tried to return the bag to its owner, but the people who lived at the address in the bag said that it didn't belong to them. So we kept the things in the bag, including this absorbing story.

When I first read it, I didn't even know who Lillian Gish was! But this turned out to be a great book that I've read more then once. It talks about Lillian's life as an actor, back in the early days. Described are mistakes on stage, traveling around the country, hard times, and shining moments. Some may think that the book is simply an ordinary biography that does anything but pull you in and keep you turning pages. But "An Actor's Life For Me" is not only educational, but fun! Lillian Gish truly had a tough life sleeping on benches or on floors while traveling, and acting away from her family for so long.

Overall, this was a great book! It really got into the absorbing little details that keep you wondering. I recommend it.