Customer Reviews

Both of me

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This book is one of the BEST I've ever read! The writing is simple beautiful and portrays the real life of daytime actress, Mary Stuart. Her Love for her family, friends, co-workers, etc. It is a great indepth look at the world of soap operas, and trying to live a normal life despite all the pressures of being an actress struggling, then finally making her dream come true. The humor in this book is absolutely wonderful! You will laugh, cry, and simply be overwhelmed with the content and beautiful poems and music this wonderful lady of daytime television was so talented in writing. She was truly one of kind, and I highly recommend reading this book, it's one you can read over and over and still come away with something you've learned about life, love, family and responsibilities. This is an absolutely AWESOME piece of work!

Wonderful Mary Stuart, best known from 35 years as JOANNE on the now-defunct SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, has authored a magnificent book which is not only a ocmpelling autobiography, but a fascinating history of broadcast television. Should be required reading for soap opera fans and TV historians, alike. Mary has done what no other living actor has managed to do: play one character for 35 years and keep her vital, interesting and popular. Add this wonderful volume to your collection!

Anyone knowing anything about daytime serials knows "Search For Tomorrow" and the star of that show Mary Stuart. That serial is highly regarded today as the soap opera that became the first hit on American network daytime television way back in 1951 on CBS. Running for over 35 years "Search For Tomorrow" and its star still holds a place in the hearts of millions of fans growing up in America from the fifties to the eighties as Jo symbolized hope and posterity for the future. People adored Mary's beautiful portrayal of the heroine Jo as she was the glue that held that serial together for so many years.

In 1980 Mary Stuart wrote her long-awaited memoir, one of the first daytime legends to do so. In "Both of Me" Mary writes about her beginnings in Hollywood that lead her to star in "Search For Tomorrow". She talks about her personal life, but probably of more interest to soap fans she writes about the history of the show she starred on, everything from her favorite co-stars to her most hated storylines, one invloving the death of her onscreen child.

A wonderful read, I highly recommend anyone interested in the history of soaps to obtain a copy of this well-written and interesting work.

Another soap legend, Susan Lucci, has released her autobiography on March 29, 2011 so look for that as well.

I remember watching "Search" in the early 80's, set in the fictional town of Henderson located somewhere in the mid-west. Mary Stuart (who played Joanne Baron Tate Vincente Touerner, but lovingly referred to as "Jo") was the voice of reason, graciousness, but was one who gave good advice when it was sorely needed to anyone that came to her in their time of need. Each episode began with the one minute set-up of the episode (example: Warren schemes to seek revenge with Jenny Deacon, as he feels she "knows too much")...then cut to the opening sequence: "This isssssssss Search for Tomorrow. This part brought to you by Oxydol. Oxydol bleaches as it washes for whites so white, they'll actually compare to new." Well, those were my memories of "Search" and Jo until I saw "Both of Me" at a second hand book store, with mary Stuart's portrait gracing the cover. By no means is this book soap opera-ish. It recounts the story of Mary's early beginnings in Tulsa, to her making it big in NYC. Mary's humorous recounting of her upbringing, family (and extended family) bring many dimensions to this fascinating woman. She speaks with much sincerity with her failure as a stewardess(!) and her criticism of "Search" during a dark period of time when the show was losing direction and adding on younger characters to give it a more "with-it" or "youthful" appeal. She delves into her friendships (and disagreements) with family. co-stars, producers and the like, but never in a condescending manner. Mary certainly is the voice of reason and a figure of dignity both on "Search" and in her professional and personal life!