Enter Talking [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Rivers (Author), Richard Meryman (Collaborator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rivers's uninhibited comedy is vastly appreciated by TV and night club audiences. There is little to laugh at, however, in the performer's tediously detailed autobiography. It starts with reports of growing up in an affluent suburb near New York City and Joan Molinsky's embarrassment at her parents for living beyond their means. Then she complains cuttingly about lack of family encouragement as she pursued an acting career. The men in Rivers's life are described unfavorably, as are the showbiz folk who impeded her progress. These recollections accompany bitter memories of false starts, frustrations and heartaches while the entertainer worked in dives and endured rebuffs until she "arrived" at age 31 in 1965. Rivers's breakthrough was her first appearance on The Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson, whom she duly thanks here for empathizing with her humor. Photos not seen by PW. First serial to Cosmopolitan; Literary Guild featured alternate.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Who would expect a book by and about Rivers to be thoughtful, sensitive, and introspective? And yet here we have an autobiography of a brash entertainer that is not simply an excuse for one-liners and name dropping. Rivers, with the aid of Meryman, writes mostly about her early heartbreaking years of trying to make it as a comic artist. She also tells of her long love-hate relationship with her parents and their lack of support and faith in her burgeoning career. Rivers's recent rise to her present position as co-host of the Tonight Show gets scant coverage. More important is the author's explanation of how she tailors her comedy to fit the audience and her cogent analysis of what makes people laugh. Recommended for most public libraries. Literary Guild featured alternate. Samuel Simons, Memorial Hall Lib., Andover, Mass.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 394 pages
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Co., Inc. (March 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440122449
• ISBN-13: 978-0440122449
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #580,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely honest, October 24, 2000

By 

Sandee Bengel (Blackwood,NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enter Talking (Audio Cassette)

Joan Rivers did a fabulous job with this. She was extremely honest in her descriptions with show business and describes the "business" of it so openly. Her vulnerability and strength are intertwined so vividly.She is funny,honest,intelligent,good-hearted and insecure as most, but brave enough to admit it. I would highly recommend the audiotape and book as well. It is a great tool for anyone dealing with the emotional aspects of show business rejections. Joan Rivers proves that not only has she been a survivor thru tremendous hardships,but that she is indeed a fragile,yet strong human being. The audio makes for great listening for days stuck in traffic jams.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable memoir of Joan Rivers, January 1, 2009

By 

Jan Comsky - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Enter Talking (Mass Market Paperback)

Joan Rivers autobiography is an entertaining read. I have not finished the book yet (have about less than 100 pages to go), but wanted to urge customers to buy this book. Her life story from Joan Molinsky, to stage name Pepper January (in Boston, when emceeing a strip show), and to her present name Joan Rivers (Rivers was borrowed from an agent she went to see), is a heart-wrenching life story. Moments in the book when her parents tried to discourage her from a stage and comedy career, I felt deeply with the author. But Joan Rivers kept on going. What a woman!! Oh well - I am going to stop writing this review, so I can pick up the book and finish it!!
Thank you Joan Rivers.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joan Rivers-What a book!, March 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Enter Talking (Hardcover)

Joan Rivers book-"Enter talking" was a really good book and introduced em to details about her life as a child and her personally.. It felt like i was sitting there-listening to Joan talk/. I think this is a really good book and i think many people would enjoy it.