My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Alana Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2009

Alana Stewart and Farrah Fawcett went through it all together. Friends for thirty years, they were an essential part of each other's lives since first meeting at a dinner party in the 1970s. During that time, they supported each other through the trials of Hollywood life while also raising their families, keeping in close contact.

But in the fall of 2006, a test of their friendship arose unlike any other they'd faced: Farrah was diagnosed with aggressive rectal cancer. She was determined to fight, and Alana was determined to help her. Together, they were relentless in their pursuit of a cure, traveling halfway around the world as they sought every mainstream, alternative, and experimental therapy available. In all, they spent the better part of the next three years together - Alana by her friend's side as they struggled hand in hand with the unknown.

Now, in these intimate and personal diaries, Alana shares her thoughts on the events of the last three years, documenting the journey she and Farrah embarked on as they prayed for a miracle. Reflecting back on the three decades they shared, Alana details what she's learned about her friend and herself as they battled through the trials of this illness. From the importance of selflessness, to the undeniable value of faith, to the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, Alana's day-to-day entries reveal a side of these two friends that the world has never seen. Even in the face of this debilitating disease, Farrah's courage and determination continues to teach us about life . . . and love.

Writing candidly about aging, marriage, motherhood, and faith--all topics she and Farrah dealt with together over the years - Alana provides a moving tribute to a woman, once Hollywood's golden girl, and an inspiring celebration of life. My Journey with Farrah is the story of two courageous women who stood by each other through good times, bad times, and now the most trying of times. It is a book that will make people laugh, cry, and rejoice in the power of friendship.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alana Stewart is an actress, former model, and talk-show host who has worked in Hollywood for almost forty years. She filmed and produced Farrah's Story, a documentary about her friend Farrah Fawcett's battle with cancer, which aired on NBC in May 2009. Alana devoted the past three years of her life to helping Farrah through her harrowing and courageous journey. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (August 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061960586
• ASIN: B002SB8QIM
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #832,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Entitlement versus Enlightenment, August 31, 2009

By 

M (Naperville, IL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship (Hardcover)

Stewart's sense of entitlement and self-pity feeds Alana's fear of old age, alone, without financial means. I don't know why I should be annoyed, being far from self-less, myself. But also, Alana places an uncomfortable priorty on her own birthday parties and gifts received. Nothing wrong with that until it prioritizes self over the greater needs of others, specifically loved ones.

And then, Alana's belief system leads her to believe that God puts Mimmo (a guy she meets in Europe while helping Farrah)in her life "for a reason" that turns out to be sex.

And she calls in these "healers" that supposedly are able to work magic (One healer, by rubbing coconut oil on Farrah's arms). Ms. Stewart dabbles in Christian Science for a bit and then is off searching in other directions.

In the beginning of this tale, Alana seems convinced that cancer can be meditated away. She actually advises Farrah to hold off on surgery because Alana's astrologer says so.

Though this book is Alana's honest effort to honor Farrah's friendship, it is also a hard look at an aging beauty unable to grow into her true self.

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It's All About Alana, August 28, 2009

By 

R. E. WILLARD - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship (Hardcover)

This is such a betrayal of a woman who valued her privacy. The portion of the book dealing directly with Farrah's cancer treatments and her fight to survive is so minimal that this could have been a short story. Why do we need to know about poor Alana leaving hearth and home (one, apparently, she can ill afford) and presenting herself as a near saint for flying first class to Germany and having an affair with a younger man to bolster her ego. She could not have whined more about her lack of money or rotten luck with men. Dear God, for the first time I felt sorry for Rod Stewart having been married to this self absorbed woman. There is nothing here that was not in the documentary save some salacious details that add nothing to the fight Farrah was in. If hawking this kind of book makes for a friend, I'll rely on enemies (at least, with them, you know where you stand). Nice touch, Alana, descibing how wretched poor Farrah looked on her deathbed. And yes, I battled cancer and watched a loved one succumb so I do know how much one can sacrifice if one is not so shallow. If you must read it, go to the library.................

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars All About Alana...Poor Farrah, September 8, 2009

By 

Teri D. Demott "aussierider41" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship (Hardcover)

When I first started reading this book I seriously thought that Alana Stewart would tell about all the hours she spent by Farrah's side. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book shows how self centered Alana is, it's all about her. This book shows that Alana was NOT always by Farrah's side as she claims. It shows she went to Germany with Farrah...sometimes seemingly grudgingly. And when she SHOULD have been by Farrah's side..she was off having sex with an italian chef. Ok..so Farrah said to go ahead and have fun. Heeeellllloooo...when your friend is having treatments for cancer, you STAY with your friend. You just don't go off and have sex with someone you don't know. At the end Alana says that she put all of her stuff on the back burner and put Farrah first. NOT. Alana, if you had been a true friend to Farrah you would have been literally at her side, day and night. You were not at all. If you had been a true friend you would not have went off and had sex with a stranger. If you had been a true friend you would not have worried about every little thing that was going to affect you. You would not have went to parties and left your friend home alone. You would not have done alot of the things that you had done. There's so much more I could say but I would probably quite literally get in trouble. Thank God I checked this book out from the library instead of buying it. I will not be recommending this book to anyone. Hopefully Alana Stewart will see some of these reviews and rethink about what it means to be a TRUE FRIEND. Because she is not one and she was not one to Farrah.