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Book Review- Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty by Diane Keaton

I have read only one auto-biography/biography style book before. It was about Julie Andrews and it was for my final project in grade 12 drama class. I got into the book more than I expected, but that may be because I absolutely love Julie Andrews. I picked this particular book up after I read a review on it, and because I have an appreciation for Diane Keaton. She’s freaking DIANE KEATON! I would not consider myself to be an uber fan, but if there was one celebrity I want to sit down and have coffee with, it would be Diane Keaton. She is so down to earth and funny. Her take on life is so wonderful, and after I read this, my appreciation for her just grew. I loved her entire view on beauty and learning about the way it was constructed in her own life. It was a great read, and a genre that I want to explore even more.

1.       Don’t tell me what beauty is before I know it for myself (XVII).

Okay. Let’s just take a second here and think about this. It is no news to anyone that beauty is a social construct, and we basically force it as soon as the children of the world come out of the womb. So thanks social media. Why are we forcing all of our opinions on children before they are old enough to make their own decisions? How is that fair?

 

2.       I wished sex was as harmless and free-spirited as the atmosphere in Victoria’s Secret (66).

Sex. Did I get your attention? Probably. Because sex is this huge kind of taboo subject. Particularly when it comes to women. If women are free-spirited about sex, they are labelled sluts. But yet, we can look at Victoria’s Secret and LaSenza, and “harmless” and “free-spirited” are the only words that come to mind. Things once again don’t make sense.

 

3.       Now that I’m sixty-seven, I’m aware that fear is not gender-based (70).

News flash: guys are scared to put themselves out there too. That’s all I have to say. I hope that it doesn’t take everyone until the age of sixty-seven to figure that out.

 

4.       It’s fantastic to have an imagination stimulated by diversity (73).

I was just discussing this topic with my mom. I was expressing my concern for someone I went to high school with because I realized that they may never grow as a person. This person is so stuck in their box that their mind is closed off to any other possibilities out there. If you stay in the same place, then I don’t think you can mature as a person.

 

5.       We all long to feel confident, look great, and do well. We all want to be remembered.  Sometimes we’re lost. Sometimes we’re found. But one thing’s for sure: no matter how much control we have over our appearance, we’re all awkward, laughable, ugly, and beautiful at the same time (80).

And here it is. The truth about all human kind. Unfortunately, there will always be someone out there who will make negative comments about your appearance. But the thing is, we’re all in the same boat. We all need to embrace flaws in not only ourselves, but others too.

 

6.       I never jog without a chaser of red wine on the rocks (96).

That sounds like my kind of running. I hate physical activity. I also don’t run.

 

7.       I like to think of stealing- or appropriating- as a way to create your own version of beauty, especially since it’s based on an idea of someone else’s idea of an idea (109).

I think this is exactly what beauty is. I refer you back to #1 where I say we force it on our children. While that fact is still true, I do not believe that to be the end of it all.  Children grow up. They learn. They adapt. They break away from the ideas of their parents. But the basis of the ideas of beauty comes from parenting. If we instill positive comments about beauty in our children, then the world be a more, well, beautiful place.

Diane Keaton has amazing values when it comes to beauty. She shares these values through anecdotes of her own life as a child, as a celebrity, and as a mother. I give this book 4/5 stars. If you enjoy the topic of beauty and values, then I would definitely suggest this book. Diane’s voice as a narrator is wonderful.

I haven’t decided what book I’m going to read next, so it will be a complete surprise!

-Daniella

 

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