This strikingly honest autobiography captures the highs and lows of Minnelli’s life to date but also how everything that has happened to her has helped to shape her overall outlook on life and philosophy.
If there is something that Liza Minnelli constantly reaffirms in this fascinating (if occasionally difficult read in the way she speaks honestly about her addiction) autobiography is that she never wants to play on people’s sympathies – she has always wanted them to focus on the entertainment she has been so well known for providing over decades.
Taking us through her childhood with ‘mama’ Judy Garland and ‘papa’ Vincente Minnelli, all the way through to finding her own voice and career as well as her ongoing struggles with addiction, there is a real raw honesty from start to finish that makes it difficult to put down.
The lightness and joy of the glamorous people that she got to know both during her childhood (references to Uncles Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr are abound) and career is matched by the darker sides of fame that she got to know well through Judy’s struggles with addiction, as well as increasingly having to deal with the press.
Throughout, there is plenty of gossip to keep those fascinated with Hollywood entertained, but it is also a story of survival both mentally and physically as Minnelli broke free and moved to New York to become and actress and singer in her own right. That isn’t to say she didn’t appreciate the love of her parents, but she did have a complex relationship with Judy Garland and at times certainly had to grow up quickly to deal with everything that was going on at home. Her affection for her father Vincente (who was a respected director) is warmly recounted and his unwavering support is clear on every page – although she does wonder what he would have made of certain decisions in her life in later years after he passed away.
There are plenty of references to parties and who attended as without adding much context except to highlight the glamour of bygone days and it is a shame that more depth wasn’t gone into the making of her films. However, her sense of gratitude for all of her audiences who have come to see her is really endearing .It feels as though it pays tribute to her many friends – but also highlights the work of those whose faith she placed wrongly (David Gest in particular gets a burning and scathing mention) – there is a good balance of the highs and lows in her life that leads her into looking at how her experiences has shaped her outlook on life with great poignancy.
Stylistically, you can tell that there have been others that have been involved with the writing of this book ( journalists Josh Getlin and Heidi Evans were involved alongside lifelong friend Michael Feinstein)) that can make the retelling of certain stories feel a bit all over the place. But for the most part you can hear Minnelli’s voice shining through, confiding in the reader which is really touching and you can also hear her humour coming through as well which she says she has always used to deflect attention on her emotions ( one example being the time that she discovered her first husband, Peter Allen, was gay after she found him in bed with another man, quipping she would never come home early again without calling first). She is gracious, honest and a sharp wit that is really delightful too.
There is a real bittersweetness to how this autobiography unfolds, which also helps to keep the reader thoroughly engaged. You really get a sense of how grateful she is to have got through everything that she has done over the years with the support of so may others including Elizabeth Taylor and Betty Ford for example when it came to her rehab. Her honesty about the disarming nature of addiction really packs a powerful punch.
Overall, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! is a compelling autobiography that highlights the joy and darkness of fame that is filled with humour, nostalgia and frankness.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Kind, Wait Till You Hear This! is available now.