ABRIDGED
AUDIO BOOK
6 HOURS ON 5 CDs
READ BY THE AUTHORS
What a unique idea -- to have a dual autobiography
written and read by 2 very talented people who take turns in
relating their personal histories. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
tell their stories from childhood to the present time, telling
the tales which inform us of their struggles to overcome the
difficulties that black actors and actresses encountered in
the racial unrest of the 20th Century.
Throughout their saga you can
sense the love they feel for each other. After 50 years of
being together, they have also planned how they intend to
remain together after their demise. Their solution is alluded
to in the subtitle, "In this Life Together." The
points of interest they cover include their career triumphs,
their experiences with racism, and their work with civil rights
giants like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. They give intelligent
and sensitive insight to the experiences they encountered
on their rise to fame, success and respect in American theater.
Hearing the story of their
lives told by each of them is much more rewarding than if
they had been told by someone else. With their rich, melodic,
dramatic voices making the book enjoyable as well as informative,
both Ossie and Ruby do an exceptional job of writing and narrating
their story.
I was thoroughly pleased to learn so much, and
I recommend this audio book fully. Ossie and Ruby are able
to look at their lives and recount their troubles with humor.
Even Ossie's name was a mistake and emerged out of a humorous
situation his mother faced.
Perhaps the highlight of the book is the letter that Ossie
and Ruby write to each other and share with the listener,
explaining how and why they've managed to stay married for
over 50 years. The words they use express what love truly
is, and you can feel their love in each word they speak.
,
by Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee
