My Mother Was Nuts

Penny Marshall, actress and director, pours everything you want to know into her celebrity autobiography. Her mother was a dance instructor who made Penny take lessons for years Penny’s two siblings were her sister Ronny and her brother Garry, who became a producer. She frankly talks about her first marriage and her daughter, and her second marriage to actor and director Rob Reiner. Her role as LaVerne DiFazio on “LaVerne and Shirley” made her a household name, but although she mentions disagreements with co-star Cindy Williams, there was little else said about the program or the other actors on the show. She became interested in directing, and went on to direct “Big” and “A League of Their Own.” Her long term relationship with Art Garfunkel  and her friendship with Carrie Fisher were also included. The book struck a balance between celebrity name dropping (and there were a lot of names) and insider gossip. Marshall doesn’t shy away from unpleasant life circumstances, and gives a seemingly honest story of her life.