Greetings,
So, what could possibly be better than a writer writing about their own writing? Nothing. That's what. Okay, to be fair, that is not the only thing that inhabits the pages of this book. However, if you are going to read an autobiography, reading one by a great writer means you're already ten steps ahead. Therefore, I've chosen today to discuss The Other Side of Me by Sidney Sheldon.
If you don't know who Sidney Sheldon is, I feel bad for you. Also, where have you been for the last seventy years or so? He was a very prolific and gifted writer, whose range took him from movies to television to countless novels, all of which I own. So, when pressed with the question of "Who is my favorite author?" I usually say Sidney Sheldon, since he's the only one whose books I all own. Anyway, he was extremely acclaimed, winning an Oscar back in the 40's when they still mattered, a Tony back in the 50's when they still mattered and he was nominated for an Emmy back in the 60's when they still mattered. Have I mentioned I don't give much weight to Hollywood awards?
Yes, he had a full life and career, so, in 2005, he finally released this autobiography, chronicling his incredible experiences. And sadly, when I say the word "finally", I really do mean it, as this was the last book he wrote and published before his untimely death in 2007. How can I say it was untimely when he was nearly ninety? Because it is always untimely when a great writer dies. Especially considering how few of them we have left in the world.
Anyway, unsurprisingly, The Other Side of Me is brilliantly written account of one of the most fascinating lives and careers ever to exist. This man did so many things in life. He was a busboy, a clerk, a pilot, a reader for a Hollywood producer, and of course, a writer. Thankfully, because of that, we get a pretty good reading experience out of this.
Now, though he could have probably filled this whole thing with tales from Hollywood, Sheldon naturally opened up about his personal life, as you do with an autobiography. And he did not hold back. This man really did endure a lot of difficulties throughout his life. From growing up during the depression to bouts with suicidal thoughts as a teenager and into adulthood, stemming from an eventual diagnosis of bipolarity, to a devastating loss for his immediate family, he got put through the wringer a lot. But he came out on the other side and survived, because he had to do it.
In the end, if I learned anything from Sidney Sheldon, from his story and this book, it is that you do what you must do to achieve something and you keep going. You want something? Okay, do the work to get it. Life just beat you to the ground? Okay, grieve, heal, then pick yourself up and move forward. The whole world is against you? Tell it to move aside, because you've got business to take care of. That's how we should all be, and it is how I try my best to be.
I know a lot of people just aren't that into biographies, and I get it. Some aren't that great. But The Other Side of Me does not fall into that category. It's not simply a list of life events; it is a story. A beautifully crafted tale of an amazing journey with every high and every low one can fathom. But what would we expect from one of the masters of his craft? So, if you are wanting to read a nonfiction, generally, or a bio, specifically, I would put this extremely high on my recommendations list.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
