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  • My Mother Was Nuts

  • A Memoir
  • Written by: Penny Marshall
  • Narrated by: Penny Marshall
  • Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (88 ratings)

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My Mother Was Nuts

Written by: Penny Marshall
Narrated by: Penny Marshall
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Publisher's Summary

Most people know Penny Marshall as the director of Big and A League of Their Own. What they don’t know is her trailblazing career was a happy accident. In this funny and intimate memoir, Penny takes us from the stage of The Jackie Gleason Show in 1955 to Hollywood’s star-studded sets, offering up some hilarious detours along the way.

My Mother Was Nuts is an intimate backstage pass to Penny’s personal life, her breakout role on The Odd Couple, her exploits with Cindy Williams and John Belushi, and her travels across Europe with Art Garfunkel on the back of a motorcycle. We see Penny get married. And divorced. And married again (the second time to Rob Reiner). We meet a young Carrie Fisher, whose close friendship with Penny has spanned decades. And we see Penny at work with Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, and Whitney Houston.

Throughout it all, from her childhood spent tap dancing in the Bronx, to her rise as the star of Laverne & Shirley, Penny lived by simple rules: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.” With humor and heart, My Mother Was Nuts reveals there’s no one else quite like Penny Marshall.

©2012 Penny Marshall (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What the critics say

“There's as much practical, hard-won advice here as there is Hollywood gossip, and Marshall's boundless energy and no-nonsense attitude make for a fun read.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Hollywood aficionados will get a kick out of Marshall’s anecdotes about her circle of friends, including Albert Brooks, John Belushi, and Carrie Fisher, all told in a funny, down-to-earth manner.” (Booklist)

“Penny Marshall is a fascinating woman who has lived a life few of us could survive. Did you know she gave me two of the best jobs I’ve ever had? Of course not, because when she talks she is barely comprehensible. Read her memoir and you’ll come to love her as much as I do.” (Tom Hanks)

What listeners say about My Mother Was Nuts

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penny marshall

penny had an interesting life and love the way she sees it with a sense of humor and acceptance.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Bob
  • 2021-09-17

Thoughtful, Funny, Informative

This book is filled with great stories, some funny, some tragic. Having Penny Marshall narrate is an added bonus! I learned a lot about her amazing life and was most interested to hear her anecdotes about the movies and stars that she came across during her lifetime. Fascinating tidbits about all the people she worked with or loved or hated. A great read!

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That accent !!

Wonderful book, very interesting life and accomplishments. She is so real !!!! And her accent, which has never left her, delighted me all through the book. This woman had balls ! Highly recommend.

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Enjoyable listen

I enjoyed this. I had no idea what to expect. It kept me entertained the whole time.

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Penny Marshall what a star!

Loved it! I see why everyone loved Penny.
Very humorous and very enjoyable. Give it a try.

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  • GAD
  • 2022-07-12

Informative

Curious about how Penny Marshall fared after the Laverne and Shirley Sitcom, it is refreshing to hear her story from her own life perspective. this book is a nice, refreshing break from other, heavier listens.

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