A Fine Romance

By: Candice Bergen

Narrated by: Candice Bergen

In the follow-up to Knock Wood - her best-selling "engaging, intelligent, and wittily self-deprecating autobiography" (The New York Times) - Candice Bergen shares the big events: her marriage to a famous French director, the birth of her daughter, Murphy Brown, widowhood, falling in love again, and watching her daughter blossom.

A Fine Romance begins with Bergen's charming first husband, French director Louis Malle, whose huge appetite for life broadened her horizons and whose occasional darkness never diminished their love for each other. But her real romance begins when she discovers overpowering love for her daughter after years of ambivalence about motherhood. As Chloe grows up, Bergen finds her comic genius in the biggest TV role of the '80s, Murphy Brown, and makes unwanted headlines when Dan Quayle pulls her into the 1992 presidential campaign.

Fifteen years into their marriage, Malle is diagnosed with cancer, and Candice is unflinching in describing her and Chloe's despair over his death. But after years of widowhood, she feels the sweet shock of finding a different kind of soul mate. Candice takes us through the first years of her new marriage and shares the bittersweetness of watching Chloe leave home and flourish - and the comedy of a losing battle against those damn wrinkles and extra pounds.

A natural writer, Candice is hilarious, brutally honest, down to earth, and wise. She may be a beautiful Hollywood actress with a charmed life, but Candice is someone who can talk frankly about extraordinary events. Listeners will feel like they've just made a best friend.

©2015 Candice Bergen (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Interesting story; the reading not as expected

Would you listen to A Fine Romance again? Why?

I found the stories themselves mostly interesting. But Ms. Bergen's reading leaves something to be desired. I just saw her on Today and she was so animated. But her read mostly sounded like she was in some sort of fog. Disappointing. I just wish her reading was as compelling as the stories themselves.

What three words best describe Candice Bergen’s voice?

Monotone.

Will Make You Laugh and Cry

I really liked that Candace Bergen read this as you got more of an impact of how she was really feeling. I felt her writings were relatable on so many levels. I am recommending this to all of my friends. I hope it is to be continued.

If You're a Serious Candice Bergen Fan

What did you like best about A Fine Romance? What did you like least?

I'm about Candy's age and have been a fan since The Group. I love hearing memoirs read by the author. I like how honest and self-deprecating she is and I loved hearing about the people who are in her daily life. The book needs some serious editing; it tended to be repetitious and there were times the descriptions smacked of name dropping.

Would you be willing to try another book from Candice Bergen? Why or why not?

Sure...I'm a fan and she's lived her life parallel to but entirely different from mine.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Hard to say since the narrator is the author is the subject.

Was A Fine Romance worth the listening time?

It was a little long. Had I been reading, I would have skipped over long passages. But, I love Candice Bergen and I love hearing her voice.

Any additional comments?

Candy comes off as a real person. She has advantages most of us can't even imagine, but she's brave and feisty and faces all the same things we do...plus all that goes with being an actress and public figure. I truly admire her.

Honest, funny...and did I say honest?

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Loved KNOCK WOOD and it's been too long a gap between books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Candice Bergen is honest above all. I appreciate that in my friends and REALLY appreciate it in a celebrity biography.

Which scene was your favorite?

The birth of her daughter...funny, poignant and very real.

Entertaining, poignant: a fine story

From start to finish this is an entertaining, poignant, often-revealing and hilarious telling of Bergen's life, from her marriage to Louis Malle, the birth of their daughter, and her success with Murphy Brown, to Malle's passing and her life since then.

An Extraordinary Book

Candace Bergen was able to speak about her life with truth and honesty. Unlike other celebrity bios, she spoke honestly from her heart. I loved this book so much that I never wanted to end. She made me laugh out loud and cry a little. She has led a remarkable life and she knows that she has. Her passages about her daughter were especially poignant.

LOL

This was one of the best books I have listened to. I was laughing out loud multiple times as Candice Bergen is an extremely funny writer and storyteller. I am amazed at the details she includes. I often could not wait to hear how certain stories would end. Having her rich voice narrate her incredible story makes it all that much better.

It Gives One Hope

To have known great love not once but twice opens the floodgates of hope!
I loved the honesty and her vulnerability! Beautifully done.

Warm, funny, and full of heart.

Left me with the feeling I'd spent close friend time with her across the years. The joys, struggles, and growth of a woman loving her family and living with what life unfolds. She's warm, funny, and refreshingly brave enough not to be the hero of her story.

Appropriate to my age

As I am about them same age as Candice I found her story fascinating. The Descriptive passages of life,in France, her infant and toddler daughter and the love of two fascinating men.

As a dog lover I loved the dog costume parties. If only mine would co-operate.