Eleanor Coppola (1936–2024)

After reading a few chapters of this memoir written by Eleanor Coppola, I was ready to return it to the library. But I decided to read a few more chapters and soon found myself really enjoying it. This is a short, somewhat “quiet” memoir of Eleanor’s last few years after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. The brief chapters include many memories from her journals written throughout her life.

In addition to the descriptions of her family life (raising a family of creative show more filmmakers, living a life often in deference to her famous movie director husband) she honestly examines her feelings of suppressing her own talents and putting her family first. As the forward says, “She struggled with how to be an artist and a mother and the unexpected role of the wife of such a celebrated film director.”

I was glad she did make time and generated opportunities to explore her own creativity by writing a script/screenplay and producing her own film, as well as sculpting, producing conceptual art, photographs, dance costumes, and always writing.

I felt like I came to know Eleanor through this book, which was part diary, part journal, part exploration and which was foremost “Notes on Living and Leaving.” show less

i don't know why so many people rated this as 2. they didn't like the movie? me too. but her introspection seemed genuine.