Barbra Streisand‘s behemoth memoir, “My Name Is Barbra,” officially comes out today. Clocking in at nearly 1,000 pages (997 to be exact), many will likely opt for the audio version, read by Streisand herself, to expedite the reading process. But be warned: the audiobook is still 48 hours and 14 minutes long on Audible.
It only makes sense that Streisand’s memoir, 10 years in the making, is enormous. Through the pages, she tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career for the first time — from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in “Funny Girl” and later winning the Oscar for the film adaptation. Of course, she also recounts lesser known stories about her early struggles in becoming an actor, during which she turned to singing to earn a living.
Streisand was reportedly asked to write a memoir as early as 1984, but her thoughts never left the pages of her journal until more than a decade later. “In 1999, I really started writing,” she told Jimmy Fallon during an interview in 2021. “And then other things, concerts and movies or whatever, and then in 2008, Ireallystarted writing.”
The EGOT winner writes about the recording of some of her acclaimed albums; the years of effort involved in making“Yentl”; her direction of“The Prince of Tides”; her friendships with figures ranging from Marlon Brando to Madeleine Albright; her political advocacy; and the fulfillment she’s found in her marriage to James Brolin.
Streisand’s highly anticipated book follows a string of celebrity memoirs to come out in the past month, including Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Worthy” and Britney Spears’ “The Woman in Me.” However, at over 48 hours on audiobook, “My Name Is Barbra” is still one of the longest celebrity memoirs to come out in recent times. By comparison, Barack Obama’s “A Promised Land” is 29 hours, Bono’s is 20 hours and Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” is 19 hours. Most celebrity memoirs have a runtime of 10-15 hours.
“My Name Is Barbra” is currently available on Audible for only $5.95 thanks to this holiday deal. You can also purchase the Kindle edition for $18.99 and a hardcover for $31.50 on Amazon.
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