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What Readers Are Saying

“Poignant, funny, and
insightful”
The author — most well known for playing the first
Darrin in the 1960s television series Bewitched — muses about
his life in this collection of late-night reminiscences, tape-recorded
and transcribed. While readers looking for the behind-the-scenes scoop
about the stars of this popular series will be disappointed, others
will enjoy this poignant, funny, and insightful recounting of the life
of this star of radio, Broadway, and television.
The loosely woven tale, which bounces back and
forth among decades and even between reality and fantasy, will be
engaging to readers who have never even heard of York as well as to
those who faithfully watched Bewitched. York’s love for his
wife and family is the overwhelming theme of this narrative. His
optimism — despite financial setbacks, mental breakdowns, and physical
maladies — is inspirational. . .
The true gift in this book is the message of loving
the people in one’s life. York masterfully reconstructs “some of the
best days in my life,” and they focus on family — tender moments with
his wife throughout their courtship and marriage, and times with
Grandma York as a child growing up in the Depression.
York died in 1992, but this book will stay with
readers and may enhance perceptions of life and relationships — and
that’s much more magic than Darrin ever witnessed on Bewitched!
Elizabeth Upham, ForeWord
Magazine
“Brilliant”
I've read quite a few autobiographies, and this is
by far the most creative and at least one of the bravest. I thought it
was brilliant, and it's something you can read again and again and
still find things you missed. The most disturbing part to me was the
period when he left Bewitched. Yet things never get
completely grim, and throughout the book there are characters (a
critic, an analyst, Dick's mother, a fireplug!) who comment on what's
been told (or not told!). And there's a lot of humor — Dick just never
lost the ability to laugh at things. If that's not enough, more than
anything it's a love story and a great one too. This book will surprise
and touch a lot of people.
Scott Dombrowski
“Funny and lyrical”
The Seesaw Girl and Me . . . was transcribed and
shaped by Claudia Kuehl from cassette tapes York recorded . . . But it
doesn't read like a transcription, and it doesn’t read like the memoir
of a man who was in pain more years than he was free from it.
It reads like a celebration of being alive by
someone whose love of life was not conditional upon the ease of his
days.
It is a funny and lyrical book.
Steve Penhollow, Fort Wayne
Journal Gazette
“Bittersweet”
Fans know him best as Darrin Stephens, husband of the
gifted Samantha on Bewitched. And from 1964 to 1969, York,
who died in 1992, was a TV star. But long before he hit Hollywood, he
had a career as a child actor in local radio shows in Chicago. . . A
back injury endured during the 1959 film They Came to Cordura
caused lifetime pain. . . He soldiered on until a seizure on Bewitched
sealed his fate. He left, citing health reasons, and life went swiftly
downhill. The proud father of five, married to his teen sweetheart
Joey, the “seesaw girl,” York traded success for hardship and financial
ruin. The bittersweet story of a poor Midwestern kid who makes good
will earn readers’ respect and sympathy.
Publishers Weekly
"Human"
I received the book two days ago and have finished it this
afternoon. I could not put it down, and when I did all I could think
about was when I could get back to it.
I thought the book was incredible. The best
word I can think of to describe it is human. It is filled with so many
emotions it's hard to take them all in. It's so unconventional, but
that's what makes it oddly appealing. I loved the fact that instead of
this story that went from point A to point B, it was made up of
memories that made who he was and that shaped the way he looked at the
world, instead of merely facts. One of my favorite parts was after his
father tried to break up the fight between the married couple and he
said "my father was grieving for his boots." It was just so honest and
touching.
I'm pretty sure I will need to read it again
just to process
everything, but what a pleasure that will be.
Rebecca Martin
"One of the best"
In writing his autobiography, Dick York exhibits both
candor and humor. The Seesaw Girl and Me could well be cited
as one of the best and most intrinsically interesting celebrity memoirs
published to date.
Midwest Book Review
"Extraordinary"
I received my copy of The Seesaw Girl and Me,
Dick York's extraordinary autobiography, in the mail early yesterday
afternoon. I dropped everything and immediately opened it and couldn't
put it down — by early this morning I had finished one of the most
unusual and uplifting books it has ever been my pleasure to read.
If you think this is a standard show business
biography, you will be surprised. There are wonderful backstage
stories, don't get me wrong. You find out about the personalities of
such people as Gary Cooper, Paul Muni (a marvelous story about working
with Muni), Elizabeth Montgomery, Spencer Tracy, Gene Kelly among
others. But you don't get that tedious standard rundown like, "and then
in 1955, I did My Sister Eileen. . . " No, no — this book is
different because it reflects the creativity, not to mention
quirkiness, of its author.
Love is front and center in this book.
Bitterness is not. We do get glimpses of pain and sadness — Dick
exposes his soul, but that soul runneth over with love and
understanding and compassion.
I love this book and I will refer to it many times
when I need some words of wisdom or my spirit needs a lift.
Charles Tranberg, author of I Love the
Illusion: The Life and Career of Agnes Moorehead
“Inspiring”
The Seesaw Girl and Me is a highly unorthodox
autobiography. But I will tell you this — if you are a fan of the work
of Dick York, the man and the actor, and you want to meet this very
nice man in a way that is the next best thing to knowing him, you
should give it a read. You will meet the real York, complete with all
the blemishes. . . York's story is unusual and inspiring. He was in the
business of entertaining people, and he rarely let go of that, even
when he was dictating this book into the tape recorder. York wanted to
tell the story of his life, but he wanted to make it fun and
challenging at the same time. He certainly accomplished that in The
Seesaw Girl and Me.
John Douglas, Grand
Rapids Press
“Touching”
It's so exciting that this book is available for
everyone to enjoy. As an autobiography by a Bewitched cast
member, it is certainly a fantastic addition to any fan's collection. I
don't want to ruin the experience of discovering all of the gems hidden
within the pages of York's autobiography, but I was crying on the
second page of the foreword . . . This book is so touching and
heartfelt. It confirms that York was just as much a gentleman in his
final days as he was when he was a leading man on a top TV show.
Melanie, webmaster of Harpies Bizarre
“Profoundly wise”
The book speaks to the soul. It is profoundly wise in
so many ways. Ultimately, I see it as a book about hope. He doesn't
dwell on the negative, doesn't attack anyone, doesn't curse fate. He
takes the reader by the hand and walks with them on his journey. I can
feel his presence in every word.
Rodney Creager, creator of The Dick York Appreciation
Page
“Timeless”
This moving book is a continuous stream of thought. Although you need to
pay close attention to understand what is going on, it's worth every
ounce of energy because Dick's inspiring tale stirs loving emotions in
the reader. Throughout reading this book I laughed, cried, and enjoyed
every second of it. It is a book I will be re-reading for the rest of my
life. This memoir is timeless as shown in that a 16- year-old like
myself can full-heartedly enjoy it.
Desire Traverso
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