Brother & Sister

A Memoir

By: Diane Keaton

Narrated by: Diane Keaton

From the beloved film star and best-selling author of Then Again--a heartfelt memoir about Diane Keaton's relationship with her younger brother, and a poignant exploration of the divergent paths siblings' lives can take.

When they were children in the suburbs of Los Angeles in the 1950s, Diane Keaton and her younger brother, Randy, were best friends and companions: they shared stories at night in their bunk beds; they swam, laughed, dressed up for Halloween. Their mother captured their American-dream childhoods in her diaries, and on camera. But as they grew up, Randy became troubled, then reclusive. By the time he reached adulthood, he was divorced, an alcoholic, a man who couldn't hold on to full-time work--his life a world away from his sister's, and from the rest of their family.

Now Diane is delving into the nuances of their shared, and separate, pasts to confront the difficult question of why and how Randy ended up living his life on "the other side of normal." In beautiful and fearless prose that's intertwined with journal entries, letters, and poetry--many of them Randy's own writing and art--this insightful memoir contemplates the inner workings of a family, the ties that hold it together, and the special bond between siblings even when they are pulled far apart. Here is a story about love and responsibility: about how, when we choose to reach out to the people we feel closest to--in moments of difficulty and loss--surprising things can happen. A story with universal echoes, Brother & Sister speaks across generations to families whose lives have been touched by the fragility and "otherness" of loved ones--and to brothers and sisters everywhere.

So helpful for me

My “Randy” is 6 years older than me, and I don’t have any other siblings. I don’t know what to do about his future, but it was therapeutic for me to listen to Diane’s story. So much was so familiar, and I am grateful to her for having written it. I wish I could have been a better sister too, but it gets so hard when my “Randy” sabotages whatever help I offer him. I think we’re approaching the “let it go” years as well. Thank you, Diane for making me feel a little less lonely.

Diane's family story

I was disappointed to realize this was really a story of who DKs parents were & the struggles the whole family had with her "different " brother Randy. However in the end it helped me to see how & why she became the wonderful character she was.

Mental Illness

Love Diane. Sad family story, as her brother would never live up to what his family expected of him. Mother and sisters loved him, but mental illness can be a slippery slope for people to adjust to.

The complexity of the bond between sister and brother.

I loved listening to Dianne’s voice. Her laugh is a delight. Anyone who has or had a brother will enjoy.

Excellently written

Really enjoyed hearing about her family even though it was sad. Wish we knew why certain people are the way they are