Are You Hungry, Dear?: Life, Laughs and Lasagna

by Doris Roberts and Danelle Morton

Book Overview

Roberts takes her signature line from Everybody Loves Raymond and makes it her own in a book that pairs hilarious stories from her fascinating life with delicious recipes from her kitchen. 16-page photo insert.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312312261
• ISBN13: 9780312312268
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

She Lived, Laughed, Cried, and Learned

I read ARE YOU HUNGRY, DEAR? because I wanted to learn about the woman behind meddling Marie Barone in EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, Doris Roberts. I learned: -Like Marie, Roberts "tells it like she sees it" -Doris' father was a carousing schmuck -Her grandfather wasn't much better -She grew up in the Bronx -Doris and Marie shared the same deep, sometimes overpowering, love for their son(s) -She loves cooking. LOVES cooking -She is as quick witted as I expected her to be -Her natural-seeming acting is a result of extensive preparation -Fame has given her affectations -She can be racy; I'd get a kick out of spending time with her as I imagine we'd share plenty of "naughty" laughs. Roberts and her co-author Danelle Morton split the memoir into 10 parts, each effectively focused on a facet of her life: Life with Raymond, Motherhood, Reminiscences, Advice, Travels, Losses, Turning Points, Warnings, The Love of My Life, and Aging. Within each part are 3 to 6 chapters, all which conclude with a recipe. You don't have to be an Everyone Loves Raymond fan, or like to cook, to enjoy this book; you only have to be open to out-there observations of a woman in her early 70s who's lived, laughed, cried, and learned a lot.

Who Doesn't Love Doris?

Doris Roberts writes about her childhood in New York City. She didn't have a smothering mother like Marie but probably wishes she had. She writes about her father's abandonment and the estrangement relationship with her mother at times. She writes lovingly about her Uncle Willey who came to live with her mother and stepfather. She writes about her friendship and relationship with actors like James Coco, Roddy McDowall, and Ruth White. It was Ruth's death in 1969 when she decided to compliment her peers in the business. She writes about her two marriages including her second marriage to writer William Goyen who died. She writes about growing old in America where roles are scarce to find for women her age even now. Doris reminds me a lot of my own mother who is 70 years old and still cuts the grass. We should treat our elders better.

Hearty and Heart-Felt

Doris Roberts seems to be a very hearty, generally happy woman at least that's what the book conveys. A fabulous collection of her very personal memoirs and stories and advice, it's almost like having a conversation with the archetypical grandmother. But far from old-fashioned and foppish, Miss Doris is downright hilarious at times and speaks with the energy and zeal of somebody less than half her age (in fact, she puts most young people to shame when it comes to fully embracing and enjoying life). Her stories, taking place everywhere from New York theatre to Los Angeles tv to her bedroom, are all colorful and more entertaining than fiction ever could be. You can't make this stuff up! She opens herself up admirably, sharing her personal struggles and her darkest times as well as her triumphs and good days. Throughout, the conversational style of her and Danelle Morton's writing makes you feel more like you are spending time with a friend than reading a book. If you want advice from somebody who has been there before, or colorful tales from the world of entertainment, or a touching autobiography, or an endless source of laughter, or just some fabulous recipes (which the book is peppered with) then this book is for you!

Lots of laughs and lots of learning

Who knew?Doris Roberts is one classy lady - funny, ribald, sophisticated - everything her character on Everybody Loves Raymond is not. And, she's a great storyteller, too. This isn't one of those "I wrote it for the $$$" books. She candidly tells her life story with all of its rollercoaster ups and downs. And the chapter on people of "a certain age" having active [physical] lives is worth the price of admission, alone. A great read. A great dame.

A feisty dame tells funny tales of her long road to stardom

I don't watch "Raymond" regularly. I'm not fond of celebrity bios. But this book caught my eye and then I couldn't put it down.Doris Roberts's journey from sad "Little Doris" to a full-blown diva in her 70s made me laugh: she had a varied career, and learned a lot about life as she learned about acting. Roberts even has her very own actress climbing-out-the-boardinghouse-window story! There's some pathos - handled graciously -- but most of the book reflects a courage and humor I admire. Even some of the recipes are funny!