Book Review

A personal perspective on Barbra Streisand's life

By Victoria Manley
Staff Writer

To many, Barbra Streisand is known as simply a theatrical personality or a political activist; to some, she is acclaimed as an actress and film director. In "Streisand -- Her Life," a new biography by James Spada, we learn about the personal life of the woman so many adore, and her trip on a bumpy road to stardom.
Spada begins his book with Streisand's background -- her parents, primarily. Emanuel and Diana Streisand lived and worked in a fish store below their Manhattan apartment, until "Manny" could complete an education to work for public schools. It wasn't until the couple could earn enough money from Manny's job as an assistant superintendent for a school of juvenile delinquents that they started their own family. Barbara Joan was their second child and, as Spada writes, was described by her parents as "a cute little trick."
Spada tells the story of Streisand's life as a sentimental and touching one as he describes her reclusive childhood growing up in New York public schools. Called a "mieskeit," a Yiddish word meaning an ugly person, Streisand was described by her teachers as "a culturally-starved sponge"; self-centered, quiet and a recluse.
Her only passion growing up was show business -- movies, music or television -- and her reputation reflected that, Spada writes. She often acted in class, fooling the teachers and classmates into thinking she was ill and other schoolyard shenanigans.
Her father died after suffering from epilepsy for several years when Barbra was just over one year old, and the book describes her messy and abusive life with her stepfather, Louis Kind. Spada writes how Kind abused the young Streisand and her mother as he would watch the fights on TV, "Barbara was so afraid to obstruct his line of vision that she would crawl along the floor."
Spada writes that "trapped in this cramped, dreary apartment with a man she hated, Barbara blamed no one so much as her mother." The marriage put a strain on their relationship, and Spada alludes that the two were closest when searching for theatrical parts for the ambitious Barbra.
In school and in the start of her career, Streisand was rejected repeatedly by directors because she simply wasn't pretty enough, which only strengthened her insecurities about her appearance. Her rejections were reminiscent of names like "Cross-eyes" and "Big beak" that kids would call her in school.
The book documents well Streisand's climb to stardom, with some actual transcripts of her early radio performances. It describes the challenges she faced while trying to get a record label, and some of her first experiences on Broadway.
Spada's book is based on more than 200 exclusive interviews he held with Streisand's family, schoolmates, friends and colleagues. Interviews with Barbra's closest childhood friends describe the awkward, skinny girl who dreamed of stardom and questions are answered about the celebrity's relationships with Jon Peters, Ryan O'Neal, Sydney Chaplin and Don Johnson.
The book also goes into detail about Streisand's liberal political views, with an epilogue describing her visit to Harvard University in 1995. She made a speech titled "The Artist as Citizen" to a group of political science students and Spada writes that she was "more nervous than anyone could remember seeing her." He quoted several parts of that speech, illustrating her views on politics, humanity and the present state of the country and the world.
"`I have opinions, nobody has to agree -- I just like being involved,'" she says in the book. "`So until women are treated equally with men, until gays and minorities are not discriminated against, until children have their full rights, artists must continue to speak out, and I will be one of them. Sorry, Rush, Newt, Jesse -- the artist as citizen is here to stay.'"
Spada's objective style works wonderfully with the book because it enables Streisand's life story to tell itself, and in a very moving way. "Streisand -- Her Life" provides a personal perspective that is rarely exposed in the star's interviews and shows; Streisand's story of struggle and triumph gives hope to any reader interested in making their dreams come true.