"Gain Insight from Mary McDonough's Book, Lessons from the Mountain: A Journey of Perseverance and Faith"

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United States on Oct 30, 2023

Ron: Whether you grew up with The Waltons, watched re-runs.and/or specials over the years, or if you are just fed up with the uncertainty in our country now; then this book will appeal to you.
I was 22 when the series first began. Looking back, I remember how faithfully my wife and I would watch every episode.
I loved the characters and the message that was delivered in each episode. These actors and that setting became part of Americana.
I always liked Erin best and Mary McDonough unveils so much about herself and her experiences growing up with two families. She shares behind the scenes stories and insight into all the other actors, guests stars, producers, and others. She lets the reader see through her lens and travel the mountain to experience just how she was impacted by the show and especially her acting family.
Mary is brutally honest about the wonders that she experienced as well as the the health issues that were a bi-product of always trying to be perfect.
I am streaming The Waltons again now and enjoy the characters and stories even more.
I highly recommend this book.

United States on Feb 03, 2022

Caro: Happy with purchase and delivery

Thank you

United Kingdom on Oct 21, 2019

borealcrone: I have not yet had time to read this book but from the information on the book jacket, it appears that I will be settling in to a great read when I do get to it. Even the cover picture is a bit of a surprise, as I tend to remember Mary as her Waltons character, a young girl, and she's grown up into a beautiful woman. However, from the cover's summary, she has not been without difficulties which she is frank about documenting. Once I finish reading this book, I hope that I will be proud of how she has dealt with both her difficulties and with how to inform us of them.

Canada on Oct 16, 2017

Ulla Fleu: Tolles Buch. Mary McDonough schreibt sehr interessant über ihr Leben. Wie es war als Waltons-Darstellerin aufzuwachsen, über die Menschen denen sie begegnet ist und darüber wie ihr Leben danach verlaufen ist. Sie spricht offen über ihre Ängste, über Fehlentscheidungen und ihre Gesundheitsprobleme und macht anderen Betroffenen Mut. Im Mittelteil des Buches teilt sie viele persönliche Fotos mit uns.
Empfehlenswert nicht nur für Fans von "Die Waltons".

Germany on Sep 16, 2016

Another Mitchell: This isn't meant to be the story behind the Walton's series, although Mary includes plenty of anecdotal fun for Walton's fans. It is the story of how the Walton's series and many other things developed the person she is today. She also issues a clear warning to anyone considering elective plastic surgery, and details her struggles with that and her battle with medical and legal professionals and our government, all of whom people often believe will act honestly and with the public's best interest at heart. Mary exposes the truths she discovered, how she fights it, and how the knowledge helped her to grow as a person.

It is a comfortable read as Mary invites you to sit and chat with her.

United States on May 11, 2015

K. Jones: This is one of the best autobigrapical type books I have ever read in terms of being a clean read and an informative one. Mary McDonough has done a lovely job of telling her story of growing up on the Waltons set and at home and all the struggles and difficulties that involved. However, she also includes all the wonderful moments and special memories and bonds she made with the other actors she worked with for all those years. She describes them as being like family to her. They mn as much to her as her own brothers and sisters and Father and Mother and Grandparents. There are no tell all secrets to discredit any of her fellow cast members as some of the other books have done. Mary talks about the love that they all shared and how helpful they were to one another and yet she is honest about each actors characteristics, manorisms, strengths and funny quirks. The really eye opening thing about this book is what child stars sometimes are exposed to and what is expected of them and how hard that is on a young person while growing up. Also she tells about her personal experience with the horror story she has had to live with after having breast inplants and what this had done to her...

Canada on Apr 02, 2013

Donna Hill: In the seventies and eighties, the Waltons was one of my favorite programs. I loved heartwarming family shows. The Waltons was sure to touch me and give me a good cry. Now, at the age of 66 and desperate for something good to watch one night, I unearthed an old videotape of two Waltons specials and, no surprise, I cried buckets. A great catharsis!

So this led to googling the Waltons and I saw Mary McDonough's book. I knew immediately that I wanted to order it, and I knew that my dear departed husband would have thoroughly approved--he wasn't a lover of sentimental family shows but he did have a crush on sweet Erin.

I wasn't disappointed. I read the book quickly in just a few sittings. Mary McDonough definitely held my interest. I learned a lot. I would never have thought that the stars who played the Waltons truly cared for one another and were like a second family to one another. This is the kind of thing that you would like to believe, but such a thing seems too good to be true. And the fact that they connected with Earl Hamner's family was another surprise. I've been overseas for many years and didn't always have access to American television.

I don't know...

United States on Mar 04, 2013

As Matner: I had been meaning to buy this book for sometime & I'm glad I finally did.
This book works on several levels, if you are a fan of the Waltons; like I'am. Then you won't be disappointed as about half the book covers the tv series. Will some wonderful back set stories of the cast & crews activities.
I'd dearly wish to see a biography of both Will Geer & Ellen Corby, as they seem to have lead such interesting lives.
On other levels Mary McDonough provides incites into the film & tv industries & its attitude towards women.
And finally there is Mary's personal battle with Lupus & her struggle with the powerful medical profession to acknowledge the links between implants & Lupus.
Overall this is a wonderful read & I can highly recommend it. You won't be dispppointed.

United Kingdom on Oct 03, 2012

Corey A. Balazowich: After my Mom died when I was 13 many things changed in my life, one of the most influential being that the remote was passed from my dying mother to my father. We never were the family that had multiple tvs in the household so whatever was on was what you watched or you found something else to do. In the early 90's my Dad found reruns of The Waltons on tv and every weeknight for two hours (via two different channels) I watched The Waltons. In the beginning, I'd groan and make a fuss over it. It was the era of Roseanne... I mean really Dad, THE WALTONS?! Soon though, I got sucked into the story of the mountain and liked seeing each person grow up and tell their story. I always liked Erin the most - I still don't know why but I felt the most affinity for her.

When I saw on twitter she was releasing a book I was really excited, there are other stories from behind the scenes of other shows I watched but most of them I didn't discover until MUCH later in life, while it was in reruns, The Waltons was tied into my childhood a bit more firmly and I was curious if that family was as close knit as they appeared to be on television.

Mary's story is a bit disjointed (I am...

United States on Apr 09, 2011